Quadratic Equation in two Variables - Definition, Formulas and Examples

Quadratic Equation in two Variables - Definition, Formulas and Examples

Edited By Komal Miglani | Updated on Jul 02, 2025 08:00 PM IST

A quadratic equation is a second-order polynomial equation in a single variable. It is a second-degree algebraic expression and is of the form $a x^2+b x+c=0$. The term "quadratic" comes from the Latin word "quadratus" meaning square, which refers to the fact that the variable x is squared in the equation. In other words, a quadratic equation is an "equation of degree 2. ." There are many scenarios where a quadratic equation is used. Further, a quadratic equation has numerous applications in physics. It is not only essential for board exams but also for competitive exams like the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE Main), and other entrance exams such as SRMJEE, BITSAT, WBJEE, BCECE, and more.

Quadratic Equation in two Variables - Definition, Formulas and Examples
Quadratic Equation in two Variables - Definition, Formulas and Examples

Quadratic equation

A polynomial equation in which the highest degree of a variable term is 2 is called a quadratic equation.

Standard form of the quadratic equation is $a x^2+b x+c=0$
Where $\mathrm{a}, \mathrm{b}$, and c are constants (they may be real or imaginary) and called the coefficients of the equation and $a \neq 0$ ( a is also called the leading coefficient).

Example: $5 x^2-3 x+2=0, x^2=0,(1+i) x^2-3 x+2 i=0
$

As the degree of the quadratic polynomial is 2, so it always has 2 roots (number of real roots + number of imaginary roots $=2$ )

Quadratic equation in two variable

The general quadratic equation $a x^2+2 h x y+b y^2+2 g x+2 f y+c=0$ can be resolved into linear factors

$
a x^2+2 h x y+b y^2+2 g x+2 f y+c=0
$

we can write,

$
a x^2+2(h y+g) x+\left(b y^2+2 f y+c\right)=0
$

equation (ii) is quadratic form in terms of $x$
using the formula to get roots of quadratic equation

$
\begin{aligned}
& \therefore \mathrm{x}=\frac{-2(\mathrm{hy}+g) \pm \sqrt{4(\mathrm{hy}+g)^2-4 \mathrm{a}\left(\mathrm{by}^2+2 \mathrm{fy}+\mathrm{c}\right)}}{2 \mathrm{a}} \\
& \Rightarrow \mathrm{x}=\frac{-(\mathrm{hy}+\mathrm{g}) \pm \sqrt{\mathrm{h}^2 \mathrm{y}^2+2 g h y+g^2-\mathrm{aby}^2-\mathrm{a} 2 f \mathrm{y}-\mathrm{ac}}}{\mathrm{a}} \\
& \Rightarrow \mathrm{ax}+\mathrm{hy}+g= \pm \sqrt{\mathrm{h}^2 \mathrm{y}^2+2 g h \mathrm{~g}+\mathrm{g}^2-\mathrm{aby}-\mathrm{a} 2 \mathrm{fy}-\mathrm{ac}} \\
& \Rightarrow a x+h y+g= \pm \sqrt{\left(h^2-a b\right) y^2+2(g h-a f) y+g^2-a c}
\end{aligned}
$

The expression (i) can be resolved into linear factors if

$
\left(h^2-a b\right) y^2+2(g h-a f) y+g^2-a c \text { is a perfect square and } \mathrm{h}^2-a b>0
$

The conditions for which $\left(h^2-a b\right) y^2+2(g h-a f) y+g^2-a c$ will be perfect square when $4(\mathrm{gh}-\mathrm{af})^2-4\left(\mathrm{~h}^2-\mathrm{ab}\right)\left(\mathrm{g}^2-\mathrm{ac}\right)=0 \quad\left[\mathrm{D}=\mathrm{b}^2-4 \mathrm{ac}=0\right.$, for perfact square $]$ $\Rightarrow \mathrm{g}^2 \mathrm{~h}^2-2 g h a f+\mathrm{a}^2 \mathrm{f}^2-\mathrm{h}^2 \mathrm{~g}^2+\mathrm{h}^2 \mathrm{ac}+\mathrm{abg}^2-\mathrm{a}^2 \mathrm{bc}=0$
$\Rightarrow \mathrm{abc}+2 \mathrm{fgh}-\mathrm{af}^2-\mathrm{bg}^2-\mathrm{ch}^2=0$

Conics based on the discriminant \(\Delta\) of the conic section.

