In a quadratic equation, the discriminant helps tell you the number of real solutions to a quadratic equation. Steps for Finding the Discriminant of a Quadratic Equation.Step 1: Identify the values of a, b, and c in the quadratic equation. 1) It the entire parabola sits above or below the x-axis, then the discriminant is a negative number and the parabola has 2 complex roots. The Discriminant: The part of the quadratic formula used to determine whether a quadratic equation has real roots, and how many. Use the Discriminant to Predict the Number of Solutions of a Quadratic Equation. The discriminant in math is defined for polynomials and it is a function of coefficients of polynomials. Foldable Solving Using Quadratic Formula and the Discriminant. As it turns out, the discriminant, D D is that part of the formula that sits under the square root sign, so D=b2=4ac D = b 2 = 4 a c . The discriminant is the part of the quadratic formula underneath the square root symbol: b²-4ac.