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how to memorize the sum and product of roots for an $n^th$ degree equation



The 2019 Stack Overflow Developer Survey Results Are In
Unicorn Meta Zoo #1: Why another podcast?
Announcing the arrival of Valued Associate #679: Cesar ManaraInvertible and primitive polynomialsSum of squares of roots of a polynomial $P(x)$sufficient condition for a polynomial to have roots in $[0,1]$How often do polynomials in $bar mathbb F_p[x]$ have multiple roots?On factorization of polynomialsDo the integer roots of a polynomial $P(x) in Bbb Z[x]$ have to divide the constant coefficient?Can a polynomial $p(x)$ generate only primes and 2-almost primes $forall x ge 0 in Bbb N$ or there is also a restriction for this to happen?Deriving $x^n-1=(x-1)(x^n-1+x^n-2+…+x+1)$Prove the value of the $k$th symmetric sum via inductionGeneral $S_k$ case of the Vieta's Formulas










0












$begingroup$


For my exams I need to know the following equations by heart:



for a polynomial equation: $a_nx+a_n-1x^n-1+...+a_1x+a_0,$ the sum and product of the roots are given by



$$textrmSum=-fraca_n-1a_n$$
$$textrmProduct=(-1)^nfraca_0a_n.$$



I have never been able to memorize these, and for some reason, they are not on the formula booklet. If anyone has any mnemonic or trick of some sort for memorizing them, it would be very useful to me.



Thank you very much in advance!










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$







  • 3




    $begingroup$
    Learn how to derive the results by yourself. Come the day of the exam, you many not remember the derivations but you will remember the results.
    $endgroup$
    – John Douma
    Mar 24 at 19:07










  • $begingroup$
    Do you mean $a_n x^pmb n + ...$ ?
    $endgroup$
    – J. W. Tanner
    Mar 24 at 19:13







  • 2




    $begingroup$
    You might want to read the wiki page, Vieta's formulas hope this helps you.
    $endgroup$
    – Max
    Mar 24 at 19:17
















0












$begingroup$


For my exams I need to know the following equations by heart:



for a polynomial equation: $a_nx+a_n-1x^n-1+...+a_1x+a_0,$ the sum and product of the roots are given by



$$textrmSum=-fraca_n-1a_n$$
$$textrmProduct=(-1)^nfraca_0a_n.$$



I have never been able to memorize these, and for some reason, they are not on the formula booklet. If anyone has any mnemonic or trick of some sort for memorizing them, it would be very useful to me.



Thank you very much in advance!










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$







  • 3




    $begingroup$
    Learn how to derive the results by yourself. Come the day of the exam, you many not remember the derivations but you will remember the results.
    $endgroup$
    – John Douma
    Mar 24 at 19:07










  • $begingroup$
    Do you mean $a_n x^pmb n + ...$ ?
    $endgroup$
    – J. W. Tanner
    Mar 24 at 19:13







  • 2




    $begingroup$
    You might want to read the wiki page, Vieta's formulas hope this helps you.
    $endgroup$
    – Max
    Mar 24 at 19:17














0












0








0


0



$begingroup$


For my exams I need to know the following equations by heart:



for a polynomial equation: $a_nx+a_n-1x^n-1+...+a_1x+a_0,$ the sum and product of the roots are given by



$$textrmSum=-fraca_n-1a_n$$
$$textrmProduct=(-1)^nfraca_0a_n.$$



I have never been able to memorize these, and for some reason, they are not on the formula booklet. If anyone has any mnemonic or trick of some sort for memorizing them, it would be very useful to me.



Thank you very much in advance!










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$




For my exams I need to know the following equations by heart:



for a polynomial equation: $a_nx+a_n-1x^n-1+...+a_1x+a_0,$ the sum and product of the roots are given by



$$textrmSum=-fraca_n-1a_n$$
$$textrmProduct=(-1)^nfraca_0a_n.$$



I have never been able to memorize these, and for some reason, they are not on the formula booklet. If anyone has any mnemonic or trick of some sort for memorizing them, it would be very useful to me.



