Algebra II : Discriminants

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Algebra II

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #1422 : Algebra Ii

Determine the discriminant of the following function:  

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The discriminant refers to the term inside the square root of the quadratic function.

The polynomial,  , is given in the standard form:  

Substitute the known coefficients into the discriminant formula.

The answer is:  

Example Question #1423 : Algebra Ii

Determine the discriminant of the following polynomial:  

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Reorganize the terms in order of high to lowest power.

This polynomial is then in the form of .

The discriminant is the term inside the square root of the quadratic equation.

Substitute the values into the equation.

The answer is:  

Example Question #1424 : Algebra Ii

Determine the discriminant:  

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The discriminant is the term inside the square root of the quadratic equation.

The polynomial is provided in standard form .

Substitute the variables into the equation.

The answer is:  

Example Question #1425 : Algebra Ii

Solve for the discriminant:  

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The discriminant is the term inside the square root of the quadratic equation.

Write the formula for the discriminant.

The equation  is already in the form of:

Substitute the known coefficients into the discriminant equation.

The discriminant is:  

Example Question #1426 : Algebra Ii

Determine the discriminant of:  

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The equation is given in the form of .

Write the formula for the discriminant.

Identify the coefficients.

Substitute the values into the equation.

The answer is:  

Example Question #121 : Understanding Quadratic Equations

Determine the discriminant of the following polynomial:  

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We will need to put this equation in standard parabolic form.

Subtract  on both sides to move it to the right side.

The discriminant is defined as:  

Substitute the coefficients of the equation in the standard form.

The answer is:  

Example Question #281 : Intermediate Single Variable Algebra

Which of the following will best represent a discriminant with complex roots?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

According the rule of discriminant, the expression value defines whether if we will have roots for a parabola or complex roots.

The discriminant is:  

If , we do not have real roots.

If , we have real and equal roots.

If , we have real and unequal roots.

Complex roots are not real roots.  This means the discriminant must be negative.

The answer is:  

Example Question #122 : Understanding Quadratic Equations

Evaluate the discriminant, if any:  

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The formula to determine the discriminant is:  

To determine the discriminant, we will need to put the equation in standard form:

Add  on both sides.

Subtract  on both sides.

Reorder the terms on the left.

Divide by two on both sides.

The equation in standard form is: 

The coefficients can be determined to calculate the discriminant.

Substitute the values into the formula.

The answer is:  

Example Question #31 : Discriminants

Determine the discriminant:  

Possible Answers:

  

Correct answer:

  

Explanation:

The formula for the discriminant is: 

Given the polynomial in standard format, we can identify the coefficients of the polynomial to substitute into the equation.

Substitute all the numbers into the equation.

The answer is: 

Example Question #31 : Discriminants

Evaluate the discriminant:  

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Write the formula for the discriminant.  The discriminant is the term inside the square root of the quadratic formula.

Determine the coefficients.

Substitute the terms into the formula.

The answer is:  

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors