quadratics are set in the form:
ax^2 + bx + c = 0
where a and b and c are a certain value.
now the quadratic equation is
(-b + or - sqrt (b^2 - 4ac)) / 2a
all you have to do is plug in whatever number is in your particular equation into the formula. an example is:
-x^2 + x + 1 = 0
in this a is -1 and b and c are 1
so:
(1 + or - sqrt (1^2 - 4 * (-1) * (1))) / (2 * -1)
(1 + or - sqrt (1 - (-4))) / -2
(1 + or - sqrt (5)) / -2
now we get 2 answers because of + or -
(1 + sqrt (5)) / -2 and (1 - sqrt (5)) / -2