Did you see the pattern?

Algebra Level 4

Given that p ( x ) p(x) is a monic quartic polynomial such that p ( 1 ) = 2 p(1)=2 , p ( 2 ) = 5 p(2)=5 , p ( 3 ) = 10 p(3)=10 , p ( 4 ) = 17 p(4)=17 .

Determine the value of p ( 5 ) p(5) .


The answer is 50.

A Former Brilliant Member by A Former Brilliant Member

This section requires Javascript.
You are seeing this because something didn't load right. We suggest you, (a) try refreshing the page, (b) enabling javascript if it is disabled on your browser and, finally, (c) loading the non-javascript version of this page . We're sorry about the hassle.

1 solution

Kshitij Goel
Oct 14, 2015

The actual polynomial will be ( x − 1 ) ( x − 2 ) ( x − 3 ) ( x − 4 ) + x 2 + 1 (x-1)(x-2)(x-3)(x-4)+x^2 +1

..check it and believe me it is correct.

4 Helpful 0 Interesting 0 Brilliant 0 Confused

Very true, the answer came by coincidence. But construction of the difference table makes it all easy.

Swapnil Das - 5 years, 8 months ago

Log in to reply

Actually when I set the answer , I set it as 50 , but later , I found the mistake and the correct answer is 26 , but I wasn't able to edit the answer , so I put that Note

A Former Brilliant Member - 5 years, 8 months ago

Log in to reply

I had 26.It is simple number series!

Govind Rathi - 5 years, 7 months ago

By constructing the table while using the method of differences , the third difference should be taken constant isn't it ?

A Former Brilliant Member - 5 years, 8 months ago

Log in to reply

Yes, you are right.

Swapnil Das - 5 years, 8 months ago

Thanks. In future, if you spot any errors with a problem, you can “report” it by selecting "report problem" in the “More” menu in the top right corner. This will notify the problem creator who can fix the issues.

Calvin Lin Staff - 5 years, 7 months ago

0 pending reports

×

Problem Loading...

Note Loading...

Set Loading...