Arithmetic Progresion + Quadratic Equation = Nice Problem

Algebra Level pending

Given that c c , b b and a a are consecutive terms in a arithmetic progression. If the equation a x 2 + b x + c = 0 ax^2+bx+c=0 has c c as solution and a , b , c 0 a,b,c \ne 0 . The value of the common difference of the arithmetic progression can be written as α β \frac{\sqrt{\alpha}}{\beta} . Find the value of α + β \alpha+\beta


The answer is 5.

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1 solution

As c c , b b and a a are in arithmetic progression we have b = c + d b=c+d and a = c + 2 d a=c+2d . Also c c is solution to the quadratic equation, so we have that ( c + 2 d ) c 2 + ( c + d ) c + c = 0 (c+2d)c^2+(c+d)c+c=0 But c 0 c\ne 0 so: ( c + 2 d ) c + c + d + 1 = 0 (c+2d)c+c+d+1=0 c 2 + ( 2 d + 1 ) c + 1 + d = 0 c^2+(2d+1)c+1+d=0 But there is only one value for c c , so: ( 2 d + 1 ) 2 4 ( 1 + d ) = 0 (2d+1)^2-4(1+d)=0 4 d 2 = 3 d = 3 2 4d^2=3 \Rightarrow d=\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}

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