How to use the discriminant to find out what type of solutions the equation has for 4/3x^2 - 2x + 3/4 = 0?

1 Answer
May 26, 2015

4/3x^2-2x+3/4 = 0 is of the form ax^2+bx+c = 0 with a=4/3, b = -2 and c=3/4.

The discriminant is given by the formula:

Delta = b^2-4ac = (-2)^2 - (4xx(4/3)xx(3/4))

= 4 - 4 = 0

Since Delta = 0, the quadratic has one repeated rational root.

The possible cases are:

Delta < 0 The quadratic has no real roots. It has two complex roots that are conjugates of one another.

Delta = 0 The quadratic has one repeated root. If the coefficients of the quadratic are rational then that repeated root is rational too.

Delta > 0 The quadratic has two distinct real roots. If Delta is a perfect square and the coefficients of the quadratic are rational then those roots are rational too.