MHB Finding values a, b, c, d, e, f

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The discussion focuses on finding the values of variables a, b, c, d, e, and f that satisfy a series of polynomial equations. Using Newton's identities, the elementary symmetric polynomials E_n are calculated based on the given sums of powers P_n. The resulting polynomial with roots a, b, c, d, e, and f is derived as x^6 + 6x^5 - 249x^4 - 12x^3 + 495x^2 + 6x - 247. This polynomial factors into (x^2-1)^2(x-13)(x+19), revealing the values of a, b, c, d, e, and f as 1, 1, -1, -1, 13, and -19. The calculations and final results are confirmed to be correct.
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Hello.

Finding values: a, b, c, d, e, f; for:a+b+c+d+e+f=-6

a^2+b^2+c^2+d^2+e^2+f^2=534

a^3+b^3+c^3+d^3+e^3+f^3=-4662

a^4+b^4+c^4+d^4+e^4+f^4=158886

a^5+b^5+c^5+d^5+e^5+f^5=-2104806

a^6+b^6+c^6+d^6+e^6+f^6=51872694Regards.
 
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[sp]For $n=1,2,3,4,5,6$, write $P_n = a^n+b^n+c^n+d^n+e^n+f^n$. Also, let $E_n$ be the $n$th elementary symmetric polynomial in $a,b,c,d,e,f.$ We are told that $$P_1 = -6,\quad P_2 = 534,\quad P_3 = -4662,\quad P_4 = 158886,\quad P_5 = -2104806,\quad P_6 = 51872694.$$ It follows from Newton's identities that $$\begin{aligned}\phantom{1}E_1 &= P_1 = -6, \\ 2E_2 &= E_1P_1 - P_2 \\ &= 36 - 534 = -498, \text{ so }E_2 = -249, \\ 3E_3 &= E_2P_1 - E_1P_2 + P_3 \\ &= 1494 + 3204 - 4662 = 36, \text{ so }E_3 = 12, \\ 4E_4 &= E_3P_1 - E_2P_2 + E_1P_3 - P_4 \\ &= -72 + 132966 + 27972 - 158886 = 1980, \text{ so }E_4 = 495, \\ 5E_5 &= E_4P_1 - E_3P_2 + E_2P_3 - E_1P_4 + P_5 \\ &= -2970 - 6408 + 1160838 + 953886 - 2104806 = 30, \text{ so }E_5 = -6, \\ 6E_6 &= E_5P_1 - E_4P_2 + E_3P_3 - E_2P_4 + E_1P_5 - P_6 \\ &= 36 - 264330 - 55944 + 39562614 + 12628836 - 51872694 = -1482, \text{ so }E_6 = -247. \end{aligned}$$ Then the equation with roots $a,b,c,d,e,f$ is $x^6 - E_1x^5 + E_2x^4 - E_3x^3 + E_4x^2 - E_5x + E_6 = 0,$ or $x^6 + 6x^5 - 249x^4 - 12x^3 + 495x^2 + 6x - 247 = 0.$ Since $247 = 13\times 19,$ it is not hard to factorise that as $(x^2-1)^2(x-13)(x+19) = 0.$ Thus the numbers $a,b,c,d,e,f$ are (in some order) $1,1,-1,-1,13,-19.$[/sp]
 
Last edited:
Opalg said:
[sp]For $n=1,2,3,4,5,6$, write $P_n = a^n+b^n+c^n+d^n+e^n+f^n$. Also, let $E_n$ be the $n$th elementary symmetric polynomial in $a,b,c,d,e,f.$ We are told that $$P_1 = -6,\quad P_2 = 534,\quad P_3 = -4662,\quad P_4 = 158886,\quad P_5 = -2104806,\quad P_6 = 51872694.$$ It follows from Newton's identities that $$\begin{aligned}\phantom{1}E_1 &= P_1 = -6, \\ 2E_2 &= E_1P_1 - P_2 \\ &= 36 - 534 = -498, \text{ so }E_2 = -249, \\ 3E_3 &= E_2P_1 - E_1P_2 + P_3 \\ &= 1494 + 3204 - 4662 = 36, \text{ so }E_3 = 12, \\ 4E_4 &= E_3P_1 - E_2P_2 + E_1P_3 - P_4 \\ &= -72 + 132966 + 27972 - 158886 = 1980, \text{ so }E_4 = 495, \\ 5E_5 &= E_4P_1 - E_3P_2 + E_2P_3 - E_1P_4 + P_5 \\ &= -2970 - 6408 + 1160838 + 953886 - 2104806 = 30, \text{ so }E_5 = -6, \\ 6E_6 &= E_5P_1 - E_4P_2 + E_3P_3 - E_2P_4 + E_1P_5 - P_6 \\ &= 36 - 264330 - 55944 + 39562614 + 12628836 - 51872694 = -1482, \text{ so }E_6 = -247. \end{aligned}$$ Then the equation with roots $a,b,c,d,e,f$ is $x^6 - E_1x^5 + E_2x^4 - E_3x^3 + E_4x^2 - E_5x + E_6 = 0,$ or $x^6 + 6x^5 - 249x^4 - 12x^3 + 495x^2 + 6x - 247 = 0.$ Since $247 = 13\times 19,$ it is not hard to factorise that as $(x^2-1)^2(x-13)(x+19) = 0.$ Thus the numbers $a,b,c,d,e,f$ are (in some order) $1,1,-1,-1,13,-19.$[/sp]

Hello.

Very well, Opalg, is correct.:)

Regards.
 
Here is a little puzzle from the book 100 Geometric Games by Pierre Berloquin. The side of a small square is one meter long and the side of a larger square one and a half meters long. One vertex of the large square is at the center of the small square. The side of the large square cuts two sides of the small square into one- third parts and two-thirds parts. What is the area where the squares overlap?

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