Which part of the quadratic formula tells you whether the quadratic equation can be solved by factoring?

-b b^2 - 4ac 2a

Use the part of the quadratic formula that you chose above and find its value given the following quadratic equation:

2x^2 + 7x + 3 = 0

Question

Which part of the quadratic formula tells you whether the quadratic equation can be solved by factoring?

-b      b^2 - 4ac     2a 

Use the part of the quadratic formula that you chose above and find its value given the following quadratic equation: 

2x^2 + 7x + 3 = 0

anonymous · Answer

I do not understand what its asking for its a written thing apparently its asking for a new equation?

anonymous · Answer

b^2 - 4ac

If this (called the DISCRIMINANT) equals a positive, perfect square, then the whole standard form equation can be solved using integer factors.

b^2 = 7^2 = 49
4ac = 4*2*3 = 24

49-24 = 25 ------> perfect square of 5! 

so we can bother trying to factor into:

(2x+1)(x+3) = 0

and the roots would be x = -1/2 and x = -3