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China Mathematical Competition

Algebra Difficulty 5.3 AIME, harder Prove it China

Suppose f(x)=asin⁡x−12cos⁡2x+a−3a+12f(x) = a \sin x - \frac{1}{2} \cos 2x + a - \frac{3}{a} + \frac{1}{2}, a∈Ra \in \mathbf{R}, a≠0a \neq 0.

(1)
If f(x)≤0f(x) \le 0 for any x∈Rx \in \mathbf{R}, find the range of aa.

(2)
If a≥2a \ge 2 and there exists x∈Rx \in \mathbf{R} such that f(x)≤0f(x) \le 0, find the range of aa.

Solution

(1) We have f(x)=sin⁡2x+asin⁡x+a−3af(x) = \sin^2 x + a \sin x + a - \frac{3}{a}. Let t=sin⁡xt = \sin x (−1≤t≤1-1 \le t \le 1). Then
g(t)=t2+at+a−3a. g(t) = t^2 + a t + a - \frac{3}{a}.
The sufficient and necessary condition for f(x)≤0,∀x∈Rf(x) \le 0, \forall x \in \mathbf{R} is
{g(−1)=1−3a≤0,g(1)=1+2a−3a≤0. \begin{cases} g(-1) = 1 - \frac{3}{a} \le 0, \\ g(1) = 1 + 2a - \frac{3}{a} \le 0. \end{cases}
Therefore, we obtain the range of aa is (0,1](0, 1].

(2)
As a≥2a \ge 2, then −a2≤−1-\frac{a}{2} \le -1. We have
g(t)min⁡=g(−1)=1−3a. g(t)_{\min} = g(-1) = 1 - \frac{3}{a}.
Then f(x)min⁡=1−3af(x)_{\min} = 1 - \frac{3}{a}. Therefore, the sufficient and necessary condition for f(x)≤0,∃x∈Rf(x) \le 0, \exists x \in \mathbf{R} is 1−3a≤01 - \frac{3}{a} \le 0, or 0<a≤30 < a \le 3.
Finally, we obtain that the range of aa is [2,3][2, 3].

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