The Geometry of Calculus
A Journey Through the Curve
Welcome, fellow traveler on the road to JEE excellence. Today, we are not just solving a problem; we are peeling back the layers of a beautiful geometric puzzle.
We have a curve defined by an integral, a normal line dancing in parallel to a reference line, and a final value that hides behind a curtain of algebra. Let us begin.
Phase 1
The Geometric Setup
Imagine standing on a coordinate plane. You have a curve defined by the function y(x)=∫0x(2t2−15t+10)dt.
This isn't just a static line; it is an area function, accumulating value as x increases. We are interested in a specific point (a,b) on this curve.
At this point, a normal line is drawn. The problem whispers a secret: this normal is parallel to the line x+3y=−5.
Geometrically, this means the normal and the line share the same slope. Our mission is to find a and b and then calculate the value of ∣a+6b∣.
Phase 2
The Power of Newton-Leibniz
To find the slope of the tangent at (a,b), we need the derivative dxdy. Many students panic when they see an integral in a function definition, but this is where the Newton-Leibniz Rule becomes your best friend.
It tells us that the derivative of an integral with respect to its upper limit is simply the integrand evaluated at that limit. So, for our function y(x)=∫0x(2t2−15t+10)dt, the derivative is:
At our point of interest, x=a, the slope of the tangent is mt=2a2−15a+10.
Phase 3
The Normal Connection
Now, we must pivot. The problem discusses the normal, not the tangent.
Recall that the normal is the line perpendicular to the tangent at the point of contact. If the tangent has slope mt, the normal must have slope mn=−mt1.
Substituting our expression, we get:
Phase 4
The Reference Line and the Quadratic Fork
Look at the reference line: x+3y=−5. To find its slope, we rewrite it in the slope-intercept form y=mx+c.
Rearranging, we get 3y=−x−5, or y=−31x−35. The slope is clearly m=−31.
Since the normal is parallel to this line, their slopes must be equal:
Canceling the negatives and taking the reciprocal, we arrive at the quadratic equation: 2a2−15a+10=3, which simplifies to 2a2−15a+7=0.
Factoring this, we find (2a−1)(a−7)=0. This gives us two potential paths: a=21 or a=7.
But wait—the problem constraints are the gatekeepers of the correct answer. Since a>1, we must reject a=21 and embrace a=7.
Phase 5
The Final Calculation
With a=7 in hand, we find b by evaluating the original integral at x=7:
Integrating term by term, we get:
Substituting the limits, we calculate:
b=32(343)−215(49)+10(7)=3686−2735+70
Finding the common denominator of 6, we get:
Finally, we compute ∣a+6b∣=∣7+6(−6413)∣.
The 6 cancels out beautifully, leaving us with ∣7−413∣=∣−406∣=406.
And there it is—the elegance of the final result. You have navigated the calculus, respected the constraints, and mastered the algebra. The final answer is 406.