The formula x = -\fracb2a is used to find the vertex of a quadratic equation in the standard form ax^2 + bx + c . In this equation, a , b , and c are constants, where a determines the direction of the parabola, b affects its position, and c is the y-intercept. The vertex represents the highest or lowest point of the parabola, depending on whether it opens upwards or downwards. To use this formula, you simply substitute the values of a and b from your quadratic equation. The result, x , gives you the x-coordinate of the vertex. This is particularly useful in various applications, such as optimizing areas or profit in business scenarios, where understanding the maximum or minimum value is essential.