Spotting a quadratic equation in standard form is easy once you learn the basics.

1. Shape: It looks like this: $ax^2 + bx + c = 0$.

2. Parts:

   • $a$ can't be zero. If it is, then it’s not a quadratic equation.
   • $b$ and $c$ can be any real numbers.

3. Degree: The biggest exponent of $x$ is 2.

When you notice these parts, you'll know you've found a quadratic equation!