Bunuel
Competition Mode Question
If the minimum value of \(f(x) = x^2 + 2bx + 2c^2\) is greater than the maximum value of \(g(x) = -x^2 - 2cx + b^2\), then which of the following must be true?
A. \(|c| > √2|b|\)
B. \(√2|c| > b\)
C. \(0 < c < √2b\)
D. \(c < b\)
E. \(c = b\)
We see that the two functions are parabolas of the form f(x) = ax^2 + bx + c. We need to find the vertex of each parabola, and we first determine the x-coordinate of the vertex by using the formula x = -b/2a. We then determine the y-value (minimum or maximum value of the parabola) by substituting the value of the x-coordinate into the original quadratic equation.
For the first parabola, the x-coordinate of the vertex is -(2b)/[2(1)]= -b, and so the minimum value of the function f(x) is f(-b) = (-b)^2 + 2b(-b) + 2c^2 = -b^2 + 2c^2.
Likewise, the x-coordinate of the vertex of the second parabola is -(-2c)/[2(-1)] = -c, so the maximum value of the function g(x) is g(-c) = -(-c)^2 - 2c(-c) + b^2 = c^2 + b^2.
Since we are given that the former is greater than the latter, we have:
-b^2 + 2c^2 > c^2 + b^2
c^2 > 2b^2
Taking the square root of both sides, we have:
√(c^2) > √(2b^2)
√(c^2) > √2 * √(b^2)
|c| > √2 * |b|
Answer: A