What is number of real solutions of x which satisfies #(x-1)(2x+1)(x+1)(2x-3) = 15#?

1 Answer
Sep 20, 2017

Only real roots of #(x-1)(2x+1)(x+1)(2x-3)=15# are #{2,-3/2}#.

Explanation:

Let us group the LHS in #(x-1)(2x+1)(x+1)(2x-3)=15# as follows

#{(x-1)(2x+1)}xx{(x+1)(2x-3)}=15#

or #(2x^2-2x+x-1)(2x^2+2x-3x-3)=15#

or #(2x^2-x-1)(2x^2-x-3)=15#

Now let us assume #2x^2-x=t#, then above equation becomes

#(t-1)(t-3)=15# or #t^2-4t+3=15#

or #t^2-4t-12=0# or #(t-6)(t+2)=0#

Hence #t=6# or #t=-2#

If #t=6#, then #2x^2-x=6# or #2x^2-x-6=0#

Here discriminant is #(-1)^2-4*2*(-6)=49# which is square of a ratioonal number and we can get rational roots. The above equation becomes

#(2x+3)(x-2)=0# i.e. #x=2# or #x=-3/2#

If #t=-2#, then #2x^2-x=-2# or #2x^2-x+2=0#

Here as discriminant is #(-1)^2-4*2*2=-15# and as it is negative, we do not have real roots.

Hence, only real roots of #(x-1)(2x+1)(x+1)(2x-3)=15# are #{2,-3/2}#.