It's possible for positive a too?

Algebra Level 5

f ( x ) = a x 2 + 2 a 3 x 6 \large f(x)=ax^2+|2a-3|x-6

Find the value of a a for which f ( x ) f(x) is positive for exactly three integral values of x . x.

[ 3 5 , 1 2 ] \left[ -\frac{3}{5}, -\frac{1}{2} \right] None of the given choices ( 3 5 , 1 2 ) \left( -\frac{3}{5}, -\frac{1}{2} \right) ( 3 5 , 1 2 ] \left( -\frac{3}{5}, -\frac{1}{2} \right] ( 3 5 , 1 6 ] \left( -\frac{3}{5}, -\frac{1}{6} \right]

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1 solution

Since f ( x ) = a x 2 + ( 3 2 a ) x 6 > 0 f(x) = ax^2+(3-2a)x - 6 >0 , f ( x ) f(x) has a continuous range of x x , where it is positive. The quadratic curve must be inverted and a < 0 a<0 . Then, we have:

f ( x ) = a x 2 + ( 3 2 a ) x 6 x = 2 a 3 ± 4 a 2 12 a + 9 + 24 a 2 a = 2 a 3 ± 4 a 2 + 12 a + 9 2 a = 2 a 3 ± ( 2 a + 3 ) 2 a = { 2 3 a \begin{aligned} f(x) & = ax^2+(3-2a)x - 6 \\ \implies x & = \frac {2a-3\pm \sqrt{4a^2-12a+9+24a}} {2a} \\ & = \frac {2a-3\pm \sqrt{4a^2 + 12a+9}} {2a} \\ & = \frac {2a-3\pm (2a + 3)} {2a} \\ & = \begin{cases} 2 \\ - \dfrac{3}{a} \end{cases} \end{aligned}

There are two roots for f ( x ) f(x) , 2 and 3 a -\dfrac{3}{a} . Since a < 0 a< 0 , 3 a > 0 -\dfrac 3a > 0 , this means that 3 a > 2 -\dfrac 3a > 2 . Because if 3 a < 2 -\dfrac 3a < 2 , then the three integral values of x x are -1, 0 and 1, which is not acceptable because 3 a > 0 -\dfrac 3a > 0 . It does not include x = 2 x=2 because f ( 2 ) = 0 0 f(2) = 0 \not > 0 . Therefore, the three integral values of x x are 3, 4 and 5. Therefore,

5 < 3 a 6 3 5 < a 1 2 a ( 3 5 , 1 2 ] \implies 5 < -\dfrac{3}{a} \le 6 \implies -\dfrac{3}{5} < a \le -\dfrac{1}{2} \implies a \in \boxed{\left( -\dfrac{3}{5}, -\dfrac{1}{2} \right]}

Since the curve is inverted , a < 0 a<0 because if a > 0 a>0 then it will always open upwards.

Nihar Mahajan - 6 years ago

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Sorry, typo.

Chew-Seong Cheong - 6 years ago

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Also I believe the discriminant should have an "a" instead of an "x". Nice solution!

Anand Iyer - 6 years ago

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@Anand Iyer Anand, thanks. Sorry, guys, I have lapses of loss of memory sometimes.

Chew-Seong Cheong - 6 years ago

It is not given that f(x) is quadratic?! If a=0 then what? Correct answer must be: None of the given choices!

Emil Stoyanov - 5 years, 9 months ago

@Chew-Seong Cheong Sir can you please explain how did you get the step 5 < 3 a 6 5 < \frac{-3}{a} \le 6 ?

Any help or hint will be much appreciated! Thanks in advance!

Gjdhhkk Fhhvjnmmn - 3 years, 3 months ago

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I have added some explanation.

Chew-Seong Cheong - 3 years, 3 months ago

I am sure the correct awnser is no any choice

Ahmed X Pro - 10 months, 3 weeks ago

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