For x≥5,
(x+1)2+(x−5)=274
⇒x2+3x−4=274
⇒x2+3x−434=0
⇒4x2+12x−33=0
x=−12±√144+6888
x=−12±√8328=−12±28.88
=−3±7.22
=−3+7.22,−3−7.22 (therefore, no solution)
For x<5,
(x+1)2−(x−5)=274
⇒x2+x+6−274=0
⇒4x2+4x−3=0
x=−4±√16+488
x=−4±88
⇒x=−128,48
∴2 real roots.