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Exercise 1668Algebra › Equations and radicalsOlympiadAdded 3 Nov 2026

A double radical

#double radical#squaring#verification

Statement

Solve in R\mathbb{R} the equation
x+2x−1+x−2x−1=2.\sqrt{x+\sqrt{2x-1}}+\sqrt{x-\sqrt{2x-1}}=2.

Hint

Let AA be the left-hand side. Compute A2A^2 by expanding and use (a+b)(a−b)=a2−b2(a+b)(a-b)=a^2-b^2 to evaluate the cross term.

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Solution

Domain. We need 2x−1≥02x-1\ge0, i.e. x≥12x\ge\tfrac12, and both radicals real, i.e. x±2x−1≥0x\pm\sqrt{2x-1}\ge0. The condition x≥2x−1x\ge\sqrt{2x-1} is equivalent to x2≥2x−1x^2\ge 2x-1 (both sides nonnegative), i.e. (x−1)2≥0(x-1)^2\ge0, which always holds. So the domain is x≥12x\ge\tfrac12.

Square. Set
a=x+2x−1,b=x−2x−1.a=\sqrt{x+\sqrt{2x-1}},\qquad b=\sqrt{x-\sqrt{2x-1}}.
Then
a2+b2=2x,ab=x2−(2x−1)=(x−1)2=∣x−1∣.a^2+b^2=2x,\qquad ab=\sqrt{x^2-(2x-1)}=\sqrt{(x-1)^2}=|x-1|.
Since a+b=2a+b=2, we get
4=(a+b)2=a2+b2+2ab=2x+2∣x−1∣.4=(a+b)^2=a^2+b^2+2ab=2x+2|x-1|.
So ∣x−1∣=2−x|x-1|=2-x, which requires x≤2x\le2, and then splits into two cases.

Case 1≤x≤21\le x\le 2: ∣x−1∣=x−1|x-1|=x-1, so
2x+2(x−1)=4 ⟹ 4x=6 ⟹ x=32.2x+2(x-1)=4\ \Longrightarrow\ 4x=6\ \Longrightarrow\ x=\tfrac32.
This lies in [1,2][1,2].

Case 12≤x<1\tfrac12\le x<1: ∣x−1∣=1−x|x-1|=1-x, so
2x+2(1−x)=4 ⟹ 2=4,2x+2(1-x)=4\ \Longrightarrow\ 2=4,
which is impossible.

Verification at x=3/2x=3/2. 2x−1=2\sqrt{2x-1}=\sqrt2, and
x+2x−1=32+2=3+222=(1+2)22,x−2x−1=32−2=3−222=(1−2)22.x+\sqrt{2x-1}=\frac32+\sqrt2=\frac{3+2\sqrt2}{2}=\frac{(1+\sqrt2)^2}{2},\qquad x-\sqrt{2x-1}=\frac32-\sqrt2=\frac{3-2\sqrt2}{2}=\frac{(1-\sqrt2)^2}{2}.
Hence
a=1+22,b=2−12,a=\frac{1+\sqrt2}{\sqrt2},\qquad b=\frac{\sqrt2-1}{\sqrt2},
and a+b=1+2+2−12=222=2a+b=\dfrac{1+\sqrt2+\sqrt2-1}{\sqrt2}=\dfrac{2\sqrt2}{\sqrt2}=2. ✓

Conclusion. The equation has exactly one solution, x=32x=\dfrac32.