How to quickly solve a quadratic equation

[MattH]

Is that anything like what David Hayes uses in this video to find the x-intercepts? (He uses the root() function after putting the equation into the Function app.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDIDmq1Y5Pc If not, where do I find Proot? I've tried the root function and it gives me a root, but I have to supply a guess which I could see being a pain at times.

Also, on page #32 of http://h20331.www2.hp.com/hpsub/download...ionsv3.pdf the author shows how to use several different CAS options like zeros or solve. These methods return an empty pair of brackets for me but they seems to work for him. He is in spreadsheet app in the backround, does that matter? I'm going to keep messing with it.

Ideally, I'd like something that doesn't require me to input the variables, powers, and + signs, and instead just gives me a template to work with.