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For any non-zero real number x, let f(x)+2f(1x)=3xf(x) + 2 f(\frac{1}{x}) = 3x. Then, the sum of all possible values of xx for which f(x)=3f(x) = 3, is

Solution

✅ Correct Option: 4

We have a functional equation: f(x)+2f(1x)=3xf(x) + 2f\left(\frac{1}{x}\right) = 3x for any non-zero real number xx.

We need to find all values of xx where f(x)=3f(x) = 3.

Since this equation works for ANY non-zero value of xx, we can substitute different values to create a system of equations.


Equation I: f(x)+2f(1x)=3xf(x) + 2f\left(\frac{1}{x}\right) = 3x (given)

Equation II: Since the original equation works for any xx, let's substitute 1x\frac{1}{x} in place of xx:

f(1x)+2f(11x)=3⋅1xf\left(\frac{1}{x}\right) + 2f\left(\frac{1}{\frac{1}{x}}\right) = 3 \cdot \frac{1}{x}

f(1x)+2f(x)=3xf\left(\frac{1}{x}\right) + 2f(x) = \frac{3}{x}


Since we want f(x)=3f(x) = 3, let's substitute this into both equations:

From Equation I: 3+2f(1x)=3x3 + 2f\left(\frac{1}{x}\right) = 3x

2f(1x)=3x−32f\left(\frac{1}{x}\right) = 3x - 3

f(1x)=3x−32f\left(\frac{1}{x}\right) = \frac{3x - 3}{2} ... (III)

From Equation II: f(1x)+2(3)=3xf\left(\frac{1}{x}\right) + 2(3) = \frac{3}{x}

f(1x)+6=3xf\left(\frac{1}{x}\right) + 6 = \frac{3}{x}

f(1x)=3x−6f\left(\frac{1}{x}\right) = \frac{3}{x} - 6 ... (IV)


Since both (III) and (IV) equal f(1x)f\left(\frac{1}{x}\right), we can equate them to find xx:

3x−32=3x−6\frac{3x - 3}{2} = \frac{3}{x} - 6

3x−32=3−6xx\frac{3x - 3}{2} = \frac{3 - 6x}{x}


Cross-multiplying: x(3x−3)=2(3−6x)x(3x - 3) = 2(3 - 6x)

3x2−3x=6−12x3x^2 - 3x = 6 - 12x

3x2+9x−6=03x^2 + 9x - 6 = 0

x2+3x−2=0x^2 + 3x - 2 = 0

The solution to this equation gives us xx such that f(x)=3f(x) = 3


We need the sum of all possible values of xx such that f(x)=3f(x) = 3

For any quadratic equation ax2+bx+c=0ax^2 + bx + c = 0, the sum of roots equals −ba-\frac{b}{a}.

In our equation x2+3x−2=0x^2 + 3x - 2 = 0:

a=1a = 1, b=3b = 3, c=−2c = -2

Sum of roots = −31=−3-\frac{3}{1} = -3


Therefore, the sum of all possible values of xx for which f(x)=3f(x) = 3 is −3-3.

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