Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) Mathematics Practice Exam 2026 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

When the discriminant of a quadratic equation is zero, it indicates that the equation has exactly one root, which is also known as a repeated or double root. This occurs because the quadratic can be expressed in the form \(ax^2 + bx + c = 0\), and the discriminant is calculated as \(b^2 - 4ac\). When the discriminant equals zero, the quadratic formula simplifies to a single solution:

\[

x = \frac{-b}{2a}

\]

This means there is no variation in values, resulting in the same root counted twice. Thus, a discriminant of zero confirms that there is exactly one real solution for the quadratic equation.