Solve the equation x[x]=2016. Here [x] is the integer part of the number x, i.e. the largest integer number not greater than x.
Solution
Answer:x=−5224. Suppose that x≥0. Let us denote t=[x]≥0, and then we can write the following estimations: t≤x<t+1⇒t2≤x[x]<t2+t. 442+44=1980<2016<452, therefore there are no solutions of the equation among positive numbers. Suppose that x<0. Then denote t=[x]<0, i.e. −[x]=−t>0. Hence, t≤x<t+1⇒−t−1≤−x<−t⇒t2+t≤x[x]≤t2. 442=1936<2016 and 462=1936<2016<462−46, therefore only possible value is t=−45. Indeed, 452−45=1980<2016<452=2025, i.e. the solution is possible. Let us denote x=−45+y, 0≤y<1. Then it should hold that: x[x]=−45⋅(−45+y)=2025−45y=2016⇒45y=9⇒y=51. Thus, the desired solution is x=−45+51=−5224.
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