Can someone explain 3‐(propan‐2‐yl)cyclohex‐1‐ene forming a carbocation? Can someone explain this one, especially the formation of the secondary carbocation (in the solution)?


  


Solution:


  


After the electrophilic attack by $\ce{H+}$ on the π bond, I had expected the carbocation formation on the other side (the left end of the π bond) because of more hyperconjugation thus ruling out the chance of its rearrangement to the tertiary site. I've seen this happen in other questions too.
You are correct that the $\alpha$-carbon would be protonated... and then deprotonated, and back and forth, until eventually, the $\beta$-carbon is protonated, the hydride shift proceeds, and the molecule is trapped in the product state. Since protonating the $\alpha$-carbon doesn't result in some other reaction, it doesn't really matter which secondary cation is more stable. I think the important thing here is recognizing where and when a hydride shift can occur.