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Number theory Difficulty 5.4 AIME, harder Prove it China

Let a,b,c{0,1,2,,9}a, b, c \in \{0, 1, 2, \dots, 9\}. The quadratic equation ax2+bx+c=0ax^2 + bx + c = 0 has a rational root. Prove that the three-digit number abcabc is not a prime number.

Solutions — 2

Solution 1

If abc=p\overline{abc} = p is a prime number, and the roots of the equation f(x)=ax2+bx+c=0f(x) = ax^2 + bx + c = 0 are rational numbers, then b24acb^2 - 4ac is a square number, x1,x2x_1, x_2 are negative, and f(x)=a(xx1)(xx2)f(x) = a(x - x_1)(x - x_2).

So p=f(10)=a(10x1)(10x2)p = f(10) = a(10 - x_1)(10 - x_2), and we get 4ap=(20a2ax1)(20a2ax2)4ap = (20a - 2ax_1)(20a - 2ax_2).

Since x1,x2=b±b24ac2ax_1, x_2 = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}, we see that 20a2ax120a - 2ax_1, 20a2ax220a - 2ax_2 are integers. Now p20a2ax1p \mid 20a - 2ax_1 or p20a2ax2p \mid 20a - 2ax_2, and we can suppose that p20a2ax1p \mid 20a - 2ax_1; then p20a2ax1p \le 20a - 2ax_1, and 4a20a2ax24a \ge 20a - 2ax_2, which is a contradiction to x2x_2 being negative.

Solution 2

We prove by contradiction. If abc=pabc = p is a prime number, the rational root of quadratic equation f(x)=ax2+bx+c=0f(x) = ax^2 + bx + c = 0 is x1,x2=b±b24ac2ax_1, x_2 = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}. Obviously, b24acb^2 - 4ac is a perfect square number, and x1,x2x_1, x_2 are all negative, and

f(x)=a(xx1)(xx2). f(x) = a(x - x_1)(x - x_2).

Thus,
p=f(10)=a(10x1)(10x2). p = f(10) = a(10 - x_1)(10 - x_2).
So,
4ap=(20a2ax1)(20a2ax2). 4ap = (20a - 2ax_1)(20a - 2ax_2).
It is easy to see that (20a2ax1)(20a - 2ax_1) and (20a2ax2)(20a - 2ax_2) are all positive integers. Consequently, p(20a2ax1)p \mid (20a - 2ax_1) or p(20a2ax2)p \mid (20a - 2ax_2). If p(20a2ax1)p \mid (20a - 2ax_1), then p20a2ax1p \le 20a - 2ax_1, so, 808x110x2+x1x2080 - 8x_1 - 10x_2 + x_1x_2 \le 0, which contradicts to x1,x2<0x_1, x_2 < 0. Similarly, p(20a2ax1)p \mid (20a - 2ax_1) is not true. \square

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