For a quadratic equation with , completing the square givesOver the complex numbers both roots exist, with a repeated root of a polynomial when the discriminant is zero. Over the real numbers the discriminant determines whether there are two distinct roots, one repeated root, or no real root.
For a real quadratic with , strict negativity occurs between its two distinct real roots, if they exist. Completing the square gives discriminant as the existence condition. A physical domain restriction must be intersected with that interval.