The Quadratic Formula and the

Discriminant

2
y  ax  b x  c
 The Discriminant

2
b  b  4ac
x
2a
 The Discriminant
The Way to solve: Number and
Discriminant kind of
is: solutions
Positive and Factor 2 Rational
Square
Zero Factor 1 Rational
Positive not Quadratic 2 Irrational
square formula or
Complete the
square
Negative Don’t solve Imaginary
Solutions
Picture: Positive Discriminant
2
b  4ac  0
2 Real Solutions
Picture: Zero Discriminant

2
b  4ac  0
1 Real Solution
Picture: Negative Discriminant
2
b  4ac  0
0 Real Solution.
2 Complex
Solutions.
 Using the discriminant
2
4 x  3x  1  0
a  4, b  3, c  1
2
discriminant  b  4ac
discriminant  (3) 2  4(4)(1)
discriminant  9  16
discriminant  25 2 real roots

Factor
 Using the discriminant

2
4 x  3x  1  0
(4 x  1)( x  1)  0
4 x  1  0 or x  1  0
1
x or x  1
4
 Using the discriminant
2
4x  x  5
a  4, b  1, c  5
2
discriminant  b  4ac
discriminant  (1) 2  4(4)(5)
discriminant  1  80
discriminant   79
 79  0
0 real roots do not solve
 Using the discriminant
2
4 x  8x  4
4 x 2  8x  4  0
2
discriminant  b  4ac
discriminant  (8) 2  4(4)(4)
discriminant  64  64
discriminant  0

1 real root factor

Using the discriminant

2
4 x  8x  4
2
4 x  8x  4  0
2
4( x  2 x  1)  0
4( x  1)( x  1)  0
x 1  0
x 1
 Using the discriminant
2
3 x  18 x  9
3 x 2  18 x  9  0
2
discriminant  b  4ac
discriminant  (18) 2  4(3)(9)
discriminant  324  108
discriminant  216
2 irrational roots
complete the square or quadratic formula
Using the discriminant

2
3 x  18 x  9
2
x  6 x  3
2
x  6 x  9  3  9
2
( x  3)  6
x 3   6
x  3 6
 Worksheet
If the discriminant is positive
and not square alternate
complete the square and
quadratic formula.