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2003 AMC 12A Problem 21

Problem 21 of 25HarderAlgebra

The graph of the polynomial P(x)=x5+ax4+bx3+cx2+dx+e \begin{aligned} &P(x) = x^5 + ax^4 + bx^3 \\ &\quad {}+ cx^2 + dx + e \end{aligned} has five distinct xx-intercepts, one of which is at (0,0).(0, 0). Which of the following coefficients cannot be zero?

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Solution

Since (0,0)(0,0) is an intercept, P(0)=e=0,P(0)=e=0, so P(x)P(x) =x(x4+ax3+bx2+cx+d).=x\left(x^4+ax^3+bx^2+cx+d\right). The four remaining intercepts are nonzero and distinct, and dd equals their product, which is therefore nonzero. Any of a,b,ca,b,c can be zero for suitable choices of those roots, but d≠0.d\neq0. Thus, the correct answer is D.
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Tagged: Vieta’s Formulas · polynomial

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