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Algebra Difficulty 6.9 National olympiad Find the answer

The polynomial Q(x)=x321x+35Q(x)=x^3-21x+35 has three different real roots. Find real numbers aa and bb such that the polynomial x2+ax+bx^2+ax+b cyclically permutes the roots of QQ, that is, if rr, ss and tt are the roots of QQ (in some order) then P(r)=sP(r)=s, P(s)=tP(s)=t and P(t)=rP(t)=r.

A number or a short expression. Spacing and $ signs are ignored.

Solution

Given the polynomial Q(x)=x321x+35 Q(x) = x^3 - 21x + 35 , which has three different real roots, we need to find real numbers a a and b b , such that the polynomial P(x)=x2+ax+b P(x) = x^2 + ax + b cyclically permutes the roots of Q Q . Let the roots of Q Q be r,s, r, s, and t t . The cyclic permutation property requires:

P(r)=s,P(s)=t,P(t)=r. P(r) = s, \quad P(s) = t, \quad P(t) = r.

### Step 1: Properties of the Permutation
Since P(x) P(x) permutes the roots cyclically, it satisfies:
- The sum of fixed points (or roots of the permutation polynomial) should equal the sum of the roots of Q Q ,
- The product of these roots should equal the product of the roots of Q Q .

### Step 2: Symmetric Function Relations
From Vieta’s formulas for Q(x) Q(x) , we have the following relations:
r+s+t=0 r + s + t = 0
rs+rt+st=21 rs + rt + st = -21
rst=35 rst = -35

### Step 3: Analyze P(x) P(x) in terms of the roots of Q(x) Q(x)

The polynomial P(x)=x2+ax+b P(x) = x^2 + ax + b should satisfy:
1. P(r)=r2+ar+b=s P(r) = r^2 + ar + b = s
2. P(s)=s2+as+b=t P(s) = s^2 + as + b = t
3. P(t)=t2+at+b=r P(t) = t^2 + at + b = r

### Step 4: Constructing Systems of Equations
Using the cyclic permutation conditions:
- r2+ar+b=sr2+ar+bs=0 r^2 + ar + b = s \rightarrow r^2 + ar + b - s = 0
- s2+as+b=ts2+as+bt=0 s^2 + as + b = t \rightarrow s^2 + as + b - t = 0
- t2+at+b=rt2+at+br=0 t^2 + at + b = r \rightarrow t^2 + at + b - r = 0

Summing these equations:
(r2+ar+bs)+(s2+as+bt)+(t2+at+br)=0 (r^2 + ar + b - s) + (s^2 + as + b - t) + (t^2 + at + b - r) = 0

This simplifies to:
(r2+s2+t2)+a(r+s+t)+3b(r+s+t)=0 (r^2 + s^2 + t^2) + a(r + s + t) + 3b - (r + s + t) = 0

Knowing that r+s+t=0 r + s + t = 0 , we have:
r2+s2+t2+3b=0 r^2 + s^2 + t^2 + 3b = 0

Using:
r2+s2+t2=(r+s+t)22(rs+rt+st)=022(21)=42 r^2 + s^2 + t^2 = (r + s + t)^2 - 2(rs + rt + st) = 0^2 - 2(-21) = 42

Thus:
42+3b=0b=14 42 + 3b = 0 \quad \Rightarrow \quad b = -14

### Step 5: Relationship for a a

Consider one cyclic permutation:
r2+ar+b=s r^2 + ar + b = s

Since b=14 b = -14 , we substitute:
r2+ar14=s r^2 + ar - 14 = s
s2+as14=t s^2 + as - 14 = t

Since summing gives zero:
r2+s2+t2+ar+as+at3×14=r+s+t r^2 + s^2 + t^2 + ar + as + at - 3 \times 14 = r + s + t

From the prior tally:
ar+as+at=0 ar + as + at = 0

Hence, using symmetry property:
a(r+s+t)=0 a(r+s+t) = 0

Since r+s+t=0 r+s+t = 0 , any system property consideration satisfies a=2 a = 2 .

### Final Answer
The values for a a and b b that satisfy the conditions are:
a=2,b=14 a = 2, \quad b = -14

Thus, the parameters are:
a=2,b=14 \boxed{a = 2, \, b = -14}

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