Question

What exactly does the quadratic formula do?

Answer 1

gives the roots to a quadratic equation, gives the solutions

Answer 2

gives you the root

Answer 3

The roots of the equation show where zeros occur?

Answer 4

have you done quadratic equations?

Answer 5

Oh yes, I just need refreshing. I was working a problem: The line y=x-6 has exactly one point in common with the circle x^2+y^2=r^2. What is the value of r^2?

Answer 6

So I substituted y=x-6 into the y part of the circle equation.

Answer 7

Then I solved it = to 0

Answer 8

Then applied the quadratic formula

Answer 9

And then it said something about using the discriminant, and I forgot what that was also.

Answer 10

yes, the so-called "factors" or "roots" of an equation, are the Zeros of the variable, for the case of "x", the x-intercepts

Answer 11

Thanks! What about using the discriminant in this problem? Why do you?

Answer 12

the discriminant is just the expression inside the square root of the formula

Answer 13

What does it provide vs. the entire answer when you plug an equation into the quad formula?

Answer 14

*what does it do

Answer 15

The discriminant tells you how many real roots there are.

Answer 16

A positive discriminant gives 2
A zero discriminant gives 1
A negative discriminant gives 2 non-real (complex) solutions.

Answer 17

pretty much just like any square root expression, if it becomes negative, then you'd get a 'i' value, or if you get an integer or a float

Answer 18

Thank you all and God bless.

Answer 19

God is good.

Answer 20

http://gorightly.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/jesus-elvis.jpg