The question is mis-stated. It should say:
Show that when the equation az<sup>2</sup> + bz + c = 0, where a, b and c are all real, has no real solutions, the solutions must be of the form z = x + iy and z = x - iy, where x and y are real.
This can be done in two ways:
Method 1: Using properties of complex conjugates.
We know that the equation will have two, non-real solutions, and let one of them be z = x + iy, where x and y are real. We only need prove that z_bar = x - iy is the other solution. Put x_bar into LHS, and we get:
LHS = a(z_bar)<sup>2</sup> + b(z_bar) + c
= a(z<sup>2</sup>)_bar + (bz)_bar + c
= (az<sup>2</sup>)_bar + (bz)_bar + c
= (az<sup>2</sup> + bz + c)_bar
= 0_bar
= 0
= RHS
So, z_bar = x - iy is the other root.
Method 2: Quadratic Formula
az<sup>2</sup> + bz + c = 0
z = [-b +/- sqrt(b<sup>2</sup> - 4ac)] / 2a
Note that b<sup>2</sup> - 4ac = -(4ac - b<sup>2</sup>) = i<sup>2</sup>(4ac - b<sup>2</sup>)
Now, we know that there are no real solutions, so the discriminant is negative.
Thus, b<sup>2</sup> - 4ac < 0
and so 4ac - b<sup>2</sup> > 0 _____ (*)
So, we have z = {-b +/- sqrt[i<sup>2</sup>(4ac - b<sup>2</sup>)]} / 2a = [-b +/- i * sqrt(4ac - b<sup>2</sup>)] / 2a
Let x = -b / 2a, which is real, and let y = sqrt(4ac - b<sup>2</sup>) / 2a, which is real by (*)
So, our solutions are z = x + iy and z = x - iy, as required.