Thank you very much in advance!







polynomials quadratics






share|cite|improve this question















share|cite|improve this question













share|cite|improve this question




share|cite|improve this question








edited Mar 24 at 19:11









J. W. Tanner

4,7721420




4,7721420










asked Mar 24 at 19:03









Jorge RomeuJorge Romeu

142




142







  • 3




    $begingroup$
    Learn how to derive the results by yourself. Come the day of the exam, you many not remember the derivations but you will remember the results.
    $endgroup$
    – John Douma
    Mar 24 at 19:07










  • $begingroup$
    Do you mean $a_n x^pmb n + ...$ ?
    $endgroup$
    – J. W. Tanner
    Mar 24 at 19:13







  • 2




    $begingroup$
    You might want to read the wiki page, Vieta's formulas hope this helps you.
    $endgroup$
    – Max
    Mar 24 at 19:17













  • 3




    $begingroup$
    Learn how to derive the results by yourself. Come the day of the exam, you many not remember the derivations but you will remember the results.
    $endgroup$
    – John Douma
    Mar 24 at 19:07










  • $begingroup$
    Do you mean $a_n x^pmb n + ...$ ?
    $endgroup$
    – J. W. Tanner
    Mar 24 at 19:13







  • 2




    $begingroup$
    You might want to read the wiki page, Vieta's formulas hope this helps you.
    $endgroup$
    – Max
    Mar 24 at 19:17








3




3




$begingroup$
Learn how to derive the results by yourself. Come the day of the exam, you many not remember the derivations but you will remember the results.
$endgroup$
– John Douma
Mar 24 at 19:07




$begingroup$
Learn how to derive the results by yourself. Come the day of the exam, you many not remember the derivations but you will remember the results.
$endgroup$
– John Douma
Mar 24 at 19:07












$begingroup$
Do you mean $a_n x^pmb n + ...$ ?
$endgroup$
– J. W. Tanner
Mar 24 at 19:13





$begingroup$
Do you mean $a_n x^pmb n + ...$ ?
$endgroup$
– J. W. Tanner
Mar 24 at 19:13





2




2




$begingroup$
You might want to read the wiki page, Vieta's formulas hope this helps you.
$endgroup$
– Max
Mar 24 at 19:17





$begingroup$
You might want to read the wiki page, Vieta's formulas hope this helps you.
$endgroup$
– Max
Mar 24 at 19:17











4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes


















1












$begingroup$

Write
$$a_n x^n + a_n-1x^n-1 + ... + a_1 x + a_0 = a_n(x-r_1)...(x-r_n)$$



and develop. You see immediately what is the constant term and the term of degree $n-1$.






share|cite|improve this answer











$endgroup$








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    You are missing an $a_n$ on the RHS.
    $endgroup$
    – Lord Shark the Unknown
    Mar 24 at 19:08


















0












$begingroup$

Consider $a_n(x-r_1)(x-r_2)...(x-r_n)=a_n x^n-a_n(r_1+r_2+r_3...)x^n-1+...+(-1)^na_nr_1r_2...r_n$.
And so product of roots are $frac(-1)^na_0a_n$ and sum of roots is $frac-a_n-1a_n$.






share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$




















    0












    $begingroup$

    Since the OP is looking for an artificial device to recall the correct equations under duress rather than a way to derive the formulas quickly, consider the following suggestion.



    Rewrite the equations as follows



    begineqnarray
    a_nS&=&-a_n-1\
    a_nP&=&(-1)^na_0
    endeqnarray



    Next, make some observations about these equations:




    1. $a_n$ occurs only on the left side of each equation.

    2. The variable $n$ occurs only once on the right side of each equation.

    3. The Sum formula has a minus sign in front and the $n$ occurs in the Subscript as $n-1$.

    4. The Product formula has a factor in front, $(-1)^n$, containing the $n$.





    share|cite|improve this answer









    $endgroup$




















      -1












      $begingroup$

      Hint:



      Write the polynomial as $$(x-r_1)(x-r_2)...(x-r_n),$$ where the roots are $r_1, r_2, ... r_n.$






      share|cite|improve this answer









      $endgroup$













        Your Answer








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        4 Answers
        4






        active

        oldest

        votes








        4 Answers
        4






        active

        oldest

        votes









        active

        oldest

        votes






        active

        oldest

        votes









        1












        $begingroup$

        Write
        $$a_n x^n + a_n-1x^n-1 + ... + a_1 x + a_0 = a_n(x-r_1)...(x-r_n)$$



        and develop. You see immediately what is the constant term and the term of degree $n-1$.






        share|cite|improve this answer











        $endgroup$








        • 1




          $begingroup$
          You are missing an $a_n$ on the RHS.
          $endgroup$
          – Lord Shark the Unknown
          Mar 24 at 19:08















        1












        $begingroup$

        Write
        $$a_n x^n + a_n-1x^n-1 + ... + a_1 x + a_0 = a_n(x-r_1)...(x-r_n)$$



        and develop. You see immediately what is the constant term and the term of degree $n-1$.






        share|cite|improve this answer











        $endgroup$








        • 1




          $begingroup$
          You are missing an $a_n$ on the RHS.
          $endgroup$
          – Lord Shark the Unknown
          Mar 24 at 19:08













        1












        1








        1





        $begingroup$

        Write
        $$a_n x^n + a_n-1x^n-1 + ... + a_1 x + a_0 = a_n(x-r_1)...(x-r_n)$$



        and develop. You see immediately what is the constant term and the term of degree $n-1$.






        share|cite|improve this answer











        $endgroup$



        Write
        $$a_n x^n + a_n-1x^n-1 + ... + a_1 x + a_0 = a_n(x-r_1)...(x-r_n)$$



        and develop. You see immediately what is the constant term and the term of degree $n-1$.







        share|cite|improve this answer














        share|cite|improve this answer



        share|cite|improve this answer








        edited Mar 24 at 19:11

























        answered Mar 24 at 19:06









        TheSilverDoeTheSilverDoe

        5,541216




        5,541216







        • 1




          $begingroup$
          You are missing an $a_n$ on the RHS.
          $endgroup$
          – Lord Shark the Unknown
          Mar 24 at 19:08












        • 1




          $begingroup$
          You are missing an $a_n$ on the RHS.
          $endgroup$
          – Lord Shark the Unknown
          Mar 24 at 19:08







        1




        1




        $begingroup$
        You are missing an $a_n$ on the RHS.
        $endgroup$
        – Lord Shark the Unknown
        Mar 24 at 19:08




        $begingroup$
        You are missing an $a_n$ on the RHS.
        $endgroup$
        – Lord Shark the Unknown
        Mar 24 at 19:08











        0












        $begingroup$

        Consider $a_n(x-r_1)(x-r_2)...(x-r_n)=a_n x^n-a_n(r_1+r_2+r_3...)x^n-1+...+(-1)^na_nr_1r_2...r_n$.
        And so product of roots are $frac(-1)^na_0a_n$ and sum of roots is $frac-a_n-1a_n$.






        share|cite|improve this answer









        $endgroup$

















          0












          $begingroup$

          Consider $a_n(x-r_1)(x-r_2)...(x-r_n)=a_n x^n-a_n(r_1+r_2+r_3...)x^n-1+...+(-1)^na_nr_1r_2...r_n$.
          And so product of roots are $frac(-1)^na_0a_n$ and sum of roots is $frac-a_n-1a_n$.






          share|cite|improve this answer









          $endgroup$















            0












            0








            0





            $begingroup$

            Consider $a_n(x-r_1)(x-r_2)...(x-r_n)=a_n x^n-a_n(r_1+r_2+r_3...)x^n-1+...+(-1)^na_nr_1r_2...r_n$.
            And so product of roots are $frac(-1)^na_0a_n$ and sum of roots is $frac-a_n-1a_n$.






            share|cite|improve this answer









            $endgroup$



            Consider $a_n(x-r_1)(x-r_2)...(x-r_n)=a_n x^n-a_n(r_1+r_2+r_3...)x^n-1+...+(-1)^na_nr_1r_2...r_n$.
            And so product of roots are $frac(-1)^na_0a_n$ and sum of roots is $frac-a_n-1a_n$.







            share|cite|improve this answer












            share|cite|improve this answer



            share|cite|improve this answer










            answered Mar 24 at 19:27









            mathpadawanmathpadawan

            2,021422




            2,021422





















                0












                $begingroup$

                Since the OP is looking for an artificial device to recall the correct equations under duress rather than a way to derive the formulas quickly, consider the following suggestion.



