Find the Discriminant x^2-4x-3=0

$x^{2} - 4 x - 3 = 0$

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 $c$ .

${(- 4)}^{2} - 4 (1 \cdot - 3)$

Step 3

Evaluate the result to find the discriminant.

Simplify each term.

Raise $- 4$ to the power of $2$ .

$16 - 4 (1 \cdot - 3)$

Multiply $- 4 (1 \cdot - 3)$ .

Multiply $- 3$ by $1$ .

$16 - 4 \cdot - 3$

Multiply $- 4$ by $- 3$ .

$16 + 12$

Add $16$ and $12$ .

$28$