Discriminant

of a
Quadratic
Equation
 OBJECTIVES
• characterizes the roots of a quadratic
equation using the discriminant.

• describes the relationship between the

coefficients and the roots of a quadratic
equation.
 Recall that the roots of the
quadratic equation are given by the
quadratic formula:
−𝒃± √ 𝒃 −𝟒𝒂𝒄𝟐
𝒙=
𝟐𝒂
 We can see that the radicand
determines the nature of these
roots. This radicand is called the
discriminant of the quadratic
equation.
If: Then the roots are:
Real, rational, and
equal
Real, rational, and
unequal
Real, irrational, and
unequal

Not real
EXAMPLE
Directions: Determine the nature of
the roots of the following quadratic
equations using the discriminant.
𝒙 𝟐 +𝟑 𝒙 +𝟏 =𝟎
𝒙 𝟐 +𝟕 𝒙 +𝟔 =𝟎
𝒙 𝟐 − 𝟏𝟎 𝒙 +𝟏𝟐= 𝟎
𝒙 𝟐 +𝟒 𝒙 − 𝟏𝟐=𝟎
𝟐 𝒙 𝟐 − 𝟕 𝒙 +𝟔=𝟎
Seatwork
Relationship between the coefficients
and Roots of a Quadratic Equation
If and are the roots of the quadratic
equation , then
Sum of the Roots:
Product of the Roots:
Relationship between the coefficients
and Roots of a Quadratic Equation

Take note that if the general quadratic

equation is written in the form , then
This relationship is useful in writing
quadratic equations whose roots are given.
EXAMPLE
A.Find the sum and product of
the roots of .
B.Find the sum and product of
the roots of .
EXAMPLE
A.Write a quadratic equation
whose roots are and .
B.Write a quadratic equation
whose roots are and
Directions: Write a quadratic equation
given the following roots.

1 5 𝑎𝑛𝑑 2 2 4 𝑎𝑛𝑑 7 3 1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 −6

4 −8 𝑎𝑛𝑑 −10 5 −3 𝑎𝑛𝑑 15