Problem:
Find all values of the real parameter such that the equation has four real roots and such that
Solution
Solution:
Answer: . The condition is necessary (but not sufficient!) for existence of four roots. We consider two cases:
Case 1. If then by the Vieta theorem we obtain .
Case 2. If then by the Vieta theorem we obtain .
Now the condition implies
whence or . The second value does not satisfy . For we do have four real roots (direct check!).
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