FUNCTION ASSIGNMENT 1

ALGEBRA
1. Find the integral value of k such that the equation 11x - 2 = kx + 15 has positive integer solutions for
x, and find such solutions.
2. Given that the equation 2a(x + 6) = 4x + 1 has no solution, where a is a parameter, find the value of
a.
3. If a1, a2, …. an are distinct integers, prove that (x–a1)(x–a2)…(x–an)–1 cannot be expressed as a
product of two polynomials, each with integer coefficients and of degree at least 1.
4. Find the common roots of
x4 + 5x3 – 22x2 – 50x + 132 = 0 and x4 + x3 – 20x2 + 16x + 24 = 0 hence solve the equations.
5. Solve the system
(x+y) (x + y + z) = 18
(y + z) (x + y + z) = 30
(z + x) (x + y + z) = 2L in terms of L
6. Let P(x) = 0 be the polynomial equation of least possible degree with rational coefficients, having
3
7 + 3 49 as root. Compute the product of all the roots of P(x) = 0.

7. The equation x3 + 5x2 + px + q = 0 and x3 + 7x2 + px + r = 0 have two roots in comon. If the third
root of each equation is represented by x1 and x2 respescitvely, computer the orderd pair (x1, x2)
8. If a, b, c, x, y, z are all real and a2 + b2 + c2 = 25, x2 + y2 + z2 = 36 and ax + by + cz = 30 find the
a+b +c
value of .
x+y+z

9. The roots of x4 – kx3 + kx2 + lx + m = 0 are a, b, c, d. If k, l, m are real numbers, compute the
minimum value of the sum a2 + b2 + c2 + d2.
2
x  x 
10. If 2   + 3   = 20 , then it must be true that a ≤ x < b for some integers a and b. Compute (a, b)
6  6
where (b–a) as small as possible Note: [x] represents the greatest integer function
 Answer Key
1. k = -6, 10 2. 2 4. 2,3, −3 + 5, −3 − 5.
6. 56 7. (-5, -7) 8. 5/6
9. -1 10. (-24, 18)

SOLUTIONS
1. Find the integral value of k such that the equation 11x - 2 = kx + 15 has positive integer solutions for
x, and find such solutions.
Sol. From the given equation we have (11 –k) x = 17
17
Since it has at least one positive solution for x, so k ≠ 11, and x = . Since the fraction is an
11 − k
integer (11–k) | 17, i.e. k = –6 or 10, and correspondingly x = 1 or x = 17
2. Given that the equation 2a(x + 6) = 4x + 1 has no solution, where a is a parameter, find the value of
a.
Sol. From the given equation 2a(x + 6) = 4x + 1 we have (2a – 4)x = 1 – 12a. Since it has no solution,
this implies 2a – 4 = 0 and 1 – 12a ≠ 0;
therefore a = 2.
3. If a1, a2, …. an are distinct integers, prove that (x–a1)(x–a2)…(x–an)–1 cannot be expressed as a
product of two polynomials, each with integer coefficients and of degree at least 1.
Sol. Suppose to the contrary that (x–a1) (x–a2) ….(x–an) – 1 = f(x) g(x) for some polynomials f(x) and
g(x) with integer coefficients and deg. f(x), deg. g(x) ≥ 1. Then f(ai)g(ai) = – 1 for i = 1, 2,…., n
implies that f(ai) = 1 and g (ai) = –1 or f (ai) = –1 and g(ai) = 1. Therefore, if we set h(x) = f(x) +
g(x), then h(ai) = 0 for all i = 1, 2, …, n. As deg (h(x)) ≤ max (deg f(x)), deg (g(x))) < n, the
polynomial equation h(x) = 0 cannot have n distinct roots. It follows that h(x) must be zero

polynomial. Thus f(x) = –g(x), and therefore ( x − a1 )( x − a 2 ) .... ( x − a n ) − 1 = − ( g ( x ) )  0 . For all

2

real values of x. But this leads to a contradiction since we can choose a value for x large enough so
that (x–a1) (x–a2) … (x–an) –1 is positive.
4. Find the common roots of
x4 + 5x3 – 22x2 – 50x + 132 = 0 and x4 + x3 – 20x2 + 16x + 24 = 0 hence solve the equations.
Sol. You can see that 4(x2 – 5x + 6) is H.C.F of the two equations and hence, the common roots are the
roots of
 x2 – 5x + 6 = 0 i.e., x = 3 or x = 2
Now, x4 + 5x3 – 22x2 – 50x + 132 = 0 …(1)
and x4 + x3 – 20x2 + 16x + 24 = 0 …(2)
have 2 and 3 as their common roots.
If the other roots of Eq. (1) are  and , then  +  + 5 = -5,
  +  = -10
6.= 132 from eq. (1)
  = 22
So.  and  are also roots of the quadratic equation
x2 + 10x + 22 = 0

−10  100 − 88 −10  2 3

 x= = = −5  3
2 2
So the roots of Eq (1) are 2,3, −5 + 3, −5 − 3 .

