Student Tutorial: Using the Discriminant | Media4Math

Student Tutorial: Using the Discriminant

Instructions:

Watch the video and study these examples of how to use the discriminant to determine the number of solutions to a quadratic equation.

Click the arrows on the bottom to get started

Calculating the Discriminant: Example 1. In this example a, b, and c are positive, discriminant is positive.

Calculating the Discriminant: Example 2. In this example a, b, and c are positive, discriminant is negative.

Calculating the Discriminant: Example 3. In this example a, b, and c are positive, discriminant is zero.

Calculating the Discriminant: Example 4. In this example a, b, and c are negative, discriminant is positive.

Calculating the Discriminant: Example 5. In this example a, b, and c are negative, discriminant is negative.

Calculating the Discriminant: Example 6. In this example a, b, and c are negative, discriminant is zero.

Calculating the Discriminant: Example 7. In this example a is positive and b and c are negative, discriminant is positive. Point out to students that in this configuration the discriminant can only be positive.

Calculating the Discriminant: Example 8. In this example a and b are positive and c is negative, discriminant is positive. Point out to students that in this configuration the discriminant can only be positive.

Calculating the Discriminant: Example 9. In this example c is positive and b and a are negative, discriminant is positive. Point out to students that in this configuration the discriminant can only be positive.

Calculating the Discriminant: Example 10. In this example c and b are positive and a is negative, discriminant is positive. Point out to students that in this configuration the discriminant can only be positive.