# Homework Help: Complex roots

1. Aug 6, 2013

### Jbreezy

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

Hi so I'm not understanding my reading of this text.

2. Relevant equations

Below is what I don't understand.

3. The attempt at a solution

$q_n(x) = (x-a_1)(x-a_2)(x-a_3)....(x-a_n)$
Now if we expanded this factorization by multiplying it out it should be clear the coefficient of $x^n$ should be one because it could only be derived by choosing x from each of the n bracket terms when composing the product.

So what I don't understand what this is telling me. Expand the factorization.
$q_n(x) = (x-a_1)(x-a_2)(x-a_3)....(x-a_n)$

For the first three terms I got

$(-x^3a_3 + x^2a_2a_3 + x^2a_1a_3 - a_1a_2a_3x ) ...(x-a_n)$

Not sure how to include the nth term. How to write it.

Would it be

$(a_3...a_nx^n - a_2a_3..a_nx^n -a_1a_3..a_nx^n + a_1a_2a_3..a_nx^n)$

seems like crap. I don't get what this is telling me!!!

Last edited by a moderator: Aug 6, 2013
2. Aug 6, 2013

### kevinferreira

It is telling you that the term with $x^n$ after doing the multiplication comes with a factor of 1 because it is the result of multiplying the n $x's$ and all of them have a factor of 1! And $1^n=1$.

Try with $n=2$ and then $n=3$.

3. Aug 6, 2013

### Mandelbroth

I get $(x-a_1)(x-a_2)(x-a_3)\cdots(x-a_n)\\=(x^2-(a_1+a_2)x+a_1a_2)(x-a_3)\cdots(x-a_n)\\=(x^3-(a_1+a_2+a_3)x^2+(a_1a_2+a_2a_3+a_1a_3)x-a_1a_2a_3)\cdots(x-a_n).$

4. Aug 6, 2013

### Jbreezy

How did you x^3 with no coefficent in front of it. I think you rearranged inbetween the steps.
How did you get this.

$(x^3-(a_1+a_2+a_3)x^2+(a_1a_2+a_2a_3+a_1a_3)x-a_1a_2a_3)\cdots(x-a_n).$

More steps. I see how you got the middle two parts but how do you have the last term before the nth as just coefficients?

5. Aug 6, 2013

### Jbreezy

DOnt; answer this question thx cya