Art of Problem Solving

Vieta's formulas: Difference between revisions

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m trying to fix latex part 2; for some reason the old latex code wasn't working and i replaced it with something that said the exact same thing
 
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Theorem 14.1.4 (Vieta’s Formula For Higher Degree Polynomials)
Theorem 14.1.4 (Vieta’s Formula For Higher Degree Polynomials)
In a polynomial
In a polynomial <math>a_n x^n + a_{n-1} x ^ {n-1} ..... a_1 x^{1} + a_0</math> with roots <math>r_1 r_2 r_3 ... r_n </math>
 
anx
n + an−1x
n−1 + ... + a1x + a0 = 0
 
with roots
 
r1, r2, r3, ...rn


the following holds:
the following holds:


r1 + r2 + r3 + ... + rn (the sum of all terms) =
<cmath>r_1 + r_2 + r_3 + \cdots + r_n = -\frac{a_{n-1}}{a_n}</cmath>
an−1
<cmath>r_1r_2 + r_1r_3 + \cdots + r_{n-1}r_n = \frac{a_{n-2}}{a_n}</cmath>
an
<cmath>r_1r_2r_3 + r_1r_2r_4 + \cdots + r_{n-2}r_{n-1}r_n = -\frac{a_{n-3}}{a_n}</cmath>
 
<cmath>\cdots</cmath>
r1r2 + r1r3 + .. + rn−1rn (the sum of all products of 2 terms) = an−2
<cmath>r_1r_2r_3 \cdots r_n = (-1)^n \frac{a_0}{a_n}</cmath>
an
 
r1r2r3 + r1r2r4 + ... + rn−2rn−1rn (the sum of all products of 3 terms) = −
an−3
an
 
.
.
.


r1r2r3 . . . rn (the sum of all products of n terms) = (−1)n
a0
an


Note that the negative and positive signs alternate. When summing the products for
Note that the negative and positive signs alternate. When summing the products for odd number of terms, we will have a negative sign otherwise we will have a positive sign.
odd number of terms, we will have a negative sign otherwise we will have a positive sign.

Latest revision as of 00:39, 22 October 2025

Theorem 14.1.4 (Vieta’s Formula For Higher Degree Polynomials) In a polynomial $a_n x^n + a_{n-1} x ^ {n-1} ..... a_1 x^{1} + a_0$ with roots $r_1 r_2 r_3 ... r_n$

the following holds:

\[r_1 + r_2 + r_3 + \cdots + r_n = -\frac{a_{n-1}}{a_n}\] \[r_1r_2 + r_1r_3 + \cdots + r_{n-1}r_n = \frac{a_{n-2}}{a_n}\] \[r_1r_2r_3 + r_1r_2r_4 + \cdots + r_{n-2}r_{n-1}r_n = -\frac{a_{n-3}}{a_n}\] \[\cdots\] \[r_1r_2r_3 \cdots r_n = (-1)^n \frac{a_0}{a_n}\]


Note that the negative and positive signs alternate. When summing the products for odd number of terms, we will have a negative sign otherwise we will have a positive sign.