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Algebra Difficulty 2.8 Junior Find the answer

When (3+2x+x2)(1+mx+m2x2)(3 + 2x + x^{2})(1 + mx + m^{2}x^{2}) is expanded and fully simplified, the coefficient of x2x^{2} is equal to 1. What is the sum of all possible values of mm?

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

Solution

When (3+2x+x2)(1+mx+m2x2)(3 + 2x + x^{2})(1 + mx + m^{2}x^{2}) is expanded, the terms that include an x2x^{2} will come from multiplying a constant with a term that includes x2x^{2} or multiplying two terms that includes xx. In other words, the term that includes x2x^{2} will be 3m2x2+2xmx+x21=(3m2+2m+1)x23 \cdot m^{2} x^{2} + 2x \cdot mx + x^{2} \cdot 1 = (3m^{2} + 2m + 1)x^{2}. From the condition that the coefficient of this term equals 1, we see that 3m2+2m+1=13m^{2} + 2m + 1 = 1 which gives 3m2+2m=03m^{2} + 2m = 0 or m(3m+2)=0m(3m + 2) = 0, which means that m=0m = 0 or m=23m = -\frac{2}{3}. The sum of these possible values of mm is 23-\frac{2}{3}.

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