(a) Count the number of roots $w$ of the equation $z^{2019} - 1 = 0$ over complex numbers that satisfy $|w + 1| \geq \sqrt{2 + \sqrt{2}}$.
(b) Find all real numbers $x$ that satisfy the following equation:
$$\frac{8^{x} + 27^{x}}{12^{x} + 18^{x}} = \frac{7}{6}$$