Strategic Intervention Material
in Mathematics-IX
The Nature of the Roots
and The Discriminant
Prepared by:
Maricel T. Mas
Lipay High School
Guide Card
Least Mastered Skill:
• Identify the Nature of the Roots
Sub tasks:
Identify values of a, b and c of a quadratic
equation,
Find the discriminant; and
Describe the nature of roots of quadratic
equation.
The Standard Form of
Quadratic Equation is…
ax2 + bx + c = 0
The Quadratic Formula is…
b b 4ac 2
x
2a
WHY USE THE
QUADRATIC FORMULA?
The quadratic formula allows you to solve ANY quadratic
equation, even if you cannot factor it.
An important piece of the quadratic formula is what’s
under the radical:
b2 – 4ac
This piece is called the discriminant.
???
WHY IS THE DISCRIMINANT
IMPORTANT?
The discriminant tells you the number and types of answers
(roots) you will get. The discriminant can be +, –, or 0
which actually tells you a lot! Since the discriminant is
under a radical, think about what it means if you have
a positive or negative number or 0 under the radical.
How to find the discriminant?
Example 1: Find the discriminant of
2
x – 2x – 15 = 0
Step 1: Write first the
equation into
standard form
Step 2: Identify the value of a, b and c
a= 1 b = -2 c = -15
2
Step 3: Substitute these values to b – 4ac
Solution:
2
D = b – 4ac
2
D = (-2) – 4(1)(15)
D = 64
Now it’s your turn
Activity No. 1.a : Set Me To Your Standard
Directions: Rewrite each quadratic equation in standard form.
2
1 x – 5x = 14
2
2. 2x + x = 5
2
3. x + 25 = 10x
2
4. 4x = 9x - 7
2
5. 3x + 2x = 5
Now it’s your turn
Activity No. 1.b
Directions: Using the given quadratic equations on activity no
1.b, identify the values of a, b, and c.
a = ___ b = ___ c = ___
2
1. x – 5x – 14 = 0
2 a = ___ b = ___ c = ___
2. 2x + x = 5
2
3. x + 25 = 10x a = ___ b = ___ c = ___
2
4. 4x – 9x + 7 = 0
a = ___ b = ___ c = ___
2
5. 3x + 2x - 5 = 0
a = ___ b = ___ c = ___
Activity No. 2
Directions: Using the values of a, b, and c of Activity No. 1, find the discriminant
2
of the following using b – 4ac:
2
1. x – 5x – 14 = 0
a. 81 b. 11 c. -31
2
2. 2x + x = 5
a. 39 b. - 39 c. 41
2
3. x + 25 = 10x
a. 0 b. 1 c. 100
2
4. 4x – 9x + 7 = 0
a. - 31 b. 31 c. 81
2
5. 3x + 2x - 5 = 0
a. -56 b. -64 c. 64
Let’s evaluate the
following equations. 2. ) 2x2 + x – 5 = 0
What number is under the
radical when simplified?
D= 41
b2 – 4ac > 0, not a perfect
1. x2 – 5x – 14 = 0
square
What number is under the radical
The nature of the roots:
when simplified?
REAL, IRRATIONAL, UNEQUAL
D=81
b2 – 4ac > 0, perfect square
4.) 4x2 – 9x + 7 = 0
The nature of the roots :
REAL, RATIONAL, UNEQUAL
What number is under the
radical when simplified?
3.) x2 – 10x + 25 = 0
D = –31
2
b – 4ac < 0, (negative)
What number is under the
The nature of the roots:
radical when simplified?
imaginary
D=0
2
b – 4ac = 0
The nature of the roots:
REAL, RATIONAL, EQUAL
Activity No. 3
Determine whether the given discriminant is
a)greater than zero, perfect square
b) Greater than zero, not a perfect
square
c) Equals zero
d) Less than zero
____1) 95 ____3) -9 ____5) 63
____4) 0
____2) 225
Activity # 4
Determine whether the given discriminant is
a) real, rational, equal
b) real, rational, unequal
c) real, irrational, unequal
d) imaginary
____1) 12 ____3) 49 ____1) 27
____4) -5
____2) 0
Activity No. 5: Try These.
For each of the following quadratic equations,
a) Find the value of the discriminant, and
b) Describe the number and type of roots.
2
2
____1) x + 14x + 49 = 0 ____3) 3x + 8x + 11 = 0
D=____, ____________________ D=____, ____________________
2 2
____2) . x + 5x – 2 = 0 ____4) x + 5x – 24 = 0
D=____, ____________________ D=____, ____________________
Assessment Card No. 1:
Write the values of a, b & c in the quadratic equation, then check the
discriminant and nature of roots of quadratic equation .
1. x2 – 8x + 15 = 0 2. 2x2 + 4x + 4 = 0
I. a = ___ b = ___ c = ___ I. a = ___ b = ___ c = ___
II. __ 4 __) 0 __ ) -4 II. __) 16 __) 0 __ ) -16
__real, rational, equal __real, rational, equal
__real, rational, unequal __real, rational, unequal
__real, irrational, unequal __real, irrational, unequal
__imaginary __imaginary
3. 3x2 + 12x + 12 = 0
I. a = ___ b = ___ c = ___
II. __) 4 __) 0 __ ) -4
__real, rational, equal
__real, rational, unequal 4. 8x2 - 9x + 11 = 0
__real, irrational, unequal
__imaginary
I. a = ___ b = ___ c = ___
II. __) -172 __) -721 __ ) -271
__real, rational, equal
__real, rational, unequal
__real, irrational, unequal
__imaginary
Enrichment:
Directions: Determine the nature of the roots of the following
quadratic equations.
Answer Card
1.) I. a=1 b= -8 c=15
II. 4
Activity No. 1.a Activity No. 3 III. real, rational, unequal
1. b 2.) I. a= 2 b = 4 c=4
1. x2 – 5x – 14 =0
2. 2x2 + x – 5 = 0
2. a II. -16
3. x2 -10x + 25 = 0 3. d III. imaginary
4. 4x2 – 9x + 7 = 0 4. c 3.) I. a= 3 b= 12 c= 12
5. 3x2 + 2x – 5 = 0 5. b II. 0
III. real, rational, unequal
Activity No. 1.b. Activity No. 5 4.) I. a= 8 b= -9 c= 11
1. D=0,real, rational, equal
II. -271
1. a=1 b = -5 c=-14 2. D= 33, real, irrational,
2. a=2 b=1 c = -5 unequal III. imaginary
3. a=1 b = -10 c = 25 3. D= -68, imaginary
4. a=4 b = -9 c=7 4. D= 121, real, rational,
5. a=3 b=2 c = -5 unequal
Activity No. 2 Activity No. 4
1. a. 81 1. c
2. c. 41 2. a
3. a. 0 3. b
4. a. -31 4. d
5. c. 64 5. b
References
Jose-Dilao, Soledad, Orines, and Bernabe,
Julieta G. Advanced Algebra, Trigonometry
and Statistics IV, SD Publications, Inc, 2009, p.
73
Learner’s Material Mathematics – Grade 9
First Edition, 2014 pp. 65-70.
