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The Discriminant | Year 1 Pure | A Level Maths

The discriminant is a powerful tool that tells you about the roots of a quadratic without solving it. In this lesson you will learn how to use b^2 — 4ac > 0 for two distinct real roots, b^2 — 4ac = 0 for a repeated root, and b^2 — 4ac < 0 for no real roots, and how to apply these conditions to find unknown coefficients or to describe the geometry of a parabola. The discriminant is regularly tested both directly and as a step within larger problems.

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Lesson Video On The Discriminant

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