1. Discriminant of a Conic Section: For a quadratic equation in two variables, the discriminant \(\Delta\) is given by:
$ \Delta = b^2 - 4ac $

2.Conditions Based on \(\Delta\):

Circle:When \(\Delta < 0\) and \(a = c\), the equation represents a circle.
This is because the cross term \(bxy\) is absent, and the quadratic terms are equal.

Ellipse: When \(\Delta < 0\) and \(a \neq c\), the equation represents an ellipse.
The discriminant is negative, indicating a shape that is always closed.

Parabola: When \(\Delta = 0\), the equation represents a parabola.
This occurs when the discriminant is zero, which means there is only one line of symmetry.

Hyperbola: When \(\Delta > 0\), the equation represents a hyperbola. A positive discriminant indicates that the conic section is open and consists of two distinct curves.

Factors of Solving Quadratic Equations

Generally, a quadratic equation can be written in the form of ${a x}^2+b x+c=0$ where the value of $a$ is considered the equivalent to zero. Based on these equations, several factors are used to find the solution of the quadratic equation that is mentioned below:
- By pulling all the terms on any one side of the equal sign
- By setting each factor equal to zero
- By solving each of the separate equations one can get.

Summary

It can be stated that this study has focussed on representing the quadratic equation in two variables. It has been found in the discussion section that the two variables of the quadratic equation can be $x$ and $y$. The values of these two variables of the equation can be determined by the discriminant. On the other hand, the study further included information regarding the ways of graphing a quadratic expression as well as displaying in-depth knowledge.

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Solved Examples based on Quadratic Equations with 2 Variables

Example1: The equation $x^2 + y^2 - 4x - 6y + 9 = 0$ represents a

1. Ellipse

2. Circle

3. Parabola

4. Hyperbola

Solution:

$x^2 + y^2 - 4x - 6y + 9 = 0$

Adding and subtracting $4, $

$ (x^2 - 4x + 4-4) + (y^2 - 6y + 9)=0$

$(x^2 - 4x + 4) + (y^2 - 6y + 9) = 4 $

$(x - 2)^2 + (y - 3)^2 = 4$

Comparing it with the general equation of the conics, it is similar to the equation of circle $(x - a)^2 + (y - b)^2 = r^2$

$\therefore$ This equation represents a circle.

The answer is option (2).

Example 2: Solve of the quadratic equations $x^2+y^2=25$ and $x^2-y^2=9$.

Solution:

Adding the equations,

$
\begin{aligned}
\left(x^2+y^2\right)+\left(x^2-y^2\right)=25+9 \\
2 x^2=34 \quad \Rightarrow \quad x^2=17 \quad \Rightarrow \quad x= \pm \sqrt{17}
\end{aligned}
$

Substitute $x^2 = 17$ in $x^2+y^2=25$ :

$
17+y^2=25 \quad \Rightarrow \quad y^2=8 \quad \Rightarrow \quad y= \pm \sqrt{8}= \pm 2 \sqrt{2}
$

The possible values of $x$ and $y$ are

$
(\sqrt{17}, 2 \sqrt{2}), \quad(\sqrt{17},-2 \sqrt{2}), \quad(-\sqrt{17}, 2 \sqrt{2}), \quad(-\sqrt{17},-2 \sqrt{2})
$

Example 3: Check whether $(2,-1)$ is a root of the quadratic equation $3 x^2-2 x y+y^2-7 x+$ $5 y-2=0$.

Solution:
Substitute $(2,-1)$ in the equation:

$
\begin{gathered}
3(2)^2-2(2)(-1)+(-1)^2-7(2)+5(-1)-2 \\
=12+4+1-14-5-2 \\
=12+4+1-14-5-2=-4
\end{gathered}
$

The equation does not equal $0$ , so the point $(2,-1)$ is not the root of the equation.

Example 4: Find the roots for the quadratic equation $4 x^2+8 x-9 y^2-12 y+4=0 $

Solution:
$
4 x^2+8 x-9 y^2-12 y+4=0 $

$4\left(x^2+2 x\right)-9\left(y^2+\frac{4}{3} y\right)=-4 $

$4\left(x^2+2 x+1-1\right)-9\left(y^2+\frac{4}{3} y+\frac{4}{9}-\frac{4}{9}\right)=-4 $

$4\left((x+1)^2-1\right)-9\left(\left(y+\frac{2}{3}\right)^2-\frac{4}{9}\right)=-4$

$4(x+1)^2-4-9\left(y+\frac{2}{3}\right)^2+4=-4 $

$4(x+1)^2-9\left(y+\frac{2}{3}\right)^2=-4 $

$\frac{(x+1)^2}{1}-\frac{\left(y+\frac{2}{3}\right)^2}{\frac{4}{9}}=1
$

This represents a hyperbola centered at $\left(-1,-\frac{2}{3}\right)$.

