# Thread: Polya Problems

1. ## Polya Problems

Question ONE:

Let 'a' and 'b' be integers neither wof which is equal to zero. Prove that the equation...
a^2x^3 + b^2x^2 – 1 = 0

...has no integer roots.

Question TWO:

For which real values of 'a' do the equations...
x^3 + ax + 1 = 0 and x^4 + ax^2 + 1 = 0
...have a common root?

2. Originally Posted by edwardteo.368
Question ONE:

Let 'a' and 'b' be integers neither wof which is equal to zero. Prove that the equation...
a^2x^3 + b^2x^2 – 1 = 0

...has no integer roots.
The rational root theorem says that the possible rational roots of this polynomial are of the form $\pm \frac{\text{factors of 1}}{\text{factors of }a^2}$.

For integer roots, then, we only have the possibility of -1 and 1.

If it is 1 then
$a^2 + b^2 - 1 = 0$
To which we cannot have a and b both be integers.

If it is -1 then
$-a^2 + b^2 - 1 = 0$
To which we cannot have a and b both be integers.

So there are no integer solutions to the equation.

-Dan

3. Originally Posted by edwardteo.368
Question TWO:

For which real values of 'a' do the equations...
x^3 + ax + 1 = 0 and x^4 + ax^2 + 1 = 0
...have a common root?
Take a look at the second equation. This is a biquadratic, so we may solve it in terms of a:
$x = \pm \sqrt{\frac{-a \pm \sqrt{a^2 - 4}}{2}}$
where the two $\pm$ operations do not depend on each other.

If the two equations have a common root then one version of this (some combination of the $\pm$'s) must be a solution to the first equation:

(Hang on to yer hats kiddies! This's gonna be one wild ro-dee-oh! Yee-haaaa! )

$\left ( \pm \sqrt{\frac{-a \pm \sqrt{a^2 - 4}}{2}} \right ) ^3 + a \left ( \pm \sqrt{\frac{-a \pm \sqrt{a^2 - 4}}{2}} \right ) + 1 = 0$

$\pm \left ( \frac{-a \pm \sqrt{a^2 - 4}}{2} \right ) \sqrt{\frac{-a \pm \sqrt{a^2 - 4}}{2}} \pm a \left ( \sqrt{\frac{-a \pm \sqrt{a^2 - 4}}{2}} \right ) + 1 = 0$

$\left ( \pm \frac{-a \pm \sqrt{a^2 - 4}}{2} \pm a \right ) \sqrt{\frac{-a \pm \sqrt{a^2 - 4}}{2}} + 1 = 0$

$\pm \left ( \frac{a \pm \sqrt{a^2 - 4}}{2} \right ) \sqrt{\frac{-a \pm \sqrt{a^2 - 4}}{2}} + 1 = 0$

$\pm \sqrt{\frac{-a \pm \sqrt{a^2 - 4}}{2}} = -\frac{2}{a \pm \sqrt{a^2 - 4}}$

$\frac{-a \pm \sqrt{a^2 - 4}}{2} = \frac{2}{a^2 \pm a \sqrt{a^2 - 4} - 2}$

$(-a \pm \sqrt{a^2 - 4})(a^2 \pm a \sqrt{a^2 - 4} - 2) = 4$

$-a^3 + 2a + a(a^2 - 4) \mp 2\sqrt{a^2 - 4} = 4$

$\mp \sqrt{a^2 - 4} = a + 2$

$a^2 - 4 = a^2 + 4a + 4$

$a = -2$

So we have the result that
$x^3 - 2x + 1 = 0$ and $x^4 - 2x^2 + 1 = 0$
have a common root. This root is x = 1.

-Dan

4. Thanks alot mate.

Though I do have one question... what is that inverted plus/minus sign?

5. Originally Posted by edwardteo.368
Thanks alot mate.

Though I do have one question... what is that inverted plus/minus sign?
It is used when there are signs that need to be ordered. For expample when $\pm a - b = \pm c$ and the two $\pm$'s carry the same sign (ie they are not independent) then if we divide both sides by -1:
$\frac{\pm a - b}{-1} = \frac{\pm c}{-1}$

The coefficients of a and c must keep the same relative sign, so
$\mp a + b = \mp c$

-Dan