Rationally Odd

Let a , b , c a, b, c be 3 3 odd integers such that, a x 2 + b x + c = 0 a{ x }^{ 2 }+bx+c=0 .

True or false?

"There exists a triplet ( a , b , c ) (a, b, c ) such that the above quadratic equation has rational roots."

False True

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1 solution

Shamay Samuel
Apr 10, 2015

Let us assume the quadratic has rational roots. Thus it's discriminant is a perfect square of a natural number.

b 2 4 a c = k 2 ( L e t ) \therefore b^2-4ac=k^2 (Let)

Since b b is odd, b 2 b^2 is odd.

k 2 \therefore k^2 is odd k \Rightarrow k is odd

Rearranging the above relation gives us,

b 2 k 2 = 4 a c b^2-k^2=4ac

Since b b and k k are odd integers,

8 b 2 k 2 8\mid b^2-k^2

Also 4 4 a c 4 \mid 4ac . But since a a and c c are odd integers, 8 4 a c 8 \nmid 4ac

Which is a contradiction to our assumption. Thus, no quadratic with only odd integral coefficients has rational roots.

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