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Roots of Polynomial Equations
Roots of Polynomial Equations
Madas
ROOTS
OF
POLYNOMIAL
EQUATIONS
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
QUADRATICS
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 1 (***)
The quadratic equation
x 2 + 2kx + k = 0 ,
α +β α +β
and .
α β
FP1-A , x 2 − 4kx + 4k = 0
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 2 (***)
The two roots of the quadratic equation
x2 + 2 x − 3 = 0
Find the quadratic equation, with integer coefficients, whose roots are
α 3β + 1 and αβ 3 + 1 .
FP1-C , x 2 + 28 x + 52 = 0
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 3 (***)
The roots of the quadratic equation
x2 + 2 x + 3 = 0
Find the quadratic equation, with integer coefficients, whose roots are
1 1
α− 2
and β− .
β α2
FP1-Q , 9 x 2 + 16 x + 34 = 0
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 4 (***)
The roots of the quadratic equation
2 x 2 − 3x + 5 = 0
Find the quadratic equation, with integer coefficients, whose roots are
3α − β and 3β − α .
SYNF-B , 4 x 2 − 12 x + 133 = 0
Question 5 (***)
The roots of the equation
az 2 + bz + c = 0 ,
proof
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 6 (***)
The roots of the quadratic equation
2 x2 − 8x + 9 = 0
Find the quadratic equation, with integer coefficients, whose roots are
α 2 −1 and β 2 −1.
FP1-M , 4 x 2 − 20 x + 57 = 0
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 7 (***)
A curve has equation
y = 2 x2 + 5x + c ,
Given that the roots of the equation differ by 3 , determine the value of c .
FP1-O , c = − 11
8
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 8 (***+)
The roots of the quadratic equation
2 x 2 − 3x + 5 = 0
x 2 + px + q = 0 ,
1 1
where p and q are real constants, are denoted by α + and β + .
α β
p = 21 , q = 14
10 5
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 9 (****)
Consider the quadratic equation
ax 2 + bx + c = 0 ,
proof
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 10 (****)
The roots of the quadratic equation
x2 + 2 x + 2 = 0
Find the quadratic equation, with integer coefficients, whose roots are
α2 β2
and .
β α
x2 − 2 x + 2 = 0
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 11 (****)
The roots of the quadratic equation
x2 + 2 x − 4 = 0
Find the quadratic equation, with integer coefficients, whose roots are
1 1
α4 + 2
and β4 + .
β α2
16 x 2 − 1804 x + 4289 = 0
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 12 (****)
x 2 − 4 2 kx + 2k 4 − 1 = 0 .
The two roots of the above quadratic equation, where k is a constant, are denoted by
α and β .
α 3 + β 3 = 280 2
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 13 (****+)
The quadratic equation
ax 2 + bx + c = 0 , x ∈ » ,
b 2 − 4ac = a 2
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 14 (****+)
The roots of the quadratic equation
x 2 − 3x + 4 = 0
Find the quadratic equation, with integer coefficients, whose roots are
α 3 − β and β 3 −α .
FP1-U , x 2 + 12 x + 99 = 0
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 15 (****+)
1 1 1
+ = , x ≠ − p x ≠ −q .
x+ p x+q r
The roots of the above quadratic equation, where p , q and r are non zero constants,
are equal in magnitude but opposite in sign.
− 1 p2 + q2 .
2
proof
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 16 (****+)
2 x 2 + kx + 1 = 0 .
The roots of the above equation are a and β , where k is a non zero real constant.
α β
and
( 2
β 1+ α + β 2
) (
α 1+ α 2 + β 2 )
are real, finite and distinct, determine the range of the possible values of k .
k > 8
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 17 (*****)
The quadratic equation
4 x 2 + Px + Q = 0 ,
If another quadratic equation has repeated roots which are also the squares of the
roots of the above given equation, find the value of P and the value of Q .
SPX-K , P = 0 , Q = −4
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 18 (*****)
The quadratic equation
x2 − 4x − 2 = 0 ,
fn ≡ α n − β n .
f10 − 2 f8
.
f9
SPX-E , 4
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 19 (*****)
The quadratic equation
ax 2 + bx + 1 = 0 , a ≠ 0,
( )
x 2 + b3 − 3ab x + a3 = 0 .
1 1
SPX-A , 3
,
α β3
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
CUBICS
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 1 (**)
x3 − 6 x 2 + 4 x + 12 = 0 .
a) … α + β + γ .
b) … α 2 + β 2 + γ 2 .
1 1 1
c) … + + .
α β γ
1 1 1 1
FP1-B , α + β + γ = 6 , α 2 + β 2 + γ 2 = 28 , + + =
α β γ 3
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 2 (**)
A cubic is given in terms of two constants p and q
2 x3 + 7 x 2 + px + q = 0 .
α = −1 , p = 7 , q = 2
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 3 (**+)
x3 − 2 x 2 − 8 x + 11 = 0 .
