Browse · MATH
Printjmc
algebra senior
Problem
Let and be real numbers such that Let and be the minimum and maximum values of respectively. Find the product
Solution
Let Then so
If then so Otherwise, we can divide both sides of by to get This is a quadratic in so and its discriminant must be nonnegative: This simplifies to or The roots of the quadratic are so the solution to is For any value of in this interval, we can take then substitute into and obtain solutions in and Thus, and so
If then so Otherwise, we can divide both sides of by to get This is a quadratic in so and its discriminant must be nonnegative: This simplifies to or The roots of the quadratic are so the solution to is For any value of in this interval, we can take then substitute into and obtain solutions in and Thus, and so
Final answer
\frac{7}{16}