Almost even function!

Algebra Level 2

Let f ( x ) f(x) be a polynomial with four real zeros and with a property

f ( 10 + x ) = f ( 10 x ) f(10+x)=f(10-x)

Then what is the sum of its zeros?


The answer is 40.

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2 solutions

Tom Engelsman
Apr 11, 2020

Let f ( x ) = ( x a ) ( x b ) ( x c ) ( x d ) f(x) = (x-a)(x-b)(x-c)(x-d) with a , b , c , d R . a,b,c,d \in \mathbb{R}. If f ( 10 + x ) = f ( 10 x ) f(10+x) = f(10-x) , then:

[ ( 10 a ) + x ] [ ( 10 b ) + x ] [ ( 10 c ) + x ] [ ( 10 d ) + x ] = [ ( 10 a ) x ] [ ( 10 b ) x ] [ ( 10 c ) x ] [ ( 10 d ) x ] [(10-a)+x][(10-b)+x][(10-c)+x][(10-d)+x] = [(10-a)-x][(10-b)-x][(10-c)-x][(10-d)-x] (i).

By Vieta's Formulae, the sum of the four zeros of f f is computed via:

( 10 a ) + ( 10 b ) + ( 10 c ) + ( 10 d ) = ( 10 a ) ( 10 b ) ( 10 c ) ( 10 d ) (10-a) + (10-b) + (10-c) + (10-d) = -(10-a) - (10-b) - (10-c) - (10-d) ;

or 40 ( a + b + c + d ) = 40 + ( a + b + c + d ) ; 40 - (a+b+c+d) = -40 + (a+b+c+d);

or 80 = 2 ( a + b + c + d ) ; 80 = 2(a+b+c+d);

or 40 = a + b + c + d . \boxed{40 = a+b+c+d}.

Henri Kärpijoki
Apr 11, 2020

@Tom Engelsman solution involves Vieta's Formulas but there is a little faster method.

Let f ( x ) = Q ( x ) ( x a ) ( x b ) ( x c ) ( x d ) : f ( 10 x ) = f ( 10 + x ) f\left(x\right)=Q\left(x\right)\left(x-a\right)\left(x-b\right)\left(x-c\right)\left(x-d\right):\ f\left(10-x\right)=f\left(10+x\right) with a , b , c , d R a{,}b{,}c{,}d\in\mathbb{R}

From the symmetry, we know WLOG that

a + b 2 = 10 c + d 2 = 10 \frac{a+b}{2}=10\wedge\frac{c+d}{2}=10

Adding these:

a + b 2 + c + d 2 = 10 + 10 = 20 \frac{a+b}{2}+\frac{c+d}{2}=10+10=20

And finally, we get

a + b + c + d = 40 a+b+c+d=\fbox{40}

Yup, it's a good solution too. Thanks, Henri!

tom engelsman - 1 year, 2 months ago

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