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discriminant

[ dih-skrim-uh-nuhnt ]
/ dɪˈskrɪm ə nənt /

noun Mathematics.

a relatively simple expression that determines some of the properties, as the nature of the roots, of a given equation or function.

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Origin of discriminant

1830–40; <Latin discrīminant- (stem of discrīmināns) separating, present participle of discrīmināre to divide up, separate, verbal derivative of discrīmen, stem discrīmin- separating line, distinction, equivalent to discrī-, variant stem of discernere (see discern) + -men noun suffix; see -ant

OTHER WORDS FROM discriminant

dis·crim·i·nan·tal [dis-krim-uh-nan-tl], /dɪsˌkrɪm əˈnæn tl/, adjective

Words nearby discriminant

discretionary account, discretionary trust, Discretion is the better part of valor, discretization, discriminable, discriminant, discriminant function, discriminate, discriminating, discrimination, discrimination learning
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for discriminant

  • The determines the nature or character of the roots; hence it is called the discriminant.

    A Review of Algebra|Romeyn Henry Rivenburg

British Dictionary definitions for discriminant

discriminant
/ (dɪˈskrɪmɪnənt) /

noun

an algebraic expression related to the coefficients of a polynomial equation whose value gives information about the roots of the polynomialb² – 4ac is the discriminant of ax² + bx + c = 0
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012