Do M thuộc Ox nên giả sử M(m; 0)

Ta có: \(\left\{ \begin{array}{l}\overrightarrow {MA} = \left( {1 - m; - 4} \right)\\\overrightarrow {MB} = \left( {4 - m;5} \right)\\\overrightarrow {MC} = \left( { - m; - 9} \right)\end{array} \right.\)

⇒ \(\left\{ \begin{array}{l}\overrightarrow {MA} + 2\overrightarrow {MB} = \left( {9 - 3m;6} \right)\\\overrightarrow {MB} + \overrightarrow {MC} = \left( {4 - 2m; - 4} \right)\end{array} \right.\)

Q = \(2\left| {\overrightarrow {MA} + 2\overrightarrow {MB} } \right| + 3\left| {\overrightarrow {MB} + \overrightarrow {MC} } \right|\)

Q = \(2\sqrt {{{\left( {9 - 3m} \right)}^2} + {6^2}} + 3\sqrt {{{\left( {4 - 2m} \right)}^2} + {{\left( { - 4} \right)}^2}} \)

Q = \(\sqrt {{{\left( {6m - 18} \right)}^2} + {{12}^2}} + \sqrt {{{\left( {12 - 6m} \right)}^2} + {{12}^2}} \)

Q = \(\sqrt {{{\left( {18 - 6m} \right)}^2} + {{12}^2}} + \sqrt {{{\left( {12 - 6m} \right)}^2} + {{12}^2}} \)

\( \ge \sqrt {{{\left( {18 - 6m + 6m - 12} \right)}^2} + {{\left( {12 + 12} \right)}^2}} = 6\sqrt {17} \) (áp dụng bất đẳng thức Cô – si)

Suy ra: a = 6; b = 17

a – b = 6 – 17 = –11