Analyzing the Setup
Welcome, fellow traveler on the path to JEE mastery. Today, we are going to dissect a problem that, at first glance, might seem like a tangled mess of polynomials.
As we peel back the layers, you will see the elegance of the Linear Differential Equation (LDE) structure. Let us look at our equation:
(x2−5)dxdy−2xy=−2x(x2−5)2
The first thing to notice is that the degree of y and dxdy are both linear. This is our signal to transform this into the standard form: dxdy+P(x)y=Q(x).
By dividing the entire equation by (x2−5), we obtain:
Now, the path forward is illuminated.
The Multiplier of Destiny
The Integrating Factor
With our equation in standard form, we identify our key players: P(x)=−x2−52x and Q(x)=−2x(x2−5).
To solve this, we need the Integrating Factor (IF), defined as IF=e∫P(x)dx. This is where the magic happens.
Look at the integral ∫−x2−52xdx. The numerator is the derivative of the denominator! This is a classic ∫f(x)f′(x)dx form, which integrates to ln∣f(x)∣.
Thus, our integral is −ln∣x2−5∣. When we exponentiate this, e−ln∣x2−5∣ becomes (x2−5)−1, or simply:
This is our Integrating Factor, the key that unlocks the solution.
Anchoring the Solution
The general solution for an LDE is y⋅(IF)=∫Q(x)⋅(IF)dx+c. Substituting our values, we have:
y⋅x2−51=∫[−2x(x2−5)]⋅x2−51dx+c
Notice how the term (x2−5) cancels out perfectly? We are left with ∫−2xdx+c, which simplifies to −x2+c.
Multiplying by (x2−5), we get the general solution:
Now, we use the initial condition y(2)=7 to anchor our solution. Substituting x=2 and y=7:
7=(4−5)(c−4)⇒7=−1(c−4)⇒c=−3
Our specific solution is y(x)=(x2−5)(−3−x2)=−x4+2x2+15.
The Final Peak
Maximization
We have arrived at the final stage: maximizing y(x)=−x4+2x2+15. Instead of dealing with a fourth-degree polynomial, let us use a substitution that simplifies our life.
Let t=x2. Since x is a real number, t≥0. Our function becomes:
This is a downward-opening parabola. The maximum occurs at the vertex, t=−2ab=−2(−1)2=1.
Since t=1 satisfies our constraint t≥0, we substitute t=1 back into the quadratic:
We have reached the summit. The maximum value is 16. Remember, every complex problem is just a series of simple, logical steps waiting to be connected.