<s>[INST] Maximum value of $f(x)=2(a-x)(x+\sqrt{x^2+b^2})$ If $a,b,x$ are real and $$f(x)=2(a-x)(x+\sqrt{x^2+b^2}),$$ then find the maximum value of $f(x)$.
Is there any method to solve this question without differentiation because using differentiation I am getting an ugly expression.
 [/INST] let $\sqrt{x^2+b^2}+x=y,$ then $\displaystyle \sqrt{x^2+b^2}-x = \frac{b^2}{y}$ and $\displaystyle 2x=y+\frac{b^2}{y}$
$\displaystyle f(x) = (2a-2x)(x+\sqrt{b^2+y^2}) = (2a-y-\frac{b^2}{y})\cdot y = (2ay-y^2-b^2) $
$f(y)= (a^2+b^2)-(y-b)^2\leq (a^2+b^2)$ equality hold when $y=b$
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