To determine the number of real roots for the equation:
\(x|x-2| + 3|x-3| + 1 = 0\)
we need to analyze the function through its critical points. Specifically, we observe where each absolute value expression changes from positive to negative or vice versa. This will occur at the points where the expressions inside the absolute values are zero. The critical points are:
- \(x = 2\) (for \(|x-2|\))
- \(x = 3\) (for \(|x-3|\))
We will evaluate the behavior of the equation over the intervals formed by these critical points: \(( -\infty, 2 )\), \(( 2, 3 )\), and \(( 3, \infty )\).
- **Interval** \((-\infty, 2)\):
For \(x < 2\), both \(|x-2| = 2-x\) and \(|x-3| = 3-x\). The equation becomes: \(x(2-x) + 3(3-x) + 1 = 0\) simplifies to: \(-x^2 + 5x - 8 = 0\). The discriminant, \(b^2 - 4ac\), is negative: \(25 - 32 = -7\), indicating no real roots in this interval. - **Interval** \((2, 3)\):
In this region, \(|x-2| = x-2\) and \(|x-3| = 3-x\). The equation becomes: \(x(x-2) + 3(3-x) + 1 = 0\), simplifying to: \(x^2 - 5x + 10 = 0\). The discriminant is \(25 - 40 = -15\). Hence, no real roots occur here. - **Interval** \((3, \infty)\):
Here, \(|x-2| = x-2\) and \(|x-3| = x-3\). The equation becomes: \(x(x-2) + 3(x-3) + 1 = 0\), simplifying to: \(x^2 + x - 10 = 0\). The discriminant is positive: \(1 + 40 = 41\), which means two distinct roots exist.
The real roots in \((3, \infty)\) need to be verified for being actual, keeping in mind that only one of them might be greater than 3. By evaluating, we find exactly one real root in this range.
Hence, the number of real roots of the equation is 1.