The discussion focuses on finding the number of solutions to the equation z^5 + 2z^3 - z^2 + z = a, specifically for solutions where the real part of z is greater than zero. The argument principle is applied, indicating that the number of roots in a specified domain can be determined through contour integration. The integral derived from this approach is complex but leads to a formal solution that varies based on the value of a. For a < 0, there are 2 roots with positive real parts, while for a > 0, there are 3 roots, with specific cases for a = 0 and a = 1 yielding different counts. The discussion emphasizes the intricacies of the integral and the behavior of the function based on the parameter a.