Question

For the equation x2 + 3x + j = 0, find all the values of j such that the equation has two real number solutions. Show your work.

Answer 1

you need the discriminant

\[ \Delta = b^2 - 4ac\]

in your question a = 1, b = 3 and c = j

the condition for 2 real number solutions is that

\[b^2 - 4ac > 0\]

substitute the information and solve the inequality for j.