What is the discriminant of ax^2 + bx + c = 0?

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Multiple Choice

What is the discriminant of ax^2 + bx + c = 0?

Explanation:
The discriminant is the number under the square root in the quadratic formula, which for ax^2 + bx + c = 0 is b^2 - 4ac. This value tells you how many real solutions the equation has and whether they’re distinct: if b^2 - 4ac > 0, there are two distinct real roots; if b^2 - 4ac = 0, there’s one real (repeated) root; if b^2 - 4ac < 0, there are no real roots (complex). So the discriminant is b^2 - 4ac. The other expressions either take the square root or change signs, so they don’t match the standard discriminant.

The discriminant is the number under the square root in the quadratic formula, which for ax^2 + bx + c = 0 is b^2 - 4ac. This value tells you how many real solutions the equation has and whether they’re distinct: if b^2 - 4ac > 0, there are two distinct real roots; if b^2 - 4ac = 0, there’s one real (repeated) root; if b^2 - 4ac < 0, there are no real roots (complex). So the discriminant is b^2 - 4ac. The other expressions either take the square root or change signs, so they don’t match the standard discriminant.

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