If $\alpha, \beta$ and $\gamma$ are the roots of the equation $x^3+p x^2+q x+r=0$, then the coefficient of…

If $\alpha, \beta$ and $\gamma$ are the roots of the equation $x^3+p x^2+q x+r=0$, then the coefficient of $x$ in the cubic equation whose roots are $\alpha(\beta+\gamma), \beta(\gamma+\alpha)$ and $\gamma(\alpha+\beta)$ is
  1. $2 q$
  2. $q^2+p r$
  3. $p^2-q r$
  4. $r(p q-r)$

Solution

Since, $\alpha, \beta$ and $\gamma$ are the roots of $f(x)=x^3+p x^2+q x+r=0$. $\therefore \quad \alpha+\beta+\gamma=-p, \quad \alpha \beta+\beta \gamma+\gamma \alpha=q$ and $\alpha \beta \gamma=-r$ Let $x=\alpha(\beta+\gamma)=\alpha \beta+\alpha \gamma+\beta \gamma-\frac{\alpha \beta \gamma}{\alpha}$ $\therefore \alpha$ satisfies the given equation. $\begin{aligned} \therefore \quad f(\alpha)=\alpha^3+p \alpha^2+q \alpha+r & =0 \\ \frac{r^3}{(x-q)^3}+\frac{p r^2}{(x-q)^2}+\frac{q r}{(x-q)}+r & =0 \\ \Rightarrow(x-q)^3+q(x-q)^2+p r(x-q)+r^2 & =0\end{aligned}$ $\therefore$ Coefficient of $x=3 q^2-2 q^2+r p$ $=q^2+p r$

Asked in: AP EAMCET 2012

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