document.write( "Question 1003361: If 1 is a zero of p(x) =ax^3-(a-1)x-1 then find value of a \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #853928 by ikleyn(53742) You can put this solution on YOUR website! . \n" ); document.write( "If 1 is a zero of p(x) = ax^3-(a-1)x-1 then find value of a \n" ); document.write( "~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "In his post, @mananth deduces that, under given condition, the value of ' a ' must be 1.\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " It is a crude and a danger logical mistake.\r\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Actually, a ' 1 ' is a root of a polynomial p(x) = ax^3 - (a-1)x - 1 for \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Indeed, for every such a polynomial p(x), p(1) = a - (a-1) - 1 === 0 identically for any value of 'a'.\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So, from the given condition, we can not determine a value of ' a ' : it can be \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "I don't know if this problem is a mathematical joke or a TRAP to catch \n" ); document.write( "a hapless student, or a mistake of the problem's creator, but what I said is the FACT.\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "If it is a trap, then @mananth has fallen in this trap and invites all his readers to follow him.\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " |