Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
Substituting these values into the quadratic formula, you arrive at this equation:
p
3 2
x ¼ 3
4 ð 2 Þð 7 Þ
2 ð 2 Þ
p
9 þ 56
x ¼ 3
4
p
65
x ¼ 3
4
For a solution set, you can use a calculator to arrive at a decimal value that
represents the root or an approximation of the root:
x 3 8
:
06
11
06
4 2
:
:
756
4
x 3 þ 8
:
06
5
:
06
4 1
:
265
4
The Discriminant
In the quadratic equation, you refer to the expression
4 a p as the dis-
criminant. The result of the expression allows you to determine the values that
are acceptable as solutions of the quadratic formula:
b 2
If you find that b 2
4 ac ¼ 0, then the equation possesses only one real
n
number solution.
If you find that b 2
4 ac
>
0, then two real number solutions satisfy the
n
equation.
If you find that b 2
4 ac
<
0, then no real number solution exists for the
n
equation.
As mentioned previously, the values you arrive at when you examine the dis-
criminant allow you to determine whether the lines of the parabola the equation
generates intersect with the x axis.
 
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