If $a,b,c$ are non zero, unequal rational numbers then prove that the roots of the equation
$$(abc^2)x^2+ 3a^2cx+b^2cx-6a^2-ab+2b^2=0 $$
are rational.
Use theory of equations and basic mathematics please. I am in high school only!
polynomialsquadraticsrational numbersroots
If $a,b,c$ are non zero, unequal rational numbers then prove that the roots of the equation
$$(abc^2)x^2+ 3a^2cx+b^2cx-6a^2-ab+2b^2=0 $$
are rational.
Use theory of equations and basic mathematics please. I am in high school only!
Best Answer
Here is a method based on how I was first taught to solve quadratics.
Note that $2b^2-ab-6a^2=(2b+3a)(b-2a)$
Then look for two expressions which have
product $abc^2(2b+3a)(b-2a)$ [coefficient of $x^2$ times the constant term]
and whose sum is $3a^2c+b^2c$ [coefficient of $x$]
The sum is homogeneous degree three and divisible by $c$, and there is no $ab$ term, so this needs to cancel. The only possibility is easily seen to be $ac(2b+3a) + bc (b-2a)=3a^2c+b^2c$
So the quadratic can be rewritten $$abc^2x^2+ac(2b+3a)x+bc(b-2a)x+(2b+3a)(b-2a)$$and this becomes $$acx \left(bcx+2b+3a\right)+(b-2a)(bcx+2b+3a)=(acx+b-2a)(bcx+2b+3a)$$
It is sometimes almost automatic to compute the discriminant and show that it is a rational square, or to use the quadratic formula. Here it is quite easy to check whether there is an easy spot for the sum/product procedure and fall back on the more general methods if you don't spot one. This method has easier manipulations than the others suggested.