Let a , b , and c be the roots of the cubic equation 7 x 3 − 1 4 x 2 + 2 1 x − 2 8 = 0 . If b c a , a c b , and a b c are the roots of the equation x 3 + r x 2 + s x + t , the value of s r can be expressed as − q p , where p and q are coprime positive integers. Find p + q .
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Hey bro, I'm afraid you are wrong with the value of r . It should be: r = a b c a 2 + b 2 + c 2 = a b c ( a + b + c ) 2 − 2 ( a b + a c + b c ) = 4 ( 2 ) 2 − 2 ( 3 ) = − 2 1 . You forgot to multiply by 2 . Hence, the correct answer should be − 1 6 7 − 2 1 = 7 8 , and 8 + 7 = 1 5 . Check it please, nice problem.
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Alan, you missed out the negative sign for r, so r will be 1/2 and not -1/2.
After reviewing this, I agree that the expression should be − 7 8 .
Those who previously answered -1, 1 or 15 have been marked correct. I've also rephrased the question so that the answer is now 15.
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While I wrote the answer to bigger 1, I was told that it's wrong. Please fix that.
The answer should be 1. I'll prove my claim.
7 x 3 − 1 4 x 2 + 2 1 x − 2 8 h a s r o o t s a , b a n d c . G i v e n t h a t x 3 + r x 2 + s x + t h a s r o o t s b c a , a c b a n d a b c . W e k n o w t h a t a + b + c = 2 , a b + b c + a c = 3 , a n d a b c = 4 . L e t f ( x ) = x 3 + r x 2 + s x + t S u m o f r o o t s o f f ( x ) = 1 − r b c a + a c b + a b c = − r a b c a 2 + b 2 + c 2 = − r a b c ( a + b + c ) 2 − 2 ( a b + b c + a c ) = − r S u b s t i t u t i n g t h e v a l u e s : − 4 2 2 − 2 ( 3 ) = − r ∴ − r = 2 − 1 ⟹ r = 2 1 S u m o f p r o d u c t o f r o o t s o f f ( x ) = 1 s b c a × a c b + a c b × a b c + a b c × b c a = s a 2 1 + b 2 1 + c 2 1 = s ( a b c ) 2 ( a b ) 2 + ( b c ) 2 + ( a c ) 2 = s ( a b c ) 2 ( a b + b c + a c ) 2 − 2 a b c ( a + b + c ) = s S u b s t i t u t i n g t h e v a l u e s : − 1 6 3 2 − ( 2 × 4 × 2 ) = s ⟹ s = 1 6 − 7 ∴ s r = 1 6 − 7 2 1 = 2 1 × − 7 1 6 = − 7 8 ∴ q p = − 7 8 ⟹ p + q = 1
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The question asks for the fraction in -p/q, so it's actually 8+7=15.
Yes its wrong
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Notice that b c a + a c b + a b c = a b c a 2 + b 2 + c 2 = a b c ( a + b + c ) 2 − a b − b c − a c . By Viete's formula, a + b + c = 2 , a b c = 4 , and a b + b c + a c = 3 . Thus the sum of the roots of the second equation is 4 ( 2 ) 2 − 3 = 4 1 . By Viete's, this is also − r . Therefore, r = − 4 1 . Also, note that (\dfrac{a}{bc} \cdot \dfrac{b}{ac}) + (\dfrac{a}{bc} \cdot \dfrac{c}{ab}) + (\dfrac{b}{ac} \cdot \dfrac{c}{ab}) = \dfrac{1}{a^2} + \dfrac{1}{b^2} + \dfrac{1}{c^2} = \dfrac{a^2b^2+a^2c^2+b^2c^2}{a^2b^2c^2} = \dfrac{(ab+ac+bc)^2 - 2abc(a+b+c)}{a^2b^2c^2} = \dfrac{(3)^2 - 2(4)(2)}{(4)^2} = - \dfrac{7}{16}, which is also \(s . Thus the answer is − 1 6 7 − 4 1 = 1 6 7 4 1 = 7 4 , and 4 + 7 = 1 1 .