- $f(x)$ is a cubic function, and its leading coefficient is $1$.
- $f(x)$ intersects with $x$-axis only on $(1,0)$.
- $f'(1) \ne 0$.
- $\left| (f\circ f)(x) \right|$ is not differentiable only on $x=2$.
What is the number of all $f(4)$s, when $f(4) \in \mathbb{Z}$?
My approach:
- $\left| (f\circ f)(x) \right|$ is not differentiable only on $x=2$.
- It means that the graph of $(f\circ f)(x)$ has to pass $x=2$, but not tangent to $x$-axis.
- So, the only number that satisfies $(f\circ f)(x) = 0$ and $f'(f(x))f'(x) \ne 0$ is $2$.
- But, since $f(x)=0$ only on $x=1$, step 3 is equivalent to:
- The only number satisfies $f(x)=1$ and $f'(1)f'(x) \ne 0$ is $2$.
- Applying $f'(1) \ne 0$,
- $2$ is the only number that satisfies $f(x)=1$ and $f'(x) \ne 0$.
- $f(x) = (x-1)(x^2+px+q)$.
- $x^2+px+q$ cannot have any roots, so $p^2-4q < 0$.
And I'm stuck here. I have thought about getting $f'(x)$ on step 8, and applying step 7 on it, but I didn't do it because it would give me some meaningless equations which cannot be solved.
Are these steps correct, without any leap of logic?