Problem 42

Question

If the roots of \(x^{2}+a x+b=0\) are \(c\) and \(d\), then roots of \(x^{2}+(2 c+a) x+c^{2}+a c+b=0\) are (A) \(1, d-c\) (B) \(0, d-c\) (C) \(1, c-d\) (D) None of these

Step-by-Step Solution

Verified
Answer
(A) 1, d-c
1Step 1: Understand the Given Problem
We are given a quadratic equation \(x^2 + ax + b = 0\) with roots \(c\) and \(d\). Another quadratic equation \(x^2 + (2c+a)x + c^2+ac+b = 0\) is provided, and we need to find its roots.
2Step 2: Use Vieta's Formulas for the First Equation
For the equation \(x^2 + ax + b = 0\), Vieta's formulas tell us that the sum of the roots \(c+d = -a\) and the product \(cd = b\).
3Step 3: Analyze the Second Equation
The second equation has the form \(x^2 + (2c + a)x + (c^2 + ac + b) = 0\). To find its roots, substitute and manipulate the expressions using the roots \(c\) and \(d\) of the first equation.
4Step 4: Substitute and Simplify
Since \(c + d = -a\) and \(cd = b\):- Substitute in \(c + d = -a\) into \((2c + a)\) to get \(2c + a = c - d\).- Substitute \(b = cd\) to obtain \(c^2 + ac + cd\) within the constant term \(c^2 + ac + b\), simplifying it to \(c^2 + ac + cd = (c-d)\).Thus, the second equation simplifies to \(x(x - 1)(x - (d-c)) = 0\).
5Step 5: Determine the Roots of Simplified Equation
After simplification, we hypothesize the roots are \(1\) and \(d - c\). This matches the scenario given in option \(A\) \(1, d-c\).
6Step 6: Verify the Solution
Verify by substitution that \(x = 1\) and \(x = d-c\) satisfy the simplified form of the equation derived from Step 4.

Key Concepts

Vieta's FormulasPolynomial RootsSubstitution Method
Vieta's Formulas
Vieta's formulas are powerful tools for anyone studying quadratic equations. They connect the coefficients of a polynomial to sums and products of its roots, making them especially handy for simplifying equations without directly solving them.

For a quadratic equation like \(x^2 + ax + b = 0\), Vieta's formulas state the following:
  • The sum of the roots \((c + d)\) is equal to \(-a\) (i.e., \(c + d = -a\)).
  • The product of the roots \((cd)\) is equal to \(b\) (i.e., \(cd = b\)).
By using these simple relationships, you can often rearrange and solve complicated expressions more easily. In the given exercise, these formulas help us bridge the roots \(c\) and \(d\) from the first equation to discover the structure of the second equation's roots.
Polynomial Roots
Roots of a polynomial are the values of the variable that make the polynomial equal to zero. Finding these roots is critical as it provides valuable insights into the behavior of the polynomial.

When dealing with quadratic equations, roots can quickly be found either by factoring, completing the square, or using the quadratic formula. However, understanding and using connections between different quadratic equations, like the ones shared in the original exercise, can elucidate further relationships without always resorting to solving methods.
  • Roots such as \(c\) and \(d\) satisfy equations \((x - c)(x - d) = 0\).
  • Analyzing such relationships helps find other related roots, like \(1\) and \(d-c\) in the second equation.
Recognizing these deeper relationships can lead to 'aha' moments in your understanding of algebra and polynomial equations.
Substitution Method
The substitution method is a strategy to simplify algebraic expressions by replacing variables or expressions with equivalent terms. This method becomes especially useful when tackling sequences of equations or when trying to isolate elements within a problem.

In the context of the exercise, we used substitution effectively to convert complex expressions into simpler ones by using known relationships from Vieta’s formulas:
  • We substituted \(c + d = -a\) into the expression \(2c + a\) to simplify our equation.
  • This resulted in expressing terms based on the root relationships from the initial equation, making the new equation \(x(x - 1)(x - (d-c)) = 0\).
Substitution allows for precision and clarity, ensuring that otherwise complicated manipulations are presented in their simplest form, aiding both in computation and conceptual clarity.