Question
If the eqaution x^3-3x+k, always has exactly one +ve real root , then find teh minimum value of [|k|].
Joshi sir comment
let f(x) = x^3-3x+k
so f'(x) = 3 x^2 - 3
on comparing with 0, x = +1, -1
on double differentiating we get that function f(x) is minimum at +1 and maximum at -1
so for getting the only +ve real root plot a graph such that it could intersect positive x axis at any point and nowhere else. From the graph it is clear that k will be negative.
at x = +1, f(x) = k-2
at x = -1, f(x) = k+2
so on the basis of given conditions k-2<0 or k<2 and k+2<0 or k<-2
finally k<-2 so [|k|] has minimum value 2