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Suppose that f(x) and g(x) are functions on R such that the range of f is [-5,3], and the range of g is [-2,1]. The range of f(x) + g(x) is [a,b]. What is the largest possible value of b?

 Jun 16, 2022
 #1
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The maximum of f(x) + g(x) is always not greater than the maximum of f(x) + the maximum of g(x) because if the maximum point of f(x) and the maximum of g(x) point is not aligned on a vertical line, the maximum of f(x) + g(x) is going to be smaller.

 

That means, \(\max(f(x) + g(x)) = b \leq \max(f(x)) + \max(g(x)) = 3 + 1 = 4\).

 

Then \(b \leq 4\).

 Jun 16, 2022

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