Question

Please help! A-level maths.

Answer 1

$x+y=k\implies y=k-x$

Substitute this into the parabolic equation,

$k-x=6-(x-3)^2\implies x^2-7x+(k+3)=0$

We're told the line $x+y=k$ intersects $C$ twice, which means the quadratic above has two distinct real solutions. Its discriminant must then be positive, so we know

$(-7)^2-4(k+3)=49-4(k+3)>0\implies k<\dfrac{37}4=9.25$

We can tell from the quadratic equation that $C$ has its vertex at the point (3, 6). Also, note that

$-1\le\sin t\le1\implies3\le3+2\sin t\le5\implies3\le x\le5$

and

$-1\le\cos2t\le1\implies2\le4+2\cos2t\le6\implies2\le y\le6$

so the furthest to the right that $C$ extends is the point (5, 2). The line $x+y=k$ passes through this point for $2+5=k\implies k=7$. For any value of $k<7$, the line $x+y=k$ passes through $C$ either only once, or not at all.

So $7\le k<9.25$; in set notation,

$\{k\mid 7\le k<9.25\}$