An algebra problem by Raffaele Piccirillo

Algebra Level 3

x 3 x 2 ( 3 + t ) + x ( 2 + 3 t ) 2 t = 0 x^3 - x^2(3+t) + x(2+3t) - 2t = 0

Find all values of t t such that the arithmetic mean of the roots is equal to one of the roots.

1;2;4 2;4;6 0;1.5;3 4;9;10

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1 solution

James Wilson
Dec 25, 2017

The three roots can be represented by a h , a , a + h a-h,a,a+h , since the arithmetic mean of the roots must equal one of the roots. I then use Vieta's formulas to form a system of equations. a = 3 + t 3 a=\frac{3+t}{3} a ( a + h ) + a ( a h ) + ( a h ) ( a + h ) = 2 + 3 t a(a+h)+a(a-h)+(a-h)(a+h)=2+3t a ( a + h ) ( a h ) = 2 t a(a+h)(a-h)=2t The second equation can be rearranged as ( a + h ) ( a h ) = 2 + 3 t 2 a 2 (a+h)(a-h)=2+3t-2a^2 , which can then be substituted into the third.Then use the first equation to get an equation only in t t : ( t + 3 3 ) ( 2 + 3 t 2 ( t + 3 3 ) 2 ) = 2 t t ( 2 t 2 9 t + 9 ) = 0 t = 0 , 3 2 , 3 (\frac{t+3}{3})(2+3t-2(\frac{t+3}{3})^2)=2t\Rightarrow t(2t^2-9t+9)=0\Rightarrow t=0,\frac{3}{2},3

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