C Program to Find Roots of a Quadratic Equation

C program to find root of a quadratic equation; Through this tutorial, you will learn how to find the root of a quadratic equation in c program.

The standard form of a quadratic equation is:

ax2 + bx + c = 0, where
a, b and c are real numbers and
a != 0

The term b2; - 4ac is known as the discriminant of a quadratic equation. It tells the nature of the roots.

• If the discriminant is greater than 0, the roots are real and different.
• If the discriminant is equal to 0, the roots are real and equal.
• If the discriminant is less than 0, the roots are complex and different.

Algorithm and Programs To Find Roots of a Quadratic Equation

Use the following algorithm and program to find the roots of a quadratic equation using if else, switch case in C:

• Algorithm to find roots of a quadratic equation
• C Program to Find Roots of a Quadratic Equation using if else
• C Program to Find Roots of a Quadratic Equation using switch case

Algorithm to find roots of a quadratic equation

Use the following steps to write a c program to find the roots of a quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0; as follows:

1. Start Program
2. Read the value of a, b, c.
3. Calculate k = b*b – 4*a*c.
4. If (d < 0) Display “Roots are Imaginary, calculater1 = (-b +i ? k)/ 2a and r2 =(b + i? k)/ 2a. else if (d = 0) Display “Roots are Equal” and calculate r1 = r2 = (-b / 2*a) …
5. Print r1 and r2.
6. End Program

C Program to Find Roots of a Quadratic Equation using if else

/**
 * C program to find all roots of a quadratic equation
 */

#include <stdio.h>
#include <math.h> /* Used for sqrt() */

int main()
{
    float a, b, c;
    float root1, root2, imaginary;
    float discriminant;
    
    printf("Enter values of a, b, c of quadratic equation (aX^2 + bX + c): ");
    scanf("%f%f%f", &a, &b, &c);
    
    /* Find discriminant of the equation */
    discriminant = (b * b) - (4 * a * c);
    
   
    /* Find the nature of discriminant */
    if(discriminant > 0)
    {
        root1 = (-b + sqrt(discriminant)) / (2*a);
        root2 = (-b - sqrt(discriminant)) / (2*a);

        printf("Two distinct and real roots exists: %.2f and %.2f", root1, root2);
    }
    else if(discriminant == 0)
    {
        root1 = root2 = -b / (2 * a);

        printf("Two equal and real roots exists: %.2f and %.2f", root1, root2);
    }
    else if(discriminant < 0)
    {
        root1 = root2 = -b / (2 * a);
        imaginary = sqrt(-discriminant) / (2 * a);

        printf("Two distinct complex roots exists: %.2f + i%.2f and %.2f - i%.2f", 
                root1, imaginary, root2, imaginary);
    }

    return 0;
}

The output of the above c program; as follows:

Enter values of a, b, c of quadratic equation (aX^2 + bX + c): 8 -4 -2
Two distinct and real roots exists: 0.81 and -0.31

C Program to Find Roots of a Quadratic Equation using switch case

#include <stdio.h>
#include<math.h>
int main()
{
	float a, b, c;
	float root1, root2, imaginary, discriminant;
	
	printf("\n Please Enter values of a, b, c of Quadratic Equation :  ");
  	scanf("%f%f%f", &a, &b, &c);
  	
  	discriminant = (b * b) - (4 * a *c);
  	
  	switch(discriminant > 0)
  	{
  		case 1:
  			root1 = (-b + sqrt(discriminant) / (2 * a));
  			root2 = (-b - sqrt(discriminant) / (2 * a));
			printf("\n Two Distinct Real Roots Exists: root1 = %.2f and root2 = %.2f", root1, root2);
			break;
		case 0:
			switch(discriminant < 0)
			{
				case 1: //True
					root1 = root2 = -b / (2 * a);
					imaginary = sqrt(-discriminant) / (2 * a);
					printf("\n Two Distinct Complex Roots Exists: root1 = %.2f+%.2f and root2 = %.2f-%.2f", root1, imaginary, root2, imaginary);
					break;
				case 0: // False (Discriminant = 0)
					root1 = root2 = -b / (2 * a);
					printf("\n Two Equal and Real Roots Exists: root1 = %.2f and root2 = %.2f", root1, root2);
					break;
			}
  	}
	
  	return 0;
}

The output of the above c program; as follows:

Please Enter values of a, b, c of Quadratic Equation :  2 3 5
Two Distinct Complex Roots Exists: root1 = -0.75+1.39 and root2 = -0.75-1.39

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