standard_description: Rewrite simple rational expressions in different forms; write a(x)/b(x) in the form q(x) + r(x)/b(x), where a(x), b(x), q(x), and r(x) are polynomials with the degree of r(x) less than the degree of b(x), using inspection, long division, or, for the more complicated examples, a computer algebra system.
problem_activity: Task
Suppose $f$ is a quadratic function given by the equation $f(x) = ax^2 + bx + c$
where $a,b,c$ are real numbers and $a$ is non-zero.
Explain why $f$ can have at most two roots; that is explain why there can be at most two distinct real numbers $r_1,r_2$ so that $f(r_1) = f(r_2) = 0$.
Give examples to show that it is possible for $f$ to have zero, one, or two
real roots.


aligns: no