SOLUTION: <pre><b>if ax²+bx+c=0, where a, b, and c are integers and its two solutions have to be rational numbers, then b^2-4ac=?</pre>

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Question 49295:
if ax²+bx+c=0, where a, b, and c are integers 
and its two solutions have to be rational numbers,
then b^2-4ac=?

Answer by AnlytcPhil(1806)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
if ax²+bx+c=0, where a, b, and c are integers 
and its two solutions have to be rational numbers,
then b^2-4ac=?

(1)3 (2)6 (3) 36 (4) 63
and please show me how you got the answer

The quadratic formula is

                  ______ 
            -b ± Öb²-4ac
        x = —————————————
                2a 

which gives the solutions to ax²+bx+c = 0

The values will be rational only if what's under the square root radical,
namely the discriminant b²-4ac, is a perfect square.  

Edwin

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