There are solutions for incomplete quadratic equations depending on the type of equation. Let us first examine the equations of form[[$ ax^2 + c = 0 $]]​. Let's draw a few graphs of function[[$ f(x) = ax^2 + c $]]​ to the same coordinate system, varying the value of the constant [[$ c $]].

The graphs of the functions are congruent and their axis of symmetry is the [[$ y $]]-axis. The constant [[$ c $]] indicates the point where the vertex of the parabola is located. The solutions of the equation are seen from the graph as zeros where the graph intersects the [[$ x $]]-axis. The number of zeros depends on whether the constant [[$ c $]] in the function is positive or negative.

Note! The former only applies to parabolas that open upwards. How does the number of solutions depend on the constant [[$ c $]] if [[$ a $]] is negative?

Note! When taking the square root, both the positive and the negative case must be taken into account, since the negative base number raised to the second power is also positive.

Example 1

Solve the equation [[$ x^2 - 9 = 0 $]]​ and outline a graph of the parabola defined by the equation.

​[[$ \begin{align*} x^2 - 9 &= 0 \\ x^2 &= 9 \;\;\;\;\;\; {\color {blue} {\text {Take the square root of each side of the equation}}}\\ x &= ± \sqrt {9} \;\;\; {\color {red} {\text {Remember ± marking!}}} \\ x&= ±3\\ \end{align*} $]]​

Answer: [[$ x = 3 $]]​ or [[$ x = -3 $]]​

Example 2

Solve equation [[$ 2x^2 + 4 = 0 $]]​ and outline a graph of the parabola defined by the equation.

[[$ \begin{align*} 2x^2 + 4 &= 0 \\ x^2 &= -4 \;\;\;\;{\color {blue} {||: 2}}\\ x^2 &= - \displaystyle\frac {4} {2} \\ x^2 &= -2  \;\;\;\;{\color {blue} {\text {You cannot take the square root of a negative number!}}}\\ & \;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;{\color {red} {\text {There is no solution to the equation}}}\\ \end{align*} $]]​

Answer: The equation has no solution.