Question

For certain real numbers $a,$ $b,$ and $c,$ the polynomial $g(x)=x^3+ax^2+x+10$ has three distinct roots, and each root of $g(x)$ is also a root of the polynomial $\begin{aligned} &f(x)=x^4+x^3+bx^2 \\ &\quad {}+100x+c. \end{aligned}$ What is $f(1)?$

$-9009$

$-8008$

$-7007$

$-6006$

$-5005$

Answer: C

Concepts:polynomial factoring

Difficulty rating: 2380

Solution:

Since $g$ has three distinct roots all shared by the quartic $f,$ we can write $f(x)=(x-q)g(x)$ for some remaining root $q.$ Expanding, $\begin{aligned} &f(x)=x^4+(a-q)x^3 \\ &\quad {}+(1-qa)x^2 \\ &\quad {}+(10-q)x-10q. \end{aligned}$

Matching the $x$ coefficient, $10-q=100,$ so $q=-90.$ Matching the $x^3$ coefficient, $a-q=1,$ so $a=-89.$

Then $g(1)=1+a+1+10$ $=12-89=-77$ and $1-q=91,$ so $\begin{aligned} &f(1)=(1-q)g(1) \\ &=91\cdot(-77)=-7007. \end{aligned}$

Thus, the correct answer is C.

2017 AMC 12A Problem 23

Answer: C

Difficulty rating: 2380

Solution:

Problem 23 in Other Years