If r is a constant such that x2 − 4x − 13 = r has exactly ...
The quadratic equation of the form ∣x
2 − 4x − 13∣ = r has its minimum value at x = -b/2a, and hence does not vary irrespective of the value of x.
Hence at x = 2 the quadratic equation has its minimum.
Considering the quadratic part : |x2 − 4 ⋅ x − 13|. as per the given condition, this must-have 3 real roots.
The curve ABCDE represents the function |x2 − 4 ⋅ x − 13|. Because of the modulus function, the representation of the quadratic equation becomes:
ABC'DE.
There must exist a value, r such that there must exactly be 3 roots for the function. If r = 0 there will only be 2 roots, similarly for other values there will either be 2 or 4 roots unless at the point C'.
The point C' is a reflection of C about the x-axis. r is the y coordinate of the point C':
The point C which is the value of the function at x = 2, = 22 − 8 − 13
= -17, the reflection about the x-axis is 17.
Alternatively,
|x2 - 4x - 13| = r
This can represented in two parts :
Considering the first case : x
2 − 4x − 13 = r
The quadraticequation becomes : x2 − 4x − 13 − r = 0
The discriminant for this function is : b2 − 4ac = 16− (4⋅(−13 − r)) = 68 + 4r
SInce r is positive the discriminant is always greater than 0 this must have two distinct roots.
For the second case :
x2 − 4x − 13 + r = 0 the function inside the modulus is negaitve
The discriminant is 16 − (4⋅(r−13)) = 68−4r
In order to have a total of 3 roots, the discriminant must be equal to zero for this quadratic equation to have a total of 3 roots.
Hence 68 − 4r = 0
r = 17, for r = 17 we can have exactly 3 roots.