α + 1, β +1 , γ +1.
FP1-R , x3 − 5 x 2 − x + 16 = 0
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 4 (**+)
The three roots of the cubic equation
x3 + 3 x − 3 = 0
(α + 1)( β + 1)( γ + 1) .
Question 5 (**+)
The roots of the cubic equation
x3 − 6 x 2 + 2 x − 4 = 0
Show that the equation of the cubic whose roots are αβ , βγ and γα is given by
x3 − 2 x 2 + 24 x − 16 = 0 .
proof
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 6 (**+)
The two roots of the quadratic equation
2x2 − 5x + 8 = 0 ,
Determine the cubic equation with integer coefficients whose three roots are
α 2 β , αβ 2 and αβ .
x3 − 14 x 2 + 104 x − 256 = 0
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 7 (**+)
x3 + bx 2 + cx + d = 0 ,
a) Given that
α + β + γ = 4 and α 2 + β 2 + γ 2 = 20 ,
b = −4 , c = −2 , d = 20
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 8 (**+)
x3 + 2 x 2 + 5 x + k = 0 .
The three roots of the above cubic are denoted by α , β and γ , where k is a real
constant.
a) Find the value of α 2 + β 2 + γ 2 and hence explain why this cubic has one real
root and two non real roots.
α 2 + β 2 + γ 2 = −6
Question 9 (**+)
The roots of the quadratic equation
x2 + 4x + 3 = 0
Find the cubic equation, with integer coefficients, whose roots are α , β and αβ .
x3 + x 2 − 9 x − 9 = 0
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 10 (***)
x3 − x 2 + 3 x + k = 0 .
The roots of the above cubic equation are denoted by α , β and γ , where k is a real
constant.
a) Show that
α 2 + β 2 + γ 2 = −5 .
b) Explain why the cubic equation cannot possibly have 3 real roots.
d) Show that k = 5 .
β = 1 + 2i , γ = −1
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 11 (***)
The roots of the quadratic equation
x 2 + 3x + 3 = 0
Find the cubic equation, with integer coefficients, whose roots are
α β
, and αβ .
β α
SYNF-C , x3 − 4 x 2 + 4 x − 3 = 0
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 12 (***)
The roots of the cubic equation
x3 + px 2 + 74 x + q = 0 ,
where p and q are constants, form an arithmetic sequence with common difference 1.
Given that all three roots are real and positive find in any order …
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 13 (***)
The roots of the cubic equation
x3 + px 2 + 56 x + q = 0 ,
where p and q are constants, form a geometric sequence with common ratio 2 .
Given that all three roots are real and positive find in any order …
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 14 (***)
The roots of the cubic equation
ax3 + bx 2 + cx + d = 0 ,
where a , b , c and d are non zero constants, are the first three terms of a geometric
sequence with common ratio 2 .
4bc = 49ad .
proof
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 15 (***)
f ( z ) = z 3 − ( 5 + i ) z 2 + ( 9 + 4i ) z + k (1 + i ) , z ∈ » , k ∈ »
i. … k = −5 .
ii. … β + γ = 4 .
β = 2+i , γ = 2−i
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 16 (***)
z 3 + pz + q = 0 , z ∈ » , p ∈ » , q ∈ » .
α 3 + β 3 + γ 3 = 3αβγ .
p = 1 , q = 10
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 17 (***+)
The three solutions of the cubic equation
x3 − 2 x 2 + 3 x + 1 = 0 x ∈ » ,
2α − 1 , 2 β − 1 and 2γ − 1 .
x3 − x 2 + 7 x + 17 = 0
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 18 (***+)
The roots of the cubic equation
16 x3 − 8 x 2 + 4 x − 1 = 0 x ∈ » ,
4 (α − 1) , 4 ( β − 1) and 4 ( γ − 1) .
3 3 3
FP1-N , 27 x3 + 90 x 2 + 108 x + 44 = 0
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 19 (***+)
The roots of the equation
x3 − 2 x 2 + 3 x − 4 = 0 ,
Find a cubic equation with integers coefficients whose roots are α 2 , β 2 and γ 2 .
x3 + 2 x 2 − 7 x − 16 = 0
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 20 (***+)
The roots of the equation
x3 − 2 x 2 + 3 x + 3 = 0
Find the cubic equation with integer coefficients whose roots are
1 1 1
, and .
βγ γα αβ
9 x3 + 6 x 2 + 3x − 1 = 0
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 21 (***+)
The roots of the equation
x3 + 2kx 2 − 27 = 0 ,
i. … α + β
ii. … αβ
α + β = − k , αβ = − 27
k
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 22 (***+)
The roots of the equation
x3 + 2 x 2 + 3 x − 4 = 0
2
w2 + y 2 + z 2 ≡ ( w + y + z ) − 2 ( wy + yz + zw ) .
