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Algebra Difficulty 6.0 National Olympiad Prove it Croatia

Let 0<a<b<c<d0 < a < b < c < d and let each of the quadratic functions p(x)=x2+dx+ap(x) = x^2 + dx + a and q(x)=x2+cx+bq(x) = x^2 + cx + b have two different real roots. Prove that all four roots are mutually different. (Russia 1996)

Solution

Let the roots of p(x)=x2+dx+ap(x) = x^2 + dx + a be x1x_1 and x2x_2, and the roots of q(x)=x2+cx+bq(x) = x^2 + cx + b be y1y_1 and y2y_2.

Since p(x)p(x) has two different real roots, its discriminant is positive:
Dp=d24a>0 D_p = d^2 - 4a > 0
Similarly, q(x)q(x) has two different real roots, so
Dq=c24b>0 D_q = c^2 - 4b > 0

Suppose, for contradiction, that some root of p(x)p(x) coincides with some root of q(x)q(x). That is, there exists x0x_0 such that p(x0)=0p(x_0) = 0 and q(x0)=0q(x_0) = 0.

So:
x02+dx0+a=0 x_0^2 + d x_0 + a = 0
x02+cx0+b=0 x_0^2 + c x_0 + b = 0
Subtracting the second from the first:
(dc)x0+(ab)=0 (d-c)x_0 + (a-b) = 0
Since d>cd > c, dc>0d-c > 0.
So:
x0=badc x_0 = \frac{b-a}{d-c}

Now, plug x0x_0 into p(x)p(x):
(badc)2+d(badc)+a=0 \left(\frac{b-a}{d-c}\right)^2 + d \left(\frac{b-a}{d-c}\right) + a = 0
Multiply both sides by (dc)2(d-c)^2:
(ba)2+d(ba)(dc)+a(dc)2=0 (b-a)^2 + d(b-a)(d-c) + a(d-c)^2 = 0
Expand d(ba)(dc)d(b-a)(d-c):
d(ba)(dc)=d(ba)dd(ba)c=d2(ba)dc(ba) d(b-a)(d-c) = d(b-a)d - d(b-a)c = d^2(b-a) - d c(b-a)
So:
(ba)2+d2(ba)dc(ba)+a(d22dc+c2)=0 (b-a)^2 + d^2(b-a) - d c(b-a) + a(d^2 - 2 d c + c^2) = 0
Expand a(d22dc+c2)a(d^2 - 2 d c + c^2):
ad22adc+ac2 a d^2 - 2 a d c + a c^2
So the equation is:
(ba)2+d2(ba)dc(ba)+ad22adc+ac2=0 (b-a)^2 + d^2(b-a) - d c(b-a) + a d^2 - 2 a d c + a c^2 = 0
Group terms:
(ba)2+d2(ba)dc(ba)+ad22adc+ac2=0 (b-a)^2 + d^2(b-a) - d c(b-a) + a d^2 - 2 a d c + a c^2 = 0

Now, let's try to show that this equation cannot hold for 0<a<b<c<d0 < a < b < c < d.

Alternatively, consider the following:

The sum of the roots of p(x)p(x) is d-d, and the product is aa.
The sum of the roots of q(x)q(x) is c-c, and the product is bb.

Suppose xx is a root of both p(x)p(x) and q(x)q(x).
Then x2+dx+a=0x^2 + d x + a = 0 and x2+cx+b=0x^2 + c x + b = 0.
Subtract:
(dc)x+(ab)=0 (d-c)x + (a-b) = 0
So x=badcx = \frac{b-a}{d-c}.

Now, since p(x)p(x) has two real roots, d2>4ad^2 > 4a.
Similarly, c2>4bc^2 > 4b.

But a<ba < b and c<dc < d.

Now, let's check if x=badcx = \frac{b-a}{d-c} can be a root of p(x)p(x).
Plug into p(x)p(x):
(badc)2+d(badc)+a=0 \left(\frac{b-a}{d-c}\right)^2 + d \left(\frac{b-a}{d-c}\right) + a = 0
Multiply both sides by (dc)2(d-c)^2:
(ba)2+d(ba)(dc)+a(dc)2=0 (b-a)^2 + d(b-a)(d-c) + a(d-c)^2 = 0
But ba>0b-a > 0, dc>0d-c > 0, a>0a > 0.
All terms are positive, so the sum cannot be zero.

Therefore, p(x)p(x) and q(x)q(x) cannot have a common root.

Now, suppose p(x)p(x) has a double root, i.e., x1=x2x_1 = x_2.
But the discriminant is positive, so roots are distinct.
Similarly for q(x)q(x).

Suppose p(x)p(x) has two roots, x1x_1 and x2x_2, and q(x)q(x) has two roots, y1y_1 and y2y_2.
Suppose x1=y1x_1 = y_1.
Then, as above, x1=badcx_1 = \frac{b-a}{d-c}, but this is not possible as shown above.

Suppose x1=y2x_1 = y_2 or x2=y1x_2 = y_1 or x2=y2x_2 = y_2.
The same argument applies.

Therefore, all four roots are mutually different.

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