AMC 12 Mock Exam 2 Problem 22
Problem 22 of 25
The polynomial has integer coefficients and three integer roots, not necessarily distinct, and . How many such polynomials are there?
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Solution
If the roots are , then , so Conversely, any multiset of integers with gives a valid polynomial, and different multisets give different polynomials. With , , , we count multisets of nonzero integers with product . Either all three are positive or exactly two are negative.
All positive: : multisets.
Two negative: start from one of these six and choose which value stays positive. A multiset with three different values gives choices; and give each. That is .
The total is .
Tagged: Vieta with integer roots · signed factorizations