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Discriminant b2 4ac

Here are the steps to solve a quadratic equation when the discriminant is positive but not a perfect square: 1) Write the quadratic equation in standard form: ax^2 + bx + c = 0 2) Calculate the discriminant: b^2 - 4ac 3) Since the discriminant is positive but not a square, the roots will be irrational. 4) Complete the square on the left side of the equation to put it in the form (x - h)^2 = k 5) Take the square root of both sides to isolate x. This will give the two solutions in radical form. 6) Alternatively, use the quadratic formula to directly calculate the two irrational solutions.

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196 views14 pages

Discriminant b2 4ac

Here are the steps to solve a quadratic equation when the discriminant is positive but not a perfect square: 1) Write the quadratic equation in standard form: ax^2 + bx + c = 0 2) Calculate the discriminant: b^2 - 4ac 3) Since the discriminant is positive but not a square, the roots will be irrational. 4) Complete the square on the left side of the equation to put it in the form (x - h)^2 = k 5) Take the square root of both sides to isolate x. This will give the two solutions in radical form. 6) Alternatively, use the quadratic formula to directly calculate the two irrational solutions.

Uploaded by

Ir Heriawan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Quadratic Formula and the

Discriminant

y  ax  b x  c
2
The Discriminant

b  b  4ac
2
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

b  4ac  0
2

2 Real Solutions
Picture: Zero Discriminant

b  4ac  0
2

1 Real Solution
Picture: Negative Discriminant

b  4ac  0
2

0 Real Solution.
2 Complex
Solutions.
Using the discriminant
4 x  3x  1  0
2

a  4, b  3, c  1
discriminant  b  4ac
2

discriminant  (3) 2  4(4)(1)


discriminant  9  16
discriminant  25 2 real roots

Factor
Using the discriminant

4 x  3x  1  0
2

(4 x  1)( x  1)  0
4 x  1  0 or x  1  0
1
x or x  1
4
Using the discriminant
4x  x  5
2

a  4, b  1, c  5
discriminant  b  4ac
2

discriminant  (1) 2  4(4)(5)


discriminant  1  80
discriminant   79
 79  0
0 real roots do not solve
Using the discriminant
4 x  8x  4
2

4 x 2  8x  4  0
discriminant  b  4ac
2

discriminant  (8) 2  4(4)(4)


discriminant  64  64
discriminant  0

1 real root factor


Using the discriminant

4 x  8x  4
2

4 x  8x  4  0
2

4( x  2 x  1)  0
2

4( x  1)( x  1)  0
x 1  0
x 1
Using the discriminant
3 x  18 x  9
2

3 x 2  18 x  9  0
discriminant  b  4ac
2

discriminant  (18) 2  4(3)(9)


discriminant  324  108
discriminant  216
2 irrational roots
complete the square or quadratic formula
Using the discriminant

3 x  18 x  9
2

x  6 x  3
2

x  6 x  9  3  9
2

( x  3)  6
2

x 3   6
x  3 6
Worksheet
If the discriminant is positive
and not square alternate
complete the square and
quadratic formula.

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