Given that three roots of f(x)=x4+ax2+bx+c are 2,−3, and 5, what is the value of a+b+c?
A number or a short expression. Spacing and $ signs are ignored.
Solution
By definition, the coefficient of x3 is negative the sum of the roots. In f(x), the coefficient of x3 is 0. Thus the sum of the roots of f(x) is 0. Then the fourth root is -4. Then f(x)=(x−2)(x+3)(x−5)(x+4). Notice that f(1) is 1+a+b+c. Thus our answer is f(1)−1=(1−2)(1+3)(1−5)(1+4)−1=79.
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