Given,
f(x)=0⇒(x−p)2−q=0
So, roots are p+q,p−q
Now absolute difference between roots will be 2q.
Now given a1,a2,a3,a4 are in A.P and its mean is p
Now let a1,a2,a3,a4 be {a}_{1}=p-3d,{a}_{2}=p-d,{a}_{3}=p+d&{a}_{4}=p+3d
Now given ∣f(ai)∣=500
So, ∣f(a4)∣=500
⇒∣(a4−p)2−q∣=500
⇒(a4−p)2−q=500
⇒9d2−q=500....(1)
And using ∣f(ai)∣=500∀i=1,2,3,4
We get ∣f(a4)∣2=∣f(a3)∣2
⇒((a4−p)2−q)2=((a3−p)2−q)2
⇒9d2−q+d2−q=0
So, 2q=10d2⇒q=5d2
⇒d2=5q
From equation (1) we get,
9(5q)−q=500
⇒54q=500
⇒q=4500×5
Now absolute difference is 2q=2×4500×5=2×250=50