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Algebra Difficulty 4.6 AIME Find the answer

Given that three roots of f(x)=x4+ax2+bx+cf(x) = x^{4} + ax^{2} + bx + c are 2,32, -3, and 55, what is the value of a+b+ca + b + c?

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

Solution

By definition, the coefficient of x3x^{3} is negative the sum of the roots. In f(x)f(x), the coefficient of x3x^{3} is 0. Thus the sum of the roots of f(x)f(x) is 0. Then the fourth root is -4. Then f(x)=(x2)(x+3)(x5)(x+4)f(x) = (x-2)(x+3)(x-5)(x+4). Notice that f(1)f(1) is 1+a+b+c1 + a + b + c. Thus our answer is f(1)1=(12)(1+3)(15)(1+4)1=79f(1) - 1 = (1-2)(1+3)(1-5)(1+4) - 1 = 79.

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