For Eq. (2), if 1 and 1 be the roots of Eq. 2, then we have

1 + 1 + 5 = -1
1 + 1 = -6
611 = 24 or 11 = 4
So 1 and 1 are the roots of
x2 + 6x + 4 = 0

−6  36 − 16
x= = −3  5
2
So, the roots of Eq. (2) are 2,3, −3 + 5, −3 − 5.
5. Solve the system
(x+y) (x + y + z) = 18
(y + z) (x + y + z) = 30
(z + x) (x + y + z) = 2L in terms of L
Sol. Adding the three equatoins we get
2 ( x + y + z ) = 48 + 2L
2

Or x + y + z = 24 + L

Dividing the three equations by ( x + y + z ) = 24 + L , we get

 18 30 2L
x+y= , y+z = ,z + x =
24 + L 24 + L 24 + L


( ) 
2
24 + L − 30 L−6 
x = =
 24 + L 24 + L 
 
 y = (24 + L) − 2 L = 24 − L 
 24 + L 24 + L 
 
 z = 24 + L − 18 = L + 6 
 24 + L 24 + L 
 
6. Let P(x) = 0 be the polynomial equation of least possible degree with rational coefficients, having
3
7 + 3 49 as root. Compute the product of all the roots of P(x) = 0.

Sol. Let x = 3 7 + 3 49

 x3 = 7 + 49 + 3. 3 7. 3 49 ( 3
7 + 3 49 )
i.e., x 3 = 56 + 21x
Thus P ( x ) = x3 − 21x − 56 = 0 and the product of the roots is 56.

7. The equation x3 + 5x2 + px + q = 0 and x3 + 7x2 + px + r = 0 have two roots in comon. If the third
root of each equation is represented by x1 and x2 respescitvely, computer the orderd pair (x1, x2)
Sol. Common roots must be the roots of 2x2 + (r–q) = 0 (Difference of equation)
 Their sum is 0.
For x3 + 5x2 + px + q = 0
Sum = x1 + 0 = -5
x1 = -5
For x3 + 7x2 + px + r = 0
Sum = x2 + 0 = -7
x2 = -7
(x1, x2) = (-5, -7)
8. If a, b, c, x, y, z are all real and a2 + b2 + c2 = 25, x2 + y2 + z2 = 36 and ax + by + cz = 30 find the
a+b +c
value of .
x+y+z
2 2 2 2 2 2 2
a b c  ax by cz   x   z   z 
Sol.   +   +   − 2 + +  +   +   +   = 1− 2 +1 = 0
 5 5 5  30 30 30   6   6   6 
 2 2 2
a x b y c z
  −  + −  + −  = 0
5 6 5 6 5 6
a x
Thus =
5 6
 a = kx
5
Where k = ; b = ky and c = kz.
6
a + b + c k ( x + y + z)
 = =k
x+ y+z x+ y+z
5
k=
6
9. The roots of x4 – kx3 + kx2 + lx + m = 0 are a, b, c, d. If k, l, m are real numbers, compute the
minimum value of the sum a2 + b2 + c2 + d2.
Sol. Sum of the roots = k; Sum of the roots taken two at a line = k
Then k2 = ( a + b + c + d) = ( a2 + b2 + c2 + d2 ) + 2 ( ab + ac + ad + bc + bd + cd )
2

= ( a2 + b2 + c2 + d2 ) + 2k …(i)

Thus, minimum value of k2 –2k = -1

2
x  x 
10. If 2   + 3   = 20 , then it must be true that a ≤ x < b for some integers a and b. Compute (a, b)
6  6
where (b–a) as small as possible Note: [x] represents the greatest integer function
Sol. Replacing [x/6] by y and solving 2y2 + 3y – 20 = 0
5
 y = or − 4
2
x
 −4   3
6
Which means –24 ≤ x < 18  Ans [–24,18)