Problem:
How many different real numbers satisfy the equation
Answer Choices:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Solution:
If is a real number satisfying then either or . There are two numbers, and that satisfy the first equation and two additional numbers, and , that satisfy the second equation. Thus there are four solutions in all.
Answer: .
The problems on this page are the property of the MAA's American Mathematics Competitions