MHB Find maximum area of a triangle

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To find the maximum area of triangle ABC formed by points A and B on the parabola y^2=6x, with the constraint x1+x2=4 and x1≠x2, the area can be expressed in terms of the coordinates of points A and B. The perpendicular bisector of segment AB intersects the x-axis at point C, which is crucial for area calculation. By applying geometric principles and optimization techniques, the maximum area can be derived from the relationship between the coordinates of A, B, and C. The problem involves calculus and algebraic manipulation to determine the optimal positions of points A and B. Ultimately, the solution reveals the maximum area of triangle ABC under the given conditions.
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Given two moving points $A(x_1,\,y_1)$ and $B(x_2,\,y_2)$ on parabola curve $y^2=6x$ with $x_1+x_2=4$ and $x_1\ne x_2$ and the perpendicular bisector of segment $AB$ intersects $x$-axis at point $C$. Find the maximum area of $\triangle ABC$.
 
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This seems to be one of those problems where the calculation is easier if you make it more general. I shall take the parabola to be $y^2 = 4ax$ (so eventually $a$ will become $\frac32$), and the condition on the points to be $x_1+x_2 = k$ (with $k=4$ eventually).

Let $A$ and $B$ be the points $(as^2, 2as)$, $(at^2,2at)$, so that $as^2 + at^2 = k$. The line $AB$ has slope $\dfrac2{s+t}$ and midpoint $\bigl(\frac12k,a(s+t)\bigr)$. Its perpendicular bisector therefore has equation $y - a(s+t) = -\tfrac12(s+t)(x - \tfrac12k)$, and it meets the $x$-axis at the point $(2a+\tfrac12k,0)$. The area $\Delta$ of triangle $ABC$ is the absolute value of $$\frac12\begin{vmatrix}as^2&2as&1\\ at^2&2at&1\\ 2a+\frac12k&0&1 \end{vmatrix} = (2a+\tfrac12k)a(s-t) + a^2st(s-t).$$ Now let $u = s-t$ and $v = s+t$. Then $u^2+v^2 = 2(s^2+t^2) = \frac{2k}a$ and $v^2-u^2 = 4st$, so that $st = \frac14(v^2-u^2) = \frac12\bigl(\frac ka - u^2\bigr)$. Therefore $$\Delta = \left| (2a+\tfrac12k)a(s-t) + a^2st(s-t) \right| = \left| (2a+\tfrac12k)au + a^2\tfrac12\bigl(\tfrac ka - u^2\bigr)u\right| = \left| (2a+k)au - \tfrac12a^2u^3 \right|.$$ Now plug in the values $a=\frac32$ and $k=4$ to get $\Delta = \left| \frac{21}2u - \frac98u^3\right|$. Also, $u^2 \leqslant u^2+v^2 = \frac{2k}a = \frac{16}3$, so that $u$ must lie in the interval $\left[-\frac4{\sqrt3},\frac4{\sqrt3}\right]$. The maximum value of $ \left| \frac{21}2u - \frac98u^3\right|$ in that interval occurs at the turning point when $\frac{21}2 - \frac{27}8u^2 = 0$ and so $u = \frac{2\sqrt7}3$. Therefore the maximum value of $\Delta$ is $\Delta_{\max} = \frac{2\sqrt7}3\left(\frac{21}2 - \frac98\frac{28}9\right) = \frac{14}3\sqrt7 \approx 12.347$.

Having found $u$, it is easy to work out corresponding values of $s$ and $t$, which can be taken as $\frac13(\sqrt7\pm\sqrt5)$. The points $A$, $B$ and $C$ are then $$A = \left( 2 - \tfrac13\sqrt{35}, \sqrt7 - \sqrt5\right) \approx (0.08,0.41),$$ $$B = \left( 2 + \tfrac13\sqrt{35}, \sqrt7 + \sqrt5\right) \approx (3.97,4.88),$$ $$C = (5,0).$$
[TIKZ]\draw [help lines, ->] (-1,0) -- (6.5,0) ;
\draw [help lines, ->] (0,-3) -- (0,6.5) ;
\draw [domain=-1:2, samples=100] plot ({1.5*\x*\x}, {3*\x });
\coordinate [label=left:$A$] (A) at (0.03,0.41) ;
\coordinate [label=above left:$B$] (B) at (3.97,4.88) ;
\coordinate [label=below:$C$] (C) at (5,0) ;
\draw [thick] (A) -- (B) -- (C) -- cycle ;
\draw (2,2.65) -- (C) ;
\foreach \x in {2,4,6} { \draw (\x,-0.1) node [ below ] {$\x$} -- (\x,0.1) ;
\draw (-0.1,\x) node [ left ] {$\x$} -- (0.1,\x) ; } ;[/TIKZ]
 
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