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  • Concept 2: Roots and Coefficients

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    vincentliu11
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    The document discusses the relationship between the coefficients of a polynomial and its roots. It states that the sum of the roots equals the coefficient of the x term to the power of n-1, the sum of the products of the roots equals the coefficient of x to the power of n-2, and the product of the roots equals the constant term. As an example, it shows how to find the roots and value of k for a polynomial where one root is the opposite of another by setting up a simple system of equations relating the roots and coefficients.

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    concept 2

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    Concept 2

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    The document discusses the relationship between the coefficients of a polynomial and its roots. It states that the sum of the roots equals the coefficient of the x term to the power of n-1, the sum of the products of the roots equals the coefficient of x to the power of n-2, and the product of the roots equals the constant term. As an example, it shows how to find the roots and value of k for a polynomial where one root is the opposite of another by setting up a simple system of equations relating the roots and coefficients.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    Download as pdf or txt
    45 views1 page

    Concept 2: Roots and Coefficients

    Uploaded by

    vincentliu11
    The document discusses the relationship between the coefficients of a polynomial and its roots. It states that the sum of the roots equals the coefficient of the x term to the power of n-1, the sum of the products of the roots equals the coefficient of x to the power of n-2, and the product of the roots equals the constant term. As an example, it shows how to find the roots and value of k for a polynomial where one root is the opposite of another by setting up a simple system of equations relating the roots and coefficients.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 1

    Roots and Coefficients

    Finding the system of equations:


    There is an amazing relationship between the roots of a polynomial and the coefficients. n n 1 n 3 n4 Assuming the polynomial is in the form x + an 1 x + an 2 x + an 4 x + ... + a0 and the roots are r1, r2, r3, , rn,

    Concept 2

    r1 + r2 + r3 + ... + rn = an 1 r1r2 + r1r3 ... + rn 1rn = an 2

    r1r2 r3 + r1r2 r4 ... + rn 2 rn 1rn = an 3 ... r1r2 r3 ...rn = a0


    Example: Given that one root of x 3 3 x 2 + 4 x k = 0 is the opposite of another, find the roots and k.

    This can be solved in a simple system of equations:

    r1 + r2 + r3 = 3 r1r2 + r1r3 + r2 r3 = 4 r1r2 r3 = k


    Substituting r2=- r1, it is trivial to simply set this up as a 2-way 2-variable system of equations and solve for the roots and k.

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