Difference Of Roots Of Quadratic Equation Formula:
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The Difference of Roots of Quadratic Equation represents the absolute difference between the two roots (x₁ and x₂) of a quadratic equation. It provides insight into the spacing between the roots on the number line.
The calculator uses the formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the absolute difference between the two roots of a quadratic equation using the discriminant and the leading coefficient.
Details: Calculating the difference between roots helps in understanding the nature and distribution of solutions to quadratic equations, which is fundamental in algebra and various applied mathematics fields.
Tips: Enter the discriminant value (must be non-negative) and the numerical coefficient 'a' (cannot be zero). The calculator will compute the difference between the roots.
Q1: Why must the discriminant be non-negative?
A: The square root of a negative number is not a real number, and this formula calculates the difference between real roots.
Q2: What happens if coefficient 'a' is zero?
A: If a = 0, the equation is not quadratic but linear, and this formula doesn't apply.
Q3: How is this different from the sum of roots?
A: The sum of roots is -b/a, while the difference of roots is √D/a, where D is the discriminant.
Q4: Can this formula be used for complex roots?
A: No, this formula gives the difference between real roots. For complex roots, the concept of "difference" is not defined in the same way.
Q5: What does a large difference value indicate?
A: A large difference indicates that the roots are widely spaced on the real number line.