Complex Numbers and

Discriminant
Honors 2
Warm up Questions
 Another warm up question
3. Complete the square to put the following equation of a circle into a form where
you can state the centre and radius of the circle and then state the centre and radius
of this circle.

𝑥 ! + 4𝑥 + 𝑦 ! − 8𝑦 = −11
 Today’s goal

• The discriminant
• Complex numbers
• Complex solutions to quadratic equations
 The Discriminant
Discriminant: In the quadratic formula, the expression 𝑏 ! − 4𝑎𝑐 is called the
discriminant of the associated equation 𝑎𝑥 ! + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0. We sometimes use
the symbol Δ to represent the discriminant.

You can use the discriminant of the quadratic equation to determine the
number and types of solutions to the original equation. The relationship
between the quadratic equation and the associated quadratic function is shown
below. We can see that the number and kinds of solutions of the quadratic
equation can be determined by the discriminant. We can also see that these
solutions determine the location of the associated quadratic function relative to
the x axis.
 Discriminant
Value of the discriminant ∆> 0 ∆= 0 ∆< 0

Number and type of Two real solutions One real solution Two imaginary solutions
solutions

Graph of
𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 ! + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐
Not all quadratic equations have real-number solutions For
example, 𝑥 . = −1 has no real-number solutions because the
square of any real number is never a negative number

•To overcome this problem, mathematicians created an expanded system of

numbers using the imaginary unit i, defined as:

𝑖 ! = −1

The imaginary unit i can be used to write the square root of any negative number.
What are these?
𝑖=
𝑖! =
𝑖" =
𝑖# =
𝑖$ =
𝑖% =
𝑖& =
𝑖' =
 Properties of i
Some important properties of the square root of a negative number:

1. If r is a positive real number, then −𝑟 = 𝑖 𝑟 for example −3 = 𝑖 3

Let’s simplify some radicals

 Complex Numbers

A complex number is defined to be in the form 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑖 where a and b are real

numbers. We call a the real part of the complex number and bi the imaginary
part of the complex number.
Simplify
4 + −20

3 − −4

3 + −32

6 − −18
Now that we have defined the imaginary number, we can simplify
any square root, even those with negative numbers.

Example 1: Solve by completing the square: 𝑥 ! + 6𝑥 + 11 = 0

Example 2: Solve using the formula: 𝑥 ! − 10𝑥 + 29 = 0

Example 3: Solve 2𝑥 . + 5 = 6𝑥
Example 4:

Solve the following equation: 𝑥 ! − 4𝑥 + 12 = 0

Now find the vertex of the related quadratic function: 𝑦 = 𝑥 ! − 4𝑥 + 12

Compare the equation and the related function.

What does it tell you about the graph when the related equation has
imaginary roots?

What is the domain and range of the function?

 Homework ☺
See the unit plan

Myimaths assessement due next class (this is a summative for a

grade)

DON’T FORGET THE SUMMATIVE QUIZ NEXT CLASS on Lessons 1-5

(it won’t include discriminant but it will include complex solutions)