How do you find the discriminant and how many solutions does p^2+12p=-4p2+12p=4 have?

1 Answer
May 3, 2015

A quadratic equation of the form
ax^2+bx+c=0ax2+bx+c=0
has a discriminant Delta = b^2-4ac

The quadratic has:

  • no solutions if Dleta <0
  • 1 solution if Delta =0
  • 2 solutions if Delta >0

Rewriting p^2+12p=-14
in a standard form:
p^2+12p+14=0

Delta = (12)^2 - 4(1)(14)
= 144 -64
=80

Since Delta >0
the given quadratic has
2 solutions