βγ γα αβ
A= , B= and C = .
α β γ
25
A+ B+C = .
4
c) Show that the equation of the cubic whose roots are A , B and C is
4 x3 − 25 x 2 − 8 x − 16 = 0 .
proof
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 23 (***+)
The cubic equation
2 z 3 + kz 2 + 1 = 0 , z ∈ » ,
a) If the above cubic has two identical roots, determine the value of k .
FP1-D , k = −3 , k = − 1 ( 4 + 3i )
2
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 24 (***+)
A cubic equation is given below as
ax3 + bx 2 + cx + d = 0 ,
Given that the product of two of the three roots of above cubic equation is 1, show that
a 2 − d 2 = ac − bd .
FP1-L , proof
Question 25 (***+)
If the cubic equation x3 − Ax + B = 0 , has two equal roots, show that
4 A3 = 27 B 2 .
proof
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 26 (****)
bx3 + bx 2 + cx + d = 0 ,
If the three roots of the above cubic equation are in geometric progression show that
b3 = ca 3 .
proof
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 27 (****)
The three roots of the equation
x3 + 2 x 2 + 10 x + k = 0 ,
FP1-P , k = 125
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 28 (****)
2 x3 − 4 x + 1 = 0 .
The cubic equation shown above has three roots, denoted by α , β and γ .
1 1 1
+ + .
α −2 β −2 γ −2
20
FP1-V , −
9
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 29 (****)
A cubic equation is given below as
ax3 + bx 2 + cx + d = 0 ,
Given that two of the three roots of above cubic equation are reciprocals of one another
show that
a 2 − d 2 = ac − bd .
proof
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 30 (****)
x3 − 2 x 2 + kx + 10 = 0 , k ≠ 0
(α 3 + β 3 + γ 3 ) − 2 (α 2 + β 2 + γ 2 ) + k (α + β + γ ) + 30 = 0 .
It is given that α 3 + β 3 + γ 3 = −4
proof
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 31 (****)
The three roots of the equation
z 3 + pz 2 + qz + r = 0 ,
a) Given that
αβ + βγ + γα = −2 + 3i and α 2 + β 2 + γ 2 = 4 − 6i ,
i. … r = 7 − 3i
z 2 − (1 + i ) z = 2 + 5i .
p = 0 , q = −2 + 3i
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 32 (****)
z3 + 2 z 2 + k = 0 ,
The roots of the above cubic equation, where k is a non zero constant, are denoted by
α , β and γ .
a) Show that …
i. … α 2 + β 2 + γ 2 = 4 .
ii. … α 3 + β 3 + γ 3 = −8 − 3k .
α5 + β5 +γ 5 .
FP1-J , α 5 + β 5 + γ 5 = −4
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 33 (****)
The cubic equation shown below has a real root α .
x3 + kx 2 − 1 = 0 ,
Given that one of the complex roots of the equation is u + iv , determine the value of
v 2 in terms of α .
1 1
FP1-Z , v 2 = −
α 4α 4
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 34 (****)
x3 + 2 x + 5 = 0 .
The cubic equation shown above has three roots, denoted by α , β and γ .
α4 + β4 +γ 4 .
FP1-X , 8
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 35 (****)
The three roots of the cubic equation
x3 + 2 x − 1 = 0 ,
1 1 1
Determine the exact value of 4
+ 4
+ .
α β γ4
SYNF-A , 24
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 36 (****+)
The roots of the cubic equation
x3 − 4 x 2 + 2 x − 5 = 0
βγ γα αβ
, and ,
α β γ
is given by
5 x3 + 36 x 2 + 60 x − 25 = 0
FP1-K , proof
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 37 (****+)
z 3 − ( 4 + 2i ) z 2 + ( 4 + 5i ) z − (1 + 3i ) = 0 , z ∈ » .
Given that one of the solutions of the above cubic equation is z = 2 + i , find the other
two solutions.
FP1-U , z = 1 , z = 1 + i
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 38 (****+)
The roots of the cubic equation
x3 − 4 x 2 − 3 x − 2 = 0
α + β , β + γ and γ +α ,
is given by
x3 − 8 x 2 + 13 x + 14 = 0
FP1-W , proof
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 39 (*****)
A system of simultaneous equations is given below
x + y + z =1
x 2 + y 2 + z 2 = 21
x3 + y 3 + z 3 = 55 .
By forming an auxiliary cubic equation find the solution to the above system.
( )
x3 + y 3 + z 3 ≡ ( x + y + z ) x 2 + y 2 + z 2 − xy − yz − zx + 3xyz ,
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 40 (*****)
The roots of the cubic equation
8 x3 + 12 x 2 + 2 x − 3 = 0
n n n
Sn ≡ ( 2α + 1) + ( 2 β + 1) + ( 2γ + 1) , n∈» .
SPX-C , S3 = 6 , S−2 = 1
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
QUARTICS
Created by T. Madas