Impossible Discriminant

The discriminant of a quadratic equation with integer coefficients cannot be which of the following numbers?

23 24 25 28 33

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1 solution

Julian Yu
Aug 18, 2016

Relevant wiki: Quadratic Diophantine Equations - Modular Arithmetic Considerations

If the equation is a x 2 + b x + c = 0 a{x}^{2}+bx+c=0 , the discriminant is b 2 4 a c {b}^{2}-4ac . If b b is even, the discriminant is divisible by 4 4 . If b is odd, it can be expressed as 2 m + 1 2m+1 , and the discriminant will be 4 m 2 + 4 m + 1 4 a c 4{m}^{2}+4m+1-4ac , so it has remainder 1 when divided by 4 4 .

Therefore, for an integer D D to be the discriminant of a quadratic equation with integer coefficients, it is necessary that D 0 , 1 ( m o d 4 ) D\equiv 0, 1 \pmod4 . Thus 23 \boxed { 23 } cannot be a discriminant.

@Julian Yu , can you please elaborate how the D=0,1(mod 4) is necessary , con you explain the statement after THEREFORE for instance ;

Syed Hissaan - 4 years, 9 months ago

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b is an integer, so it's either even or odd. If it's even, the discriminant is 0 (mod 4) and if it's odd, the discriminant is 1 (mod 4).

Julian Yu - 4 years, 8 months ago

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