Question

If we know
x + 1/x =2
then what would be the value of
x^2048 + 1/x^2048 +x^2047 - 1 / x^2047 + 1/x^2049 - x^2049 +2

Note: Read carefully...

Answer 1

Value of the equation = 4
Solving x+1/x = 2 >> x^2-2x+1 >> x=1
Hence putting value of x in second equation, we get >> 1+1+1-1+1-1+2 = 4.

Comments

The puzzle is not difficult

Answer 2

x + 1/x =2
this is only when x=1.
so,
x^2048 + 1/x^2048 +x^2047 - 1 / x^2047 + 1/x^2049 - x^2049 +2
=1+1+1-1+1-1+2
=4

Comments

Instead of the seven term expression that Ashutosh correctly solved, the answer could be 2/3 if the expression to be solved is a ratio - see the double space following the fourth term, "- 1".  

This assumes the appropriate parentheses around the four term numerator and four term denominator are simply missing.  So if the problem expression to be solved is a ratio, then the four term numerator would be 1 + 1 + 1 - 1 = 2, and the four term denominator would  be 1 + 1 -  1 + 2 = 3.