Note that $x = 0$ cannot be a solution of the equation.  Dividing both sides by $x^2,$ we get
\[x^2 + ax - b + \frac{a}{x} + \frac{1}{x^2} = 0.\]Let $y = x + \frac{1}{x}.$  Then $x^2 - yx + 1 = 0.$  The discriminant of this quadratic is
\[y^2 - 4,\]so there is a real root in $x$ as long as $|y| \ge 2.$

Also, $y^2 = x^2 + 2 + \frac{1}{x^2},$ so
\[y^2 + ay - (b + 2) = 0.\]By the quadratic formula, the roots are
\[y = \frac{-a \pm \sqrt{a^2 + 4(b + 2)}}{2}.\]First, we notice that the discriminant $a^2 + 4(b + 2)$ is always positive.  Furthermore, there is a value $y$ such that $|y| \ge 2$ as long as
\[\frac{a + \sqrt{a^2 + 4(b + 2)}}{2} \ge 2.\]Then $a + \sqrt{a^2 + 4(b + 2)} \ge 4,$ or $\sqrt{a^2 + 4(b + 2)} \ge 4 - a.$  Both sides are nonnegative, so we can square both sides, to get
\[a^2 + 4(b + 2) \ge a^2 - 8a + 16.\]This simplifies to $2a + b \ge 2.$

[asy]
unitsize(3 cm);

fill((1/2,1)--(1,0)--(1,1)--cycle,gray(0.7));
draw((0,0)--(1,0)--(1,1)--(0,1)--cycle);
draw((1/2,1)--(1,0));

label("$0$", (0,0), S);
label("$1$", (1,0), S);
label("$a$", (1,0), E);
label("$0$", (0,0), W);
label("$1$", (0,1), W);
label("$b$", (0,1), N);
[/asy]

Thus, $S$ is the triangle whose vertices are $(1,0),$ $(1,1),$ and $\left( \frac{1}{2}, 1 \right),$ which has area $\boxed{\frac{1}{4}}.$
<|im_start|>system
You are a helpful assistant.<|im_end|>
<|im_start|>user
Let $S$ be the set of points $(a,b)$ with $0 \le a,$ $b \le 1$ such that the equation
\[x^4 + ax^3 - bx^2 + ax + 1 = 0\]has at least one real root.  Determine the area of the graph of $S.$
Please reason step by step, and put your final answer within \boxed{{}}.<|im_end|>
<|im_start|>assistant

user
\frac{1}{4}
Let $S$ be the set of points $(a,b)$ with $0 \le a,$ $b \le 1$ such that the equation
\[x^4 + ax^3 - bx^2 + ax + 1 = 0\]has at least one real root.  Determine the area of the graph of $S.$
test