The number of distinct real roots of the equation |x| |x+2|-5|x+1|-1=0 is _________ [2024]
(3)
f(x)=|x||x+2|-5|x+1|-1=0
Case 1 : x≥0
∴ f(x)=x(x+2)-5(x+1)-1=0
⇒x2+2x-5x-6=0⇒x2-3x-6=0
⇒x=3±9+242
⇒x=3±332, One positive root [∵ x≥0]
Case 2: -1≤x<0
⇒f(x)=-x(x+2)-5(x+1)-1=0
⇒-x2-7x-6=0⇒x2+7x+6=0
⇒(x+6)(x+1)=0
⇒x=-6,-1 One root i.e., x=-1
Case 3 : -2≤x<-1
f(x)=-x(x+2)+5(x+1)-1=0
⇒-x2-2x+5x+4=0
⇒-x2+3x+4=0⇒x2-3x-4=0
⇒(x+1)(x-4)=0⇒x=-1,4
No root possible in given range of x.
Case 4 : x<-2
f(x)=-x(-x-2)+5(x+1)-1=0
⇒x2+2x+5x+4=0
⇒x2+7x+4=0
⇒x=-7±49-162=-7±332
One root in the range.
∴ We have 3 distinct real roots