Maximum Value for Real x

CAT 2020 Slot 2 · QA · Medium · Algebra

For real xx, the maximum possible value of x1+x4\frac{x}{\sqrt{1+x^4}} is

  1. A.

    1

  2. B.

    \frac{1}{2}

  3. C.

    \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}

  4. D.

    \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}

Answer

C

Explanation

Let E=x1+x4E = \frac{x}{\sqrt{1+x^4}}. For x0x \le 0, E0E \le 0. To maximize, take x>0x > 0. E=11x2+x2E = \frac{1}{\sqrt{\frac{1}{x^2} + x^2}} By AM-GM inequality, x2+1x22x^2 + \frac{1}{x^2} \ge 2. Thus, x2+1x22\sqrt{x^2 + \frac{1}{x^2}} \ge \sqrt{2}. Therefore, E12E \le \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}. The maximum value occurs when x2=1    x=1x^2 = 1 \implies x = 1, yielding 12\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}.

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