Quadratic Equation Problem | PRMO-2018 | Problem 9

(‘a+b”) is the root of the equation therefore (“a+b”) must satisfy the given equation

Can you now finish the problem ……….

Discriminant is a perfect square

can you finish the problem……..

Given that \(‘a+b”\) is the root of the equation therefore \(“a+b”\) must satisfy the given equation

Therefore the given equation becomes ……

\((a+b)^2 +a(a+b)+b=0\)

\(\Rightarrow a^2 +2ab+b^2+a^2+ab+b=0\)

\(\Rightarrow 2a^2 +3ab+b^2+b=0\)

Now since “a” is an integer,Discriminant is a perfect square

\(\Rightarrow 9b^2 -8(b^2+b)=m^2\) (for some \(m \in \mathbb Z)\)

\(\Rightarrow (b-4)^2 -16=m^2\)

\(\Rightarrow (b-4+m)(b-4-m)=16\)

Therefore the possible cases are  \(b-4+m=\pm 8\), \(b-4-m=\pm 2\),\(b-4+m=b-4-m=\pm 4\)

 i.e b-4=5,-5,4,-4

\(\Rightarrow b =9,-1,8,0\)

 Therefore \( (b^2)_{max} = 81\)