OmegaLearn.org Chapter 1.

Algebra

Theorem 1.9.4 (Vieta’s Formula For Quadratics)

In a quadratic equation
ax2 + bx + c = 0
the sum of its roots is
−b
a
and the product of its roots is
c
a
.

Theorem 1.9.5 (Vieta’s Formula For Higher Degree Polynomials)

In a polynomial
an xn + an−1 xn−1 + ... + a1 x + a0 = 0
, with roots
r1 , r2 , r3 , ...rn
the following hold:
an−1
r1 + r2 + r3 + ... + rn (the sum of all products of 1 term) = −
an

an−2
r1 r2 + r1 r3 + .. + rn−1 rn (the sum of all products of 2 terms) =
an

an−3
r1 r2 r3 + r1 r2 r4 + ... + rn−2 rn−1 rn (the sum of all products of 3 terms) = −
an
..
.
a0
r1 r2 r3 . . . rn (the sum of all products of n terms) = (−1)n
an

Note that the negative and positive signs alternate. When summing the products
for an odd number of terms, we will have a negative sign and otherwise we will have a
positive sign.

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