1

The question is that: Given that $x^2 -5x -1991 = 0$, what is the solution of $\frac{(x-2)^4 + (x-1)^2 - 1}{(x-1)(x-2)}$

I've tried to factorize the second polynomial like this: $\frac{(x-2)^4 + (x-1)^2 - 1}{(x-1)(x-2)} =\frac{(x-2)^4+x(x-2)}{(x-1)(x-2)} =\frac{(x-2)((x-2)^3+x)}{(x-1)(x-2)}=\frac{(x-2)^3+x}{(x-1)}$

However I could not solve it with the given equation $x^2 -5x -1991 = 0$. I know that direct substitution may work, but I think that there is a neat solution to this polynomial. Thanks in advance!

Edited: I've found the way to solve it with the help of lhf

$\frac{(x-2)^4+(x-1)^2-1}{(x-1)(x-2)}=\frac{((x-2)^2+1)((x-2)^2-1)+(x-1)^2}{(x-1)(x-2)}=\frac{(x^2-4x+5)(x-1)(x-3)+(x-1)^2}{(x-1)(x-2)}=\frac{(x^2-4x+5)(x-3)+x-1}{(x-2)}=\frac{(x^2-4x+5)(x-2)-x^2+4x-5+x-1}{(x-2)}=\frac{(x^2-4x+5)(x-2)-(x-2)(x-3)}{(x-2)}=x^2-5x+8$

2 Answers2

2

Hint: $\dfrac{(x-2)^4 + (x-1)^2 - 1}{(x-1)(x-2)}$ simplifies to $x^2 - 5 x + 8$

lhf
  • 216,483
  • Got it, and I've found out the way to do it thanks! –  Sep 29 '18 at 02:46
  • but I want to know that how can you simplify it so quickly, for me the result is not obvious at all –  Sep 29 '18 at 02:47
  • I've post my method at the bottom of the question, is it the way you do with it? –  Sep 29 '18 at 02:56
  • @Someonethatisbadatmath, your original method works: $(x-2)^3+x$ cleary has $x=1$ as a root. – lhf Sep 29 '18 at 10:17
0

Try making the question simpler.

Let $t=x-2$ then $x-1$ will become $t+1$. So the question

$$\dfrac{(x-2)^4 + (x-1)^2 - 1}{(x-1)(x-2)}$$

changes to

$$\dfrac{t^4 + (t+1)^2 - 1}{t(t+1)}$$

$$\implies\dfrac{t^4 + t²+1+2t - 1}{t(t+1)}$$

$$\implies\dfrac{t^4 + t²+2t}{t(t+1)}$$

$$\implies\dfrac{t(t²-t+2)(t+1)}{t(t+1)}$$

$$\implies t²-t+2$$

$$\implies (x-2)²-(x-2)+2$$

$$\implies x²+8-5x$$

Now,

$$x²-1991-5x=0$$

Or

$$x²-5x=1991$$

So

$$x²+8-5x=1991+8$$

$$=1999$$