Nature of Roots

of a Quadratic
Equation
When describing the natures or characters of the roots
of a quadratic equation, it can be one of each of the
following:

(a) Real or Imaginary

(b) Rational or irrational
(c) Equal or unequal
• Given the form of the equation, 𝑎𝑥2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0,
where 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 are real numbers and 𝑎 ≠ 0, then
using the quadratic formula, the roots are

and
• DISCRIMINANT:
To characterize the roots of the quadratic equation + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 =
0 , where 𝑎,𝑏,𝑐 are real numbers and 𝑎≠0, we have the
following:

(a) If ; the roots are real, equal and rational.

(b) If ; the roots are unequal and imaginary.
(c) If and a perfect square; the roots are real, unequal
and rational.
(d) If but not a perfect square; the roots are real,
unequal, and irrational.