A linear equation is an equation of the first degree, meaning that it graphs to a straight line. It has the general form y = mx + b, where m represents the slope and b is the y-intercept. Linear equations can have one or two variables.
In contrast, a quadratic equation is an equation of the second degree, which graphs to a parabola. The standard form of a quadratic equation is y = ax2 + bx + c, where a, b, and c are constants and a cannot be zero. Quadratic equations typically have two solutions or roots, which may be real or complex.
In summary, the key difference lies in their degree: linear equations involve only the first degree (exponents of 1), while quadratic equations involve the second degree (exponents of 2). This difference in degree affects their graphical representation and the number of solutions they can have.