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2007 iTest Problems/Problem 18

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Problem

Suppose that $x^3+px^2+qx+r$ is a cubic with a double root at $a$ and another root at b, where $a$ and $b$ are real numbers. If $p=-6$ and $q=9$, what is $r$?

$\text{(A) }0\qquad \text{(B) }4\qquad \text{(C) }108\qquad \text{(D) It could be }0 \text{ or } 4\qquad \text{(E) It could be }0 \text{ or } 108$

$\text{(F) }18\qquad \text{(G) }-4\qquad \text{(H) }-108\qquad \text{(I) It could be } 0 \text{ or } -4$

$\text{(J) It could be } 0 \text{ or } {-108} \qquad \text{(K) It could be } 4 \text{ or } {-4}\qquad \text{(L) There is no such value of } r\qquad$

$\text{(M) } 1 \qquad \text{(N) } {-2} \qquad \text{(O) It could be } 4 \text{ or } -4 \qquad \text{(P) It could be } 0 \text{ or } -2 \qquad$

$\text{(Q) It could be } 2007 \text{ or a yippy dog} \qquad \text{(R) } 2007$

Solutions

Solution 1

By Vieta's Formulas, \[2a+b = 6\] \[2ab + a^2 = 9\] From the first equation, $b = -2a+6$. Substitute into the second equation to get \[-4a^2 + 12a + a^2 = 9\] \[-3a^2 + 12a - 9 = 0\] \[a^2 - 4a + 3 = 0\] Thus, $a = 3$ or $a = 1$. If $a = 3$, then $b = 0$, so by Vieta's Formulas, $r = 0$. If $a = 1$, then $b = 4$, so by Vieta's Formulas, $r = -4$. The answer is $\boxed{\textbf{(I)}}$.

Solution 2

The equation of the polynomial with double root $a$ and single root $b$ is \[(x-a)^2 (x-b)\] Expanding the polynomial results in \[(x^2 - 2ax + a^2)(x-b)\] \[x^3 - (2a+b)x^2 + (2ab+a^2)x - a^2b\] Since $p = -6$ and $q = 9$, we can write a system of equations. \[2a+b = 6\] \[2ab + a^2 = 9\] Solving for $a$ results in $a = 3$ or $a = 1$. If $a = 3$, then $b = 0$, so $r = 0$. If $a = 1$, then $b = 4$, so $r = -4$. Thus, the answer is $\boxed{\textbf{(I)}}$.

See Also

2007 iTest (Problems, Answer Key)
Preceded by:
Problem 17 		Followed by:
Problem 19
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 • 39 • 40 • 41 • 42 • 43 • 44 • 45 • 46 • 47 • 48 • 49 • 50 • 51 • 52 • 53 • 54 • 55 • 56 • 57 • 58 • 59 • 60 • TB1 • TB2 • TB3 • TB4
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