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The roots of the parabola

y=(2x+1)(2x−3)

along with the points P and Q form a trapezium, as shown in the diagram.

Parabola with trapezium

The x coordinates of P and Q are p and q respectively, and it is known that p,q∈Z.

Given that the area of the trapezium is 12.5, find pqh, where h is the height of the trapezium.

Hint

By symmetry, the midpoint of P and Q is the same as the midpoint of the roots. Use this to find a relationship between p and q.

Hint

Note that the height of the trapezium can by given by the y coordinate of the point Q (that is, by substituting x=q into the equation of the parabola).

Hint

Here are the dimensions of the trapezium

Trapezium

Use the area of the trapezium to show that

(2q+1)2(2q−3)=25
Hint

Recall that q∈Z. This means that (2q+1)∈Z and (2q−3)∈Z.

The equation (2q+1)2(2q−3)=25 therefore implies that 25 has been factored into odd2×odd. There's only two ways to do that, and only one of them makes sense given the diagram!

Solution

The roots of the parabola are x=−12 and x=32. The midpoint of the roots is 12. By symmetry, p and q have the same midpoint, so

p+q2=12p=1−q

Now let's consider the area of the trapezium

Trapezium

By the formula for the area of a trapezium, we find that

12.5=12[2+(q−p)]h25=(2+q−p)h(i)

Note that h is given by the y coordinate of Q (or P, but let's focus on getting things in terms of q). So h=(2q+1)(3q−2). We also have p=1−q. Substituting this information into (i) we get

(2q+1)(3q−2)=25(2q+1)2(3q−2)=25

This implies 25 has been factored into a square multiplied by an integer. The only ways to do this are 12×25 or 52×1. We can't have 2q+1=1 because the diagram implies q>0, so we must have

2q+1=5q=2

This also implies

p=1−q=1−2=−1

and

h=(2q+1)(2q−3)=5

We conclude that pqh=−5.