Find the Discriminant 3a^2-8a-4=0

$3 a^{2} - 8 a - 4 = 0$

Step 1

The discriminant of a quadratic is the expression inside the radical of the quadratic formula.

$b^{2} - 4 (a c)$

Step 2

Substitute in the values of $a$ , $b$ , and $c$ .

${(- 8)}^{2} - 4 (3 \cdot - 4)$

Step 3

Evaluate the result to find the discriminant.

Simplify each term.

Raise $- 8$ to the power of $2$ .

$64 - 4 (3 \cdot - 4)$

Multiply $- 4 (3 \cdot - 4)$ .

Multiply $3$ by $- 4$ .

$64 - 4 \cdot - 12$

Multiply $- 4$ by $- 12$ .

$64 + 48$

Add $64$ and $48$ .

$112$