Difference between revisions of "1992 OIM Problems/Problem 2"
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And solve for zero: | And solve for zero: | ||
− | <math>\sum_{j \ne i}^{}\left( a_i \prod_{j}^{}\left(x+a_j \right) | + | <math>\prod_{i}^{}\left( x+a_i\right)-\sum_{j \ne i}^{}\left( a_i \prod_{j}^{}\left(x+a_j \right)\right)=0</math> |
− | <math>\left( x^n+\sum_{i}^{}a_ix^{n | + | <math>\left( x^n+\sum_{i}^{}a_ix^{n-1}+K_{n-2}x^{n-2}+\cdots+K_1x+K_0\right)-\left( \sum_{i}^{}a_ix^{n-1}+L_{n-2}x^{n-2}+\cdots+L_1x+L_0\right)=0</math> |
<math> x^n+\left( \sum_{i}^{}a_i-\sum_{i}^{}a_i \right)x^{n-1}+\left( K_{n-2}-L_{n-2} \right)x^{n-2}+\cdots+\left( K_{1}-L_{1} \right)x+\left( K_{0}-L_{0} \right)=0</math> | <math> x^n+\left( \sum_{i}^{}a_i-\sum_{i}^{}a_i \right)x^{n-1}+\left( K_{n-2}-L_{n-2} \right)x^{n-2}+\cdots+\left( K_{1}-L_{1} \right)x+\left( K_{0}-L_{0} \right)=0</math> |
Revision as of 09:24, 23 December 2023
Problem
Given the collection of positive real numbers
and the function:
Determine the sum of the lengths of the intervals, disjoint two by two, formed by all .
~translated into English by Tomas Diaz. ~orders@tomasdiaz.com
Solution
Since , we can plot
to visualize what we're looking for:
Notice that the intervals will be:
Thus the sum of the intervals will be:
Now we set :
And solve for zero:
Where and
are coefficients of the respective polynomials for each
From properties of polynomials, we know that the sum of the roots of a polynomial of degree n is where
is the coefficient of
and
is the coefficient of
Therefore,
and,
Thus the sum of the intervals is
- Note. I actually competed at this event in Venezuela when I was in High School representing Puerto Rico. I got a ZERO on this one because I didn't even know what was I supposed to do, nor did I know what the sum of the lengths of the intervals, disjoint two by two meant. I didn't even get points for drawing the function. haha. Several decades ago I was able to finally solve it. But even now, I'm still unsure about the "disjunct two by two" wording...
~Tomas Diaz. ~orders@tomasdiaz.com
Alternate solutions are always welcome. If you have a different, elegant solution to this problem, please add it to this page.