Solution:
The answer is (E). We have x6−16x4+16x2−1=(x2−1)(x4−15x2+1) (all the roots are real), so if z is a root different from ±1, we have z4=15z2−1, z6=15z4−z2=224z2−15. Denoting by z1,…,z4 these latter roots, we have:
j=1∑4zj=0,1≤i<j≤4∑zizj=−15
i=1∑4zi2=(j=1∑4zj)2−21≤i<j≤4∑zizj=30,i=1∑4zi6=224i=1∑4zi2−60=6660,
now reintroducing into the count the roots ±1 we find that the correct answer is 6662. (D'Aurizio)