SOLUTION: Please help me with this question. Evaluate the discriminant and predict the type and number of solutions. s^2 - 5s-8=0

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Question 318386: Please help me with this question.
Evaluate the discriminant and predict the type and number of solutions.
s^2 - 5s-8=0
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

From s%5E2-5s-8 we can see that a=1, b=-5, and c=-8


D=b%5E2-4ac Start with the discriminant formula.


D=%28-5%29%5E2-4%281%29%28-8%29 Plug in a=1, b=-5, and c=-8


D=25-4%281%29%28-8%29 Square -5 to get 25


D=25--32 Multiply 4%281%29%28-8%29 to get %284%29%28-8%29=-32


D=25%2B32 Rewrite D=25--32 as D=25%2B32


D=57 Add 25 to 32 to get 57


Since the discriminant is greater than zero, this means that there are two real solutions.