# Unclear step in the proof that correlation coefficient lies in the intervall [-1, 1]

I am currently studying data analysis and statistics on my own and have come across proof that I do not fully understand. I have looked at alternative proofs that the correlation coefficient lies in the interval $$~[-1,1]~$$ (mostly with the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality), but I want to understand this specific proof as well.

"To this end, suppose that $$t$$ is some real number that we will choose later,and consider the obvious inequality

$$E((V+tW)^2)≥0~, ~~~~\text{where}~~~~ V=X−μ_X~~~~\text{and}~~~~ W=Y−μ_Y~.$$

Expanding out the left-hand-side, and using the linearity of expectation, we find that

$$E(V^2) + 2tE(V W) +t^2E(W^2)≥0~.$$

Note that the left-hand-side is just a quadratic polynomial in $$t$$. Now, clearly we have that

$$E(V^2) =σ^2_X,E(W2) =σ^2_Y, and E(V W) = Cov(X, Y)~.$$

And so, our polynomial inequality becomes

$$σ^2_Yt^2+ 2Cov(X, Y)t+σ^2_X≥0~.$$

From this inequality we find that the only way the left-hand-side could be $$0$$ is if the polynomial has a double-root (i.e. it touches the x-axis in a single point), which could only occur if the discriminant is $$0$$. So, the discriminant must always be negative or $$0$$, which means that

$$4Cov(X, Y)^2−4σ^2_Xσ^2_Y≤0~.$$

In other words,

$$\frac{Cov(X, Y)^2}{σ^2_Xσ^2_Y}≤1~,$$

provided, of course, that the denominator does not vanish."

I understand all the steps except the bold one. Specifically, I would like to know how the author arrived from

$$σ^2_Yt^2+ 2Cov(X, Y)t+σ^2_X≥0$$

to

$$4Cov(X, Y)^2-4σ^2_Xσ^2_Y≤0~.$$

So I would find more details of the calculation path very helpful. I guess my understanding problem is based on the fact that I can't see where a double root is used here or what exactly the discriminant is. I try hard, but I have a background in psychology, which often makes me realize that I lack proficiency in reading mathematical proofs.

A polynomial $$at^2 + bt + c$$ has two real roots if and only if it has a positive discriminant, i.e. if $$b^2-4ac> 0$$.
This means that if $$at^2+bt+c\geq 0$$ for all values of $$t$$, meaning the polynomial's sign doesn't change, which means the polynomial cannot have two real roots, therefore, $$b^2-4ac>0$$ is not true, and $$b^2-4ac\leq 0$$ must be true.