2006-12-10 07:54:04 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
The discriminant tells how many real roots of the equation there are.
If the discriminant is positive, there are two real roots, and the graph crosses the x-axis twice.
If the discriminant is zero, there is one (repeated) real root, and the graph just touches the x-axis at one point (the vertex).
If the discriminant is negative, there are no real roots, and the graph does not cross the x-axis.
2006-12-10 07:59:04 · answer #1 · answered by Jim Burnell 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the discriminant is zero, the parabola touches the x-axis at one point. If the discriminant is negative, the parabola does not touch the x-axis. If the discriminant is positive, the parabola has 2 distinct x-intercepts.
2006-12-10 15:58:13 · answer #2 · answered by Professor Maddie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