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Exercise 1675Algebra › Equations and radicalsL1Added 3 Nov 2026

A quadratic with parameter

#parameter#quadratic#discriminant

Statement

For which mm does the equation
x2+2(m−1)x+m+5=0x^2+2(m-1)x+m+5=0
have at least one real root?

Hint

The condition is Δ≥0\Delta\ge0.

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Solution

Discriminant. Δ=4(m−1)2−4(m+5)=4(m2−2m+1−m−5)=4(m2−3m−4)\Delta=4(m-1)^2-4(m+5)=4(m^2-2m+1-m-5)=4(m^2-3m-4).

Condition. m2−3m−4≥0m^2-3m-4\ge0, i.e. (m−4)(m+1)≥0(m-4)(m+1)\ge0.

Conclusion. m∈ ]−∞,−1] ∪ [4,+∞[m\in\,]-\infty,-1]\,\cup\,[4,+\infty[.