2017 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 24

Revision as of 17:39, 8 February 2017 by Anematode (talk | contribs) (Solution)

Problem

For certain real numbers $a$, $b$, and $c$, the polynomial \[g(x) = x^3 + ax^2 + x + 10\]has three distinct roots, and each root of $g(x)$ is also a root of the polynomial \[f(x) = x^4 + x^3 + bx^2 + 100x + c.\]What is $f(1)$?

$\textbf{(A)}\ -9009 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ -8008 \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ -7007 \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ -6006 \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ -5005$

Solution

$f(x)$ must have four roots, three of which are roots of $g(x)$. Using the fact that every polynomial has a unique factorization into its roots, and since the leading coefficient of $f(x)$ and $g(x)$ are the same, we know that

\[f(x)=g(x)(x-r)\]

where $r\in\mathbb{C}$ is the fourth root of $f(x)$. Substituting $g(x)$ and expanding, we find that

\begin{align*}f(x)&=(x^3+ax^2+x+10)(x-r)\\ &=x^4+(a-r)x^3+(1-ar)x^2+(10-r)x-10r.\end{align*}

Comparing coefficients with $f(x)$, we see that

\begin{align*} a-r&=1\\ 1-ar&=b\\ 10-r&=100\\ -10r&=c.\\ \end{align*}

Let's solve for $a,b,c,$ and $r$. Since $10-r=100$, $r=-90$, so $c=(-10)(-90)=900$. Since $a-r=1$, $a=-89$, and $b=1-ar=-8009$. Thus, we know that

\[f(x)=x^4+x^3-8009x^2+100x+900.\]

Taking $f(1)$, we find that

\begin{align*} f(1)&=1^4+1^3-8009(1)^2+100(1)+900\\ &=1+1-8009+100+900\\ &=\boxed{\bold{(C)\text{ }}\text{-}7007}.\\ \end{align*}

See Also

2017 AMC 10A (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 8
Followed by
Problem 10
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
All AMC 10 Problems and Solutions

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