2023 AMC 10B Problems/Problem 22

Revision as of 03:36, 23 November 2023 by Mathbrek (talk | contribs) (Solution 1)

Problem

How many distinct values of 𝑥 satisfy $\lfloor{x}\rfloor^2-3x+2=0$, where $\lfloor{x}\rfloor$ denotes the largest integer less than or equal to $x$?

$\textbf{(A) } \text{an infinite number} \qquad \textbf{(B) } 4 \qquad \textbf{(C) } 2 \qquad \textbf{(D) } 3 \qquad \textbf{(E) } 0$

Solution 1

To further grasp at this equation, we rearrange the equation into \[\lfloor{x}\rfloor^2=3x-2.\] Thus, $3x-2$ is a perfect square and nonnegative. It is now much more apparent that $x \ge 2/3,$ and that $x = 2/3$ is a solution.

Additionally, by observing the RHS, $x<4,$ as \[\lfloor{4}\rfloor^2 > 3\cdot4,\] since squares grow quicker than linear functions.

Now that we have narrowed down our search, we can simply test for intervals $[2/3,1], [1,2],[2,3],[3,4).$ This intuition to use intervals stems from the fact that $x=1,2$ are observable integral solutions.

Notice how there is only one solution per interval, as $3x-2$ increases while the $\lfloor{x}\rfloor^2$ stays the same.

Finally, we see that $x=3$ does not work, however, through setting $\lfloor{x}\rfloor^2 = 9,$ $x = 11/3$ is a solution and within our domain of $[3,4).$

This provides us with solutions $\left(\frac23, 1, 2, \frac{11}{3}\right),$ thus the final answer is $\boxed{(\text{B}) \ 4}$

~mathbrek, happyhari

Solution 2 (three cases)

First, let's take care of the integer case--clearly, only $x=1,2$ work. Then, we know that $3x$ must be an integer. Set $x=\frac{a}3$. Now, there are two cases for the value of $\lfloor x\rfloor$. Case 1: $\lfloor x\rfloor=\frac{a-1}{3}$ \[\frac{a^2-2a+1}{9}=a-2\rightarrow a^2-2a+1=9a-18\rightarrow a^2-11a+19=0.\] There are no solutions in this case. Case 2: $\lfloor x\rfloor=\frac{a-2}{3}$ \[\frac{a^2-4a+4}{9}=a-2\rightarrow a^2-4a+4=9a-18\rightarrow a^2-13a+22=0.\] This case provides the two solutions $\frac23$ and $\frac{11}3$ as two more solutions. Our final answer is thus $\boxed{4}$.

~wuwang2002

Solution 3

First, $x=2,1$ are trivial solutions

We assume from the shape of a parabola and the nature of the floor function that any additional roots will be near 2 and 1

We can now test values for $\lfloor{x}\rfloor$:

$\lfloor{x}\rfloor=0$

We have $0-3x+2=0$. Solving, we have $x=\frac{2}{3}$. We see that $\lfloor{\frac{2}{3}}\rfloor=0$, so this solution is valid

$\lfloor{x}\rfloor=-1$

We have $1-3x+2=0$. Solving, we have $x=1$. $\lfloor{1}\rfloor\neq-1$, so this is not valid. We assume there are no more solutions in the negative direction and move on to $\lfloor{x}\rfloor=3$

$\lfloor{x}\rfloor=3$

We have $9-3x+2=0$. Solving, we have $x=\frac{11}{3}$. We see that $\lfloor{\frac{11}{3}}\rfloor=3$, so this solution is valid

$\lfloor{x}\rfloor=4$

We have $16-3x+2=0$. Solving, we have $x=6$. $\lfloor{6}\rfloor\neq4$, so this is not valid. We assume there are no more solutions.

Our final answer is $\boxed{\textbf{(B) }4}$

~kjljixx

Solution 4

Denote $a = \lfloor x \rfloor$. Denote $b = x - \lfloor x \rfloor$. Thus, $b \in \left[ 0 , 1 \right)$.

