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Algebra Difficulty 7.6 National olympiad, round 2 Prove it Greece

Let P(x)=ax3+(ba)x2(c+b)x+cP(x) = a x^3 + (b - a) x^2 - (c + b) x + c, Q(x)=x4+(b1)x3+(ab)x2(c+a)x+cQ(x) = x^4 + (b - 1) x^3 + (a - b) x^2 - (c + a) x + c be polynomials of the indeterminate xx, where a,b,ca, b, c are nonzero real numbers and b>0b > 0. If the polynomial P(x)P(x) has three different real roots x0,x1,x2x_0, x_1, x_2, which are also roots of the polynomial Q(x)Q(x), then:
(a) Prove that: abc>28abc > 28.
(b) If a,b,ca, b, c are nonzero integers with b>0b > 0, find their possible values.

Solution

(a) The sum of the coefficients of the polynomial P(x)P(x) is equal to 00. It means that 11 is one of its roots and so
P(x)=ax3+(ba)x2(c+b)x+c=(x1)(ax2+bxc) P(x) = a x^3 + (b - a) x^2 - (c + b) x + c = (x - 1)(a x^2 + b x - c)
If x0=1x_0 = 1, from Vieta's formulas we have:
x1+x2=baandx1x2=ca0,(1) x_1 + x_2 = -\frac{b}{a} \quad \text{and} \quad x_1 x_2 = -\frac{c}{a} \neq 0, \qquad (1)
Moreover, from the hypothesis x0,x1,x2x_0, x_1, x_2 are roots of the polynomial
F(x)=Q(x)P(x)=x4+(ba1)x3+2(ab)x2+(ba)x=x(x3+(ba1)x2+2(ab)x+ba)=x[x3x2+(ba)(x2x)+(ab)(x1)]=x(x1)[x2+(ba)x+(ab)]. \begin{aligned} F(x) &= Q(x) - P(x) = x^4 + (b - a - 1) x^3 + 2(a - b) x^2 + (b - a) x \\ &= x(x^3 + (b - a - 1) x^2 + 2(a - b) x + b - a) \\ &= x[x^3 - x^2 + (b - a)(x^2 - x) + (a - b)(x - 1)] \\ &= x(x - 1)[x^2 + (b - a)x + (a - b)]. \end{aligned}
Since F(x)=0x=0F(x) = 0 \Leftrightarrow x = 0 or x=1x = 1 or x2+(ba)x+(ab)=0x^2 + (b - a)x + (a - b) = 0 and x0,x1,x20x_0, x_1, x_2 \neq 0, we conclude that:
x0=1,x1+x2=ab,x1x2=ab.(2) x_0 = 1, \quad x_1 + x_2 = a - b, \quad x_1 x_2 = a - b. \qquad (2)
From (1) and (2) we obtain: ab=ba=caa - b = -\frac{b}{a} = -\frac{c}{a} \Rightarrow
b=c(3)ora2ab=b(4) b = c \qquad (3) \quad \text{or} \quad a^2 - a b = -b \qquad (4)
From (3) and (4) we have:
a2=b(a1)a>1 (since b>0) and b=c=a2a1. a^2 = b(a - 1) \Rightarrow a > 1 \text{ (since $b > 0$) and } b = c = \frac{a^2}{a - 1}.
We have that
abc=a(a2a1)2=a5(a1)2=x=a10(x+1)5x2=x5+5x4+10x3+10x2+5x+1x2abc=x3+(5x2+1x2)+(10x+5x)+10.(5) \begin{aligned} abc &= a \left( \frac{a^2}{a - 1} \right)^2 = \frac{a^5}{(a - 1)^2} \stackrel{x = a - 1 \ge 0}{=} \frac{(x + 1)^5}{x^2} = \frac{x^5 + 5x^4 + 10x^3 + 10x^2 + 5x + 1}{x^2} \\ &\Rightarrow abc = x^3 + \left( 5x^2 + \frac{1}{x^2} \right) + \left( 10x + \frac{5}{x} \right) + 10. \end{aligned} \qquad (5)
Now we observe that:
* x3>0x^3 > 0, 5x2+1x2>45x44x2+1>0x4+(2x21)2>05x^2 + \frac{1}{x^2} > 4 \Leftrightarrow 5x^4 - 4x^2 + 1 > 0 \Leftrightarrow x^4 + (2x^2 - 1)^2 > 0, valid,
* 10x+5x>14x010x214x+5>010x + \frac{5}{x} > 14 \stackrel{x \ge 0}{\Leftrightarrow} 10x^2 - 14x + 5 > 0, is valid.

Finally, from (5) we get that: abc>28abc > 28.

(b) As in the first question from relation b=a+1+1a1b = a + 1 + \frac{1}{a - 1}, since b,a+1b, a + 1 are integers, we obtain that 1a1Z\frac{1}{a - 1} \in \mathbb{Z}
Therefore:
a1=±1a=0 (it is rejected) or a=2. Then b=c=a2a1=4. For these values the polynomial a - 1 = \pm 1 \Leftrightarrow a = 0 \text{ (it is rejected) or } a = 2. \text{ Then } b = c = \frac{a^2}{a - 1} = 4. \text{ For these values the polynomial}
P(x)=ax3+(ba)x2(c+b)x+c=2x3+2x28x+4=2(x1)(x2+2x2) P(x) = a x^3 + (b - a) x^2 - (c + b) x + c = 2x^3 + 2x^2 - 8x + 4 = 2(x - 1)(x^2 + 2x - 2)
has roots x0=1x_0 = 1, x1,2=1±3x_{1,2} = -1 \pm \sqrt{3} which are also roots of the polynomial
F(x)=Q(x)P(x)=x(x1)(x2+(ba)x+(ab))=x(x2+2x2), F(x) = Q(x) - P(x) = x(x - 1)(x^2 + (b - a)x + (a - b)) = x(x^2 + 2x - 2),
and therefore they are roots of the polynomial Q(x)=F(x)+P(x)Q(x) = F(x) + P(x).

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