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How can we show that $(a - 1)x^2+3(a + 1)x+4(a - 1) = 0$ has real solutions if and only if $7a^2 - 50a + 7\leq 0$?

I know these are quadratics and can solve them, but I'm not entirely sure what the question is asking of me and how to lay out the logic.

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    The general idea is to find the set of $a$ for which the first equation has real solutions, and show that it is equal to the set of $a$ for which the inequality in the second equation is satisfied.2012-12-04

1 Answers 1

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From the quadratic formula you know that the solutions of

$(a-1)x^2+3(a+1)x+4(a-1)=0$

are given by

$x=\frac{-3(a+1)\pm\sqrt{9(a+1)^2-16(a-1)^2}}{2(a-1)}\;.$

These will be real if and only if

$9(a+1)^2-16(a-1)^2\ge 0\;.$

Expanding the lefthand side, we see that this inequality reduces to

$-7a^2+50a-7\ge 0\;.$

Now just multiply the inequality by $-1$.