Maths Olympiad Prep

Track / Stage 5 / 301 of 400 #901 of 1964

Problem 901

AIME late
Algebra Difficulty 5.7 Find the answer

62. Let's find the intervals of monotonicity and the points of extremum of the function y=x212y=|| x^{2}-1|-2|.

This one wants a proof. Work it on paper, then read the official solution and mark yourself. Be honest about it: the record is only any use to you if it is.

Official solution

Solution. We will start from the graph of the function y=x2y=x^{2}. In the system x1O1yx_{1} O_{1} y, we construct the graph of y=x12y=x_{1}^{2}. We translate the axis O1x1O_{1} x_{1} by the vector rˉ1(0;1)\bar{r}_{1}(0 ; 1), obtaining the new system x2O2yx_{2} O_{2} y (Fig. 34). In this system, we will have the graph of the function y=x221y=x_{2}^{2}-1. In the system x2O2yx_{2} O_{2} y, we construct the graph of y=x221y=\left|x_{2}^{2}-1\right|. Now, we translate the axis O2x2O_{2} x_{2} by the vector rˉ2(0;2)\bar{r}_{2}(0 ; 2), obtaining the system xOyx O y. In this system, we will have the graph of the function y=x212y=\left|x^{2}-1\right|-2. Finally, in the system xOyx O y, we construct the graph of the original function (solid line).

We find the points of extremum. xi=1x_{i}=-1 and x2=1x_{2}=1 are points of maximum. The points of minimum lie on the axis OxO x, so y=0y=0, i.e., x212=0|x^{2}-1|-2=0, from which x3=3x_{3}=-\sqrt{3} and x4=3x_{4}=\sqrt{3} are points of minimum. Another point x=0x=0 is a point of minimum.

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Fig. 31

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Fig. 32

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Fig. 33

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Fig. 34
We find the intervals of monotonicity: on the intervals (;3)(-\infty ;-\sqrt{3}), (1;0)(-1 ; 0), and (1;3)(1 ; \sqrt{3}) the function is decreasing, and on the intervals (3;1)(-\sqrt{3} ;-1), (0;1)(0 ; 1), and (3;+)(\sqrt{3} ;+\infty) the function is increasing.

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