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HSC 2013 MX2 Marathon (archive) (11 Viewers)

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Re: HSC 2013 4U Marathon

I got the same result at Sy. You get . Expand the binomial out, leaving C(n,0) which cancels with the 1. Divide by y since we eliminate a solution. This leaves -n as the constant.
 

hayabusaboston

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Re: HSC 2013 4U Marathon

divide z^n-1 by z-1

you get 1+z+z^2+z^3+...+z^n-1

so 1+z+z^2+z^3+...+z^n-1=(z-a1)(z-a2)...(z-asubscript n-1)

let z=1

(1-a1)(1-a2)...(1-asubscript n-1)=n


EDIT: I should probably replace a1, a2 etc with z1, z2 etc lol, to not confuse. But hey, I like realise's method
 
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Re: HSC 2013 4U Marathon



I think the answer is -n.

@Realise: what exactly are you saying about the roots and what does it have to do with the new equation with roots 1-z? (Confused)

@Haya: Just because a polynomial can be written as (1-z_1)(1-z_2)=k, some constant, doesn't mean the constant term of the polynomial is k.

Another example:

 
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Sy123

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Re: HSC 2013 4U Marathon



I think the answer is -n.

@Realise: what exactly are you saying about the roots and what does it have to do with the new equation with roots 1-z? (Confused)

@Haya: Just because a polynomial can be written as (1-z_1)(1-z_2)=k, some constant, doesn't mean the constant term of the polynomial is k.

Another example:

Verified for n=4



Roots

Polynomial with roots:

as specified by the question

 
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Re: HSC 2013 4U Marathon

Either heroic had a typo or he was thinking of the (1-z1)(1-z2)...(1-zn-1)=n which doesn't qualify for what he's asking.
 
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Re: HSC 2013 4U Marathon

Does ABC make an angle of theta with the positive x-axis or negative x-axis?
 

HeroicPandas

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Re: HSC 2013 4U Marathon

divide z^n-1 by z-1

you get 1+z+z^2+z^3+...+z^n-1

so 1+z+z^2+z^3+...+z^n-1=(z-a1)(z-a2)...(z-asubscript n-1)

let z=1

(1-a1)(1-a2)...(1-asubscript n-1)=n


EDIT: I should probably replace a1, a2 etc with z1, z2 etc lol, to not confuse. But hey, I like realise's method
yes
Either heroic had a typo or he was thinking of the (1-z1)(1-z2)...(1-zn-1)=n which doesn't qualify for what he's asking.
why cant (1-z1)(1-z2)...(1-zn-1)=n?

If u have cambridge, go to polynomials further questions, the last few ones and u will see "show that (1-z1)(1-z2)...(1-zn-1)=n"

doesnt (1-z1)(1-z2)...(1-zn-1)=n show that the polynomial with roots 1-z1, 1-z2, ...,1-zn has a constant term of n (using product of roots)
 
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Sy123

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Re: HSC 2013 4U Marathon

yes

why cant (1-z1)(1-z2)...(1-zn-1)=n?

If u have cambridge, go to polynomials further questions, the last few ones and u will see "show that (1-z1)(1-z2)...(1-zn-1)=n"
Ah yes but here is the thing, they are not the same thing in this case.

See for every odd degree polynomials:



Now, in this case n is even, the above polynomial is in the form of mine and asianese's polynomial.

If the above polynomial has roots alpha_1 alpha_2 alpha_3 .....

 

HeroicPandas

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Re: HSC 2013 4U Marathon

Ah yes but here is the thing, they are not the same thing in this case.

See for every odd degree polynomials:



Now, in this case n is even, the above polynomial is in the form of mine and asianese's polynomial.

If the above polynomial has roots alpha_1 alpha_2 alpha_3 .....

oh right... i understand xD
 
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Re: HSC 2013 4U Marathon

Awks should be



.
 
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Sy123

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Re: HSC 2013 4U Marathon

Awks should be



.
Correct.

==================

This is an easier one but interesting. Also I will post a solution to Kipling's question by 12:00 if no-one has posted theirs by then.

 
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