Theory of Equations-1

Algebra Level 3

If 2 is a repeated root of the cubic equation 3 x 3 + p x 2 + q x 12 = 0 3x^3+px^2+qx-12=0 , what is the value of p + q p+q ?


The answer is 9.

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1 solution

Ravneet Singh
Oct 20, 2017

Let the 3rd root be α \large \alpha .

Now by Vieta's Formula product of roots = ( 12 ) 3 = 4 \dfrac{-(-12)}{3} = 4

2 × 2 × α = 4 α = 1 \therefore 2 \times 2 \times \alpha = 4 \implies \alpha = 1

So, required polynomial is ( x 2 ) 2 ( x 1 ) = 0 {(x - 2)^2} (x - 1) = 0

x 3 5 x 2 + 8 x 4 = 0 x^3 - 5x^2 + 8x - 4 = 0

3 x 3 15 x 2 + 24 x 12 = 0 3x^3 - 15x^2 + 24x - 12 = 0

p = 15 p = -15 and q = 24 q = 24 p + q = 9 \implies p + q = \boxed {9}

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