Question 133011
{{{x = (-b +- sqrt( b^2-4*a*c ))/(2*a) }}} is the quadratic formula.  The discriminant is the part under the radical, or {{{b^2-4*a*c}}}


Your equation, {{{t^2+14t+49=0}}} is already in standard {{{ax^2+bx+c=0}}} form, so just plug in the numbers:


{{{14^2-4*1*49=196-196=0}}} is the value of the discriminant.


A discriminant of 0 means that there are two real and identical roots (or 1 real root with a multiplicity of 2, depending on the terminology you have been taught)