Verified Solution • 2025–26 Session moderate

QJEEM23Ma9511: JEE Main 2023 Mathematics - Class 11 JEEM23Ma9511 Solution: The number of points, where the curve cuts -axis, is equal to…

The number of points, where the curve f(x)=e8x−e6x−3e4x−e2x+1,x∈Rf(x)=\mathrm{e}^{8 x}-\mathrm{e}^{6 x}-3 \mathrm{e}^{4 x}-\mathrm{e}^{2 x}+1, x \in \mathbb{R} cuts xx -axis, is equal to _________.

Step-by-Step Verified Solution

Firstly, we know that the given function

f(x)=e8x−e6x−3e4x−e2x+1f(x)=e^{8x}-e^{6x}-3e^{4x}-e^{2x}+1 intersects the x-axis

where f(x)=0f(x) = 0 . Setting f(x)f(x) equal to zero gives us :

e8x−e6x−3e4x−e2x+1=0.e^{8x}-e^{6x}-3e^{4x}-e^{2x}+1=0.

Let t=e2xt = e^{2x} . The equation now becomes :

t4−t3−3t2−t+1=0.t^4 - t^3 - 3t^2 - t + 1 = 0.

Dividing by t2t^2 and rearranging the equation gives :

t2−t−3−1t+1t2=0.t^2 - t - 3 - \frac{1}{t} + \frac{1}{t^2} = 0.

If we let y=t+1ty = t + \frac{1}{t} , we get :

y2−y−5=0.y^2 - y - 5 = 0.

This quadratic equation in y can be solved using the quadratic formula to give two roots :

y=1±212.y = \frac{1 \pm \sqrt{21}}{2}.

Since y=t+1ty = t + \frac{1}{t} , and t > 0 (as t=e2xt = e^{2x} ), we must choose the root where y > 2 . Thus, we take y=1+212y = \frac{1 + \sqrt{21}}{2} .

So, we have :

t+1t=1+212.t + \frac{1}{t} = \frac{1 + \sqrt{21}}{2}.

Solving for tt gives us :

t2−yt+1=0,t^2 - yt + 1 = 0,

or

t=y±y2−42.t = \frac{y \pm \sqrt{y^2 - 4}}{2}.

Substituting y=1+212y = \frac{1 + \sqrt{21}}{2} into the formula gives :

t=1+212±(1+212)2−42.t = \frac{\frac{1 + \sqrt{21}}{2} \pm \sqrt{\left(\frac{1 + \sqrt{21}}{2}\right)^2 - 4}}{2}.

This quadratic formula for tt yields two possible values (t = 2.37 and t = 0.42). Both of them are positive, thus both are acceptable values for t=e2xt = e^{2x} .

Finally, to get xx , take the natural log of both sides and divide by 2 :

x=12ln⁡(t).x = \frac{1}{2}\ln(t).

This gives us two solutions for xx , corresponding to the two positive solutions for tt . So, the number of points where the curve f(x)=e8x−e6x−3e4x−e2x+1f(x) = e^{8x} - e^{6x} - 3e^{4x} - e^{2x} + 1 intersects the x-axis is 2.

Related Learning Resources & Exam Preparation