Can a Cubic Equation have 2 Roots?

Answer: Yes, a cubic equation can have two roots, but one of them will be repeated (a double root).

A cubic equation, typically of the form , can indeed have two roots, but the nature of these roots depends on the discriminant and coefficients. If the discriminant is positive, the cubic equation will have three distinct real roots. However, if the discriminant is zero, it will have two roots, and one of these roots will be repeated, known as a double root.

For example, consider the cubic equation . Factoring it, we get , revealing that and are the roots. Here, is a repeated root, indicating a double root.

In summary, while a cubic equation can have two roots, it does so when one of those roots is repeated, resulting in a total of two distinct solutions.