So, $\left(-1,-\frac{2}{3}\right)$ is one the of the root of the equation $4 x^2+8 x-9 y^2-12 y+4=0 $.

Example 5:

The quadratic equation $4 x^ 2+9 y^ 2-36=0$ represents a

Solution:
$4 x^2+9 y^2-36=0$
$4 x^ 2 / 36+9 y^ 2 / 36=1$ $x^ 2 / 9+y^ 2 / 4=1$
This represents the equation of an ellipse with semi-major axis $3$ and semiminor axis $2$ .
$\Delta=b^ 2-4 a c=0^ 2-4 * 4 * 9=-144$
Since $\Delta<0$ and a $\neq c$, this confirms that this equation is an ellipse.



Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is a quadratic equation in two variables?
A quadratic equation in two variables is an equation of the form ax² + by² + cxy + dx + ey + f = 0, where a, b, c, d, e, and f are constants, and at least one of a, b, or c is not zero. It represents a conic section in a two-dimensional plane.
2. How does a quadratic equation in two variables differ from a quadratic equation in one variable?
A quadratic equation in two variables involves two unknowns (usually x and y) and can represent various conic sections like circles, ellipses, parabolas, or hyperbolas. In contrast, a quadratic equation in one variable has only one unknown and represents a parabola when graphed.
3. What are the different forms of conic sections that can be represented by quadratic equations in two variables?
Quadratic equations in two variables can represent four types of conic sections:
4. How can you determine which conic section a given quadratic equation in two variables represents?
To determine the type of conic section, examine the coefficients of x² and y²:
5. What is the general form of a circle equation?
The general form of a circle equation is (x - h)² + (y - k)² = r², where (h, k) is the center of the circle and r is the radius.
6. How do you convert a quadratic equation in two variables to standard form for a circle?
To convert to standard form:
7. What is the relationship between the coefficients of x² and y² in a circle equation?
In a circle equation, the coefficients of x² and y² must be equal and non-zero. This equality ensures that the distance from the center to any point on the circle is constant in all directions.
8. How can you find the center and radius of a circle from its equation?
For a circle equation in the form (x - h)² + (y - k)² = r²:
9. What is the general form of an ellipse equation?
The general form of an ellipse equation is (x - h)²/a² + (y - k)²/b² = 1, where (h, k) is the center of the ellipse, and a and b are the lengths of the semi-major and semi-minor axes.
10. How does the equation of an ellipse differ from that of a circle?
The main difference is that an ellipse equation has different coefficients for the x² and y² terms, while a circle equation has equal coefficients. This difference results in the ellipse having two distinct axes of symmetry, unlike a circle which is symmetrical in all directions.
11. What determines whether an ellipse is horizontally or vertically oriented?
The orientation of an ellipse is determined by which term has the larger denominator in the standard form equation:
12. How can you find the foci of an ellipse from its equation?
To find the foci:
13. What is the eccentricity of an ellipse, and how is it calculated?
Eccentricity (e) is a measure of how much an ellipse deviates from a perfect circle. It is calculated as e = c/a, where c is the distance from the center to a focus, and a is the length of the semi-major axis. The eccentricity is always between 0 (circle) and 1 (very elongated ellipse).
14. What is the general form of a parabola equation?
The general form of a parabola equation depends on its orientation:
15. How can you determine if a quadratic equation in two variables represents a parabola?
A quadratic equation in two variables represents a parabola if one of the squared terms (x² or y²) is missing or has a coefficient of zero, while the other squared term has a non-zero coefficient.
16. What is the significance of the 'a' value in a parabola equation?
The 'a' value in a parabola equation determines:
17. How do you find the focus and directrix of a parabola from its equation?
For a vertical parabola y = a(x - h)² + k:
18. What is the general form of a hyperbola equation?
The general form of a hyperbola equation is:
19. How can you determine if a quadratic equation in two variables represents a hyperbola?
A quadratic equation in two variables represents a hyperbola if the coefficients of x² and y² are non-zero and have opposite signs when the equation is arranged in standard form.
20. What are the asymptotes of a hyperbola, and how do you find them?
Asymptotes are lines that the hyperbola approaches but never touches. For a hyperbola centered at (h, k):
21. How do you find the vertices and foci of a hyperbola?
For a hyperbola (x - h)²/a² - (y - k)²/b² = 1:
22. What is the eccentricity of a hyperbola, and how is it calculated?
Eccentricity (e) of a hyperbola is calculated as e = c/a, where c = √(a² + b²) and a is the distance from the center to a vertex. The eccentricity of a hyperbola is always greater than 1.
23. How can you determine if a quadratic equation in two variables has a real solution?
