Write the quadratic equation in standard form: ax^2 + bx + c = 0
Identify the coefficients a, b, and c
Use the quadratic formula: x = (-b ± sqrt(b^2 – 4ac)) / (2a)
Compute the discriminant: b^2 – 4ac
Substitute a, b, and c into the formula
Simplify the expression to find the two roots
If the discriminant is positive, there are two real roots
If the discriminant is zero, there is one real repeated root
If the discriminant is negative, there are two complex roots