It is given that f(x)=2x6−4x4−6x2−7\mathrm{f}(x) = 2x^6 - 4x^4 - 6x^2 - 7. The diagram shows the curve with equation y=f(x)y = \mathrm{f}(x) for x≥0x \ge 0. The curve crosses the positive xx-axis at x=αx = \alpha.

  1. (i)

    Find the value of α\alpha, giving your answer correct to 3 decimal places.

  2. (ii)

    Show that f(x)=f(−x)\mathrm{f}(x) = \mathrm{f}(-x) for all real values of xx. What can be said about the six roots of the equation f(x)=0\mathrm{f}(x) = 0?

  3. (iii)

    It is given that g′(x)=f(x)\mathrm{g}'(x) = \mathrm{f}(x), for all real values of xx.

    Determine the xx-coordinates of all the stationary points of graph of y=g(x)y = \mathrm{g}(x) and determine their nature.

  4. (iv)

    For which values of xx is the graph of y=g(x)y = \mathrm{g}(x) concave upwards?

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Worked solution

7(i)

1. Set the function to zero to find the positive $x$-intercept.

At the xx-axis, f(x)=0\mathrm{f}(x) = 0.
2x6−4x4−6x2−7=02x^6 - 4x^4 - 6x^2 - 7 = 0

2. Solve the equation for $\alpha$ using a graphing calculator.

Since α\alpha is the positive root, we use a graphing calculator to solve for x>0x > 0:
x≈1.8036x \approx 1.8036
Therefore, α=1.804\alpha = 1.804 (correct to 3 decimal places).

Answer

1.8041.804

7(ii)

1. Show that $\mathrm{f}(x) = \mathrm{f}(-x)$.

f(−x)=2(−x)6−4(−x)4−6(−x)2−7=2x6−4x4−6x2−7=f(x)\begin{aligned} \mathrm{f}(-x) &= 2(-x)^6 - 4(-x)^4 - 6(-x)^2 - 7 \\ &= 2x^6 - 4x^4 - 6x^2 - 7 \\ &= \mathrm{f}(x) \end{aligned}

2. Use the symmetry of the graph to deduce the number of real roots.

Since f(x)=f(−x)\mathrm{f}(x) = \mathrm{f}(-x), the graph of y=f(x)y = \mathrm{f}(x) is an even function and is symmetrical about the yy-axis. This implies that if xx is a root, −x-x is also a root.
From the given graph, there is exactly one root for x≥0x \ge 0, which is x=αx = \alpha.
Due to symmetry, there is exactly one root for x<0x < 0, which is x=−αx = -\alpha.
Thus, the equation f(x)=0\mathrm{f}(x) = 0 has exactly two real roots, x=αx = \alpha and x=−αx = -\alpha.

3. Deduce the nature of the remaining roots.

Since f(x)\mathrm{f}(x) is a polynomial of degree 6, the equation f(x)=0\mathrm{f}(x) = 0 must have exactly 6 roots in total.
Because only 2 of these roots are real, the remaining 4 roots must be non-real complex numbers.
(Note: As the coefficients are real and the function is even, these 4 complex roots occur in conjugate pairs and in ±\pm pairs).

Answer
  • f(−x)=f(x)\mathrm{f}(-x) = \mathrm{f}(x) is shown by substitution.
  • The roots occur in pairs of equal magnitude and opposite signs (±r\pm r).
  • Exactly two of the roots are real (x=αx = \alpha and x=−αx = -\alpha).
  • The remaining four roots are non-real complex numbers (occurring in conjugate pairs).

7(iii)

1. Establish the condition for the stationary points of $y = \mathrm{g}(x)$

Stationary points occur when g′(x)=0\mathrm{g}'(x) = 0.
Given g′(x)=f(x)\mathrm{g}'(x) = \mathrm{f}(x), this implies we need to solve f(x)=0\mathrm{f}(x) = 0.

