# Etiology of "Quadratic" (i.e. equation)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiology-of-quadratic-i-e-equation/199393>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 3, 2003, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiology-of-quadratic-i-e-equation/199393 "2003-09-03T20:46:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Ringo847](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ab097/32.png) [@Ringo847](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo847)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiology-of-quadratic-i-e-equation/199393/1 "2003-09-03T20:46:07Z")

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Why is it called Quadratic if the root word (Quad) means 4? Doesn’t the quadratic equation refer to a perfect trinomial (sp?)? This could mean extra credit in my calculus class. Thanks.

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**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiology-of-quadratic-i-e-equation/199393/2 "2003-09-03T20:57:50Z")

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Someone else with your same name asked this same question yesterday:

[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=208784](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=208784)

:dubious:

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**Author:** ![John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ccd318/32.png) [@John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Kentzel-Griffin)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiology-of-quadratic-i-e-equation/199393/3 "2003-09-03T21:32:49Z")

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Don’t repost threads.

This is closed.

**DrMatrix** - GQ Moderator