For what values of k does the graph y=x^(2)+2kx+5 not intersect the x-axis
Where the graph intersects the x-axis, x2+2kx+5 must be equal to zero. Thus we can answer the equivalent question: For what k does x2+2kx+5 = 0 not have a solution?This is now a simpler problem (roots of a quadratic equation). We can apply the common method of considering the discriminant of x2+2kx+5. Using standard quadratic formula notation where in this case a=1, b =2k and c=5 we evaluate the discriminant : b2-4ac= (2k)2-415 = 4k2 -20.Now since the discriminant appears in a square root sign in the quadratic equation, if it is negative there can be no real solutions to the equation ( great this is what we want!).Thus we want discriminant negative: 4k2 -20 <0. Divide both sides of the inequality by 4 so we have k2-5<0.Now this is where we must take great care, the following reasoning is a common MISTAKE: rearragne the inequality so we have k2 < 5, then squarrot both sides so we have k < sqrt(5) or k < - sqrt(5) . The second inequalit is implied by the first thus the discriminate negtive for all k values les then the sqrt(5). THIS IS INCORRECT.When dealing with inequalities involving powers such as we are here we must be extremely careful. the mistake in the reasoning above is when we say k < - sqrt(5), this is actually a form of the common mistake of not inverting the inequality when multiplying both sides of an equation by a negative. Instead when dealing with inequalities with powers it is always much wiser to sketch a graph of the situation.k2 - 5 is the standard quadratic U shape (think y=x2) shifted down by 5. Having sketched this out it is clear that this graph is less then 0 when it is inbetween it's two roots. The roots of k2 -5 are easy to find: k2 -5 = 0 implies k2 = 5 implies k = sqrt(5) or k = -sqrt(5).Comparing this with the graph we can now see that the discriminant is negative for - sqrt(5) < k < sqrt(5). Thus these are the values for which the graph y=x2+2kx+5 does not intersect the x-axis.
