# Math Help - Number of roots

1. ## Number of roots

Find the number of roots of the equation
$
2^x=x^2+1
$

2. Originally Posted by pankaj
Find the number of roots of the equation
$
2^x=x^2+1
$
$2^x=x^2+1$

$e^{\ln(2^x)} = x^2+1$

$e^{x\ln(2)} = x^2+1$

$e^{x\ln(2)} = x^2+1$

$x = \pm(e^{x\ln(2)} -1)$

Now. The exponential function has only 1 value at any point. There is no x value for which the exponential function has more than 1 value.

So, the RHS, inside the brackets, as x varies, there will only ever be 1 unique solution inside the brackets. However outside the brackets we have written $\pm$ so... can you draw a conclusion from there?

3. Let $f(x)=2^x-x^2-1$

Now, $f(0)=0;f(1)=0$and $f(4)f(5)<0$

Therefore the equation has clearly atleast 3 roots.

How to prove or disprove that the equation has exactly 3 roots???

4. Originally Posted by pankaj
Let $f(x)=2^x-x^2-1$

Now, $f(0)=0;f(1)=0$and $f(4)f(5)<0$

Therefore the equation has clearly atleast 3 roots.

How to prove or disprove that the equation has exactly 3 roots???
so you only need to show that the equation has at most 3 (real) roots. here's a general fact:

Fact: suppose $a>0$ and let $p(x)$ be a polynomial of degree $n$ with real coefficients. then the equation $a^x=p(x)$ has at most $n+1$ (distinct) real roots.

Proof: if $a=1,$ there's nothing to prove by the fundamental theorem of algebra. for $0 < a \neq 1$ let $f(x)=a^x - p(x).$ suppose $f(x)=0$ has at least $n+2$ roots. then, by Rolle's theorem, the

equation $f^{(n+1)}(x)=0$ must have at least one real root. but $f^{(n+1)}(x)=a^x(\ln a)^{n+1} \neq 0, \ \forall x \in \mathbb{R}.$ contradiction! $\Box$