Discriminant
The Discriminant is the value in side the square root from the quadratic formula.
The discriminant is used to find out how many X-intercepts there are. The value inside of the square root is b^2 -4ac.
You would simplify whats inside of the square root. If the value inside of the square root is a negative number there are no solutions. This is because you can't square a root a negative. Also this means there are no X-intercepts.
If the value inside the square root is zero there is only one solution. This because when you try adding or subtracting 0 to the -b value it does not change the value of -b. That is why there is only one X-intercept. If the value inside of the square root is more than 0 there are 2 solutions. This means there are two X-intercepts.
Here is a video on Discriminant:
You would simplify whats inside of the square root. If the value inside of the square root is a negative number there are no solutions. This is because you can't square a root a negative. Also this means there are no X-intercepts.
If the value inside the square root is zero there is only one solution. This because when you try adding or subtracting 0 to the -b value it does not change the value of -b. That is why there is only one X-intercept. If the value inside of the square root is more than 0 there are 2 solutions. This means there are two X-intercepts.
Here is a video on Discriminant: