Difference between revisions of "1955 AHSME Problems/Problem 27"

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If <math>r</math> and <math>s</math> are the roots of <math>x\^{}2 - px + q = 0</math>, then <math>x\^{}2 + s\^{}2</math> equals:
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== Problem 27==
  
<math>(A) p\^{}2 + 2q</math> <math>(B) p\^{}2 - 2q</math> <math>(C) p\^{}2 + q\^{}2</math> <math>(D) p\^{}2 - q\^{}2</math> <math>(E) p\^{}2</math>
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If <math>r</math> and <math>s</math> are the roots of <math>x^2-px+q=0</math>, then <math>r^2+s^2</math> equals:
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<math> \textbf{(A)}\ p^2+2q\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ p^2-2q\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ p^2+q^2\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ p^2-q^2\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ p^2 </math>
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== Solution ==
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We can write <math>r^2+s^2</math> in terms of the sum of the roots <math>(r+s)</math> and the products of the roots <math>(rs):</math>
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<cmath>r^2 + s^2 = (r+s)^2 - 2rs = p^2 - 2q</cmath>
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The answer is <math>\boxed{\textbf{(B)}}.</math>
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== See Also ==
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{{AHSME 50p box|year=1955|num-b=26|num-a=28}}
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{{MAA Notice}}

Latest revision as of 09:47, 15 February 2021

Problem 27

If $r$ and $s$ are the roots of $x^2-px+q=0$, then $r^2+s^2$ equals:

$\textbf{(A)}\ p^2+2q\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ p^2-2q\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ p^2+q^2\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ p^2-q^2\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ p^2$


Solution

We can write $r^2+s^2$ in terms of the sum of the roots $(r+s)$ and the products of the roots $(rs):$ \[r^2 + s^2 = (r+s)^2 - 2rs = p^2 - 2q\] The answer is $\boxed{\textbf{(B)}}.$

See Also

1955 AHSC (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 26
Followed by
Problem 28
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All AHSME Problems and Solutions


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