For each real number t, let Pt(x)=x3−12x+t and let Δ(t)=max{c∈R∣Pt(c)=0}−min{c∈R∣Pt(c)=0} the difference between the largest and the smallest real roots of Pt(x). Determine the range of values that Δ(t) can assume as t varies.
Solution
Let Q(x)=x3−12x. Then Q′(x)=3x2−12 has roots −2 and 2, and Q has a local minimum at (2,−16) and a local maximum at (−2,16). So Q(x)=−t has three (not necessarily distinct) real roots for −16≤t≤16 and one real root for t<−16 and t>16, which means that Δ(t)=0 for t<−16 or t>16. So from now on we consider only t∈[−16,16].
Let u≤v≤w be the roots. Since Pt′(x)=0⟺x=−2 or x=2 we have u≤−2≤v≤2≤w. In particular, −2≤v≤2, and v can assume any value in this interval: if t=−16, v=−2 and if t=16, v=2.
But we know that u+v+w=0 and uv+vw+uw=−12, so u+w=−v and uw=−12−v(u+w)=v2−12, so (Δ(t))2=(w−u)2=(w+u)2−4uw=48−3v2, which lies in the range [48−3⋅22,48]=[36,48]. So 36≤(Δ(t))2≤48⟺6≤Δ(t)≤43.
So the range of Δ(t) is {0}∪[6,43].
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