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jmc

algebra intermediate

Problem

Let be a quadratic polynomial with integer coefficients which has as a root. Compute
Solution
Because has integer coefficients (in particular, because it has rational coefficients), the other root of must be the radical conjugate of which is Then, must take the form for some nonzero constant . This means that and so Alternatively, the roots are and so the sum of the roots is 6 and the product of the roots is so for some nonzero real number Then
Final answer
\frac{6}{7}