algebric expression

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by Anurag@Gurome » Mon Jan 02, 2012 11:23 pm
quantskillsgmat wrote:x,y and z are real numbers such that x+y+z=5 and xy+yz+zx is 3. what can be minimum value of x.
a)5/3
b)13/3
c)1/3
d)none
x + y = 5 - z
(x + y)² = (5 - z)²
xy = 3 - z(y + x)
xy = 3 - z(5 - z)
Now (x - y)² = (x + y)² - 4xy and (x - y)² ≥ 0
So, (x + y)² - 4xy ≥ 0
(5 - z)² - 4[3 - z(5 - z] ≥ 0
25 + z² - 10z - 12 + 20z - 4z² ≥ 0
-3z² + 10z + 13 ≥ 0
-(z + 1)(3z - 13) ≥ 0
-1 ≤ z ≤ 13/3
The maximum possible value of z is 13/3. z can be maximum if x and y are minimum. This means minimum value of x = y = 1/3, as 1/3 + 1/3 + 13/3 = 5 and 1/9 + 13/9 + 13/9 = 3.

The correct answer is C.
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by pemdas » Mon Jan 02, 2012 11:27 pm
((x+y)+z)^2=25 and 2*(xy+yz+zx)=2*3

x^2+2xy+y^2+2zx+2zy+z^2=25 less 2xy+2yz+2zx=6

x^2+y^2+z^2=19

Since all polynomials are squares and must be positive, the minimum value x may have is 0 or some fraction. Question asks about minimum value CAN BE and my answer is [spoiler]1/3[/spoiler]

c
quantskillsgmat wrote:x,y and z are real numbers such that x+y+z=5 and xy+yz+zx is 3. what can be minimum value of x.
a)5/3
b)13/3
c)1/3
d)none
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by ArunangsuSahu » Tue Jan 03, 2012 8:45 pm
This the way We have to proceed:

To find the x as minimum we have to maximize y and z

x+y+z=5 or (y+z)=5-x....(i)

xy+yz+zx = 3---(ii)

or, yz+x(y+z)=3
or, yz+[5-(y+z)](y+z) = 3

putting y=z,

we get,
3z^2-10z+3=0
or z=1/3 or -3

z=-3=y makes x maximum.

So z=1/3=y gives minimum value of x

and x=1/3