Definition: A function of the form
y(x)=ax2+bxy+cy2+dx+ey+f,
where a,b,c,d,e and f are numbers such that a,b and c are not all simultaneously equal to zero, is called a quadratic function of two variables.

Remark 1: For a=b=c=0 this function is linear.

Remark 2: For a=b=c=d=e=0 this function is constant.

Example: z(x,y)=x2+y21 is an example of a quadratic function.