Question

The graph of a quadratic function y = ax^2 + bx + c is shown. Tell whether the discriminant of ax^2 + bx + c = 0 is positive negative, or zero.

Answer 1

Answer: Negative.

Explanation:

1. By definition, if the discriminant is negative, the quadratic equation does not have real solutions, it has two imaginary solutions. If the discriminant is zero the quadratic has one solution. If the discriminant is positive, the quadratic equation has two distinct solutions.

2. You can observe in the graph attached that the function never cuts the x-axis, this means that this equations does not have real solutions. Therefore, the discriminant is negative.

Answer 2

The discriminant is negative

Explanation:

The graph shows the parabola with branches go down in negative y-direction. This gives you that a<0.

Since parabola has no x-intercepts, then the equation
`ax^2+bx+c=0` has no solutions and the discriminant is less than 0.