128k views
3 votes
What to do if quadratic equation has a negative spuare root?

User Peter Oram
by
5.6k points

1 Answer

2 votes

If the negative square root is found to be one of your solutions, then that is indicative of a pair of imaginary roots (the imaginary i). According to the conjugate rule, if you have one solution that is imaginary, you will have another but with the opposite sign. For example, if a solution to a quadratic is found to be 2 - i, then its conjugate, 2 + i is also a solution. They will ALWAYS go in pairs. Same thing with radical solutions. If one solution is found to be
3+√(5)

then
3-√(5) will also be a solution.

User Aleivag
by
5.3k points