The Discriminant

What should you learn?

 I understand the nature of the solutions of the general equation by using the discriminant

 I can determine the relative position of a line and a parabola

Key Word Meaning

Roots

Discriminant

Roots of a Quadratic Equation

Solve the following three quadratics equations using the formula
√
−b ± b2 − 4ac
x=
2a

(i) x2 + 2x − 8 = 0
q
2
± − 4( )( )
x =
2( )
p
±
=
2
∴ x = or x =

(ii) x2 + 6x + 9 = 0
q
2
± − 4( )( )
x =
2( )
p
±
=
2
∴ x =

(iii) x2 + 2x + 6 = 0
q
2
± − 4( )( )
x =
2( )
p
±
=
2
∴ x
 Guided Practice
The discriminant is defined as
∆ = b2 − 4ac

The sign of the discriminant tells you how many there are for a particular quadratic equation.
There is also a connection between the discriminant and the corresponding parabola y = ax2 + bx + c.

Nature of
∆ Parabola
Roots

Real a>0 a<0

x or x
Distinct
Roots

Repeated a>0 or a<0

Real Root
x

Real
a>0 or a<0
Roots
x

Guided Practice
Example
Find the values of k for which x2 + (k − 2)x + 4 = 0 has two distinct roots.

Solution :
When x2 + (k − 2)x + 4 = 0; a = , b=( ), c = .

For two distinct roots b2 − 4ac 0

( )2 − 4( )( ) 0
2
− + − 0
+ +
2 k
− − 0

( )( ) 0
−

The critical values are and .

So k or k .
 Factorise or Formula?
Note: If a, b and c are and ∆ is a number then the equation has two rational
roots which can be found by factorisation.

x2 − 11x + 18 = 0 x2 + 5x − 2 = 0

x2 − 4x − 21 = 0 x2 − x − 2 = 5

x2 + 4x + 4 = 9 x2 + 5x + 4 = 0

x2 − 9x + 22 = 4 x2 − 4x + 13 = 0

x2 − 3x + 9 = 0 x2 + 3x − 10 = 0

x2 + 2x − 30 = 5 x2 + 5x − 12 = 0

Practice
1. Use the quadratic formula to calculate the solutions, where they exists, of each of the
following equations.
Round your answers to two decimal places.

(a) 4x2 − 7x + 3 = 0 (b) 2x2 + x − 10 = 0 (c) 9x2 − 6x − 11 = 0

(d) 3x2 − 5x − 7 = 0 (e) x2 + x − 8 = 0 (f) 4x2 − 6x − 9 = 0

(g) 2x2 + 17x = 9 (h) x2 − 14x = 0 (i) x2 + 2x = 10

(j) 3x2 + 8x − 1 = 0 (k) x2 + 6 = 0 (l) 2x2 + 3 − 8x = 0

(m) 4x2 = 5x + 3 (n) 5x2 − 4x + 12 = 0 (o) x2 = 6x + 5

2. By using ∆, state the nature of the solutions of:

(a) x2 + 7x − 3 = 0 (b) x2 − 3x + 2 = 0 (c) 3x2 + 2x − 1 = 0

(d) 5x2 + 4x − 3 = 0 (e) x2 + x + 5 = 0 (f) 16x2 − 8x + 1 = 0

3. For each of the following quadratic equations, determine the discriminant in its
simplest form and find the value(s) of m for which the equation has:
(i) a repeated root, (ii) two distinct real roots, (iii) no real roots.

(a) x2 + 4x + m = 0 (b) mx2 + 3x + 2 = 0 (c) mx2 − 3x + 1 = 0

4. Find the values of k for which 4x2 − (k − 2)x + 9 = 0 has two equal roots.

5. Find the values of k for which 3x2 − 4x + 5 − k = 0 has two distinct roots.
 How many ways?

There are possible different ways that a straight line can be positioned with a parabola.

Key Word Meaning

Tangent

Guided Practice
We can determine the number of ways a straight line can be positioned with a parabola by creating a
quadratic equation.
The sign of the discriminant of this quadratic equation tells you how many points of intersection between
the straight line and the parabola.

Points of
∆ Parabola
Intersection

Distinct
Points

Point

Points
 Guided Practice
Example
Find the values of k for which y = kx − 3 does not intersect the parabola y = x2 − 2x + 1.

Solution :
First, we need to create a quadratic equation by setting the two equations equal to each other.

x2 − 2x + 1 = kx − 3

x2 − 2x +1 = 0

x2 − ( )x + = 0

Since the line and parabola do not intersect, b2 − 4ac 0

( )2 − 4( )( ) 0
2
+ + − 0
2 + +
+ − 0 k
( )( ) 0
−

The critical values are and .

So k .

Develop
1. Find the values of k for which the line y = kx + 1 is a tangent to the parabola
y = 2x2 + x + 3.

2. Find the values of k for which the x−axis is a tangent to the parabola
y = x2 + (3 − k)x − (4k + 3).

3. Find the values of k for which the line y = 3x + 1 cuts the parabola y = x2 + kx + 2
in two distinct points.

4. Find the values of k for which the line y = k − x cuts the parabola y = x2 − 7x + 4 in
two distinct points.

5. Find the values of m for which the line y = mx−5 does not the parabola y = x2 −5x+4.