Question 1147956
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The sum of the roots of a polynomial equation of degree n is -b/a, where a is the leading coefficient (of the x^n term) and b is the coefficient of the x^(n-1) term.<br>
So in this problem the sum of the roots is -5.<br>
But the sum of the roots is w + 2w + w+3.  So<br>
{{{w+2w+w+3 = -5}}}
{{{4w = -8}}}
{{{w = -2}}}<br>
So the roots of the polynomial are -2, -4, and 1.  And then the polynomial is<br>
{{{(x+2)(x+4)(x-1) = (x^2+6x+8)(x-1) = x^3+5x^2+2x-8}}}<br>