JEE Advance - Mathematics (2014 - Paper 1 Offline - No. 17)

Let a $$\in$$ R and f : R $$\to$$ R be given by f(x) = x5 $$-$$ 5x + a. Then,
f(x) has three real roots , if a > 4
f(x) has only one real root, if a > 4
f(x) has three real roots, if a < $$-$$4
f(x) has three real roots, if $$-$$4 < a < 4

Explanation

In the equation $$f(x) = {x^5} - 5x + a$$, there are different polynomials depending on the parameter a. Now, for the roots of each of these, in general, f(x) = 0.

That is, $$a = 5x - {x^5} = x(5 - {x^5})$$

Hence, the parameter a is a function of x. That is,

$$a(x) = x(5 - {x^5})$$

Now, $$a'(x) = 5 - 5{x^4}$$

Therefore, extrema occurs at a'(x) = 0

That is, when x4 = 1 or x = 1 and x = $$-$$1 (only real roots considered)

Here, $$a''(x) = - 20{x^3}$$

$$a''(1) < 0$$ (maximum)

$$a''( - 1) > 0$$ (minimum)

Hence, the maximum value is

a(1) = 4

The minimum value is

a($$-$$1) = $$-$$4

Hence, when $$-$$4 < a < 4, there are three points that is, x values where f(x) = 0, that is, three roots of f(x) for any value of a lying in ($$-$$4, 4)}. .... (1)

When | a | > 4, there is only one x for which f(x) = 0 ...... (2)

Hence, from statements (1) and (2), we can conclude that options (B) and (D) are correct.

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