Find the Discriminant x^2-8x-2=0

$x^{2} - 8 x - 2 = 0$

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 $c$ .

${(- 8)}^{2} - 4 (1 \cdot - 2)$

Step 3

Evaluate the result to find the discriminant.

Simplify each term.

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

$64 - 4 (1 \cdot - 2)$

Multiply $- 4 (1 \cdot - 2)$ .

Multiply $- 2$ by $1$ .

$64 - 4 \cdot - 2$

Multiply $- 4$ by $- 2$ .

$64 + 8$

Add $64$ and $8$ .

$72$