0606 P23 - Nov 2023 - Q2 - 4 marks
7365
Find the values of \(k\) for which the curve
\(y=x^2+kx+4k-15\)
is completely above the \(x\)-axis.
Solution
Answer: \(6\lt k\lt10\).
We start with the main method. Use the discriminant to decide how many real roots the quadratic equation has.
For the curve
\(y=x^2+kx+4k-15\)
to be completely above the \(x\)-axis, the quadratic must have no real roots and open upwards.
Since the coefficient of \(x^2\) is \(1\), it opens upwards.
So we need the discriminant to be negative:
\(k^2-4(1)(4k-15)\lt0.\)
This gives
\(k^2-16k+60\lt0.\)
Factorising,
\((k-6)(k-10)\lt0.\)
Therefore \(k\) lies between the two roots:
\(6\lt k\lt10.\)
This completes the solution and gives the required result.