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What is the discriminant?

Updated: 4/28/2022
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13y ago

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If a quadratic equation is ax2+bx+c

then we can learn something about the roots withoutcompletely solving the quadratic formula.

The discriminant is b2-4ac. You may recognize this as part of the quadratic formula.

If the value is a non-zero perfect square, there are 2 rational roots

If the value is an imperfect square, there are 2 irrational roots

If the value is zero, there is 1 rational root (parabola vertex is on the x-axis)

If the value is negative, there are imaginary roots (no intersection with x-axis)

The discriminant, therefore, tells us the nature of the roots.

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What does the discriminant tell you?

The discriminant tells you how many solutions there are to an equation The discriminant is b2-4ac For example, two solutions for a equation would mean the discriminant is positive. If it had 1 solution would mean the discriminant is zero If it had no solutions would mean that the discriminant is negative


How do you tell if a discriminant is positive negative or zero?

With the standard notation, If b2 < 4ac then the discriminant is negative If b2 = 4ac then the discriminant is zero If b2 > 4ac then the discriminant is positive


How do you find how many x intercepts the parabola has using the discriminant?

If the discriminant is negative, there are 0 interceptsIf the discriminant is zero, there is 1 interceptIf the discriminant is positive, there are 2 intercepts


What is the discriminant of the equation X2-10?

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What is the discriminant of 2x2 plus 4x - 9?

The discriminant is 88.


What is the discriminant of the polynomial 9x2 - 18x 9?

The discriminant is 0.


What is the discriminant of x squared equals 4?

The discriminant is 16


What are the three outcomes of a discriminant?

The discriminant can be positive, zero or negative.


What is the discriminant of the polynomial 2x2 5x 4?

The discriminant is -7


If the discriminant is zero then there are no imaginary solutions?

Yes, if the discriminant is zero, then there will be a double root, which will be real.Also, If the discriminant is positive, there will be two distinct real solutions. But if the discriminant is negative, then you will have two complex solutions.


What are 3 outcomes for the discriminant?

If the discriminant of a quadratic equation is zero then it has equal roots. If the discriminant is greater than zero then there are two different roots. If the discriminant is less than zero then there are no real roots.


Find the discriminant for 2x2 - 3x - 5 0?

The discriminant is 49.