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jmc

algebra intermediate

Problem

There are exactly three integers satisfying the inequality How many integer values of are possible?
Solution
The roots of the corresponding equation are (Note that these roots must be real, otherwise, the inequality has no real solutions.) Thus, the solution to this inequality is If the length of this interval is at least 4, then it must contain at least 4 integers, so the width of this interval must be less than 4. Thus, Then so We must also have The only possible values of are then 3, and 4. We can look at each case.

Thus, there are values of that work, namely and 4.
Final answer
2