In the equation ax² + bx + c= 0, the value of b²-4ac is called the___of the quadratic equation?

Question

What does this tell you about teh real roots fo the equation?

Answer 1

DISCRIMINANT.

it tells you if the roots are real (repeated or distinct) or imaginary.

Answer 2

Discriminant is correct, but the answer to the second part of your question: If the value is > 0, the roots are "real" of the value is < 0, the values are "imaginary" or complex. Imaginary numbers come into play when the square of the number is a negative value. Normal numbers always produce a positive result when squared, but imaginary numbers produce a negative value when squared.

Dr. T.

Answer 3

It's called the DISCRIMINANT
If positive, 2 real, unequal roots
If zero, one answer. (We say 2 real, equal roots, to be
strict about the fact that every quadratic has 2
solutions.
If negative, no solution. No roots in the Real Number
System

Answer 4

It's called the descriminate if it is = 0, then there is one real answer if it is greater than 0 then there are two real answers, if it is less than zero (negative number), then there are two imaginary answers (square roots of negative numbers).

Answer 5

Discriminant.
D>0 => two real roots;
D=0 => two real and coincident roots, which means one root;
D<0 => two imaginary roots, so no real roots for all practical purposes.

Answer 6

discriminant.
If the discriminant is positive, the roots are
real and distinct.
If the discriminant is 0, the roots are real and equal.
If the discriminant is negative there are no real roots.
All this assumes that a,b and c are all real numbers.

Answer 7

Discriminant, because that discriminates whether the answer is real, or imaginary