A quadratic equation in two variables has a real solution if there exists at least one pair of real numbers (x, y) that satisfies the equation. Graphically, this means the conic section represented by the equation intersects or touches the xy-plane.
24. What is the discriminant of a quadratic equation in two variables, and how is it used?
The discriminant is not typically used for quadratic equations in two variables as it is for single-variable quadratic equations. Instead, the nature of the solution (real or complex) depends on the type of conic section and its position relative to the coordinate plane.
25. How do you solve a system of two quadratic equations in two variables?
To solve a system of two quadratic equations in two variables:
26. What is the geometric interpretation of solving a system of two quadratic equations in two variables?
Geometrically, solving a system of two quadratic equations in two variables means finding the points of intersection between the two conic sections represented by these equations. The number of solutions corresponds to the number of intersection points.
27. How many solutions can a system of two quadratic equations in two variables have?
A system of two quadratic equations in two variables can have:
28. What is the difference between consistent and inconsistent systems of quadratic equations in two variables?
A consistent system has at least one solution (the equations are compatible), while an inconsistent system has no solutions (the equations contradict each other). Geometrically, a consistent system means the conic sections intersect, while an inconsistent system means they don't intersect.
29. How can you use matrix methods to solve systems of quadratic equations in two variables?
Matrix methods are not directly applicable to systems of quadratic equations in two variables. However, you can use matrices to solve the linearized system after applying techniques like substitution or elimination to reduce the system to linear equations.
30. What is the role of symmetry in analyzing quadratic equations in two variables?
Symmetry plays a crucial role in analyzing quadratic equations in two variables:
31. How do transformations affect quadratic equations in two variables?
Transformations affect quadratic equations in two variables as follows:
32. What is the relationship between quadratic equations in two variables and parametric equations?
Parametric equations can be used to represent conic sections defined by quadratic equations in two variables. For example, a circle (x - h)² + (y - k)² = r² can be represented parametrically as x = h + r cos(t), y = k + r sin(t), where t is the parameter.
33. How can you use completing the square to analyze quadratic equations in two variables?
Completing the square is used to convert quadratic equations in two variables to standard form:
34. What is the significance of the cross-term (xy term) in a quadratic equation in two variables?
The presence of a cross-term (xy) in a quadratic equation indicates that the conic section is rotated relative to the coordinate axes. If there's no xy term, the conic section is aligned with the coordinate axes.
35. How do you eliminate the cross-term in a quadratic equation in two variables?
To eliminate the cross-term:
36. What is the relationship between quadratic equations in two variables and the distance formula?
The distance formula d = √[(x₂ - x₁)² + (y₂ - y₁)²] is closely related to quadratic equations in two variables, particularly for circles. A circle's equation is derived from the distance formula, setting the distance from any point (x, y) to the center (h, k) equal to the radius r.
37. How can you use quadratic equations in two variables to model real-world situations?
Quadratic equations in two variables can model various real-world situations:
38. What is the connection between quadratic equations in two variables and optimization problems?
Quadratic equations in two variables often arise in optimization problems where the objective function is quadratic and subject to linear constraints. The solution often lies on the boundary of the feasible region, which can be described by a conic section.
39. How do quadratic equations in two variables relate to the concept of locus in geometry?
A locus is a set of points satisfying a certain condition. Quadratic equations in two variables often represent the locus of points satisfying specific geometric conditions. For example, a circle is the locus of points equidistant from a fixed point (the center).
40. What is the role of quadratic equations in two variables in analytic geometry?
Quadratic equations in two variables are fundamental in analytic geometry as they:
41. How do you graph quadratic equations in two variables without using technology?
To graph quadratic equations in two variables without technology:
42. What is the importance of domain and range in quadratic equations in two variables?
Domain and range in quadratic equations in two variables:
43. How do you find the points of intersection between a line and a quadratic curve in two variables?
To find the intersection points:

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