discriminant

Submitted by tbarnes on 11. February 2007 - 7:50

Use the discriminant to determine whether each quadratic polynomial can be factored, then factor the ones that are not prime. 1. 2x^2 – x +4

Submitted by Tutor on 11. February 2007 - 7:55.

The Quadratic equation can only be factorized of the discriminant is not negative

f the quadratic equations is of the form Ax² +Bx +C

Then the discriminant is given by

If this value is not negative we can factorize the expression Taking the given problem

We have 2x^2 – x +4

We have

A=2

B=-1

C=4

Calculating Discriminat we have

= sqrt (-31)

So this is not positive so the quadratic equation cannot be factorized

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