                Rewrite the equations as follows



                begineqnarray
                a_nS&=&-a_n-1\
                a_nP&=&(-1)^na_0
                endeqnarray



                Next, make some observations about these equations:




                1. $a_n$ occurs only on the left side of each equation.

                2. The variable $n$ occurs only once on the right side of each equation.

                3. The Sum formula has a minus sign in front and the $n$ occurs in the Subscript as $n-1$.

                4. The Product formula has a factor in front, $(-1)^n$, containing the $n$.





                share|cite|improve this answer









                $endgroup$

















                  0












                  $begingroup$

                  Since the OP is looking for an artificial device to recall the correct equations under duress rather than a way to derive the formulas quickly, consider the following suggestion.



                  Rewrite the equations as follows



                  begineqnarray
                  a_nS&=&-a_n-1\
                  a_nP&=&(-1)^na_0
                  endeqnarray



                  Next, make some observations about these equations:




                  1. $a_n$ occurs only on the left side of each equation.

                  2. The variable $n$ occurs only once on the right side of each equation.

                  3. The Sum formula has a minus sign in front and the $n$ occurs in the Subscript as $n-1$.

                  4. The Product formula has a factor in front, $(-1)^n$, containing the $n$.





                  share|cite|improve this answer









                  $endgroup$















                    0












                    0








                    0





                    $begingroup$

                    Since the OP is looking for an artificial device to recall the correct equations under duress rather than a way to derive the formulas quickly, consider the following suggestion.



                    Rewrite the equations as follows



                    begineqnarray
                    a_nS&=&-a_n-1\
                    a_nP&=&(-1)^na_0
                    endeqnarray



                    Next, make some observations about these equations:




                    1. $a_n$ occurs only on the left side of each equation.

                    2. The variable $n$ occurs only once on the right side of each equation.

                    3. The Sum formula has a minus sign in front and the $n$ occurs in the Subscript as $n-1$.

                    4. The Product formula has a factor in front, $(-1)^n$, containing the $n$.





                    share|cite|improve this answer









                    $endgroup$



                    Since the OP is looking for an artificial device to recall the correct equations under duress rather than a way to derive the formulas quickly, consider the following suggestion.



                    Rewrite the equations as follows



                    begineqnarray
                    a_nS&=&-a_n-1\
                    a_nP&=&(-1)^na_0
                    endeqnarray



                    Next, make some observations about these equations:




                    1. $a_n$ occurs only on the left side of each equation.

                    2. The variable $n$ occurs only once on the right side of each equation.

                    3. The Sum formula has a minus sign in front and the $n$ occurs in the Subscript as $n-1$.

                    4. The Product formula has a factor in front, $(-1)^n$, containing the $n$.






                    share|cite|improve this answer












                    share|cite|improve this answer



                    share|cite|improve this answer










                    answered Mar 24 at 19:47









                    John Wayland BalesJohn Wayland Bales

                    15.1k21238




                    15.1k21238





















                        -1












                        $begingroup$

                        Hint:



                        Write the polynomial as $$(x-r_1)(x-r_2)...(x-r_n),$$ where the roots are $r_1, r_2, ... r_n.$






                        share|cite|improve this answer









                        $endgroup$

















                          -1












                          $begingroup$

                          Hint:



                          Write the polynomial as $$(x-r_1)(x-r_2)...(x-r_n),$$ where the roots are $r_1, r_2, ... r_n.$






                          share|cite|improve this answer









                          $endgroup$















                            -1












                            -1








                            -1





                            $begingroup$

                            Hint:



                            Write the polynomial as $$(x-r_1)(x-r_2)...(x-r_n),$$ where the roots are $r_1, r_2, ... r_n.$






                            share|cite|improve this answer









                            $endgroup$



                            Hint:



                            Write the polynomial as $$(x-r_1)(x-r_2)...(x-r_n),$$ where the roots are $r_1, r_2, ... r_n.$







                            share|cite|improve this answer












                            share|cite|improve this answer



                            share|cite|improve this answer










                            answered Mar 24 at 19:06









                            J. W. TannerJ. W. Tanner

                            4,7721420




                            4,7721420



























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