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Algebra Difficulty 5.4 AIME, harder Prove it Belarus

Let p=abcp = \overline{abc} be the decimal representation of a three-digit prime number pp.

Prove that the quadratic equation ax2+bx+c=0ax^2 + bx + c = 0 has no real roots.

Solution

Since abcabc is the decimal representation of a three-digit prime number pp, we have a0a \neq 0, c0c \neq 0. Suppose, contrary to our claim, that there exists a rational root of the equation ax2+bx+c=0ax^2+bx+c=0. Then the discriminant of this equation is a perfect square, i.e. b24ac=n2b^2-4ac=n^2, where nn is a positive integer number, n<bn < b. Multiplying the equality p=100a+10b+cp=100a+10b+c by 4a4a we have
4np=400a2+40ub+4ac=400a2+40ub+b2n2. 4np = 400a^2 + 40ub + 4ac = 400a^2 + 40ub + b^2 - n^2.
Thus 4np=(20a+b)2n2=(20a+b+n)(20a+bn)4np = (20a+b)^2 - n^2 = (20a+b+n)(20a+b-n). The numbers 20a+b+n20a+b+n and 20a+bn20a+b-n have the same parity and since their product is divisible by 4 both of 10a+(b+n)/210a+(b+n)/2 are positive integers. Since their product is divisible by the prime number 10a+(b+n)/210a+b99<p10a+(b+n)/2 \le 10a+b \le 99 < p. This contradiction proves the required statement.

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