Solving equation of floor function

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The discussion focuses on solving the equation $\left\lfloor{\sqrt{x+10}}\right\rfloor-1= \dfrac{x}{2}$. The solution involves manipulating the floor function and understanding its properties. Participants confirmed the solution's validity, emphasizing the importance of correctly interpreting the floor function in relation to the variable x. The final answer is derived by isolating x and applying algebraic techniques.

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Solve the equation

$\left\lfloor{\sqrt{x+10}}\right\rfloor-1= \dfrac{x}{2}$
 
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anemone said:
Solve the equation

$\left\lfloor{\sqrt{x+10}}\right\rfloor-1= \dfrac{x}{2}$

x has to be even integer else x/2 shall not be integer and 1+ x/2 >=0 so x >=-2
so let x = 2y
$\left\lfloor{\sqrt{2y+10}}\right\rfloor= y+ 1$
or $y+1 \le \left\lfloor{\sqrt{2y+10}}\right\rfloor\lt y+ 2$
or $(y+1)^2 \le 2y + 10 \lt (y+ 2)^2$
or $y^2+2y+ 1 \le 2y + 10 \lt (y^2+4y + 4)$
so $y^2 \le 9 $ and $y^2 +2y \ge 6$ so y is positive
and $ y \le 3 $ and $y^2 + 2y +1 \ge 7$ so y
so $y \le 3$ and $(y+1)^2 \ge 7$
so $y \le 3$ and $y+1 \gt \sqrt{7}$
y = 2 or 3 hence x = 4 or 6
 
Last edited:
kaliprasad said:
x has to be even integer else x/2 shall not be integer and 1+ x/2 >=0 so x >=-2
so let x = 2y
$\left\lfloor{\sqrt{2y+10}}\right\rfloor= y+ 1$
or $y+1 \le \left\lfloor{\sqrt{2y+10}}\right\rfloor\lt y+ 2$
or $(y+1)^2 \le 2y + 10 \lt (y+ 2)^2$
or $y^2+2y+ 1 \le 2y + 10 \lt (y^2+4y + 4)$
so $y^2 \le 9 $ and $y^2 +2y \ge 6$ so y is positive
and $ y \le 3 $ and $y^2 + 2y +1 \ge 7$ so y
so $y \le 3$ and $(y+1)^2 \ge 7$
so $y \le 3$ and $y+1 \gt \sqrt{7}$
y = 2 or 3 hence x = 4 or 6

Well done, kaliprasad!

My solution:

First, note that $x$ has to be an even number and $x\ge -2$. Second, we have $\sqrt{x+10}\ge \left\lfloor{\sqrt{x+10}}\right\rfloor$ and so we get $\sqrt{x+10}\ge \dfrac{x}{2}+1$, solving it for the range of $x$ yields $-6\le x\le 6$.

Checking out for each case ($x=-2,\,0,\,2,\,4,\,6$) in that range gives us the solutions where $x=4,\,6$.
 

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