If [tex]a = 0[/tex], then [tex]y = ax^2+bx+c[/tex] turns into [tex]y = 0x^2+bx+c[/tex]. That [tex]0x^2[/tex] term goes away because it turns into 0, and adding 0 onto anything does not change the expression.
So [tex]y = 0x^2+bx+c[/tex] turns into [tex]y = bx+c[/tex] which is a linear equation (b is the slope, c is the y intercept). It is no longer a quadratic as quadratic equations always graph out a curved parabola.
As an example, you could graph out [tex]y = 0x^2+3x+4[/tex] and note how it's the exact same as [tex]y = 3x+4[/tex], both of which are straight lines through the two points (0,4) and (1,7).
