Guess the Polynomial

Algebra Level 4

f ( 1 ) = 1 f ( 2 ) = 4 f ( 3 ) = 9 f ( 4 ) = 16 \begin{matrix} f\left( 1 \right) & = & 1 \\ f\left( 2 \right) & = & 4 \\ f\left( 3 \right) & = & 9 \\ f\left( 4 \right) & = & 16 \end{matrix}

I am thinking of some polynomial f ( x ) f\left(x\right) satisfying the equations above. What is f ( 5 ) f\left(5\right) ?

0 25 125 1 36 16 Cannot be Determined 625

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3 solutions

Hung Woei Neoh
Jun 19, 2016

There are infinitely many possible values of f ( 5 ) f(5) . In fact, all the given options could be f ( 5 ) f(5) :

{ f ( x ) = 25 6 x 4 125 3 x 3 + 881 6 x 2 625 3 x + 100 f ( 5 ) = 125 f ( x ) = 25 x 4 250 x 3 + 876 x 2 1250 x + 600 f ( 5 ) = 625 f ( x ) = 3 8 x 4 + 15 4 x 3 97 8 x 2 + 75 4 x 9 f ( 5 ) = 16 f ( x ) = x 2 f ( 5 ) = 25 f ( x ) = 25 24 x 4 + 125 12 x 3 851 24 x 2 + 625 12 x 25 f ( 5 ) = 0 f ( x ) = x 4 + 10 x 3 34 x 2 + 50 x 24 f ( 5 ) = 1 f ( x ) = 11 24 x 4 55 12 x 3 + 409 24 x 2 275 12 x + 11 f ( 5 ) = 36 \begin{cases} f(x) = \dfrac{25}{6}x^4 -\dfrac{125}{3}x^3+\dfrac{881}{6}x^2 - \dfrac{625}{3}x + 100&\quad f(5) = 125\\ f(x) = 25x^4-250x^3+876x^2-1250x+600 &\quad f(5)=625\\ f(x) = -\dfrac{3}{8}x^4 +\dfrac{15}{4}x^3-\dfrac{97}{8}x^2+\dfrac{75}{4}x-9 &\quad f(5)=16\\ f(x)=x^2 &\quad f(5) = 25\\ f(x) = -\dfrac{25}{24}x^4 +\dfrac{125}{12}x^3-\dfrac{851}{24}x^2+\dfrac{625}{12}x-25 &\quad f(5) = 0\\ f(x) = -x^4+10x^3-34x^2+50x-24 &\quad f(5) = 1\\ f(x) = \dfrac{11}{24}x^4 - \dfrac{55}{12}x^3 + \dfrac{409}{24}x^2 - \dfrac{275}{12}x + 11 &\quad f(5) = 36\\ \end{cases}

I can list other values for f ( 5 ) f(5) , or higher degree polynomials for the multiple choice options, but you get the picture. We do not have sufficient information, therefore f ( 5 ) Cannot be Determined f(5)\;\boxed{\text{Cannot be Determined}}

Oh wow! I understand now. Thanks. I have learnt something.

Abdul Malik Richards - 4 years, 12 months ago

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You're welcome. Glad to be of assistance

Hung Woei Neoh - 4 years, 12 months ago

The easiest explanation to the question is that, It is not given that the polynomial is a monic polynomial so, it cannot be determined what the value of f(5) will be. It could be anything, tbh

Mehul Arora - 4 years, 11 months ago

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Eh? What if I say that this is a monic quintic (fifth degree) polynomial? There will still be infinitely many possible values of f ( 5 ) f(5)

Hung Woei Neoh - 4 years, 11 months ago

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Agreed , being monic doesn't matters for a quintic polynomial.

Rishabh Tiwari - 4 years, 11 months ago

If it is mentioned that is a quartic polynomial, then f(5) has a unique value. But true, if it is mentioned that the polynomial is a quintic monic polynomial, f(5) can still assume infinite values.

I was just commenting with regard to this question, No need to get mad :P

Mehul Arora - 4 years, 11 months ago

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@Mehul Arora I was just commenting based on your comments, I'm not getting mad at all. Just wanna avoid confusing others :)

Hung Woei Neoh - 4 years, 11 months ago

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@Hung Woei Neoh LOL Did I say something wrong? I think that the question can easily be solved by observation of the fact that f(x) is not monic.

Mehul Arora - 4 years, 11 months ago

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@Mehul Arora Your comment might lead some to think this:

"We cannot determine f ( 5 ) f(5) because it is not given that the polynomial is monic. Therefore, if the question states that it is a monic polynomial, we can determine a unique f ( 5 ) f(5) "

Hung Woei Neoh - 4 years, 11 months ago

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@Hung Woei Neoh Lol ,You guys done arguing ? Hung woei neoh wins ! Okay he is correct , Mehul arora , it might confuse the readers ! :-)

Rishabh Tiwari - 4 years, 11 months ago

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@Rishabh Tiwari Yes, I agreed too :P

Mehul Arora - 4 years, 11 months ago

Nice! Kudos to you for finding all the functions which match the answer options!

Arulx Z - 4 years, 12 months ago

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Thanks! It wasn't hard with the help of an online equation system calculator

Hung Woei Neoh - 4 years, 12 months ago

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Didn't see that coming.

Mehul Arora - 4 years, 11 months ago

Very nice explanation(+1)!

Rishabh Tiwari - 4 years, 12 months ago
Rishabh Tiwari
Jun 18, 2016

Data is insufficient ; the degree of the polynomial must be stated , because without it we will not be able to frame the polynomial. \text{Data is insufficient ; the degree of the polynomial must be stated , because without it we will not be able to frame the polynomial.}

Hence ,

" C a n n o t b e D e t e r m i n e d " \color{#3D99F6}{"Cannot \ be \ Determined"}

There seems to be sufficient data to determine f(x). Can someone explain why f(5) is not 25?

Abdul Malik Richards - 4 years, 12 months ago

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f ( x ) f(x) can either be x 2 x^2 or k ( x 1 ) ( x 2 ) ( x 3 ) ( x 4 ) + x 2 k(x-1)(x-2)(x-3)(x-4)+x^2 where k k is the leading coefficient. In fact there are infinitely many polynomials of f ( x ) f(x) which satisfy the conditions.

A Former Brilliant Member - 4 years, 12 months ago

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Well explained+1!

Rishabh Tiwari - 4 years, 12 months ago

All 7 options can be f ( 5 ) f(5) . Check out my solution

Note that besides what Svatejas mentioned, we can also have infinitely many polynomials of degree 5 5 or higher that satisfy the conditions above. Therefore, unless the degree is 2 2 , even with the degree mentioned, we probably still will not be able to determine the value unless more information is provided

Hung Woei Neoh - 4 years, 12 months ago
Prince Loomba
Jun 23, 2016

The answer varies with degree. If degree is 5, then infinite possibilites will be there, because we are given 4 equations and degree 5 needs 5 equation. So coefficients cannot be determined and hence infinite values of f(5) are there. Here I gave example and not only degree 5 but many infinite degrees have infininite answers so answer is obviously cannot be determined

Mod: Agree that there seems to be sufficient data to determine f(x), at least answer should be 25.

E Koh - 1 year, 8 months ago

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Nah, the problem is there are so many equations satisfying the conditions.. You can make f(5) to be any of the given options in fact not only 25.

Prince Loomba - 1 year, 7 months ago

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