[tex]\bf \qquad \qquad \qquad \textit{discriminant of a quadratic}
\\\\\\
0=\stackrel{\stackrel{a}{\downarrow }}{1}x^2\stackrel{\stackrel{b}{\downarrow }}{+4}x\stackrel{\stackrel{c}{\downarrow }}{-2}
~~~~~~~~
\stackrel{discriminant}{b^2-4ac}\implies 4^2-4(1)(-2)\implies 24[/tex]
