In
algebra, a
quadratic function, a
quadratic polynomial, a
polynomial of degree 2, or simply a
quadratic, is a
polynomial function in one or more variables in which the highest-degree term is of the second degree. For example, a quadratic function in three variables
x,
y, and
z contains exclusively terms
x2,
y2,
z2,
xy,
xz,
yz,
x,
y,
z, and a constant:
with at least one of the
coefficients a, b, c, d, e, or
f of the second-degree terms being non-zero.