How do you find the discriminant of #x^2+4x-1=0# and use it to determine if the equation has one, two real or two imaginary roots?

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Answer 1 · 2017-06-27T19:22:40

The answer is given below.

In the equation

#x^2 + 4x - 1 = 0#

a = 1, b = 4, c = -1

Discriminant = #b^2 - 4ac#

=> #4^2 - 4 xx 1 xx (-1)#

=> #16 - 4#

=> #12#

As the discriminant is greater than zero it means that the equation has two distinct real roots.