Problem: Find all values of the real parameter a such that the image of the function f(x)=sin3x−(a2+2)sinx+2sin2x−a contains the interval [21,2].
Solution
Solution: Set t=sinx and g(t)=t3−(a2+2)t+2t2−a. If the numerator and the denominator of g have a common root then a≥0 and t=±a. If t=−a we obtain a(a2−a+2)=−2, which is impossible since a2−a+2>0 for every a. If t=a we obtain a(a(a−1)+2)=2 and it is easy to see that a=1 is the only solution of this equation (for a∈[0,1) the left hand side is less than 2, and for a>1 it is greater than 2). For a=1 we have g(t)=t3−3t+2t2−1=(t−1)(t+2)t+1≤0 for every t∈[−1,1) which implies that this value of a is not a solution.
We now look for a=1 such that the equation g(t)=c, i.e. h(t)=c(t3−(a2+2)t+2)+a−t2=0 has a solution in the interval [−1,1] for every c∈[21,2]. For c≥21 we have h(−1)=ca2+a+3c−1≥2a2+a+21=2(a+1)2 whence h(−1)≥0 for every a. Also, h′(t)=3ct2−2t−c(a2+2) and therefore h′(1)=c−ca2−2≤0 for c∈[21,2] and every a. Hence the equation h′(t)=0 has real roots t1 and t2 such that t1≤1<t2. Thus the function h(t) is decreasing in the interval [t1,t2]∋1 and increasing in the interval (−∞,t1]. Since h(−1)≥0, it is easy to see that h(t)=0 has a solution in the interval [−1,1] for every c∈[21,2] if and only if h(1)=(a−1)(1−c(1+a))≤0 for every such c. For a>1 this inequality is satisfied since 1−21(1+a)<0, and for a<1 it is equivalent to 1−2(1+a)≥0, i.e. a≤−21. Finally, the required values of a are a∈(−∞,−21]∪(1,+∞).
Second solution: Using the same reasoning as above we reduce the problem to finding of those a such that [21,2]⊂g([−1,1]). Set h(t)=t3−(a2+2)t+2. Then h′(t)=3t2−(a2+2) and for a2≥1 it follows that h′(t)<0 for t∈(−1,1). Therefore h(t) is a strictly decreasing continuous function in the interval (−1,1]. Since h(1)=1−a2≤0<a2+3=h(−1) it follows that h(t) has a unique zero t0∈(−1,1].
We now consider several cases.
Case 1. Let a>1. Then t0=1,limt→t0+0g(t)=+∞ and g(1)=1−a21−a=1+a1<21. Since the function g(t) is decreasing and continuous in (t0,1], it follows that [21,2]⊂[21,+∞)⊂g((t0,1])⊂g([−1,1])
Case 2. Let a≤−1. Now limt→t0−0g(t)=+∞ and g(−1)=a2+31−a≤21 (the last inequality is equivalent to (a+1)2≥0 ). Then [21,2]⊂[21,+∞)⊂g([−1,t0))⊂g([−1,1])
Case 3. Let a=1. Then we see as in the first solution that g(t)≤0 for t∈[−1,1).
Case 4. Let a∈(−1,1). We first check that h(t)>0 for t∈[−1,1], which implies that g(t) is a continuous function in that interval. Indeed, if t∈[−1,0], then h(t)≥t3+2>0 and if t∈(0,1], then h(t)>t3−3t+2=(t−1)2(t+2)≥0.
Case 4.1. If a∈(−1,−21], then g(−1)=a2+31−a<21,g(1)=1+a1≥2 and therefore [21,2]⊂g([−1,1]).
Case 4.2. If a∈(−21,1), we shall show that g(t)<2 for every t∈[−1,1]. Since h(t)>0 in this interval, we have to check that t2<2(t3−(a2+2)t+2) i.e. m(t)=2t3−t2−2(a2+2)t+a+4>0,t∈[−1,1] We have m′(t)=6t2−2t−2(a2+2)≤6t2−2t−4=(6t+4)(t−1) and therefore m′(t)≤0 in the interval [−32,1]. Hence m(t) is a decreasing function in this interval which implies that m(t)≥m(1)=−2a2+a+1=(1+2a)(1−a)>0 for any t∈[−32,1]. On the other hand, we have m(t)≥2t3−t2+a+4≥−2−1−21+4>0 for t∈[−1,0], which completes the proof of (1).
The cases considered above cover all possibilities for a and we conclude that the answer is a∈(−∞,−21]∪(1,+∞).
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