If the discriminant of a quadratic equation is negative, the correct answer is a) it has 2 complex solutions.
The discriminant, typically denoted as D, is given by the formula D = b² – 4ac, where a, b, and c are the coefficients of the equation in the standard form ax² + bx + c = 0.
When the discriminant is positive (D > 0), the equation has two distinct real solutions. If the discriminant is zero (D = 0), it indicates that there is exactly one real solution (or a repeated real root). However, when the discriminant is negative (D < 0), it signifies that there are no real solutions available, and instead, the solutions are complex. This is because the square root of a negative number yields an imaginary component.
Therefore, in the case of a negative discriminant, you can conclude that the equation will have two complex solutions.