A 54th-quadraticano polynomial!

Algebra Level 5

P ( x ) = [ ( x 2 + 2 x 3 ) 3 ( 4 x 2 + 6 x 2 ) 3 ( 3 x 2 + 4 x + 1 ) 3 ] 9 {P(x)}=[(x^2 +2x-3)^{3} - (4x^2+6x-2)^{3}-(3x^2+4x+1)^{3}]^{9}

Find the sum of the distinct real roots of P ( x ) . P(x).

Give your answer to 3 decimal places.


The answer is -1.333.

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1 solution

Chew-Seong Cheong
Sep 15, 2015

Let a = x 2 + 2 x 3 a = x^2+2x-3 and b = 4 x 2 + 6 x 2 b=4x^2+6x-2 . We note that b a = 3 x 2 + 4 x + 1 b-a = 3x^2+4x+1 . Therefore, we have:

P ( x ) = [ ( x 2 + 2 x 3 ) 3 ( 4 x 2 + 6 x 2 ) 3 ( 3 x 2 + 4 x + 1 ) 3 ] 9 = [ a 3 b 3 ( b a ) 3 ] 9 = [ ( a b ) ( a 2 + b 2 + a b ) ( b a ) 3 ] 9 = [ ( b a ) ( a 2 b 2 a b b 2 a 2 + 2 a b ) ] 9 = [ ( b a ) ( 2 a 2 + 2 b 2 a b ) ] 9 = [ ( b a ) ( a 2 + 7 4 b 2 + a 2 a b + 1 4 b 2 ) ] 9 = [ ( b a ) ( a 2 + 7 4 b 2 + ( a 1 2 b ) 2 ) ] 9 \begin{aligned} P(x) & = \left[(x^2+2x-3)^3 - (4x^2+6x-2)^3 - (3x^2+4x+1)^3 \right]^9 \\ & = \left[ a^3 - b^3 - (b-a)^3 \right]^9 \\ & = \left[ (a-b)(a^2+b^2+ab) - (b-a)^3 \right]^9 \\ & = \left[ (b-a)(-a^2-b^2-ab - b^2-a^2+2ab) \right]^9 \\ & = \left[-(b-a)(2a^2 + 2b^2-ab) \right]^9 \\ & = \left[-(b-a)\left(a^2 + \frac{7}{4}b^2 + a^2-ab+\frac{1}{4}b^2 \right) \right]^9 \\ & = \left[-(b-a)\left(\color{#3D99F6}{a^2 + \frac{7}{4}b^2 + \left(a - \frac{1}{2}b \right)^2} \right) \right]^9 \end{aligned}

Since a a and b b have different roots, a 2 + 7 4 b 2 + ( a 1 2 b ) 2 > 0 \color{#3D99F6}{a^2 + \frac{7}{4}b^2 + \left(a - \frac{1}{2}b \right)^2} > 0 and it has no real root, the real roots of P ( x ) P(x) is from:

b a = 0 3 x 2 + 4 x + 1 = 0 ( 3 x + 1 ) ( x + 1 ) = 0 x = { 1 3 1 \begin{aligned} b-a & = 0 \\ 3x^2+4x+1 & = 0 \\ (3x+1)(x+1) & = 0 \\ x & = \begin{cases} -\frac{1}{3} \\ -1 \end{cases} \end{aligned}

Therefore, the sum of the real roots is 1 1 3 1.333 -1 -\frac{1}{3} \approx \boxed{-1.333}

You need to show that the 4th degree polynomial has no real roots.

Pi Han Goh - 5 years, 9 months ago

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Thanks, Pi Han. I got it now.

Chew-Seong Cheong - 5 years, 9 months ago

Come on, -4/3 is more accurate than -1.333

Matías Bruna - 5 years, 9 months ago

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I know. The required answer for the problem is in decimal. I was just following instructions.

Chew-Seong Cheong - 5 years, 9 months ago

But shouldn't the answer be 9 × 4 3 = 12 9 \times -\frac{4}{3} = 12 , since both are repeated roots ?

Krutarth Patel - 5 years, 8 months ago

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I think it means the sum of distinct roots.

Chew-Seong Cheong - 5 years, 8 months ago

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Thank you sir, but i think that should be mentioned in the question.

Krutarth Patel - 5 years, 8 months ago

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