Let's integrate

Calculus Level 1

Let a , b , c a,b,c be non-zero real constants such that 0 3 ( 3 a x 2 + 2 b x + c ) d x = 1 3 ( 3 a x 2 + 2 b x + c ) d x . \displaystyle \int_{0}^3 (3ax^2+2bx+c) \, dx=\displaystyle \int_{1}^3 (3ax^2+2bx+c) \, dx. What is the value of a + b + c a+b+c ?

1 2 0 3

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4 solutions

Md Omur Faruque
Aug 29, 2015

Let, f ( x ) = ( 3 a x 2 + 2 b x + c ) d x = a x 3 + b x 2 + c x f(x) =\displaystyle \int (3ax^2+2bx+c) \, dx=ax^3+bx^2+cx [We won’t need the integral constant as it’s a definite integral.] \color{teal} {\text{[We won't need the integral constant as it's a definite integral.]}}

Given that, 0 3 ( 3 a x 2 + 2 b x + c ) d x = 1 3 ( 3 a x 2 + 2 b x + c ) d x \displaystyle \int_{0}^3 (3ax^2+2bx+c) \, dx=\displaystyle \int_{1}^3 (3ax^2+2bx+c) \, dx [ a x 3 + b x 2 + c x ] 0 3 = [ a x 3 + b x 2 + c x ] 1 3 \Rightarrow \left[ax^3+bx^2+cx\right]_0^3=\left[ax^3+bx^2+cx\right ]_1^3 f ( 3 ) f ( 0 ) = f ( 3 ) f ( 1 ) \Rightarrow f(3)-f(0)=f(3)-f(1) f ( 1 ) = f ( 0 ) \Rightarrow f(1)=f(0) a + b + c = 0 \Rightarrow \color{#0C6AC7} {\boxed {a+b+c=0}}

Or you can directly say 0 1 ( 3 a x 2 + 2 b x + c ) d x = 0 \int_0^1 (3ax^2+2bx+c)\mathrm dx = 0 :)

Kishore S. Shenoy - 5 years ago
Jerry Christensen
Feb 11, 2019

Thinking about it logically, as in with the basic area formula length times width, we have two areas equalling each other that have different lengths. It's like saying 3x = 2x. The only solution for the width is zero. Therefore, a, b, and c have to be zero.

Then of course, 0 + 0 + 0 = 0

Please observe, that a, b and c should be non-zero real constants, as described in the task. I had the same thought at the beginning.

Chomas Rue - 2 years, 2 months ago

It explicitly states that a, b, c are non-zero.

Marcus Åkerman - 1 year, 7 months ago
Jam M
Nov 18, 2018

Let f ( x ) = 3 a x 2 + 2 b x + c f(x) = 3ax^2 + 2bx + c

0 3 f ( x ) d x = 0 1 f ( x ) d x + 1 3 f ( x ) d x = 1 3 f ( x ) d x \displaystyle{\int_0^3 f(x) \,dx} = \displaystyle{\int_0^1 f(x) \,dx} + \displaystyle{\int_1^3 f(x) \,dx} = \displaystyle{\int_1^3 f(x) \,dx} so that 0 = 0 1 f ( x ) d x = a x 3 + b x 2 + c x 0 1 = a + b + c 0 = \displaystyle{\int_0^1 f(x) \,dx} = ax^3 + bx^2 + cx \Big|_0^1 = a+b+c

Joe Potillor
Dec 4, 2016

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