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Cubic root cyclic summation (Posted on 2023-12-09) Difficulty: 3 of 5
Let P(x) be a polynomial of degree 3 and x1,x2,x3 are the solutions of P(x)=0.

Let (P(1/3)-P(-1/3))/P(0)=8, (P(1/4)-P(-1/4))/P(0)=9 and x1+x2+x3=35.

Find the value of (x2+x3)/x1+(x1+x3)/x2+(x1+x2)/x3.

No Solution Yet Submitted by Danish Ahmed Khan    
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Solution Analytic Solution with help from Wolfram | Comment 1 of 2
Final answer:  approx -902.9694830736585

For easier typing, let the roots be r,s,t
P(x) = ax^3 + bx^2 + cx + d
Find: (r+s)/t + (r+t)/s + (s+t)/r 

Vieta's Formulas:
-b/a = 35;  
c/a = rs + rt + st
-d/a = rst

b = -35a
P(x) = a*x^3 - 35*a*x^2 + c*x + d
P(k) - P(-k) = 2(a*k^3 + c*k)
P(0) = d
1/3:  2(a/27 + c/3) = 8d
      a + 9c = 108d
1/4:  2(a/64 + c/4) = 9d
      a + 16c = 288d

If we assume a=1:
P(x) = x^3 - 35*x^2 + c*x + d
108d - 9c = 1
288d - 16c = 1
c = -5/24
d = -7/864
P(x) = x^3 - 35*x^2 - (5/24)*x - 7/864

Get rid of the fractions; multiply all coefficients by 864
P(x) = 864x^3 - 30240*x^2 - 180*x - 7

Use Python console to check the given constraints, both successful:
In [17]: (p(1/3) - p(-1/3))/p(0)
Out[17]: 8.0

In [18]: (p(1/4) - p(-1/4))/p(0)
Out[18]: 9.0

Use Wolfram Alpha to find the roots of the cubic equation:
r ≈ (approx) 35.006
s ≈ -0.002979 + 0.014919 i
t ≈ -0.002979 - 0.014919 i
Sum of the roots checks = 35  (at least approx)

Use Python console, which does complex math:
r = 35.006
s = complex(-0.002979, 0.014919)
t = complex(-0.002979, -0.014919) 

Find the desired quantity
In [19]: (r+s)/t + (r+t)/s + (s+t)/r
Out[19]: (-902.9694830736585+0j)

The desired value has no complex component:
approximately -902.9694830736585

  Posted by Larry on 2023-12-09 10:18:33
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