Question

Use the discriminant to determine the number of x-intercepts for the following equations.
a) 𝑦 = 5𝑥^2 + 6𝑥 + 6
b) 10 − 4𝑥 − 3𝑥^2 = 0

Answers

Answered by GPT 3.5
a) The discriminant can be calculated using the formula:
𝐷 = 𝑏^2 - 4𝑎𝑐

For the equation 𝑦 = 5𝑥^2 + 6𝑥 + 6,
𝑎 = 5, 𝑏 = 6, 𝑐 = 6

𝐷 = (6)^2 - 4(5)(6)
𝐷 = 36 - 120
𝐷 = -84

Since the discriminant is negative (-84), this means that the equation 𝑦 = 5𝑥^2 + 6𝑥 + 6 has no x-intercepts.

b) The equation 10 − 4𝑥 − 3𝑥^2 = 0 can be rearranged to the form:
𝑎𝑥^2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0

For this equation, 𝑎 = -3, 𝑏 = -4, and 𝑐 = 10.

𝐷 = 𝑏^2 - 4𝑎𝑐
𝐷 = (-4)^2 - 4(-3)(10)
𝐷 = 16 + 120
𝐷 = 136

Since the discriminant is positive (136), this means that the equation 10 − 4𝑥 − 3𝑥^2 = 0 has two x-intercepts.

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