Final answer:
The discriminant of a quadratic equation determines the number of solutions the equation possesses.
Step-by-step explanation:
The discriminant of a quadratic equation helps determine the number of solutions the equation possesses. The discriminant is the expression inside the square root in the quadratic formula. If the discriminant is greater than 0, the equation has two distinct real solutions. If the discriminant is equal to 0, the equation has one real solution. And if the discriminant is less than 0, the equation has no real solutions.