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Algebra Difficulty 4.0 AMC 10/12 Find the answer

For the function y=x2loga(x+1)4x+4y=x^{2}-\log _{a}(x+1)-4x+4, if the function values are all less than 00 when x(1,2)x\in \left(1,2\right), then the range of real number aa is ____.

A number or a short expression. Spacing and $ signs are ignored.

Solution

To analyze the function y=x2loga(x+1)4x+4y=x^{2}-\log _{a}(x+1)-4x+4 and determine the range of real numbers aa for which the function values are all less than 00 when x(1,2)x\in \left(1,2\right), we proceed in a step-by-step manner.

1. **Considering the case when 000 0 because the logarithm of a positive number to a base between 00 and 11 is negative, and the negative of a negative number is positive.
- Next, we analyze x24x+4x^{2}-4x+4. Completing the square gives x24x+4=(x2)2x^{2}-4x+4=(x-2)^{2}. Since a square is always non-negative, (x2)20(x-2)^{2} \geq 0. Thus, for any xx, x24x+4>0x^{2}-4x+4 > 0 as long as x2x \neq 2.
- Combining these results, we find that y=(x2)2loga(x+1)>0y = (x-2)^{2} - \log_{a}(x+1) > 0 for 010 1:**

- When a>1a > 1, to analyze the behavior of y=x2loga(x+1)4x+4y=x^{2}-\log _{a}(x+1)-4x+4 in the interval (1,2)(1,2), we consider the monotonicity of its components:
- The term x24x+4x^{2}-4x+4 simplifies to (x2)2(x-2)^{2}, which is monotonically increasing for x>2x > 2 and decreasing for x1x 1 because as xx increases, loga(x+1)\log _{a}(x+1) increases and its negative decreases.
- Combining these observations, we deduce that yy is monotonically decreasing on (1,2)(1,2).
- For the function values to be all less than 00 in (1,2)(1,2), it suffices to ensure that the maximum value of yy in this interval does not exceed 00. The maximum occurs at the left endpoint x=1x=1 due to the monotonic decrease:
- At x=1x=1, ymax=yx=1=12loga(2)4(1)+4=1loga(2)y_{\max}=y|_{x=1}=1^{2}-\log _{a}(2)-4(1)+4=1-\log _{a}(2).
- Requiring that ymax0y_{\max} \leq 0 leads to 1loga(2)01-\log _{a}(2) \leq 0, or loga(2)1\log _{a}(2) \geq 1.

3. **Solving for aa:**

- The inequality loga(2)1\log _{a}(2) \geq 1 can be rewritten as a12a^{1} \geq 2, giving a2a \geq 2.
- However, considering the overall conditions and the behavior of the function, we refine this to 111 1, we conclude that the range of aa for which the function y=x2loga(x+1)4x+4y=x^{2}-\log _{a}(x+1)-4x+4 has all values less than 00 for x(1,2)x\in (1,2) is (1,2]\boxed{(1,2]}.

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Source: NuminaMath-1.5, licensed Apache-2.0. Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic and difficulty added by this site.