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MATHEMATICS
FIRST QUARTER – MODULE 3
The Nature of the Roots
of Quadratic Equations

Laboratory High School |

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What I Need to Know

This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you
characterize the roots of quadratic equations using the discriminant. The scope of
this module permits it to be used in many different learning situations. The language
used recognizes the diverse vocabulary level of students. The lessons are arranged to
follow the standard sequence of the course. But the order in which you read them can
be changed to correspond with the textbook you are now using.

The module has one lesson:

Lesson 1 – The Nature of Roots of Quadratic Equations

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. characterize the roots of quadratic equations using the discriminant.

What I Know

Directions: In this part, you will find out how much you already know about
the lesson in this module. Read the items carefully and choose the letter of
your answer. Write your answer on a separate sheet.

1. Determine the values of a, b, and c of the quadratic equation 3x2 – 4x =

8.
A. a=3, b=4, c=8 C. a=3, b=-4, c=-8
B. a=3, b=-4, c=8 D. a=-3, b=-4, c=-8

2. Which part of the quadratic formula expresses the discriminant of quadratic

equations? Quadratic formula :

A. B. C. b2 – 4ac D.

3. What is the nature of the roots of a quadratic equation with discriminant of 10?
A. Real, rational and equal C. Real, rational and not equal B.
Real, irrational and not equal D. No real roots

4. Which of the following could be the discriminant of a quadratic equation with

roots that are real, rational and are not equal?
A. -1 B. 0 C. 7 D. 25

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5. Evaluate: (-3)2 – 4(1)(7)
A. -37 B. -19 C. 19 D. 37

6. Which expression shows the discriminant of the quadratic equation

4x2 – 8x = -21?
A. (8)2 – 4(4)(21) C. (-8)2 – 4(4)(21)
B. (-8)2 – 4(4)(-21) D. -(8)2 – 4(4)(21)

7. What is the discriminant of (x – 2) (x + 4) = 0?

A. -28 B. -8 C. 28 D. 36

8. How many real roots does the quadratic equation x2 + 2x + 5 have?

A. 0 B. 1 C. 2 D. 3

9. Find b in b2 – 4ac = -11 if a=1 and c=5.

A. -3 B. 0 C. 2 D. 9

10. Do you agree that when the quadratic equation is a perfect square trinomial, its
discriminant is zero?
A. Yes, because c=0 then 4ac=0 C. Yes, because b2-4ac=0.
B. Yes, because b=0 then b2= 0 D. No, because it is not possible.

11. Which of the following quadratic equations has a negative discriminant?

A. x2 – 6x + 3 = 0 C. x2 + 2x – 3 = 0
B. x2 + 6x – 3 = 0 D. x2 – 2x + 3 = 0

12. What are the values of the discriminants of quadratic equations with real, rational
and equal roots?
A. b2 – 4ac = 0
B. b2 – 4ac > 0 and perfect square
C. b2 – 4ac > 0 but not perfect square
D. b2 – 4ac < 0

13. What is the value of k in 2x2 + 3x + k = 0 if its discriminant is 1?

A. -2 B. 0 C. 1 D. 2

14. Which of the following can be the value of k in x 2 + kx + 9 = 0 if its discriminant

is zero?
A. -36 B. 0 C. 6 D. 36

15. Which of the following is NOT a possible value of k in x2 + kx + 4 = 0 if it has no

real root?
A. 5 B. 3 C. 0 D. -2

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Lesson
The Nature of Roots of
1 Quadratic Equations
Every day is a good opportunity to learn new things and make connections on
the things you already know. The knowledge and skills you previously learned will
help you understand the topic in this self-learning module. Start this lesson by
checking your prior knowledge on writing quadratic equation into its standard form.

What’s New

Activity 2: Nature of my Roots

Directions: Determine the roots of each quadratic equation and describe it as

real, rational & equal; real, rational & not equal; real, irrational & not equal or no
real roots. Write your solution on a separate sheet.

