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Find the coefficient of x in the parabola below:

Hint

There are two roots. One of them is 0, and it is most convenient to let the other equal 2b for some b>0.

Then the equation of the parabola must be of the form

y=ax(2b−x)

for some a>0.

Hint

Focus on this triangle first. Get h in terms of a and b, then use Pythagoras.

Hint

Now use this triangle to get a second equation in a, b and d.

Solution

There are two roots. One of them is 0, and it is most convenient to let the other equal 2b for some b>0.

Then the equation of the parabola must be of the form

y=ax(2b−x)

for some a>0. The coefficient of x2 will be −a - this is what we're looking for.

Let's focus on this triangle first:

The height h of the triangle is given by y when x=b:

y=ax(2b−x)=ab(2b−b)=ab2

Then, by Pythagoras,

d2=h2+b2=(ab2)2+b2=a2b4+b2=b2(a2b2+1)

Next, let's look at this triangle

Again by Pythagoras, we have

(2b)2=d2+d24b2=2d2d2=2b2

We can equate these two expressions for d2 to find that

b2(a2b2+1)=2b2a2b2+1=2(ab)2=1ab∈{−1,1}

However, a>0 and b>0, so ab=1.

Going back now to the equation of the parabola, we have

y=ax(2b−x)=2abx−ax2=2x−ax2

So the coefficient of x is 2.