The linear term in a quadratic equation is the term that contains the variable raised to the first power. In a standard quadratic equation, which is written as:
ax² + bx + c = 0
the term bx is the linear term. Here, b is the coefficient of the linear term, and x is the variable.
For example, in the quadratic equation 3x² + 5x + 2 = 0, the linear term is 5x. The coefficient 5 determines the slope of the linear component of the quadratic function when graphed.
Understanding the linear term is important because it influences the shape and position of the parabola represented by the quadratic equation. The linear term affects the axis of symmetry and the vertex of the parabola, which are key features in analyzing the graph of a quadratic function.