Using the Quadratic Formula and the

Discriminant

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Warm Up

Match each quadratic equation with the best method

for solving it. Be prepared to justify your answers.

Equation: Method:
1. A. Completing the square
2. B. factoring
3. C. graphing
4. D. Square Root Property

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Warm Up

Match each quadratic equation with the best method

for solving it. Be prepared to justify your answers.

Equation: Method:
1. D A. Completing the square
2. A B. factoring
3. B C. graphing
4. C D. Square Root Property

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Standards for Mathematical Content

N.CN.7
Solve quadratic equations with real coefficients that have
complex solutions.
N.CN.8
Extend polynomial identities to the complex numbers.
A.SSE.1b
Interpret complicated expressions by viewing one or
more of their parts as a single entity.

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Standards for Mathematical Practice

MP1
Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
MP4
Model with mathematics.

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Lesson Goals

• Solve quadratic equations by using the

Quadratic Formula.
• Determine the number and type of roots of a
quadratic equation.

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Learn
Using the Quadratic Formula

To solve any quadratic equation, you can use the

Quadratic Formula.

Key Concept • Quadratic Formula

The solutions of a quadratic equation of the form
where , are given by the following formula.

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Example 1
Real Roots, c Is Positive

CONTEST At the World Championship Punkin

Chunkin contest, pumpkins are launched hundreds
of yards. The path of a pumpkin can be modeled by
where is the height in feet and is the number of
seconds after launch.
Part A Use the Quadratic Formula to solve
.
Part B Interpret the roots.

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Example 1
Real Roots, c Is Positive
Part A Use the Quadratic Formula to solve
.

Quadratic Formula

,,

Square and multiply.

Add.
or Multiply by .
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Example 1
Real Roots, c Is Positive

The approximate solutions are seconds and second.

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Example 1
Real Roots, c Is Positive

Part B Interpret the roots.

The negative root does not make sense in this context
because the pumpkin launches at seconds. The
pumpkin lands after seconds.

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Example 1
Real Roots, c Is Positive

Think About It!

Why are the roots not at 0 and 8.1 seconds, when the
pumpkin is launched and when it lands?

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Example 1
Real Roots, c Is Positive

Check
DIVING A diver jumps from a diving platform that is meters
high. Her arc can be modeled by where is her height in
meters and is time in seconds.

Part A Solve
Part B Interpret the roots.
The diver enters the water after approximately ____ seconds.

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Example 1
Real Roots, c Is Positive

Check
DIVING A diver jumps from a diving platform that is meters
high. Her arc can be modeled by where is her height in
meters and is time in seconds.
Part A Solve
Part B Interpret the roots.
The diver enters the water after approximately 1.7 seconds.

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Example 2
Real Roots, c Is Negative

Solve by using the Quadratic Formula.

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Example 2
Real Roots, c Is Negative

Quadratic Formula
,,
Simplify.
Product Property of Square Roots

Divide the numerator and denominator by 2.

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Example 2
Real Roots, c Is Negative

Check
Solve by using the Quadratic Formula.

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Example 2
Real Roots, c Is Negative

Check
Solve by using the Quadratic Formula.

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Example 3
Complex Roots

Solve by using the Quadratic Formula.

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Example 3
Complex Roots

Quadratic Formula
,,
Simplify.
Product Property of Square Roots
Write as a complex number.
Divide the numerator and denominator by .

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Example 3
Complex Roots

Check
Solve by using the Quadratic Formula.

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Example 3
Complex Roots

Check
Solve by using the Quadratic Formula.

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Learn
Using the Discriminant

In the Quadratic Formula, the discriminant is the expression

under the radical sign, The value of the discriminant can be
used to determine the number and type of roots of a
quadratic equation.

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Learn
Using the Discriminant
Key Concept: Discriminant
Consider where , , and are rational numbers and .

Value of Type and Number Example of Graph of

Discriminant of Roots Related Function
2 real, rational roots
is a
perfect square.
2 real, irrational
is not a roots
perfect square.

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Learn
Using the Discriminant
Value of Type and Number Example of Graph
Discriminant of Roots of Related Function
real, rational roots

complex roots

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Learn
Using the Discriminant

Talk About It!

Why are the roots of a quadratic equation complex if the
discriminant is negative?

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Example 4
The Discriminant, Real Roots

Examine .
Part A Find the value of the discriminant for
.
Part B Describe the number and type of roots for the
equation.

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Example 4
The Discriminant, Real Roots

Part A Find the value of the discriminant for

.

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Example 4
The Discriminant, Real Roots

Part B Describe the number and type of roots for the

equation.
The discriminant is nonzero, so there are two roots. The
discriminant is positive and not a perfect square, so the roots
are irrational.

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Example 4
The Discriminant, Real Roots

Think About It!

Is it possible for a quadratic equation to have zero real or
complex roots?

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Example 4
The Discriminant, Real Roots

Check
Examine .
Part A Find the value of the discriminant for _____
Part B Describe the number and type of roots for the
equation.
There is/are __________ root(s).

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Example 4
The Discriminant, Real Roots

Check
Examine .
Part A Find the value of the discriminant for
Part B Describe the number and type of roots for the equation.
There is/are 1 rational root(s).

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Example 5
The Discriminant, Complex Roots

Examine
Part A Find the value of the discriminant for
.
Part B Describe the number and type of roots for the
equation.

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Example 5
The Discriminant, Complex Roots

Part A Find the value of the discriminant for

.

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Example 5
The Discriminant, Complex Roots

Part B Describe the number and type of roots for the

equation.
The discriminant is nonzero, so there are two roots. The
discriminant is negative, so the roots are complex.

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Example 5
The Discriminant, Complex Roots

Check
Examine .
Part A Find the value of the discriminant for
. ______
Part B Describe the number and type of roots for the
equation.
There is/are __________ root(s).

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Example 5
The Discriminant, Complex Roots

Check
Examine .
Part A Find the value of the discriminant for
.
Part B Describe the number and type of roots for the
equation.
There is/are 2 complex root(s).

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Exit Ticket

Match the nature of the discriminant to the type of

possible solution.

Discriminant Type of Solution

1. A. imaginary
2. B. rational
3. C. real and equal
4. is a perfect square. D. real and unequal

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Exit Ticket

Match the nature of the discriminant to the type of

possible solution.

Discriminant Type of Solution

1. A A. imaginary
2. C B. rational
3. D C. real and equal
4. is a perfect square. B D. real and unequal

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