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If x^2 + 2ax + 10 - 3a > 0 for all real numbers x, then find all possible values of a.

 Jun 14, 2020
 #1
avatar+9675 
0

If x2+2ax+103a>0 for all real numbers x, then this means the graph of f(x)=x2+2ax+103a never touches the x-axis. Because if it touches the x-axis, at that point, the function would be zero. However, the questions says that f(x) > 0, so it is never zero, implying it never touches the x-axis.

 

For quadratic functions that doesn't touch the x-axis, we always have Δ<0, where Δ is the discriminant.

 

We calculate Δ.

 

Δ=(2a)24(1)(103a)=4a2+12a40=4(a2+3a10)

 

If we solve the inequality Δ<0, we get 5<a<2 as our answer. (how?)

 Jun 14, 2020
 #2
avatar+1262 
+1

x=−a+√[(a−2)(a+5)]

x=−a−√[(a−2)(a+5)]

 

so x can be anything when x^(2) + 2ax- 3a >-10 is true where we substitute x with the equation above to get x=(-5)<=>(2)

 Jun 14, 2020

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