The equation given in this problem can be written as \[ a^2 - 3 \left( a + b \right) + 2 = 0 . \]

Thus, \begin{align*} 3 b & = a^2 - 3 a + 2 . \end{align*}

Because $b \in \left[ 0 , 1 \right)$, we have $3 b \in \left[ 0 , 3 \right)$. Thus, \[ a^2 - 3 a + 2 = 0, 1, \mbox{ or } 2 . \]

If $a^2-3a+2=0$, $(a-2)(a-1)=0$ so $a$ can be $1, 2$.

If $a^2-3a+2=1$, $a^2-3a+1=0$ which we find has no integer solutions after finding the discriminant.

If $a^2-3a+2=2$, $a^2-3a=0$ -> $a(a-3)=0$ so $a$ can also be $0, 3$.

Therefore, $a = 1$, 2, 0, 3. Therefore, the number of solutions is $\boxed{\textbf{(B) 4}}$.

~Steven Chen (Professor Chen Education Palace, www.professorchenedu.com)

Solution 5 (Quick)

A quadratic equation can have up to 2 real solutions. With the $\lfloor{x}\rfloor$, it could also help generate another pair. We have to verify that the solutions are real and distinct.


First, we get the trivial solution by ignoring the floor. $(x-2)(x-1) = 0$, we get $(2,1)$ as our first pair of solutions.

Up to this point, we can rule out A,E.

Next, we see that $\lfloor{x}\rfloor^2-3x=0.$ This implies that $-3x$ must be an integer. We can guess and check $x$ as $\dfrac{k}{3}$ which yields $\left(\dfrac{2}{3},\dfrac{11}{3}\right).$

So we got 4 in total $\left(\dfrac{2}{3},1,2,\dfrac{11}{3}\right).$

~Technodoggo

Solution 6

$x=1, 2$ are trivial solutions. Let $x=n+f$ for some integer $n$ and some number $f$ such that $-1<f<1$. \[\lfloor{x}\rfloor^2-3x+2= \lfloor{n+f}\rfloor^2-3(n+f)+2=n^2+-3(n+f)+2.\] So now we have \[n^2-3(n+f)+2 = 0,\] which we can rewrite as \[n(n-3)=3f-2.\] Since $n$ is an integer, $n(n-3)$ is an integer, so $3f-2$ is an integer. Since $-1<f<1$, the only possible values of $f$ are $\frac{1}{3}$, $\frac{2}{3}$, $-\frac{1}{3}$, and $-\frac{2}{3}$. Plugging in each value, we find that the only value of $f$ that produces integer solutions for $n$ is $f=\frac{2}{3}$. If $f=\frac{2}{3}$, $n=0$ or $n=3$. Hence, there is a total of 4 possible solutions, so the answer is $\boxed{\textbf{(B) }4}$. ~azc1027

Solution 7

We rewrite the equation as ${\lfloor x\rfloor}^2-3\lfloor x\rfloor-$3{$x$}$+2=0$, where {$x$} is the fractional part of $x$

To rewrite it just for simplicity we rewrite as ${x_1}^2-3{x_1}-3{x_2}+2=0$.

We must have $0\leq x_2\leq 1$ by our definition. We then have ${x_1}^2-3{x_1}+2=3{x_2}$ and therefore $0\leq {x_1}^2-3{x_1}+2\leq 3$.

Solving, we have $[\frac{3-sqrt{13}}{2},1]\cup[2,\frac{3+sqrt{13}}{2}]$. But since $x$ is an integer, we have $x$ can only be $0,1,2,$ or $3$.

Testing, we see these values of $x$ work, and therefore the answer is just $\boxed{\textbf{(B) }4}$.

~ESAOPS

Video Solution 1 by OmegaLearn

https://youtu.be/wAYcpn-Q_KQ

Video Solution 2 by SpreadTheMathLove

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvHGEXBjf0Y

Video Solution

https://youtu.be/ONRoop23LIY

~Steven Chen (Professor Chen Education Palace, www.professorchenedu.com)

See also

2023 AMC 10B (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 21
Followed by
Problem 23
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 10 Problems and Solutions

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