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Algebra Difficulty 4.5 AIME Prove it China

The minimum of y=(acos2x3)sinxy = (a \cos^2 x - 3) \sin x is -3. Then the range of real number aa is ______.

Solution

Let sinx=t\sin x = t. The expression is then changed to
g(t)=(at2+a3)t, g(t) = (-a t^2 + a - 3)t,
or
g(t)=at3+(a3)t. g(t) = -a t^3 + (a-3)t.
From at3+(a3)t3-a t^3 + (a-3)t \ge -3, we get
at(t21)3(t1)0, -a t (t^2 - 1) - 3 (t - 1) \ge 0,
(t1)(at(t+1)3)0. (t - 1)(-a t (t + 1) - 3) \ge 0.
Since t10t - 1 \le 0, we have at(t+1)30-a t (t + 1) - 3 \le 0, or
a(t2+t)3. a (t^2 + t) \ge -3. \qquad ①
When t=0,1t = 0, -1, expression ① always holds; when 0<t10 < t \le 1, we have 0<t2+t20 < t^2 + t \le 2; and when 1<t<0-1 < t < 0, 14t2+t<0-\frac{1}{4} \le t^2 + t < 0. Therefore, 32a12-\frac{3}{2} \le a \le 12. ☐

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