(1) f(x)=ax²+x-a=a(x²+x/a)-a=a[x+1/(2a)]²-a-1/(4a).∴-a-1/(4a)=17/8,解得∶a=-2或a=-1/8.(2) f(x)-1=ax²+x-a-1=(x-1)[ax+a+1]﹥0.∵a≧0,∴ax+a+1﹥0,则 x-1﹥0,∴x﹥1