Asked by Nikhil
                The sum of real values of k for which the cubic x^3-kx+k-1=0 has exactly tho distinct real solution.
            
            
        Answers
                    Answered by
            Steve
            
    You appear to mean "two" distinct real roots, since :tho" is just too weird to mean "one" or "three".
SO, there is a repeated root. If the two roots are p and q, with p repeated, then
(x-p)^2 (x-q) = x^3-kx+k-1
x^3 - (2p+q)x^2 + (p^2+2pq)x - p^2q = x^3-kx+k-1
if the two polynomials are the same, all the coefficients must be identical, so
2p+q = 0
p^2+2pq = -k
p^2q = k-1
q = -2p, so
p^2-4p^2 = -k
k = 3p^2
-2p^3 = k-1
1-2p^3 = k
3p^2 = 1-2p^3
2p^3+3p^2-1 = 0
p = 1/2 or -1
k = 3p^2 = 3 or 3/4
That means the cubic is
x^3 - 3x + 2
= (x-1)^2 (x+2)
or
x^3 - 3/4 x - 1/4
= (1/4)(4x^3-3x-1)
= (1/4)(x-1)(2x+1)^2
    
SO, there is a repeated root. If the two roots are p and q, with p repeated, then
(x-p)^2 (x-q) = x^3-kx+k-1
x^3 - (2p+q)x^2 + (p^2+2pq)x - p^2q = x^3-kx+k-1
if the two polynomials are the same, all the coefficients must be identical, so
2p+q = 0
p^2+2pq = -k
p^2q = k-1
q = -2p, so
p^2-4p^2 = -k
k = 3p^2
-2p^3 = k-1
1-2p^3 = k
3p^2 = 1-2p^3
2p^3+3p^2-1 = 0
p = 1/2 or -1
k = 3p^2 = 3 or 3/4
That means the cubic is
x^3 - 3x + 2
= (x-1)^2 (x+2)
or
x^3 - 3/4 x - 1/4
= (1/4)(4x^3-3x-1)
= (1/4)(x-1)(2x+1)^2
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