Maths Olympiad Prep

Track / Stage 6 / 210 of 400 #1210 of 1964

Problem 1210

National olympiad, first round
Algebra Difficulty 6.3 Prove it

5.62 Proof: If the numbers p1,p2,q1,q2p_{1}, p_{2}, q_{1}, q_{2} satisfy the inequality
(q1q2)2+(p1p2)(p1q2p2q1)<0, \left(q_{1}-q_{2}\right)^{2}+\left(p_{1}-p_{2}\right)\left(p_{1} q_{2}-p_{2} q_{1}\right)<0,

then the quadratic trinomials x2+p1x+q1x^{2}+p_{1} x+q_{1} and x2+p2x+q2x^{2}+p_{2} x+q_{2} both have two real roots, and between the roots of each polynomial there is a root of the other polynomial.

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.

Official solutions — 2

Solution 1

[Proof] Let f(x)=x2+p1x+q1f(x)=x^{2}+p_{1} x+q_{1},
g(x)=x2+p2x+q2 g(x)=x^{2}+p_{2} x+q_{2} \text {. }

If f(x)=g(x)\quad f(x)=g(x),
then
x2+p1x+q1=x2+p2x+q2,x=(q1q2)p1p2. \begin{array}{l} x^{2}+p_{1} x+q_{1}=x^{2}+p_{2} x+q_{2}, \\ x=\frac{-\left(q_{1}-q_{2}\right)}{p_{1}-p_{2}} . \end{array}

At this point,
f(x)=(q1q2p1p2)2p1q1q2p1p2+q1=(q1q2)2p1(q1q2)(p1p2)+q1(p1p2)2(p1p2)2=(q1q2)2+(p1p2)(p1q2p2q1)(p1p2)2<0 \begin{aligned} f(x) & =\left(\frac{q_{1}-q_{2}}{p_{1}-p_{2}}\right)^{2}-p_{1} \cdot \frac{q_{1}-q_{2}}{p_{1}-p_{2}}+q_{1} \\ & =\frac{\left(q_{1}-q_{2}\right)^{2}-p_{1} \cdot\left(q_{1}-q_{2}\right)\left(p_{1}-p_{2}\right)+q_{1}\left(p_{1}-p_{2}\right)^{2}}{\left(p_{1}-p_{2}\right)^{2}} \\ & =\frac{\left(q_{1}-q_{2}\right)^{2}+\left(p_{1}-p_{2}\right)\left(p_{1} q_{2}-p_{2} q_{1}\right)}{\left(p_{1}-p_{2}\right)^{2}} \\ & <0 \end{aligned}

This means that, in the Cartesian coordinate system, the intersection point of the two upward-opening parabolas (1) and (2) is below the x-axis. Therefore, each of these two parabolas intersects the x-axis at two points, and between the two roots of each polynomial, there must be a root of the other polynomial. Therefore, the quadratic trinomials f(x)f(x) and g(x)g(x) both have two real roots, and between the two roots of each polynomial, there is a root of the other polynomial.

Solution 2

[Proof] Let f(x)=x2+p1x+q1f(x)=x^{2}+p_{1} x+q_{1},
g(x)=x2+p2x+q2g(x)=x^{2}+p_{2} x+q_{2}

If f(x)=g(x)\quad f(x)=g(x),
then

at this point,
x2+p1x+q1=x2+p2x+q2x=(q1q2)p1p2\begin{array}{l} x^{2}+p_{1} x+q_{1}=x^{2}+p_{2} x+q_{2} \\ x=\frac{-\left(q_{1}-q_{2}\right)}{p_{1}-p_{2}} \end{array}
f(x)=(q1q2p1p2)2p1q1q2p1p2+q1=(q1q2)2p1(q1q2)(p1p2)+q1(p1p2)2(p1p2)2=(q1q2)2+(p1p2)(p1q2p2q1)(p1p2)2<0\begin{aligned} f(x) & =\left(\frac{q_{1}-q_{2}}{p_{1}-p_{2}}\right)^{2}-p_{1} \cdot \frac{q_{1}-q_{2}}{p_{1}-p_{2}}+q_{1} \\ & =\frac{\left(q_{1}-q_{2}\right)^{2}-p_{1} \cdot\left(q_{1}-q_{2}\right)\left(p_{1}-p_{2}\right)+q_{1}\left(p_{1}-p_{2}\right)^{2}}{\left(p_{1}-p_{2}\right)^{2}} \\ & =\frac{\left(q_{1}-q_{2}\right)^{2}+\left(p_{1}-p_{2}\right)\left(p_{1} q_{2}-p_{2} q_{1}\right)}{\left(p_{1}-p_{2}\right)^{2}} \\ & <0 \end{aligned}

This means that, in the Cartesian coordinate system, the intersection point of the two upward-opening parabolas (1) and (2) is below the x-axis. Therefore, each of these two parabolas intersects the x-axis at two points, and between the two intersection points of one parabola with the x-axis, there must be an intersection point of the other parabola with the x-axis. Therefore, the quadratic trinomials f(x)f(x) and g(x)g(x) both have two real roots, and between the two roots of each polynomial, there is a root of the other polynomial.

Source: NuminaMath-1.5, licensed Apache-2.0. Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic, difficulty and ordering added by this site.