Skip to main content
OlympiadHQ

Browse · MATH

Print

jmc

algebra intermediate

Problem

How many ordered triplets of rational numbers are there where are the roots of
Solution
Since are the roots of the cubic polynomial, Vieta's formulas give us:

Let's do this with casework. Assume This satisfies equation (3). Equation (1) translates to and equation (2) translates to If then If then and

Now assume Equation (3) then requires that

Equation (2) then becomes

Let Then (2) gives and (1) then gives This is our third solution.

If and then from the equation ,

Using (4) to simplify:

Now (1) gives

Or However, this has no rational roots (we can test ). Therefore we have solutions: , , and .
Final answer
3