1. 4x2 + 4x + 1=0
2. (x – 3)2 = 0
3. 3x2 – 8x + 5 = 0
4. x2 = 49
5. 5x2 + 10x + 3 = 0
6. x2 – x – 3=0
7. x2 = -2 (2x + 3)
8. x2 – x + 5 = 0

Questions:

1. Are all the equations in standard form? Is it important to write the quadratic
equations in standard form? Why?

2. What can you say about the roots of each quadratic equation?

3. Compare the roots of the quadratic equations

a. What equations have real, rational & equal roots?

b. What equations have real, rational & not equal roots?

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 c. What equations have real, irrational & not equal roots?

d. What equations have no real roots?

4. Look at your solutions, what have you observe about the values inside the radical
sign especially between equations with the same characteristics of roots.

What is It

In the last activity, you determined and described the roots of the quadratic equations.
Now, let us discuss how quadratic equations have roots that are real & equal,
rational & not equal, irrational & not equal or no real roots.

Let’s take the equations 4x2 + 4x + 1 = 0 and (x – 3)2 = 0 and find their roots using quadratic
formula.

The roots of 4x2 + 4x + 1 = 0 are and ,and they are real, rational and equal while
the roots of x2 + 6x + 9 = 0 are 3 and 3, and they are also real, rational and equal.

What is common between them? Look at the solution again and notice the encircled values.
Correct! Both are zero.

Now, where did we get these values? These are the values of b2 – 4ac which is inside the
radical sign. Did you find it in the quadratic formula?

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So we can say, when the value of b2 – 4ac = 0, the roots are real, rational and equal.

Next, let’s determine the roots of 3x2 – 8x + 5 = 0 and x2 – 49 = 0.

The roots of 3x2 – 8x + 5 = 0 are and , and they are real, rational and not equal while
the roots of x2 – 49 = 0 are 7 and -7, and they are also real, rational and not equal.

Notice the encircled values, 4 and 196. Are they positive? Are they perfect square?

So, when the value of b2 – 4ac > 0 and is a perfect square, the roots are real, rational
and not equal.

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Let’s determine the roots5x2 + 10x + 3 = 0 and x2 – x – 3 = 0.

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 The values of the expression b 2 – 4ac is called discriminant. This is use to
characterize the nature of roots of quadratic equation. The equation should be
written in standard form (ax2 + bx + c = 0).
Based on our examples above, we can cay that:
 Whenb2 – 4ac = 0, the roots are real, rational and equal.
 When b2 – 4ac > 0 (positive number) and a perfect square, the roots are real, rational
and not equal.
 When b2 – 4ac > 0 (positive number) and not a perfect square, the roots are real,
irrational and not equal.
 When b2 – 4ac < 0 (negative number), the equation has no real roots.

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Now, we can characterize the nature of the roots of quadratic equations without
determining the roots but using the discriminant.

Let’s have some more examples.

Characterize the nature of roots of following quadratic equations.

1. (x – 4)2 = 0
2. 4x2 = 9

Solutions

In solving for the discriminant, make sure that the quadratic equations are in
standard form (ax2+bx+c=0). This will help you in determining the values of a, b
and c.

1. (x – 4)2 = 0

Write the quadratic equation in standard form.

(x – 4)2 = 0

x2 – 8x + 16 = 0

a=1 b = -8 c = 16

Discriminant = b2 – 4ac
= (-8)2 – 4(1)(16) By Substitution
= 64 – 64 Perform the operations.
Discriminant = 0

Since the discriminant is zero, then the roots are real and equal.

2. 4x2 = 9

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 There are times that you will not be given the quadratic equation, instead
the values of the coefficients are given.

Example: Determine nature of roots of the quadratic equation when a=4, b= -2

and c = 3.

Solution:
Since the values needed are already given, substitute the values to the expression
b2 – 4ac then evaluate.

a= -4 b= -2 c= 3

Discriminant = b2 – 4ac
= (-4)2 – 4(-2)(3) By Substitution
= 16 + 24 Perform the operations.
Discriminant = 40

The discriminant is positive and not a perfect square therefore the roots are
irrational and not equal.

There are also times where the discriminant is given and you are to solve
for the unknown value in the given quadratic equation.

