Maths Olympiad Prep

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Problem 1843

National Olympiad, first round
Algebra Difficulty 6.3 Prove it IRL ABooklet · Ireland

There are real numbers α,β,γ\alpha, \beta, \gamma such that the cubic functions
f(x)=x3−3x2+αx+βandg(x)=x3+γx−6 f(x) = x^3 - 3x^2 + \alpha x + \beta \quad \text{and} \quad g(x) = x^3 + \gamma x - 6
have exactly two distinct non-zero roots in common. Prove that those two roots satisfy the equation 3(α−γ−9)x2+(α−γ−9)(γ−α)x+9β=03(\alpha - \gamma - 9)x^2 + (\alpha - \gamma - 9)(\gamma - \alpha)x + 9\beta = 0. Also prove that necessary conditions on α,β,γ\alpha, \beta, \gamma are (α−γ)(β+6)=54(\alpha - \gamma)(\beta + 6) = 54 and (α−γ)3+9γ(α−γ)+162=0(\alpha - \gamma)^3 + 9\gamma(\alpha - \gamma) + 162 = 0.

This one wants a proof. Work it on paper, then read the official solution and mark yourself. Be honest about it: the record is only any use to you if it is.

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Official solution

Suppose the common roots are a,ba, b and the third root of gg is cc. Using Vieta's formulas, or comparing coefficients in
g(x)=x3−γx−6=(x−a)(x−b)(x−c)=x3−(a+b+c)x2+(ab+bc+ca)x−abc g(x) = x^{3} - \gamma x - 6 = (x - a)(x - b)(x - c) = x^{3} - (a+b+c)x^{2} + (ab+bc+ca)x - abc
give a+b+c=0a + b + c = 0 and abc=6abc = 6. Hence, −c=a+b-c = a + b and so
ab(a+b)=−6.(15) ab(a + b) = -6. \qquad (15)
The roots a,ba, b are the roots of the quadratic polynomial g−fg - f:
g(x)−f(x)=3x2+(γ−α)x−(β+6)=3(x−a)(x−b)(16) g(x) - f(x) = 3x^2 + (\gamma - \alpha)x - (\beta + 6) = 3(x - a)(x - b) \quad (16)
hence
α−γ=3(a+b)(17) \alpha - \gamma = 3(a + b) \qquad (17)
β+6=−3ab. \beta + 6 = -3ab.

To prove the equation (α−γ)3+9γ(α−γ)+162=0(\alpha - \gamma)^3 + 9\gamma(\alpha - \gamma) + 162 = 0, we use (17) to write this in equivalent form as
(a+b)3+(a+b)γ+6=0or (a + b)^3 + (a + b)\gamma + 6 = 0 \quad \text{or}
a3+aγ+b3+bγ+3ab(a+b)+6=0. a^3 + a\gamma + b^3 + b\gamma + 3ab(a + b) + 6 = 0.
Because g(a)=g(b)=0g(a) = g(b) = 0, we have a3+γa=b3+γb=6a^3 + \gamma a = b^3 + \gamma b = 6. Using (15) we see now that the above equation indeed holds true. Finally, from (18) we obtain
54=(α−γ)(β+6)=(β+6)(α−γ−9)+9(β+6) 54 = (\alpha - \gamma)(\beta + 6) = (\beta + 6)(\alpha - \gamma - 9) + 9(\beta + 6)
which simplifies to
−(β+6)(α−γ−9)=9β. -(\beta + 6)(\alpha - \gamma - 9) = 9\beta.
Using this and multiplying the expression for g(x)−f(x)g(x) - f(x) in (16) by α−γ−9\alpha - \gamma - 9, we obtain
3(α−γ−9)x2+(α−γ−9)(γ−α)x+9β=0 3(\alpha - \gamma - 9)x^2 + (\alpha - \gamma - 9)(\gamma - \alpha)x + 9\beta = 0
which has aa and bb as its roots, as required.

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