[Tex/LaTex] \newcommand for quadratic formula

Question

I am looking to create a \newcommand to type in the quadratic formula by using the alias \qf as follows:

\newcommand*{\qf}{x=\frac{-b\pm\sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a}}

However, when I compile, it spits out errors such as Missing $ inserted? What have I done wrong?

Answer 1

Suppose that you write in a LaTeX file since you have x=\frac{-b\pm\sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a}, then. You get an error message if you try to compile it, right? That's because you should have written since you have $x=\frac{-b\pm\sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a}$, then instead. So, either define

\newcommand*{\qf}{$x=\frac{-b\pm\sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a}$}

or else keep your definition and use it as since you have $\qf$, then.