where [x] and {x} denote the integer part and the fractional part of the real number x, respectively.
Solution
First, we have that x∈R∖(Z∪[0,1)). The given equation is equivalent to: [x]{x}[x]+{x}=−x1⇔−x2=[x]{x}.(∗) Since −x2≤0 and x=0, we have [x]{x}<0, hence [x]≤−1. Because [x]=−k, with k∈N∗, equation (∗) becomes −x2=−k(k+x), which is equivalent to x2−kx−k2=0, having solutions x1,2=2k±k5. From [x]=−k, we obtain that the only possible solution is x1=2k−k5. Finally, we must find the values of k∈N∗ for which [2k−k5]=−k, which is equivalent to: −k≤k21−5<−k+1⇔3k≥k5>3k−2, from which we obtain k<23+5, i.e., k∈{1,2}. From here we obtain the solutions x1∗=21−5 and x2∗=1−5, which satisfy the given equation.
Want a route through all this instead of an archive? The track
puts 2,000 problems in a working order, from AMC 10 level to the IMO shortlist.
Source: MathNet,
licensed CC-BY-4.0.
Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic and difficulty added by this site.