Suppose real number a satisfies ∣2x−a∣+∣3x−2a∣≥a2 for any x∈R. Then a lies exactly in:
Pick one
Solution
Let x=32a. Then we have ∣a∣≤31. Therefore (B) and (D) are excluded. By symmetry, (C) is also excluded. Then only (A) can be correct.
In general, for any k∈R, let x=21ka. Then the original inequality becomes ∣a∣⋅∣k−1∣+23∣a∣⋅k−34≥∣a∣2. This is equivalent to ∣a∣≤∣k−1∣+23k−34. We have ∣k−1∣+23k−34=⎩⎨⎧25k−3,1−21k,3−25k,k≥34,1≤k<34,k<1. So k∈Rmin{∣k−1∣+23k−34}=31. The inequality is reduced to ∣a∣≤31. Answer: A.
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