The function \(f : x \mapsto 2x - a\), where \(a\) is a constant, is defined for all real \(x\).
(i) In the case where \(a = 3\), solve the equation \(ff(x) = 11\).
The function \(g : x \mapsto x^2 - 6x\) is defined for all real \(x\).
(ii) Find the value of \(a\) for which the equation \(f(x) = g(x)\) has exactly one real solution.
Solution
(i) Given \(f(x) = 2x - 3\), we need to find \(ff(x)\).
First, calculate \(f(f(x)) = f(2x - 3) = 2(2x - 3) - 3 = 4x - 6 - 3 = 4x - 9\).
Set \(4x - 9 = 11\).
Solve for \(x\):
\(4x - 9 = 11\)
\(4x = 20\)
\(x = 5\)
(ii) Set \(f(x) = g(x)\):
\(2x - a = x^2 - 6x\)
Rearrange to form a quadratic equation:
\(x^2 - 8x + a = 0\)
For exactly one real solution, the discriminant must be zero:
\(b^2 - 4ac = 0\)
Here, \(b = -8\), \(a = 1\), \(c = a\).
\((-8)^2 - 4 \times 1 \times a = 0\)
\(64 - 4a = 0\)
\(4a = 64\)
\(a = 16\)
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