A disjointed graph

Algebra Level 5

The sum of the real solutions of the equation 2 x = 3 [ x ] [ x 2 ] 2\langle x \rangle=3[x]-[x^{2}] is?

Note: x \langle x \rangle denotes the fractional part of x x and [ x ] [x] denotes the greatest integer less than or equal to x x .


The answer is 4.50.

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2 solutions

Rajen Kapur
Apr 13, 2015

R.H.S. is integer hence fractional part can be either 0 or 05. In the first case x = 3 and in the second case x = 1.5 ( x = 0 is also a solution.)

Did exact same .little overrated prob, don't u think?

Rushikesh Joshi - 6 years, 1 month ago
Chew-Seong Cheong
Apr 13, 2015

2 x = 3 [ x ] [ x 2 ] x = 3 [ x ] [ x 2 ] 2 0 3 [ x ] [ x 2 ] 2 < 1 2\langle x \rangle = 3[x]-[x^2]\quad \Rightarrow \langle x \rangle = \dfrac{3[x]-[x^2]}{2}\quad \Rightarrow 0 \le \dfrac{3[x]-[x^2]}{2} <1 .

If x < 0 3 [ x ] [ x 2 ] 2 < 0 x x 0 \quad x<0\quad \Rightarrow \dfrac{3[x]-[x^2]}{2} <0 \ne \langle x \rangle \quad \Rightarrow x \ge 0 .

From 3 [ x ] [ x 2 ] 2 0 3 [ x ] [ x 2 ] 0 3 [ x ] [ x 2 ] x < 10 0 x < 10 \quad \dfrac{3[x]-[x^2]}{2} \ge 0 \quad \Rightarrow 3[x]-[x^2] \ge 0 \quad \Rightarrow 3[x] \ge [x^2]\\ \quad \Rightarrow x < \sqrt{10}\quad \Rightarrow 0 \le x < \sqrt{10}

The surest way to solve the problem is to plot out the graph, as I did with a spreadsheet.

It can be seen there are three solutions:

{ x = 0 2 0 = 3 [ 0 ] [ 0 2 ] 0 0 0 x = 1.5 2 1.5 = 3 [ 1.5 ] [ 1. 5 2 ] 1 3 2 x = 3 2 3 = 3 [ 3 ] [ 3 2 ] 0 9 9 \begin{cases} x=0 & \Rightarrow 2\langle 0 \rangle = 3[0]-[0^2] & \Rightarrow 0 \equiv 0 - 0 \\ x=1.5 & \Rightarrow 2\langle 1.5 \rangle = 3[1.5]-[1.5^2] & \Rightarrow 1 \equiv 3 - 2 \\ x= 3 & \Rightarrow 2\langle 3 \rangle = 3[3]-[3^2] & \Rightarrow 0 \equiv 9 - 9 \end{cases}

Therefore the sum of roots are 0 + 1.5 + 3 = 4.5 \quad 0+1.5+3 = \boxed{4.5}

don't you think that graphing using spreadsheets would be called cheating?

No offence intended

Mayank Singh - 5 years, 3 months ago

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Yes, it is cheating. I only post it when I can't get other better solution.

Chew-Seong Cheong - 5 years, 3 months ago

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