Final answer:
The discriminant of a quadratic equation can be found using the formula:
. It helps determine the nature of the roots.
Step-by-step explanation:
The discriminant of a quadratic equation
can be found using the formula:
.
The discriminant is a useful quantity in determining the nature of the roots of a quadratic equation. If the discriminant is greater than 0 the equation has two distinct real roots. If the discriminant is equal to 0, the equation has a repeated real root. If the discriminant is less than 0 the equation has two complex conjugate roots.