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Algebra II | Packer Collegiate Institute The nature of solutions and x-intercepts The nature of the solutions to a quadratic The quadratic formula is: x = a true statement. We have gotten all sorts of different solutions to quadratics For x 2 3 x + 7 = 0 , the solutions are x =
x 1.5 2.18i )

b b 2 4ac . It tells us the x values that make ax 2 + bx + c = 0 2a

3 19i 3 19i & x= (or x 1.5 + 2.18i and + 2 2 2 2

5 13 5 13 For 3 x 2 + 5 x + 1 = 0 , the solutions are x = + & x= (or x 0.23 and x 1.43 ) 6 6 6 6 For x 2 4 x + 4 = 0 , the solution is x = 2 . Some of the quadratics have solutions with imaginary numbers ( i ), while others dont. Look at the quadratic formula. Circle the part of the formula which determines whether there is an imaginary number in the solutions or not:

b b 2 4 ac x= 2a
This expression is known as: When this expression is negative, we know we will have ____ non-real solution(s) (solutions involving i ). This is because: When this expression is positive, we know we will have ____ real solution(s) (solutions not involving i ). This is because: When this expression is zero, we know we will have ____ real solution(s). This is because:

Lets check this out. 1

For the examples above, find the value of the discriminant: For x 2 3 x + 7 = 0 , the discriminant is ______. Thus, there is/are ______________ solution(s). For 3 x 2 + 5 x + 1 = 0 , the discriminant is ______. Thus, there is/are ______________ solution(s). For x 2 4 x + 4 = 0 , discriminant is ______. Thus, there is/are ______________ solution(s). The discriminant doesnt tell us what the solutions are, but they do tell us what these solutions look like.

The x-intercepts of a quadratic What do we mean when we say x-intecept? ______________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________. What is true about the y-coordinate of all x-intercepts? _______________________________________. On your graphing calculators, graph the following, and find the x-intercepts. Use ZOOM STANDARD. Calculator Instruction: To find the x-intercepts, go to CALC > ZERO > then pick the left bound and right bound so youre to the left and right of the x-intercept. y = x 2 3x + 7 y = 3x 2 + 5x + 1 y = x2 4 x + 4

x-intercept(s):

x-intercept(s):

x-intercept(s):

Look at the x-intercepts. What do you notice? Recall, since x-intercepts occur when y=0, what were really doing is finding the solutions to x 2 3 x + 7 = 0 , 3 x 2 + 5 x + 1 = 0 , and x 2 4 x + 4 = 0 . Heres where things get interesting The first parabola has ______ x-intercepts because: The second parabola has _____ x-intercepts because: The third parabola has _____ x-intercepts because:

Check yoself before you wreck yoself: How many x-intercepts do the following parabolas have? (a) f ( x) = 2 x 2 3x + 1 (b) y = 2 x 2 + 2 x + 1

(c) g ( x) = x 2 3 x + 10

(d) h( x) = 25 x 2 + 20 x + 4

Lets summarize the discriminant: For a quadratic equation 0 = ax 2 + bx + c a positive discriminant means: a negative discriminant means: a zero discriminant means: For a quadratic equation y = ax 2 + bx + c a positive discriminant means: a negative discriminant means: a zero discriminant means: