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jmc

algebra senior

Problem

Let where are real numbers. Suppose that the set of all complex roots of is Find
Solution
Let and denote the two factors on the right-hand side, so that By Vieta's formulas, the sum of the roots of is and the sum of the roots of is (counting with multiplicity). Therefore, the sum of the eight roots of is

Each of the numbers must be one of those roots, so the remaining three roots, which must also come from the set must sum to The only way this is possible is if the remaining three roots are Therefore, the roots of are (with multiplicity). Since the leading coefficient of is this means that Therefore,
Final answer
2400