Example: Find the value of k in the quadratic equation 8x2+kx + 2 = 0 if the

discriminant is 0.

Solution:
8x2 + kx + 2 = 0

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What’s More
I. Describe the nature of roots of a quadratic equation given the value of
the discriminant. Write your answer on a separate sheet. WRITE YOUR
ANSWER ON A SEPARATE SHEET OF PAPER.

_________________1. 36 ________________6. -49

_________________2. -17 ________________7. 676

_________________3. 0 ________________8. -100

_________________4. 196 ________________9. 1

_________________5. 143 ________________10. 2025

II. Find the value of the discriminant and nature of zeroes/roots in each
quadratic function. WRITE YOUR ANSWER ON A SEPARATE SHEET OF
PAPER.

1. x2 – 2x + 4 = 0 discriminant: ______ nature of roots: _________________

2. 4x2 – 5x + 12 = 0 discriminant: ______ nature of roots: ________________

3. x2 + 4x – 21 = 0 discriminant: ______ nature of roots: _________________

4. x2 – 9x + 7 = 0 discriminant: ______ nature of roots: _________________

5. x2 + 3x + 3 = 0 discriminant: ______ nature of roots: __________________

Assessment
Summative Test

Directions: Read the items carefully. Choose the correct answer and write it
on a separate sheet.

1. Determine the values of a, b, c of the quadratic equation 2x 2 + 4x = 8.

A. a=2, b=4, c=8 C. a=2, b=4, c=-8
B. a=2, b=-4, c=8 D. a=-2, b=-4, c=-8

2. Which part of the quadratic formula expresses the discriminant of

quadratic equations? Quadratic formula:

A. b2 B. b2 – 4ac C. D.

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3. What is the nature of the roots of a quadratic equation with discriminant
of 169?
A. Real, rational and equal C. Real, rational and not equal B.
Real, irrational and not equal D. No real roots

4. Which of the following could be the discriminant of a quadratic equation

with roots that are real, rational and are not equal?
A. -6 B. 0 C. 1 D. 123

5. Evaluate: (-2)2 – 4(1)(-2)

A. -4 B. -0 C. 4 D. 12

2. Which expression shows the discriminant of the quadratic equation x2

= 121?
A. (0)2 – 4(1)(121) C. (0)2 – 4(0)(121)
B. (0)2 – 4(1)(-121) D. -(0)2 – 4(-1)(-121)

3. What is discriminant of x (x + 4) = 0?
A. -16 B. -4 C. 0 D. 16

4. How many real roots does the quadratic equation 4x2 – 12x + 9 have?
A. 0 B. 1 C. 2 D. 3

5. Find value of a in if the discriminant of the quadratic equation is 25 when

b=5 and c=0.
A. -3 B. 0 C. 1 D. 5

6. What is the nature of the roots of a quadratic equation where c=0?

A. Real, rational and equal C. Real, rational and not equal B.
Real, irrational and not equal D. No real roots

7. Which of the following quadratic equation has a zero discriminant?

A. x2 – 6x + 3 = 0 C. x2 + 2x – 3 = 0
C. x2 + 6x – 3 = 0 D. x2 – 2x + 1 = 0

8. What are the values of the discriminants for the quadratic equations to
have real, irrational and not equal roots?
A. b2 – 4ac = 0 C. b2 – 4ac > 0 but not perfect square B. b2 – 4ac < 0
D. b2 – 4ac > 0 and perfect square
9. What is the value of k in kx2 – 3x – 10 = 0 if its discriminant is 89?
A. -2 B. 0 C. 1 D. 2

10. Which of the following can be the value of k in 5x2 + kx + 5 = 0 if its

discriminant is zero?

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 A. -10 B. 0 C. 5 D. 100

11. Which of the following is a possible value of k in x2 + kx + 4 = 0 if it has

real and equal roots?
A. -10 B. -2 C. 0 D. 4

Reference

Deped Learner’s Material for Mathematics Grade 9 Module 1 Lesson 3: The Nature
of the Roots of a Quadratic Equation