What type of equation includes a variable with an exponent of two?

A quadratic equation is defined specifically as a polynomial equation in which the highest exponent of the variable is two. This type of equation has the general form ( ax^2 + bx + c = 0 ), where ( a ), ( b ), and ( c ) are constants and ( a \neq 0 ). The significance of the exponent of two is that it gives quadratic equations their characteristic parabolic shape when graphed.

In contrast, a linear equation has a highest exponent of one, cubic equations have an exponent of three, and polynomial equations can involve various higher exponents but are not limited to them. Therefore, identifying the quadratic equation involves recognizing that the defining feature is the variable raised to the second power.