Edexcel AEA 2003 June — Question 5

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleAEA (Advanced Extension Award)
Year2003
SessionJune
TopicCurve Sketching
TypeRational functions with parameters

5.The function \(f\) is given by $$f ( x ) = \frac { 1 } { \lambda } \left( x ^ { 2 } - 4 \right) \left( x ^ { 2 } - 25 \right)$$ where \(x\) is real and \(\lambda\) is a positive integer.
(a)Sketch the graph of \(y = \mathrm { f } ( x )\) showing clearly where the graph crosses the coordinate axes.
(b)Find,in terms of \(\lambda\) ,the range of f .
(c)Find the sets of positive integers \(k\) and \(\lambda\) such that the equation $$k = | \mathrm { f } ( x ) |$$ has exactly \(k\) distinct real roots.