Query about question "For how many real values of $x$ would..." [83]

GRE GRE Quant Problem Solving
1

https://www.gregmat.com/problems/quant?problem=for-how-many-real-values-of-x-would

but if i consider x as root of 144 the answer will still be zero!!!?

2

x = \sqrt{144} = 12 is one of the solutions, yes.