f ( x ) = a x 2 + ∣ 2 a − 3 ∣ x − 6
Find the value of a for which f ( x ) is positive for exactly three integral values of x .
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Since the curve is inverted , a < 0 because if a > 0 then it will always open upwards.
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Sorry, typo.
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Also I believe the discriminant should have an "a" instead of an "x". Nice solution!
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@Anand Iyer – Anand, thanks. Sorry, guys, I have lapses of loss of memory sometimes.
It is not given that f(x) is quadratic?! If a=0 then what? Correct answer must be: None of the given choices!
@Chew-Seong Cheong Sir can you please explain how did you get the step 5 < a − 3 ≤ 6 ?
Any help or hint will be much appreciated! Thanks in advance!
I am sure the correct awnser is no any choice
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Since f ( x ) = a x 2 + ( 3 − 2 a ) x − 6 > 0 , f ( x ) has a continuous range of x , where it is positive. The quadratic curve must be inverted and a < 0 . Then, we have:
f ( x ) ⟹ x = a x 2 + ( 3 − 2 a ) x − 6 = 2 a 2 a − 3 ± 4 a 2 − 1 2 a + 9 + 2 4 a = 2 a 2 a − 3 ± 4 a 2 + 1 2 a + 9 = 2 a 2 a − 3 ± ( 2 a + 3 ) = ⎩ ⎨ ⎧ 2 − a 3
There are two roots for f ( x ) , 2 and − a 3 . Since a < 0 , − a 3 > 0 , this means that − a 3 > 2 . Because if − a 3 < 2 , then the three integral values of x are -1, 0 and 1, which is not acceptable because − a 3 > 0 . It does not include x = 2 because f ( 2 ) = 0 > 0 . Therefore, the three integral values of x are 3, 4 and 5. Therefore,
⟹ 5 < − a 3 ≤ 6 ⟹ − 5 3 < a ≤ − 2 1 ⟹ a ∈ ( − 5 3 , − 2 1 ]