Which function has exactly three distinct real zeros?

starting with:    

5 + x - 12 = 2x - 7   

5 + x - 12 - x = 2x - 7 - x (subtract x from both sides)   

5 - 12 = x - 7 (combine and cancel x's from both sides)   

5 - 12 + 7 = x - 7 + 7 (add 7 to both sides)   

0 = x (add numbers together on both sides)       

so in order for the equation to be true, x must be 0.   

trying x = -0.5   

5 + x - 12 = 2x - 7 (original equation)   

5 + -0.5 - 12 = 2(-0.5) - 7 (plug in value of x)   

5 + -0.5 - 12 = -1 - 7 (did multiplication)   

-7.5 = -8 (did addition on both sides)       

since -7.5 is obviously not equal to -8, the value of -0.5 for x is wrong.   

trying x = 0   

5 + x - 12 = 2x - 7 (original equation)   

5 + 0 - 12 = 2(0) - 7 (plug in value of x)   

5 + 0 - 12 = 0 - 7 (did multiplication)   

-7 = -7 (did addition on both sides)       

since -7 equals -7, that demonstrates that the value of 0 for x is correct.   

trying x = 1   

5 + x - 12 = 2x - 7 (original equation)   

5 + 1 - 12 = 2(1) - 7 (plug in value of x)   

5 + 1 - 12 = 2 - 7 (did multiplication)   

-6 = -5 (did addition on both sides)       

since -6 is obviously not equal to -5, the value of 1 for x is wrong.

if gloria has "carry over" minutes, (that is, any minutes paid for but not used in a month can be applied to her payment for minutes in the next month,) her total usage for the three months is: total minutes = 320 + 243 + 489 = 1052 minutes number of 200 minute blocks = 1052/200 = 5 r52 (that is 5 with a remainder of 52) rounding up the number of 200 minute blocks gives her usage for the three months as 6 blocks. the cost for six blocks is 6 x $25 = $150 she also has 200 - 52 or 148 carry over minutes if gloria pays each month and unused minutes are lost, applying the rounding up procedure to each month gives: first month usage of 320 minutes rounds up to 2 blocks of 200 minutes for a payment of 2 x $25 = $50 second month usage of 243 minutes rounds up to 2 blocks of 200 minutes for a payment of 2 x $25 = $50 third month usage of 489 minutes rounds up to 3 blocks of 200 minutes for a payment of 3 x $25 = $75 total payments for the three months are $50 + $50 + $75 = $175 get the plan with carry over minutes!