A quadratic equation has a form ax² + bx + c = 0 (where x is unknown and a, b and c are numbers).

Here's an example of a quadratic equation:

x² + 2x - 24 = 0

Now, to solve the equation we have to think of what two brackets could be multiplied together to give the equation x² + 2x - 24 = 0.

To get x² we must have (x ) (x ) so there's a start, now we look at the number which has nothing to do with x (that is -24).

What numbers can we multiply together to give -24 ? There are lots of these e.g. 1 and -24, -1 and 24, 2 and -12 etc.

However what we need to find are two numbers that when multiplied together give -24, but when added together give 2 (this is the 2 in the 2x part of the equation).

A bit of thought leads us to 6 and -4. If we now put these values into the brackets we end up with (x + 6) (x - 4). You can try multiplying out the brackets and you'll find that you end up with the left hand side of the quadratic equation. Now we have (x + 6) (x - 4) = 0, we say that the quadratic equation has been factorised.

To solve the equation you must know that something multiplied by 0 = 0.

Hence, if we make x = either -6 or 4 the answer will be 0.

In many cases when solving quadratic equations we can safely ignore the negative number, which finally gives us 4 as the answer.