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Algebra Level 3

Find the number of distinct real values of x x which satisfies the equation below:

( x + 2 ) ( x + 4 ) ( x + 6 ) ( x + 8 ) + 16 = 0 (x+2)(x+4)(x+6)(x+8) + 16 =0


The answer is 2.

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1 solution

Arulx Z
Jan 25, 2016

To simplify the calculations, let x + 5 x+5 be equal to y y .

( y 3 ) ( y 1 ) ( y + 1 ) ( y + 3 ) + 16 = 0 \left( y-3 \right) \left( y-1 \right) \left( y+1 \right) \left( y+3 \right) +16=0

Since set of reals is closed under addition and subtraction, we just need to find the real values of y y .

( y 3 ) ( y 1 ) ( y + 1 ) ( y + 3 ) + 16 = 0 [ ( y 1 ) ( y + 1 ) ] [ ( y 3 ) ( y + 3 ) ] = 16 ( y 2 1 ) ( y 2 9 ) = 16 y 4 10 y 2 + 9 = 16 y 4 10 y 2 + 25 = 0 ( y 2 5 ) 2 = 0 \left( y-3 \right) \left( y-1 \right) \left( y+1 \right) \left( y+3 \right) +16=0\\ \left[ \left( y-1 \right) \left( y+1 \right) \right] \left[ \left( y-3 \right) \left( y+3 \right) \right] =-16\\ \left( { y }^{ 2 }-1 \right) \left( { y }^{ 2 }-9 \right) =-16\\ { y }^{ 4 }-10{ y }^{ 2 }+9=-16\\ { y }^{ 4 }-10{ y }^{ 2 }+25=0\\ { \left( { y }^{ 2 }-5 \right) }^{ 2 }=0

We have 2 double roots. One simplifying,

y 2 = 5 y = ± 5 { y }^{ 2 }=5\\ y=\pm \sqrt { 5 }

Hence the equation has exactly 2 real roots.

Moderator note:

This solution is now correct.

It originally made a careless mistake with addition and subtraction. Review your work to avoid such issues!

I too used the same substitute. How ever it is surprising that the graph on TI-83 gives two real roots with multiplicity 2! Can any one explain ? Thanks.

Niranjan Khanderia - 5 years, 4 months ago

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That is because this solution is currently wrong.

Calvin Lin Staff - 5 years, 4 months ago

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I'm sorry for the inconvenience. I'll delete/post the correct solution ASAP.

Arulx Z - 5 years, 4 months ago

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@Arulx Z It's a minor typo. Should be easy to fix once you notice it. You subtracted 16 instead of added 16.

Calvin Lin Staff - 5 years, 4 months ago

@Arulx Z Great! Looks good now. @Niranjan Khanderia Review the solution and you will see why we have 2 real roots with multiplicity 2.

Calvin Lin Staff - 5 years, 4 months ago

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@Calvin Lin Yes. It looks good. Thanks.

Niranjan Khanderia - 5 years, 4 months ago

Thank you.

Niranjan Khanderia - 5 years, 4 months ago

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