Mathematics

The Quadratic Formula, the Discriminant and the Sum and Product of Solutions
Source: Prentice Hall, Algebra 2 with Trigonometry
(Bettye C. Hall & Mona Fabricant ©1995)
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THE QUADRATIC FORMULA

The solutions of the quadratic equation ax 2 + bx + c = 0,

a ≠ 0 are given by the formula

− b ± b 2 − 4ac
x=
2a

THE DISCRIMANT

Recall that:
− b + b 2 − 4ac and − b − b 2 − 4ac are solutions
2a 2a
to the quadratic equation ax 2 + bx + c = 0

The expression b 2 − 4ac is called the discriminant.

Without actually solving the equation, we can obtain information
about the solutions by examining the discriminant.

− b ± b 2 − 4ac
Discrimant, b 2 − 4ac Nature of solutions,
2a

b2 − 4ac > 0 and a perfect square two real, rational, unequal numbers
b2 − 4ac > 0 and not a perfect square two real, irrational, unequal numbers
b2 − 4ac = 0 one real, rational number (double)
b2 − 4ac < 0 two complex conjugate numbers

THE SUM AND PRODUCT OF SOLUTIONS

If and are solutions of the equation

,,
then and

x 2 − ( S 1 + S 2 )x + S 1 S 2 = 0

“The essence of mathematics is not to make simple things complicated,

but to make complicated things simple.”
-- S. Gudder