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Maximum value of y

Expert replies
by Vemuri » Fri Apr 03, 2009 10:41 am
If k is a positive constant and y = |x - k| - |x + k|, what is the maximum value of y?

(1) x < 0
(2) k = 3
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Source: — Data Sufficiency |

by mike22629 » Fri Apr 03, 2009 12:18 pm
Im not sure I am right.

IMO B

If that is right I will explain my answer.
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by karmayogi » Fri Apr 03, 2009 12:20 pm
IMO B.

There are two ways to solve the problem.
1. By observation
y = |x - k| - |x + k|
For k = +ve

y< 0 for x > k
y>0 for x< k
The value will be maximum when |x+k| = 0. Therefore for x = -k, y = 2k, which is the maximum value.

2. Above is not a fool proof method, but a quick one. The best solution is drawing graph.

First draw the graph of y = x - k and y = x + k
Second draw the graph of y = |x-k| and y = |x+k|
Second graph will give you some idea. You can solve the problem from here itself. However, we can go step ahead and draw the actual graph of

y = |x - k| - |x + k|

The graph is attached with the post. Given value of K we can find the maximum value of y.

PS: you can also draw the final graph directly by plotting the values of x and assuming some constant value for k.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Each soul is potentially divine. The goal is to manifest this divine within.
--By Swami Vivekananda
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by mike22629 » Fri Apr 03, 2009 12:27 pm
Well I guess he explained it for you. By the way thanks for showing the graphing way to do it. Much easier.

Thanks Karmayogi!
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