If the roots of $x^3-k x^2+14 x-8=0$ are in geometric progression, then $k$ is equal to

If the roots of $x^3-k x^2+14 x-8=0$ are in geometric progression, then $k$ is equal to
  1. $-3$
  2. $7$
  3. $4$
  4. $0$

Solution

Given equation, $x^3-k x^2+14 x-8=0$ Roots of the above equation is in G.P. So let $\frac{a}{r}, a$ and $a r$ are the roots of equation. Then, product of roots $\begin{aligned} & \frac{a}{r} \cdot a \cdot a r=\frac{D}{A} \Rightarrow \frac{a}{r} \cdot a \cdot a r=8 \Rightarrow a^3=8 \\ & \therefore \quad a=2 \end{aligned}$ Therefore, at $a=2$ is the root of equation. $\begin{aligned} & \therefore \quad x^3-k x^2+14 x-8=0 \\ & (2)^3-k(2)^2+14(2)-8=0 \\ & 8-4 k+28-8=0 \Rightarrow k=7 \end{aligned}$

Asked in: AP EAMCET 2015

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