Domain for real logarithmic square root

CAT 2019 Slot 2 · QA · Hard · Logarithms

If xx is a real number, then loge(4xx23)\sqrt{\log_e \left(\frac{4x-x^2}{3}\right)} is a real number if and only if

  1. A.

    3x3-3 \le x \le 3

  2. B.

    1x21 \le x \le 2

  3. C.

    1x31 \le x \le 3

  4. D.

    1x3-1 \le x \le 3

Answer

C

Explanation

For the square root of a logarithm to be real, the quantity inside the square root must be non-negative: loge(4xx23)0\log_e \left(\frac{4x-x^2}{3}\right) \ge 0 4xx23e0=1\frac{4x-x^2}{3} \ge e^0 = 1 4xx234x - x^2 \ge 3 x24x+30x^2 - 4x + 3 \le 0 (x1)(x3)0    1x3(x - 1)(x - 3) \le 0 \implies 1 \le x \le 3

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