2. Find the $x$-coordinates of the stationary points using earlier results

From (i), solving 2x6−4x4−6x2−7=02x^6 - 4x^4 - 6x^2 - 7 = 0 using a graphing calculator yields the positive root x=α≈1.804x = \alpha \approx 1.804.
From (ii), f(x)\mathrm{f}(x) is an even function (f(x)=f(−x)\mathrm{f}(x) = \mathrm{f}(-x)), so there is a corresponding real negative root at x=−α≈−1.804x = -\alpha \approx -1.804.
Thus, the xx-coordinates of the stationary points are x≈1.804x \approx 1.804 and x≈−1.804x \approx -1.804.

3. Determine the nature of the stationary point at $x = \alpha$

From the given graph for x≥0x \ge 0, as xx increases through α\alpha, the value of f(x)\mathrm{f}(x) changes from negative to positive.
Since g′(x)=f(x)\mathrm{g}'(x) = \mathrm{f}(x), the gradient of g(x)\mathrm{g}(x) changes from negative to positive (−→0→+- \to 0 \to +).
By the first derivative test, y=g(x)y = \mathrm{g}(x) has a local minimum at x=1.804x = 1.804.

4. Determine the nature of the stationary point at $x = -\alpha$

By the symmetry of the graph (reflected across the yy-axis since it is an even function), as xx increases through −α-\alpha, the value of f(x)\mathrm{f}(x) changes from positive to negative.
Thus, the gradient of g(x)\mathrm{g}(x) changes from positive to negative (+→0→−+ \to 0 \to -).
By the first derivative test, y=g(x)y = \mathrm{g}(x) has a local maximum at x=−1.804x = -1.804.

Answer

x=1.804x = 1.804 (local minimum), x=−1.804x = -1.804 (local maximum)

7(iv)

1. State the condition for the graph of $y = \mathrm{g}(x)$ to be concave upwards.

For the graph of y=g(x)y = \mathrm{g}(x) to be concave upwards, we require g′′(x)>0\mathrm{g}''(x) > 0.

Given g′(x)=f(x)\mathrm{g}'(x) = \mathrm{f}(x) for all real xx, differentiating both sides gives g′′(x)=f′(x)\mathrm{g}''(x) = \mathrm{f}'(x).

Thus, we need to find the range of xx for which f′(x)>0\mathrm{f}'(x) > 0.

2. Find $\mathrm{f}'(x)$ and formulate the inequality.

Given f(x)=2x6−4x4−6x2−7\mathrm{f}(x) = 2x^6 - 4x^4 - 6x^2 - 7,
f′(x)=12x5−16x3−12x\mathrm{f}'(x) = 12x^5 - 16x^3 - 12x

Set the derivative strictly greater than zero:
12x5−16x3−12x>012x^5 - 16x^3 - 12x > 0
4x(3x4−4x2−3)>04x(3x^4 - 4x^2 - 3) > 0

3. Solve the inequality to find the required values of $x$.

Find the roots of 3x4−4x2−3=03x^4 - 4x^2 - 3 = 0 by letting u=x2u = x^2:
u=4±(−4)2−4(3)(−3)2(3)=4±526=2±133u = \frac{4 \pm \sqrt{(-4)^2 - 4(3)(-3)}}{2(3)} = \frac{4 \pm \sqrt{52}}{6} = \frac{2 \pm \sqrt{13}}{3}
Since x2≥0x^2 \ge 0 for all real xx, we reject the negative value.
Thus, x2=2+133≈1.8685x^2 = \frac{2 + \sqrt{13}}{3} \approx 1.8685.
This gives x≈±1.3669x \approx \pm 1.3669.
The real roots of f′(x)=0\mathrm{f}'(x) = 0 are x=−1.3669x = -1.3669, x=0x = 0, and x=1.3669x = 1.3669.

Testing intervals around these roots (or by sketching the curve/using a graphing calculator) shows that 4x(3x4−4x2−3)>04x(3x^4 - 4x^2 - 3) > 0 in the intervals (−1.3669,0)(-1.3669, 0) and (1.3669,∞)(1.3669, \infty).

Therefore, the graph is concave upwards for:
−1.37<x<0orx>1.37 (to 3 s.f.)-1.37 < x < 0 \quad \text{or} \quad x > 1.37 \text{ (to 3 s.f.)}

Answer

−1.37<x<0orx>1.37-1.37 < x < 0 \quad \text{or} \quad x > 1.37

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