Proof verification: $x^3 + px - q = 0$ has three real roots iff $4p^3 < -27q^2$ I'm trying to prove the problem in the title. I'm not sure if my proof is clear, or even correct. It seems rather long, so I am not sure. Any advice would be great, especially on parts I might need to expand. 
Let $f(x)  = x^3 + px - q = 0$, then $f'(x) = 3x^2 + p$. Clearly, if $p \geq 0$ then $f'(x) > 0, \forall x$. Since $f(x) < 0$ as x approaches $-\infty$ (can I just state this?) and since $f(x) > 0$ as x approaches $\infty$ and $f'(x) >0, \forall x$ then by the Intermediate Value Theorem there exists only one solution on the interval $(-\infty, \infty)$ if $p \geq 0$.
Therefore, $f(x)$ [Edited: can only have] has three real roots iff $p < 0$. If $p <0$, then $f'(x) = 0$ for $x = \pm \sqrt{\frac{-p}{3}}$. Now, since $f(x) < 0, x \rightarrow -\infty$ and $f'(x) > 0$ for $x < \sqrt{\frac{-p}{3}}$ then by the IVT there exists one real solution on the interval $\left (-\infty, -\sqrt{\frac{-p}{3}}\right)$ iff $f(-\sqrt{\frac{-p}{3}}) > 0$. Likewise, since $f'(x) < 0$ on $\left (\sqrt{\frac{-p}{3}}, -\sqrt{\frac{-p}{3}}\right)$ then by the IVT there exists only one solution on that interval iff $f(-\sqrt{\frac{-p}{3}}) > 0$ and $f(\sqrt{\frac{-p}{3}}) < 0$. Lastly, since $f(x) > 0, x \rightarrow \infty$ and $f(x) > 0$ for $x > \sqrt{\frac{-p}{3}}$ then there exists only one solution on the interval $\left(\sqrt{\frac{-p}{3}}, \infty\right)$ iff $f(\sqrt{\frac{-p}{3}}) < 0$.
Since $f(x)$ has three roots iff there exists the one such root in each interval mentioned above, we require:
$f(\sqrt{\frac{-p}{3}}) < 0$ and $-f(\sqrt{\frac{-p}{3}}) > 0 \implies -2\left(\frac{-p}{3}\right)^{\frac{3}{2}} + q > 0, -2\left(\frac{-p}{3}\right)^{\frac{3}{2}} - q > 0.$ Multiplying the inequalities we get:
$-4\frac{p^3}{27} - q^2 > 0 \implies 4p^3 < -27q^2.$

I think your statement is wrong.
Try, $p=-3$ and $q=-2$.
We have $$x^3+px-q=x^3-3x+2=(x-1)^2(x+2),$$
which says that the equation $$x^3+px-q=0$$
has three real roots, but $4p^3<-27q^2$ gives $-108<-108$, which is wrong.
