MCQMediumJEE 2025Linear Differential Equations

JEE Mathematics 2025 Question with Solution

Let f:RRf : \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R} be a twice differentiable function such that f(x+y)=f(x)f(y)f(x + y) = f(x) f(y) for all x,yRx, y \in \mathbb{R}. If f(0)=4af'(0) = 4a and ff satisfies f(x)3af(x)f(x)=0f''(x) - 3a f'(x) - f(x) = 0, where a>0a > 0, then the area of the region R={(x,y)0yf(ax),0x2}R = \{(x, y) | 0 \leq y \leq f(ax), 0 \leq x \leq 2\} is :

  • A

    e21e^2 - 1

  • B

    e4+1e^4 + 1

  • C

    e41e^4 - 1

  • D

    e2+1e^2 + 1

Answer

Correct answer:A

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: f(x+y)=f(x)f(y)f(x+y)=f(x)f(y) for all x,yRx,y\in\mathbb{R}, f(0)=4af'(0)=4a, and f(x)3af(x)f(x)=0f''(x)-3a f'(x)-f(x)=0 with a>0a>0.

Find: The area of the region under y=f(ax)y=f(ax) from x=0x=0 to x=2x=2.

Differentiate the functional equation with respect to yy and then put y=0y=0:

f(x)=f(x)f(0)f'(x)=f(x)f'(0)

Since f(0)=4af'(0)=4a, we get

f(x)=4af(x)f'(x)=4a f(x)

Using this, the differentiable solution has the exponential form

f(x)=e4axf(x)=e^{4ax}

Now substitute in the differential equation:

f(x)=4ae4ax,f(x)=16a2e4axf'(x)=4a e^{4ax}, \qquad f''(x)=16a^2 e^{4ax}

Hence

16a2e4ax3a(4ae4ax)e4ax=016a^2 e^{4ax}-3a(4a e^{4ax})-e^{4ax}=0

so

e4ax(16a212a21)=0e^{4ax}(16a^2-12a^2-1)=0

that is,

e4ax(4a21)=0e^{4ax}(4a^2-1)=0

Since e4ax0e^{4ax}\neq 0 for all xx,

4a21=04a^2-1=0

As a>0a>0,

a=12a=\frac{1}{2}

Therefore,

f(x)=e2xf(x)=e^{2x}

and so

f(ax)=f(x2)=exf(ax)=f\left(\frac{x}{2}\right)=e^x

The required area is

02f(ax)dx=02exdx\int_0^2 f(ax)\,dx=\int_0^2 e^x\,dx

Evaluating,

02exdx=[ex]02=e21\int_0^2 e^x\,dx=\left[e^x\right]_0^2=e^2-1

Therefore, the area of the region is e21e^2-1, so the correct option is A.

Using the exponential form directly

Given: f(x+y)=f(x)f(y)f(x+y)=f(x)f(y) and ff is twice differentiable.

Find: The area bounded by y=f(ax)y=f(ax), x=0x=0, x=2x=2, and the xx-axis.

For a differentiable function satisfying

f(x+y)=f(x)f(y)f(x+y)=f(x)f(y)

the standard form is

f(x)=ekxf(x)=e^{kx}

for some constant kk. Also,

f(0)=kf'(0)=k

Here f(0)=4af'(0)=4a, so

k=4ak=4a

and hence

f(x)=e4axf(x)=e^{4ax}

Now use the given differential equation:

f(x)3af(x)f(x)=0f''(x)-3a f'(x)-f(x)=0

For f(x)=e4axf(x)=e^{4ax},

f(x)=4ae4ax,f(x)=16a2e4axf'(x)=4a e^{4ax}, \qquad f''(x)=16a^2 e^{4ax}

Substituting,

16a2e4ax12a2e4axe4ax=016a^2 e^{4ax}-12a^2 e^{4ax}-e^{4ax}=0

which gives

(4a21)e4ax=0(4a^2-1)e^{4ax}=0

Thus,

4a21=04a^2-1=0

and because a>0a>0,

a=12a=\frac{1}{2}

So,

f(ax)=e4a(ax)=e4a2x=exf(ax)=e^{4a(ax)}=e^{4a^2x}=e^x

since a=12a=\frac12.

Therefore the area is

Area=02exdx=e21\text{Area}=\int_0^2 e^x\,dx=e^2-1

Hence the correct option is A.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming f(x+y)=f(x)f(y)f(x+y)=f(x)f(y) alone gives many arbitrary forms. Because ff is differentiable, the correct usable form is exponential. Use differentiability before concluding f(x)=ekxf(x)=e^{kx}.

  • Using f(0)=4af'(0)=4a incorrectly as a value of the function. This quantity is the derivative at 00, not f(0)f(0). In fact, from the functional equation, the relevant value is f(0)=1f(0)=1 for the nontrivial solution.

  • Substituting into the differential equation but not factoring out e4axe^{4ax}. Since e4ax0e^{4ax}\neq 0, the equation reduces to 4a21=04a^2-1=0. Do not set the exponential term equal to zero.

  • Finding f(x)=e2xf(x)=e^{2x} and then writing f(ax)=e2xf(ax)=e^{2x}. After substituting a=12a=\frac12, compute carefully: f(ax)=f(x2)=exf(ax)=f\left(\frac{x}{2}\right)=e^{x}, not e2xe^{2x}.

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