Q166 / 270 · NDA 2018 (Phase 1) · Mathematics

The equation $|1-x|+x^2=5$ has

  • Correct answer
    A
    a rational root and an irrational root
  • B
    two rational roots
  • C
    two irrational roots
  • D
    no real roots

Solution

$\begin{aligned} & |1-x|+x^2=5 \\ & \Rightarrow|x-1|+x^2=5 \end{aligned}$ First case: If $x \lt 1,|x-1|$ is negative. $\begin{aligned} & \therefore \quad-(\mathrm{x}-1)+\mathrm{x}^2=5 \\ & \Rightarrow-\mathrm{x}+1+\mathrm{x}^2=5 \\ & \Rightarrow \mathrm{x}^2-\mathrm{x}+1=5 \\ & \Rightarrow \mathrm{x}^2-\mathrm{x}-4=0 \\ & \text { Roots are } \frac{-(-1) \pm \sqrt{(-1)^2-4(1)(-4)}}{2(1)} \end{aligned}$ $=\frac{1 \pm \sqrt{1+16}}{2}=\frac{1 \pm \sqrt{17}}{2}$ Since, $x \lt 1$, root cannot be $\frac{1+\sqrt{17}}{2}$. So, the root is $\frac{1-\sqrt{17}}{2}$, which is irrational. Second case: If $x \gt 1,|x-1|=x-1$ $\begin{array}{ll} \therefore & |\mathrm{x}-1|+\mathrm{x}^2=5 \\ \Rightarrow & \mathrm{x}-1+\mathrm{x}^2=5 \\ \Rightarrow & \mathrm{x}^2+\mathrm{x}-6=0 \\ \Rightarrow & \mathrm{x}^2+3 \mathrm{x}-2 \mathrm{x}-6=0 \\ \Rightarrow & \mathrm{x}(\mathrm{x}+3)-2(\mathrm{x}+3)=0 \\ \Rightarrow & \mathrm{x}=2,-3 \end{array}$ Since $x \gt 1$, root cannot be -3 . So, root is 2 which is rational. $\therefore \quad$ given expression has one irrational root and one rational root.

Hence, the correct answer is option: 'A'.

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