# Difference between revisions of "2021 AMC 12B Problems/Problem 21"

## Problem

Let $S$ be the sum of all positive real numbers $x$ for which$$x^{2^{\sqrt2}}=\sqrt2^{2^x}.$$Which of the following statements is true?

$\textbf{(A) }S<\sqrt2 \qquad \textbf{(B) }S=\sqrt2 \qquad \textbf{(C) }\sqrt2

~ pi_is_3.14

## Solution (Rough Approximation)

Note that this solution is not recommended.

Upon pure observation, it is obvious that one solution to this equality is $x=\sqrt{2}$. From this, we can deduce that this equality has two solutions, since $\sqrt{2}^2^x$ (Error compiling LaTeX. ! Double superscript.) grows faster than $x^2^\sqrt{2}$ (Error compiling LaTeX. ! Double superscript.) (for greater values of $x$) and $\sqrt{2}^2^x$ (Error compiling LaTeX. ! Double superscript.) is greater than $x^2^\sqrt{2}$ (Error compiling LaTeX. ! Double superscript.) for $x<\sqrt{2}$ and less than $x^2^\sqrt{2}$ (Error compiling LaTeX. ! Double superscript.) for $\sqrt{2}, where $n$ is the second solution. Thus, the answer cannot be $A$ or $B$. We then start plugging in numbers to roughly approximate the answer. When $x=2$, $x^2^\sqrt{2}>\sqrt{2}^2^x$ (Error compiling LaTeX. ! Double superscript.), thus the answer cannot be $C$. Then, when $x=4$, $x^2^\sqrt{2}=4^2^\sqrt{2}<64<\sqrt{2}^2^x=256$ (Error compiling LaTeX. ! Double superscript.). Therefore, $S<4+\sqrt{2}<6$, so the answer is $\boxed{D}$.

## See Also

 2021 AMC 12B (Problems • Answer Key • Resources) Preceded byProblem 20 Followed byProblem 22 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 All AMC 12 Problems and Solutions

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