Find all values of the real parameter such that the equation
has three distinct real roots which (in some order) form an arithmetic progression.
Solution
Writing the equation in the form
we obtain . Let and be the roots of the quadratic equation. If is the second term of the progression then , giving , i.e. . When the roots of the quadratic equation are not real.
If is not the second term we may assume that , which together with implies . Therefore is a root of the quadratic equation, i.e.
Thus, or . When we obtain , and when we find and . Hence the desired values are and .
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