Number of real solutions of $\begin{array}{r} {\left[\frac{2 x+1}{3}\right]+\left[\frac{4 x+5}{6}\right]} =\frac{3 x-1}{2} \end{array}$

algebra-precalculusceiling-and-floor-functionsfunctionsinequality

Solve for $x \in \mathbb{R}$ $$\begin{array}{r}
{\left[\frac{2 x+1}{3}\right]+\left[\frac{4 x+5}{6}\right]}
=\frac{3 x-1}{2}
\end{array}$$
where $[x]$ denotes greatest integer less than or equal to $x$.

My try:

Letting $a=\frac{2x+1}{3}$ we get
$$\left[a\right]+\left[a+\frac{1}{2}\right]=\frac{9 a-5}{4} \tag{1}$$
Now knowing that:
$$a-1<[a]\leq a$$ and $$a-\frac{1}{2}<\left[a+\frac{1}{2}\right]\leq a+\frac{1}{2}$$

Adding both the above inequalities and using $(1)$ we get
$$2a-\frac{3}{2}<\frac{9a-5}{4}\leq 2a+\frac{1}{2}$$

So we get $$a \in (-1, 7]$$

Any help here?

Best Answer

Hint :

$$ \lfloor a \rfloor + \lfloor a + \frac{1}{2} \rfloor = \lfloor 2a \rfloor $$

This follows from Hermite's identity.