Show that if a quadratic has rational coefficients and x

Maximillian Patterson

Maximillian Patterson

Answered question

2022-04-25

Show that if a quadratic has rational coefficients and x+yz is a root, then xyz must also be a root.

Answer & Explanation

Payton Cantrell

Payton Cantrell

Beginner2022-04-26Added 15 answers

Maybe try using the following relationships of the roots and coefficients of a quadratic polynomial: Let a, b, cQ.
ax2+bx+c=a(xx1)(xx2)=a(x2(x1+x2)+x1x2)=ax2a(x1+x2)x+ax1x2.
From here we get the following system of equalities:
{x1+x2=ba x1x2=ca
Notice that if x1=x+z, then x1+x2=x+z+x2=baQ, then we can solve for x2:
x2=(bax)z=mz,  where  mQ
Now let's use the second relationship we proved:
x1x2=(x+z)(mz)=(xmz)+(mx)z=caQ
If mx0 we could solve for z to get that it must be rational, but this contradicts our assumption that it is irrational, hence m=x, which implies x2=mz=xz

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