Infinite Roots

Algebra Level 3

7 + 7 7 + 7 = ? \sqrt{7 + \sqrt{7 - \sqrt{7+\sqrt{7-\cdots}}}} = \, ?

Clarification : The signs alternate between addition ( + + ) and subtraction ( - ).

2 3 5 4

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1 solution

Let x = 7 + 7 7 + 7 . . . x=\sqrt{7+\sqrt{7-\sqrt{7+\sqrt{7-...}}}}

Squaring both sides,

x 2 = 7 + 7 7 + 7 . . . x 2 7 = 7 7 + 7 . . . x^2=7+\sqrt{7-\sqrt{7+\sqrt{7-...}}} \implies x^2-7=\sqrt{7-\sqrt{7+\sqrt{7-...}}}

Once again, by squaring both sides,

( x 2 7 ) 2 = 7 7 + 7 . . . ( x 2 7 ) 2 7 = ( 7 + 7 . . . ) ( x 2 7 ) 2 7 = x \left(x^2-7\right)^2=7-\sqrt{7+\sqrt{7-...}} \implies \left(x^2-7\right)^2-7=-\left(\sqrt{7+\sqrt{7-...}}\right) \implies \left(x^2-7\right)^2-7=-x

x 4 14 x 2 + x + 42 = 0 \implies x^4-14x^2+x+42=0

Using the rational root theorem, we find that x = 3 x=3 is a root of the polynomial as well as in the options. Hence, x = 3 7 + 7 7 + 7 . . . = 3 x=3 \implies \boxed{\sqrt{7+\sqrt{7-\sqrt{7+\sqrt{7-...}}}}=3} .

For those who are wondering about the three other roots: After using the rational root theorem rigorously, I noticed that x = 3 x=3 and x = 2 x=-2 are two of the integral roots of this bi-quadratic function. For obtaining the other two roots, I divided ( x 4 14 x 2 + x + 42 ) (x^4-14x^2+x+42) by ( x 3 ) ( x + 2 ) (x-3)(x+2) and got ( x 2 + x 7 ) (x^2+x-7) as the quotient and no remainder. Now using the quadratic formula, we have x = 1 2 ( 1 ± 29 ) x=\frac{1}{2} (-1 \pm \sqrt{29}) . Hence, the three other roots of this bi- quadratic functions are 2 , 1 2 ( 1 + 29 ) , 1 2 ( 1 29 ) \boxed{-2, \frac{1}{2} (-1 + \sqrt{29}), \frac{1}{2} (-1 - \sqrt{29})} .

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