The document discusses using the quadratic formula to solve quadratic equations. It states that in order to use the quadratic formula, the equation must equal 0 and be written in the form ax^2 + bx + c = 0. It then lists the steps as identifying the values of a, b, and c and then plugging those values into the quadratic formula to solve for x. The document provides an example of using the quadratic formula to solve the equation -x^2 + 8x = 1 and assigns homework problems from pages 536 problems 32-36 and 44-47.