Nice work and your conclusion is correct. Further confirmation is the poles in the closed loop system are the roots of $$1+K G(s)=0$$ Which results in the polynomial with a numerator $$s^2+(3+K)s+(2-K) $$ In order to have complex roots, using the quadratic formula $\sqrt{b^2-4ac}$ must be negative. So we want to test if $4(2-K)>(3+K)^2$ for any K Since $4(2-K)=(3+K)^2$ has roots at approximately -.101, -9.898: $$K^2+10K+1=0$$ The range of K where the poles can be complex is therefore from -.101 to -9.898. Showing all poles for the closed loop system as a function of K (root locus) over the range of K=-10.5 to 0 as plotted below confirms that $-4 \pm i$ is not a closed loop pole. [![root locus][1]][1] We could mathematically prove this by using the relationship of "Break-Outs" on the root locus: (See Dr. Cheever's excellent pages at [http://lpsa.swarthmore.edu/Root_Locus/Example2/Example2.html][2]) As Dr. Cheever summarized, break-out or break-in points occur where N(s)D'(s)-N'(s)D(s)=0 where N(s) and D(s) are the numerator and denominator polynomial of the open loop transfer function, and N'(s) and D'(s) are the differentiation. $N(s)= s-1$ $N'(s) = 1$ $D(s) = s^2+s3+2$ $D'(s) = 2s+3$ Solving this results in roots at approximately -1.4495 and 3.4495 indicating the break out and break in locations. The root locus will break out at -1.4495 when K=-0.101 and follow a trajectory as shown in the diagram above to the break-in at 3.4495 when K=-9.898. Therefore $-4 \pm i$ is not a closed loop pole. Note: Root locus was plotted using Octave with the rlocus command as part of the control toolbox pkg load control %if not already loaded sys=tf([1 -1],[1 3 2]); rlocus(sys,.1,-10.5,0); [1]: https://i.sstatic.net/H4dEu.png [2]: http://lpsa.swarthmore.edu/Root_Locus/Example2/Example2.html