Need some clarification please

[giddy]

In this quadratic equation,

a, x squared, plus, b x, plus c equals zero AND a is not equal to zero where:

• a is the coefficient of x squared,
• b is the coefficient of x and
• c is a constant.

Question: When I see the second part of the formula in this quadratic equation, it confuses me a little. My question is this: Is it safe to assume then that I will be looking for an answer that could be < or > than zero. Is that correct?

Thanks for your help.

[Goldust]

I don't exactly understand what you mean by the "second part of the formula".

If it is a<>0, then the answer may still be 0, if c = 0.

If it is the formula for the answer in (-b +/- sqrt(b^2-4*a*c))/(2a), then yes, you need not worry about the term within the square root being less than zero. The GRE does not test concepts regarding this special case.

[chestnut.cc]

like goldust mentions the root may be -ve... a complex root... but the denominator 2a must not be 0... otherwise the expression is meaningless... however the roots may be 0...