5.48 Determine the real number such that the polynomials and have at least one common root.
Solution
[Solution] Let be a common root, then we have
(1) - (2) gives
If , then equations (1) and (2) are the same, in which case the two polynomials have a common root.
If , then the common root , substituting into (1), (2) both yield .
Therefore, when or -2, and have at least one common root.
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