For what values of b does the equation x2+bx+1=0 have no real solutions?
Approach
For no real solutions, the discriminant (expression under the square root of the quadratic formula) must be negative.
x=2a−b±b2−4acb2−4ac<0b2−4(1)(1)<0b2−4<0b2<4
The appropriate way to solve this inequality would be to graph b2 and check when it is below the line y=4. This occurs from −2 to 2, noninclusive of the endpoints.