Question

What does it mean to find the discriminant of an equation such as x+18 = -x^2

Answer 1

• Calculation of the discriminant of the polynomial : 18+x+x²

1. Applying the formula to calculate the discriminant Δ=b²−4 ⋅ a ⋅ c with :     a = 1, b= 1, c = 18
2. Δ = (1)² − 4 ⋅ (1) ⋅ (18) = 1 −72 = −71  
3. The discriminant of the polynomial 18+x+x² is equal to −71

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