What is the possible discriminant of the graph?

Question

a parabola opening up one x intercept near negative 6

 

Choose one answer.
A. -17
 

B. zero
 

C. 12
 

D. 49

Answer 1

The information is ambiguous.

"One x-intercept near negative 6" could be interpreted that another x-intercept exists.

"The x-intercept is near negative 6" would imply only one intercept.

 

With this interpretation B. C. and D. could be true.

Since a negative discriminant yields a complex root it is not true.  

Answer 2

If the graph of y = Ax² + Bx + C has only one x-intercept, then y = Ax² + Bx + C has only one real root.  So the discriminant (B²-4AC) must equal zero.