1.

8 Roots and Coefficients 27

1.8 Roots and Coefficients

Let P (X) = a0 + a1 X + · · · + an X n be a polynomial and x1 , x2 , . . . , xn its roots

Viengsoupha
(real or complex). It is known that the following equalities hold:
an−1
x1 + x2 + · · · + xn = − ,
an
an−2
x1 x2 + x1 x3 + · · · + xn−1 xn = ,
an
an−3
x1 x2 x3 + x1 x2 x4 + · · · + xn−2 xn−1 xn = − ,
an
..
.
a0
x1 x2 · · · xn = (−1)n .
an
These are usually called Viète’s relations.
For instance, for a third degree polynomial

P (X) = a0 + a1 X + a2 X2 + a3 X 3 ,

we have
a2
x1 + x2 + x3 = − ,
a3
a1
x1 x2 + x1 x3 + x2 x3 = ,
a3
a0
x1 x2 x3 = − .
a3
The Viète’s relations can be very useful in solving problems not necessarily involv-
ing polynomials.

Problem 1.92 Let a, b, c be nonzero real numbers such that

(ab + bc + ca)3 = abc(a + b + c)3 .

Prove that a, b, c are terms of a geometric sequence.

28 1 Algebra

Solution Consider the monic polynomial

P (X) = X 3 + mX 2 + nX + p,

with roots a, b, c. Then, by Viète’s relations, we have

a + b + c = −m,
ab + bc + ca = n,
abc = −p.

The given equality yields n3 = m3 p, hence, if m

= 0, the equation P (x) = 0 can be
written as
n3
x 3 + mx 2 + nx + = 0,

Viengsoupha
m3
or
m3 x 3 + m4 x 2 + nm3 x + n3 = 0.
It is not difficult to factor the left-hand side:
 
(mx + n) m2 x 2 − mnx + n2 + m3 x(mx + n)
   
= (mx + n) m2 x 2 + m3 − mn x + n2 .

It follows that one of the roots of P is x1 = − m

n
and the other two satisfy the condi-
2
tion x2 x3 = mn
2 (Viète’s relations for the second degree polynomial m X + (m −
2 2 3

mn)X + n2 ). We obtained x12 = x2 x3 , thus the roots are the terms of a geometric
sequence. If m = 0 then n = 0 but in this case, the polynomial X 3 + p cannot have
three real roots.

Observation Using appropriate software, one can obtain the factorization

   
(ab + bc + ca)3 − abc(a + b + c)3 = a 2 − bc b2 − ac c2 − ab ,

and the conclusion follows.

Problem 1.93 Solve in real numbers the system of equations

⎧
⎨ x + y + z = 4,
⎪
x 2 + y 2 + z2 = 14,
⎪
⎩ 3
x + y 3 + z3 = 34.

Solution Consider the monic polynomial

P (t) = t 3 + at 2 + bt + c,

with roots x, y, z.
1.8 Roots and Coefficients 29

Because x + y + z = 4, it follows that a = −4, hence

P (t) = t 3 − 4t 2 + bt + c.

We have
x 2 + y 2 + z2 = (x + y + z)2 − 2(xy + xz + yz).
It follows that
b = xy + xz + yz = 1.
The numbers x, y, z are the roots of P , thus

x 3 − 4x 2 + x + c = 0,
y 3 − 4y 2 + y + c = 0,

Viengsoupha
z3 − 4z2 + z + c = 0.

Adding these equalities and using the equations of the system, we obtain c = 6,
hence
P (t) = t 3 − 4t 2 + t + 6.
We observe that t1 = −1 is a root, so P factors as
 
P (t) = (t + 1) t 2 − 5t + 6 ,

the other two roots being t2 = 2 and t3 = 3. It follows that the solutions of the system
are the triple (−1, 2, 3) and all of its permutations.

Problem 1.94 Let a and b be two of the roots of the polynomial X4 + X 3 − 1.

Prove that ab is a root of the polynomial X 6 + X 4 + X 3 − X 2 − 1.

Solution Let c and d be the other two roots of X 4 + X 3 − 1. The Viète’s relations
yield

a + b + c + d = −1,
ab + ac + ad + bc + bd + cd = 0,
abc + abd + acd + bcd = 0,
abcd = −1.

Write these equalities in terms of s = a + b, s  = c + d, p = ab and p  = cd (this is

often useful) to obtain

s + s  = −1,
p + p  + ss  = 0,
30 1 Algebra

ps  + p s = 0,
pp = −1.

Substituting p  = − p1 and s  = −1 − s in the second and in the third equalities yields

1
p− − s2 − s = 0
p
and
s
p(−1 − s) − = 0.
p
It follows from the second equality that

p2

Viengsoupha
s=− .
p2 +1
Plugging this into the first equality gives

1 p4 p2
p− − 2 + 2 = 0.
p (p + 1)2 p +1
A short computation shows that this is equivalent to

p 6 + p4 + p 3 − p2 − 1 = 0,

hence p = ab is a root of the polynomial

X 6 + X 4 + X 3 − X2 − 1.

Here are some suggested problems.

Problem 1.95 Let a, b, c be nonzero real numbers such that a + b + c

= 0 and
1 1 1 1
+ + = .
a b c a+b+c
Prove that for all odd integers n
1 1 1 1
+ n+ n= n .
a n b c a + bn + cn

Problem 1.96 Let a ≤ b ≤ c be real numbers such that

a+b+c=2

and
ab + bc + ca = 1.
1.9 The Rearrangements Inequality 31

Prove that
1 4
0≤a≤ ≤b≤1≤c≤ .
3 3

Problem 1.97 Prove that two of the four roots of the polynomial X 4 + 12X − 5 add
up to 2.

Problem 1.98 Find m and solve the following equation, knowing that its roots form
a geometrical sequence:

X 4 − 15X 3 + 70X2 − 120X + m = 0.

Problem 1.99 Let x1 , x2 , . . . , xn be the roots of the polynomial X n + X n−1 + · · · +

X + 1. Prove that

Viengsoupha
1 1 1 n
+ + ··· + = .
1 − x1 1 − x2 1 − xn 2

Problem 1.100 Let a, b, c be rational numbers and let x1 , x2 , x3 be the roots of

the polynomial P (X) = X3 + aX2 + bX + c. Prove that if xx12 is a rational number,
different from 0 and −1, then x1 , x2 , x3 are rational numbers.

Problem 1.101 Solve in real numbers the system of equations

⎧
⎨ x + y + z = 0,
⎪
x 3 + y 3 + z3 = 18,
⎪
⎩ 7
x + y 7 + z7 = 2058.

Problem 1.102 Solve in real numbers the system of equations

⎧
⎪ a + b = 8,
⎪
⎪
⎨ ab + c + d = 23,
⎪
⎪ ad + bc = 28,
⎪
⎩
cd = 12.