When was the last time you used the quadratic formula?

[chomalungma]

Linked to the maths thread but a very specific example.

(-b +/-square root (b squared - (4ac) ) divided by 2a

Or do you just Google it?

High school. Probably a-level. I'm now 31!

I'd be intrigued if anyone used it in their work. Apart from maths teachers.

careertrend.com/info-8711999-careers-use-quadratic-equations.html

Here are the careers that use it :)
Agriculture
Engineering
Science (astronomy/physics)
Military

School.

Here are the careers that use it

But when did people actually use the formula itself...

Rather than putting the equation in a solver.

www.mathsisfun.com/quadratic-equation-solver.html

1987

This is just about the only equation I have remembered from when I did my O-levels in 1972.

Obviously, there will be some planet threatening catastrophe, and with the clock ticking down to the world's destruction, I will suddenly have a light-bulb moment and realise the solution is a quadratic equation...

Or maybe not.

Why do you ask? Only ever when helping to explain homework for me.

My final GCSE Maths exam in 2001.

Well I know it off by heart, so it wouldn’t occur to me to use an equation solver!

Haven’t needed to for a few years though

I came onto this thread to find out what it is 😂

Why do you ask

It's linked to the using maths at work question - but a specific example.

We had it drummed into us at school.

My maths gcse in 1995

How long ago though OP? I studied maths but graduated 30 years ago and I remember very little indeed, haven't used it since I was 21. I am ok when I have familiarised myself a bit but sometimes I think someone else must have sat in my lectures tbh.

I don’t even recognise it which is embarrassing.

I did my GCSE’s in 1994 and was top set for maths.

Maths O Level in 1974.

I used it last week trying to help ds with his homework.

Mentioned it to my brother and he said he was studying the exact same thing for an upcoming work opportunity/interview (something to do with telescopes).

I got a B in my maths gcse in 1998. And I can confidently say I have no idea what that thing in your OP is 😂

Maths O level and Additional Maths O level 1982. Loved all that algebra stuff! Never used it since...

I don't know it, I got an A in my GCSE maths exam in 2003 ish. I have no idea what it is.

1995. School exam and then promptly jettisoned into a disregard box in my brain.

I got an A in my GCSE maths exam in 2003 ish. I have no idea what it is

Solving quadratics must have come up somewhere in that exam?

And for those who love their maths, what happens if b squared minus 4ac is negative

Or if it equals zero.

And when you have a circle and a line, where do they intercept? I would love to see how you could use that in real life? Maybe space physic?

About 5 years ago to help DS2 with his maths homework. I still remembered the formula from my school days (when it was all fields and we still did O Levels)

never since graduating from high school in 1974? i think i graduated in 74...maybe 73?