Question

What is the discriminant of the polynomial below 2x2 + 5x - 8?

Answer 1

The discriminant is 89

Answer 2

The discriminant of the given polynomial is 89.

Explanation:

The given polynomial is

`P(x)=2x^2+5x-8` .... (1)

If a polynomial is defined as

`P(x)=ax^2+bx+c` .... (2)

then the discriminant of the polynomial is

`D=b^2-4ac`

From (1) and (2), we get

`a=2,b=5,c=-8`

The discriminant of the given polynomial is

`D=(5)^2-4(2)(-8)`

`D=25+64`

`D=89`

Therefore the discriminant of the given polynomial is 89.