6.

5 The Quadratic Formula

and the Discriminant
We have a number of different way
of finding the roots if a quadratic
equations
#1. Making a table
#2. Factoring
#3. Completing the Square
Now a new way that comes from completing
the square.
The Quadratic Formula
 The Quadratic Formula
Solve for x by completing the square.

2
 b  b  4ac
x
2a
 How does it work
Equation:
3x 2  5 x  1  0
a3
b5
c 1
 b  b 2  4ac
x
2a
 How does it work
Equation:
2  5  52  431
3x  5 x  1  0 x
23
a3
b5  5  25  12
x
c 1 6

 b  b 2  4ac
x  5  13  5 13
2a x  
6 6 6
 The Discriminant
The number in the square root of the
quadratic formula.
2
b  4ac
2
Given x  5 x  6  0
 5
2
 416
25  24  1
 The Discriminant
The Discriminant can be negative, positive or zero
If the Discriminant is positive,
there are 2 real answers.

If the square root is not a prefect square

( for example 25 ),
then there will be 2 irrational roots
( for example2 5 ).
 The Discriminant
The Discriminant can be negative, positive or zero
If the Discriminant is positive,
there are 2 real answers.
If the Discriminant is zero,
there is 1 real answer.
If the Discriminant is negative,
there are 2 complex answers.
complex answer have i.
Solve using the Quadratic formula
2
x  8 x  33
Solve using the Quadratic formula
2
x  8 x  33
2
x  8 x  33  0
  8   8  41 33
2

x
21
Solve using the Quadratic formula
x 2  8 x  33
x 2  8 x  33  0
  8   82  41 33
x
21

8  196 8  14
x 
2 2
8  14 22
x   11
2 2
8  14  6
x   3
2 2
Solve using the Quadratic formula
2
x  34 x  289  0
Solve using the Quadratic formula

2
x  34 x  289  0
  34   34  41289
2

x
21
Solve using the Quadratic formula
2
x  34 x  289  0
  34   342  41289
x
21
34  1156  1156
x
2

34  0 34
x   17
2 2
Solve using the Quadratic formula
2
x  6x  2  0
Solve using the Quadratic formula
2
x  6x  2  0
  6    6  412 
2

x
21
6  36  8 6  28
x 
2 2
6 2 7
x   3 7
2 2