Analyzing the Setup
When you look at a quadratic equation like 2x2+(a−5)x+15=3a, do not see it as a static collection of symbols. See it as a dynamic system where the variable a is a parameter that shifts the entire parabola.
Our goal is to find the range of a that forces this parabola to never touch the x-axis.
The Foundation
Every great solution begins with clarity. The equation 2x2+(a−5)x+15=3a must be brought into the standard form Ax2+Bx+C=0.
By subtracting 3a from both sides, we obtain:
Now, the structure is revealed. Our coefficient A is 2, B is (a−5), and the constant term C is (15−3a). This is the bedrock upon which we will build our entire argument.
The Gatekeeper
Why does a quadratic have no real roots? Geometrically, it means the parabola is "floating" and never crosses the x-axis. Algebraically, this is governed by the discriminant D=B2−4AC.
If D<0, the parabola is entirely detached from the axis. We substitute our coefficients into this condition:
Expanding (a−5)2 gives a2−10a+25. Distributing the −8 into (15−3a) gives −120+24a. Combining these, we arrive at the inequality:
The Wavy Curve
We are now looking for the values of a that satisfy a2+14a−95<0. We factorize this quadratic by finding two numbers that multiply to −95 and add to 14, which are 19 and −5.
Thus, we have:
Using the wavy curve method, we identify the critical points at a=−19 and a=5. Since the parabola a2+14a−95 opens upwards, it is negative between the roots. Therefore, a must lie in the interval (−19,5).
The Grand Finale
We are tasked with finding the sum of the squares of all integers x such that −19<x<5. The set of integers X contains values from −18 to 4.
We need to calculate the sum:
The square of a negative number is identical to the square of its positive counterpart. We can split our sum into the sum of squares from 1 to 18, the square of 0, and the sum of squares from 1 to 4.
Using the formula ∑k=1nk2=6n(n+1)(2n+1):
For n=18:
k=1∑18k2=618(19)(37)=3×19×37=2109
For n=4:
Adding these together, the final result is: