1956 AMC 12 Problem 42

Attempt Problem 42 of the 1956 AMC 12 below, then check your answer against the professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 1956 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.

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42.

The equation x+4x3+1=0\sqrt{x+4}-\sqrt{x-3}+1=0 has:

no root

one real root

one real root and one imaginary root

two imaginary roots

two real roots

Answer: A
Concepts:radical equationinequalitiesreal domain
Difficulty rating: 1280
Small Hint:

For real square roots the domain requires x3x\ge3

Big Hint:

On that domain, compare x+4\sqrt{x+4} directly with x3\sqrt{x-3}

Solution:

For a real solution, x3.x\ge3. Then x+4>x3,x+4>x-3, so x+4>x3. \sqrt{x+4}>\sqrt{x-3}. Consequently x+4x3+1>1,\sqrt{x+4}-\sqrt{x-3}+1>1, and it cannot equal zero. The original equation is a real radical expression, so nonreal roots are outside its domain.

The correct answer is A.

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Problem 42 in Other Years

1950 AMC 12 · 1951 AMC 12 · 1952 AMC 12 · 1953 AMC 12 · 1954 AMC 12 · 1955 AMC 12 · 1957 AMC 12 · 1958 AMC 12 · 1959 AMC 12