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

−b b2 − 4ac 2a

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

2x2 + 7x + 3 = 0

Question

Which part of the quadratic formula tells you whether the quadratic equation can be solved by factoring?

            −b             b2 − 4ac            2a 

Use the part of the quadratic formula that you chose above and find its value given the following quadratic equation: 

2x2 + 7x + 3 = 0

amistre64 · Answer

they can all be solved by factoring since all quadratics have 2 roots

amistre64 · Answer

either 2 real roots
         2 repeated roots
     or 2 complex roots

anonymous · Answer

I need a numerical answer*

amistre64 · Answer

do you remember what we just went over in the last question?  what part defines how many roots it gets?

anonymous · Answer

Yes.

amistre64 · Answer

the roots define the factors, so the thing that defines the roots also defines the factoring

anonymous · Answer

Ok

amistre64 · Answer

can you show me which one that is in the options above?

anonymous · Answer

For the question I have to answer it's fill in the blank so I don't have any choices to chose from.

amistre64 · Answer

Which part of the quadratic formula tells you whether the quadratic equation can be solved by factoring?

            −b             b2 − 4ac            2a 
                ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
              these look like choices to me

anonymous · Answer

Oh whoops. Yes those are. Sorry :/

amistre64 · Answer

since the radicand defines the roots, and the roots define if it can be factored; which option is most like the radicand part of the quadratic formula?

anonymous · Answer

b^2-4ac?

amistre64 · Answer

exactly

amistre64 · Answer

now i spose they gave you a specific example to pull a b and c from

anonymous · Answer

yes 2x^2 + 7x + 3 = 0

amistre64 · Answer

can you define a b and c from that for me?

anonymous · Answer

a= 2 b= 7 and c=3

amistre64 · Answer

correct, so lets fill those in to the discriminant

b^2 - 4ac
7^2 -4(2)(3)

anonymous · Answer

ok

anonymous · Answer

Once they are filled in what do we do? Is that the final answer?

anonymous · Answer

if the discriminant is a perfect square, like 25 in this case, you can easily solve by factorizing.

anonymous · Answer

Sorry this really is not my best math topic. I know how to factor but im not sure what I should be factoring in this problem.

anonymous · Answer

But i dont think problem wants you to factor anything. it wants you to calculate the part that tells you if it can be solved by factor. and that answer =b^2-4ac= 25. Two things are needed to understand this prob - quadratic forumula and solving quadratic by fatcors . only then it wil make sense

anonymous · Answer

Ok thank you (: