Miscellaneous Problems



READ THIS FIRST

If a problem is solved. It is not 'the' answer.
No attempt is made to search for the most elegant answer.
I highly recommend that you at least try to solve the problem before you read the solution.

Miscellaneous solved problems

About roots of a quadratic equation

Given is the equation
 
        (m2 - 5m + 6)x2 + (4 - m2)x + 20 = 0
Say the roots are x' and x", with x' < x" or x'=x".
Calculate the values of the parameter m such that x' < 1 < x".

 
Let f(x) = ax2+ bx + c  .
If a > 0  then,   f(1) < 0  <=>  x' < 1 < x"
If a < 0  then,   f(1) > 0  <=>  x' < 1 < x"
Conclusion : a.f(1) < 0  <=>  x' < 1 < x"
Thus, in this exercise we have :
                x' < 1 < x"
<=>
        (m2 - 5m + 6).( m2 - 5m + 6 + 4 - m2 + 20 ) < 0
<=>
        (m2 - 5m + 6).(30 - 5m) < 0
<=>
        2 < m < 3  or m > 6

 
Calculate m such that in the equation

        x2 + mx - 24 = 0                (1)

    a root is twice a root of the equation

        x2 - (m+1)x + m = 0             (2)

 
Denote x1 and x2 the roots of (1).
First, we write a quadratic equation with roots x1/2 and x2/2.

        x2 + (m/2) x - 6 = 0

<=>    2x2 + mx - 12 = 0                (3)

The problem is now, find m such that (2) and (3) have a common root.
Take the matrix of the coefficients
        [1    -m-1       m ]
        [2      m       -12]

 A = 12 m + 12 - m2     B = 2 m + 12    C = 3 m + 2

(1) and (3) have a common root if and only if
        B.B = A.C

<=>     (2 m + 12) (2 m + 12) = (12 m - m2 + 12) (3 m + 2)

<=>     3 m3 - 30 m2 - 12 m + 120

<=>     3 (m + 2) (m - 2) (m - 10) = 0

<=>     m = -2 or m = 2 or m = 10

Formula about the area of a triangle ABC

Given : the coordinates of A,B and C with respect to an orthonormal coordinate system in a plane.
A(a,a') , B(b,b') , C(c,c')
Prove that the area of the triangle is the absolute value of
 
          1   |a        a'      1|
         --- .|b        b'      1|
          2   |c        c'      1|

 
|AB| = sqrt((b-a)2+ (b'- a')2)

The equation of the line AB is
        |x      y       1|
        |a      a'      1| = 0
        |b      b'      1|
<=>
        (a' - b')x - (a - b)y +(ab'-ba') = 0

The normal equation of this line is

        (a' - b')x - (a - b)y +(ab'-ba')
        ---------------------------------  = 0
           sqrt((a' - b')2+ (a - b )2)

<=>
        |x      y       1|
        |a      a'      1|
        |b      b'      1|
        ---------------------------  = 0
        sqrt((a' - b')2+ (a - b )2)

The distance from C(c,c') to AB is the absolute value of

        |c      c'      1|
        |a      a'      1|
        |b      b'      1|
        -------------------------
        sqrt((b-a)2 + (b'- a')2)

The area of the triangle is then the absolute value of

        |c      c'      1|
        |a      a'      1|
   1    |b      b'      1|
  --- . ------------------------- .qrt((b-a)2 + (b'- a')2)
   2    sqrt((b-a)2 + (b'- a')2)




    1    |c      c'      1|
 = --- . |a      a'      1|
    2    |b      b'      1|


    1    |a      a'      1|
 = --- . |b      b'      1|
    2    |c      c'      1|
Conclusion:
Given : the coordinates of A,B and C with respect to an orthonormal coordinate system in a plane.
A(a,a') , B(b,b') , C(c,c')
The area of the triangle is THE ABSOLUTE VALUE OF
 
    1    |a      a'      1|
 = --- . |b      b'      1|
    2    |c      c'      1|

Equation with integral

 
Calculate all positive x-values such that

        /x dt
        |  ---  =  2
        /1  t

 

        /x dt                                                      2
        |  ---  =  2  <=> ln(x) - ln(1) = 2 <=> ln(x) = 2 <=> x = e
        /1  t

Asymptotes, tangent line, integration

 
Let G be the graph of

                9x2 + mx + 4
        f(x) = ----------------  with m as real parameter
                2x - 7
  • Calculate m such that G and the x-axis have just one point in common.
  • Calculate m such that the line 9x - 2y + 3 = 0 is asymptote of G.
  • Calculate the slope of the tangent line in the intersection point of G and the y-axis.
  • Calculate
     
            /
            | f(x) dx
            /
    

 

Integral equation

 
Calculate all positive x-values such that

        /e    dt        /x    dt
        |     ---  =    |     --
        /1/e   t        /e     t

 


<=>     ln(e) - ln(1/e) = ln(x) - ln(e)

<=>     ln(x) = 3.ln(e)

<=>     ln(x) = ln(e3)   <=> x = e3

Trigonometry - formulas

 
Given : x and y in ]0, pi/2[
Show that :

   1 + 2cos(4y) - (sin(6x)/sin(2x)) = 16.sin(x-y)sin(x+y)cos(x-y)cos(x+y)

 

Right side = 4.2.sin(x-y)cos(x-y).2.sin(x+y)cos(x+y)

           = 4.sin 2(x+y).sin 2(x-y)

           = 2 (cos(4y) - cos(4x))



Left side  = 1 - (sin(6x)/sin(2x)) + 2cos(4y)

           sin(2x) - sin(6x)
        = ------------------------  + 2cos(4y)
                sin(2x)

           2.cos(4x).sin(-2x)
        = ------------------------  + 2cos(4y)
                sin(2x)


        = -2.cos(4x) + 2.cos(4y)

 
Solve
          _______________
         |      2  x
         | 2 cos  --- - 1  > 2 sin(x) - 3
        \|         2

 
                        2  x
Since 1 + cos(x) = 2 cos  ---  we have to solve
                           2

           ________
          V cos(x)  > 2 sin(x) - 3

The right side is strictly < 0.
The left side is positive if it exists.
The set of solutions is the set of all x values so that
        cos(x)  > 0 or cos(x) = 0
<=>  -pi/2 + 2.k.pi =< x =< pi/2 + 2.k.pi

 
a,b and c are the angles of a triangle.
Show that we have a right-angled triangle if

        sin(2 b) sin(2 c) = 2 - 2 sin2(b) cos2(c) - 2 cos2(b) sin2(c)

 

        sin(2 b) sin(2 c) = 2 - 2 sin2(b) cos2(c) - 2 cos2(b) sin2(c)

<=>  4sin(b) cos(b) sin(c) cos(c) + 2 sin2(b) cos2(c) + 2 cos2(b) sin2(c) =2

<=>  2(sin(b) cos(c) + cos(b) sin(c))2 = 2

<=>   sin2(b+c) = 1

<=>   sin2(a) = 1

<=>   sin (a) = 1

<=>   a = pi/2

Arithmetic and geometric sequences

 
a, b, c form arithmetic sequence and x, y, z form a geometric sequence.
Prove that
                xb.yc.za = xc.ya.zb

 

a, b, c form arithmetic sequence => b = (a+c)/2

x, y, z form a geometric sequence => y.y = x.z

                xb.yc.za = x(a+c)/2 .(xz)c/2 . za

                         = x(a/2+c)  . z(c/2+a)

                 xc.ya.zb= xc.(xz)(a/2). z(a+c)/2

                         = x(a/2+c)  . z(c/2+a)

Simplify a trigonometric expression

 
Simplify
        (1 + tan(a).tan(a/2))-1

 


        1                       1
  ------------------- = ------------------------------
  1 + tan(a).tan(a/2)            2 tan(a/2).tan(a/2)
                          1 +   ----------------------
                                 1 - tan(a/2).tan(a/2)

           1 - tan(a/2).tan(a/2)
        = ------------------------  = cos(a)
           1 + tan(a/2).tan(a/2)

Trigonometric equation

 
If m is a real parameter, then solve :

       m.cos2(x) + (2m2 - m + 1)sin(x) -3m + 1 = 0

 
        m.cos2(x) + (2m2 - m + 1)sin(x) -3m + 1 = 0

<=>     m.(1 - sin2(x))+ (2m2 - m + 1)sin(x) -3m + 1 = 0

<=>     -m.sin2(x) + (2m2 - m + 1)sin(x) -2m + 1 = 0

                Discriminant = ... =  ( 2m2 - m - 1)2

<=>     sin(x) = ... = 1/m  or sin(x) = ... = 2m - 1


Relative maxima and minima and trigonometry

 
Given:
        f(x) = (m - 1)cos2(x) -3mcos(x) + 2m

        with m a real parameter ( m is not 1).

Determine all m  such that there are four different x values in
[0, 2.pi[ so that the image is a relative maximum or minimum.

 
        f(x) = (m - 1)cos2(x) -3mcos(x) + 2m

        f'(x) = -2(m - 1)cos(x).sin(x) + 3m.sin(x)

        f'(x) = -sin(x) .(2(m - 1)cos(x) - 3m)

From this we see that there are maxima or minima for x = 0 and  x = pi.
Other maxima or minima occur for
                     3m
        cos(x) = -------------
                  2(m - 1)

This equation has two solutions in ]0, 2.pi[ \ {pi}
if and only if

                  3m
        -1 <  ---------  < 1
               2(m - 1)

           ...


        -2 < m < 2/5

Hence, if -2 < m < 2/5 there are four different x values in
[0, 2.pi[ so that the image is a relative maximum or minimum.

Relative maximum and minimum

Given : f(x) = sqrt(2x.x + k) - x/3 - 2
Calculate k such that the x value, corresponding with the relative maximum or minimum of f(x), is equal to that reative maximum or minimum.

 
                    2x
        f'(x) = --------------- - 1/3
                sqrt(2x2 + k)

        The relative maximum or minimum occurs if

        2x - sqrt(2x2 + k)/3 = 0

        <=> ... <=> x = sqrt(k/34)

        We have to calculate k such that for x = sqrt(k/34)

                f(x) = x

        <=> ... <=> k = 306/49 = 6.2449

Sequences and sums

Given :
Two constant values a and b.
A sequence {t(n)}. The sum of the first n terms is S(n)=a.n2 + b.n
With the sequence we construct a new sequence {t'(n)} such that t'(n) = t(2n).

Calculate the sum S'(n) of the first n terms of {t'(n)}.


 
        t'(n) = t(2n) = S(2n) - S(2n-1) = ... = 4a n - a - b

        t'(n) - t'(n-1) = ... = 4a = constant

        So, {t'(n)} is an  arithmetic sequence.

        t'(1) = 3a - b

        S'(n) = n. (t'(1) + t'(n))/2 = ... = n.(a - b + 2an)

Elimination and trigonometry

The numbers a,b,c are constant.
Eliminate x out of sin(a + x) = 2b ; sin(a - x) = 2c.

 
sin(a + x) + sin(a - x) = 2sin(a)cos(x) = 2b + 2c
sin(a + x) - sin(a - x) = 2cos(a)sin(x) = 2b - 2c

        cos(x) = (b + c)/sin(a)
        sin(x) = (b - c)/cos(a)

Hence, the value x exists if and only if

               2           2
        (b + c)     (b - c)
        -------- +  -------- = 1
           2           2
        sin (a)     cos (a)

Factoring

 
Factor

    z = (x + y)5 - x5 - y5

 
First we see that

From all this we know that

    z = (x + y)5 - x5 - y5= x.y.(x + y).(5x2+ axy + 5y2)

For x = 1 and y = 1 we have

        32 -2 = 2.(5 + a + 5)  => a = 5
Hence,
    z = (x + y)5 - x5 - y5= 5x.y.(x + y).(x2+ xy + y2)

Range or image of a function

 
Given : The function
                mx2 - 7x + 5
        f(x) = ---------------
                5x2 - 7x + m

The set of all the images is called the range or image of the function.

Determine m such that the range  of f(x) is the set of all real numbers.

 
        The range of f(x) is the set of all real numbers.
<=>
        The following equation has a solution for all fixed real numbers b.
                mx2 - 7x + 5
                ----------- = b
                5x2 - 7x + m
<=>
        The following equation has a solution for all fixed real numbers b.

        (m - 5b)x2 - 7(1 - b)x + (5 - mb) = 0
<=>
        The previous equation has a positive discriminant for all b
<=>
        (49 - 20m)b2 + (4m2 + 2)b + (49 - 20m) is positive for all b
<=>

        (49 - 20m)>0 and
        previous expression has a strictly negative  discriminant
<=>
        (49 - 20m)>0 and

        (m - 5)2.(m + 12)(m - 2) < 0

<=>      -12 < m < 2

Lines in space and linear systems

 
Given : Two lines in space with equations

        / 2x + my + z = 1       / 3x      + z = 2
        |                 and   |
        \ x - y + mz = 1        \ 2x + my + z = m - 1

  Determine the values of m such that the two lines have
  an intersection point.

 
The intersection point of the two lines is a solution of the system

        / 2x + my + z = 1
        | x - y + mz = 1
        | 3x      + z = 2
        \ 2x + my + z = m - 1

The matrix of coefficients is

        [2      m       1]
        [1      -1      m]
        [3      0       1]
        [2      m       1]
The determinant formed by the first three rows is
        |2      m       1|
        |1      -1      m| = 3m.m - m + 1  and this is never zero !
        |3      0       1|
Hence, the system has a solution if and only if the
characteristic determinant of the last equation is zero.
This condition is :
        |2      m       1       1  |
        |1      -1      m       1  |   =  0
        |3      0       1       2  |
        |2      m       1       m-1|

Row 1 - Row 4 gives

        |0      0       0       2-m|
        |1      -1      m       1  |   =  0
        |3      0       1       2  |
        |2      m       1       m-1|
<=>

                |1      -1      m|
        (2 - m).|3      0       1| = 0
                |2      m       1|
<=>

        (2 - m).(3m.m - m + 1) = 0

<=>     m = 2
The lines are intersecting only for m = 2.
Maybe this is a predictable result, but the method is instructive.

Lines and eigen values

 
In space we take a transformation T , defined by
        x' = 2x + y + z
        y' = x + 2y + z
        z' = x + y + 2z
By this transformation, a point P(x,y,z) is transformed in
another point P'(x',y',z').
A line b is transformed in another line b'.
Calculate all lines b, such that b' is parallel to b.

 
Let (u,v,w) = the direction numbers of such line b, then
we search for (u,v,w) such that (u'= ru ; v'= rv ; w'= rw)
In other words :
         2u + v + w = ru
         u + 2v + w = rv
         u + v + 2w = rw
<=>
        [2      1       1][u]      [u]
        [1      2       1][v] = r. [v]
        [1      1       2][w]      [w]
We see that (u,v,w) is a characteristic vector of the transformation.
To calculate (u,v,w), we calculate the eigenvalues first.
The eigenvalues are the numbers r such that

        |2-r    1         1|
        |1      2-r       1| = 0
        |1      1       2-r|
The roots are r = 1 and r = 4 .

First take r = 4 .
The characteristic vectors are the solutions of
        [2      1       1][u]      [u]
        [1      2       1][v] = 4. [v]
        [1      1       2][w]      [w]
We find  u = v = w
Hence, the line with the direction numbers (1,1,1) it is transformed in
a parallel line.

Now, take r = 1 .
The characteristic vectors are the solutions of
        [2      1       1][u]      [u]
        [1      2       1][v] = 1. [v]
        [1      1       2][w]      [w]
This system is equivalent to
        u + v + w = 0
Hence, each line with direction numbers such that u + v + w = 0, is
transformed in a parallel line.

calculation about the range of a function

 
Calculate m such that the range of the function
                 m x2 + 3 x - 4
        f : x -> -----------------
                 m + 3 x  - 4 x2
 is equal to R.

 
For each real y there must be an x such that

                 m x2 + 3 x - 4
          y =    ----------------
                 m + 3 x  - 4 x2

<=>     y.(m + 3 x  - 4 x2) = m x2 + 3 x - 4


<=>   -(4y + m)x2 + (3y - 3)x + (my + 4) = 0

For each y the D must be not negative

<=>   (16 m + 9) y2+ (4 m2 +46)y + (16m +9) >= 0


<=>   16 m + 9 > 0 and  (4 m2 +46)2- 4(16 m + 9)(16 m + 9) <= 0


<=> 16 m + 9 > 0 and 16m4 - 656 m2 - 1152m + 1792 <= 0

<=> 16 m + 9 > 0 and 16(m-7)(m-1)(m+4)2<= 0

<=> m > -9/16  and  m in [1,7]

<=>  m in [1,7]

For m = 1 or m = 7

        m x2 + 3 x - 4
        ----------------
        m + 3 x  - 4 x2

can be simplified and then the range is not R because of a horizontal
asymptote.

So, the range is R if and only if  m in ]1,7[.

Solving a system with exponential and trigonometric functions

 
Solve the system

        /
        | e2x  + cos2(y) = 1
        |
        |
        | e3x cos(y) = cos(3 y)
        \

 

<=>
        /
        | e2x = sin2(y)
        |
        |
        | e3x cos(y) = cos(3 y)
        \

<=>
       /
       | ex  = sin (y)
 (*)   |
       |
       | sin3 (y) cos(y) = 4 cos3 (y) - 3 cos(y)
       \
OR
       /
       | ex  = - sin (y)
       |
 (**)  |
       | - sin3 (y) cos(y) = 4 cos3 (y) - 3 cos(y)
       \
First consider the case cos(y) = 0 , THEN
                                x            x
        sin(y) = 1 or -1  and  e  = 1 since e  = - 1 is impossible.
        Then x = 0.
        This gives the set of solutions
        x = 0 and y = pi/2  + k. pi    (k is an integer)

Now consider the first system (*) and cos(y) not 0, THEN

         (*)
<=>
       /
       | ex  = sin (y)
       |
       |
       | sin3 (y) = 4 cos2 (y) - 3
       \
<=>
       /
       | ex  = sin (y)
       |
       |
       | sin3 (y) = 4 (1 -sin2 (y)) - 3
       \

Let t = sin(y) ; then the last equation becomes

        t3 + 4 t2 - 1 = 0

Since sin(y) =  ex > 0, we are looking for the positive root.
Studying this curve we find that there is only one positive root, and this root is in [0,1].

With the Newton approximation method we find t = 0.472833908996.
So,

 
        sin(y) = sin(0.492504155559)
y = 0.492504155559 + k.2.pi or y = pi - 0.492504155559 + k.2.pi
x e = 0.472833908996 => x = -0.749011095927 The solutions of the first system (*) with cos(y) not 0 are (x = -0.749011095927 ; y = 0.492504155559 + k.2.pi) and (x = -0.749011095927 ; y = 2.64908849803 + k.2.pi)
Similarly you can find the solutions of the system (**) with cos(y) not 0.

Furthermore it is easy to see that

 
         (xo,yo) is a solution of (*)
<=>
         (xo,-yo) is a solution of (**)
So, the solutions of the system (**) with cos(y) not 0 are
 
        (x = -0.749011095927 ; y = - 0.492504155559 + k.2.pi)

and     (x = -0.749011095927 ; y = - 2.64908849803 + k.2.pi)

Trigonometry and inequalities.

Draw, in an orthonormal coordinate system, the area covered by the points P(x,y) defined by the requirements
 
      sin(pi.x/2) < cos(pi.y/2)

      x2 + y2 < 4

The second requirement means that the points are inside the circle c with origin o(0,0) and radius = 2.

As to the first requirement, we first calculate the points such that

 
      sin(pi.x/2) = cos(pi.y/2)

<=>   cos(pi/2 - pi.x/2) = cos(pi.y/2)

<=>   pi/2 - pi.x/2 = pi.y/2 + 2.k.pi  or pi/2 - pi.x/2 = - pi.y/2 + 2.k.pi

<=>   1 - x = y + 4.k or 1 - x = - y + 4.k

<=>   y = - x + 1 - 4.k  or  y = x - 1 + 4.k
Here, k is an integer and we get a set of lines. Since x and y must be in the circle c, it is sufficient to take only these lines that are in or near this circle. The lines divide the circle in 4 regions.

The function sin(pi.x/2) - cos(pi.y/2) only changes sign, if we cross a blue line.
Therefore the sign of this function is fixed for all the points in the same region.

In region 1 we have sin(pi.x/2) > cos(pi.y/2)
In region 2 we have sin(pi.x/2) < cos(pi.y/2)
In region 3 we have sin(pi.x/2) > cos(pi.y/2)
In region 4 we have sin(pi.x/2) < cos(pi.y/2)

The points P(x,y) defined by the two requirements are the points inside the circle c and in the regions 2 or 4.

A circle, projections, distance, area.

Take a circle C with two fixed diameters AA' and BB' enclosing a sharp angle s and point P is rotating on C.
Consider the orthogonal projection Q and R of point P on AA' and BB'.
We'll study the properties of this moving figure.

Coordinate system

Choose an orthonormal coordinate system with the midpoint of the circle as origin and the x-axis on AA'. Choose the radius of the circle as unity.

Then we can write the coordinates of variable point P as (cos(t),sin(t)). Then we have Q(cos(t),0);

To calculate the coordinates of R, we use

 
  R = (P.B')B'  = cos(t-s) . B'

Then R(cos(t-s).cos(s),cos(t-s).sin(s))

The distance |QR| using coordinates

 

 |QR|2 = (cos(t-s).cos(s) - cos(t))2 + (cos(t-s).sin(s)))2

        = ...

        = sin2(s)

=> |QR| = sin(s) is independent of the position of point P.

The distance |QR| geometrical

The circle K through PRO has central line PO.
The circle K' through PQO has central line PO.
Thus circle K = K' and contains points P,R,Q,O and has radius 1/2.
The sine rule in triangle QRO gives |QR| = sin(s) and is independent of the position of point P.

The area QOR

 
let f = angle OQR = angle OPR = pi/2 - angle POR = pi/2 - (t-s)

Thus f = pi/2 - (t-s)

The area QOR = (1/2).|OQ|.|QR|.sin(f)

             = (1/2).| cos(t).sin(s). sin(f) |

             = (1/2).| cos(t).sin(s).cos(t-s) |

             = (1/2).sin(s). | cos(t).cos(t-s) |

But cos(t).cos(t-s) = (1/2).(cos(s) + cos(2t-s))

So, the area QOR = (1/4).sin(s).|cos(s) + cos(2t-s)|

If t changes there is a maximum area for

      cos(2t-s) = 1

<=>   2t - s = 2.k. pi

<=>   t = s/2 + k.pi

The maximum area is then (1/4).sin(s).(cos(s) + 1)

                    = sin(s/2).cos3(s/2)


If t changes there is a minimum area for

      cos(2t-s) = -1

<=>   2t - s = (2k+1). pi

<=>   t = s/2 + k.pi + pi/2

The minimum area is then (1/4).sin(s).(1 - cos(s))

                  = cos(s/2).sin3(s/2)

Movement of QR

Since f = pi/2 - (t-s) If P moves one time around on the circle, t grows from 0 to 2.pi.
Then f varies from (pi/2 + s) to (pi/2 + s - 2 pi).
Thus, with respect to point Q, point R describes a circle with radius sin(s).


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