Algebraic equation of particular importance in optimization .
A more descriptive name is second-degree polynomial equation. Its standard form is a x 2 + b x + c = 0, and its solution is given by the quadratic formula
which guarantees two real-number solutions, one real-number solution, or two complex-number solutions, depending on whether the discriminate, b 2 -4 a c , is greater than, equal to, or less than 0.