Introduction to Vieta’s Formulas

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Contents
1 Vieta’s for Quadratics 1
1.1 Simple Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.2 Constructing Quadratics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.3 Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

2 Vieta’s for Cubics 2

3 Vieta’s Formulas for Polynomials 4

3.1 A Couple Problems from the AMCs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
3.2 A Problem From the USAMO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

4 Problems 7

1 Vieta’s for Quadratics

1.1 Simple Applications
Theorem 1.1 (Vieta’s for Quadratics)
Given the quadratic f (x) = ax2 + bx + c with roots r1 , r2 , r1 + r2 = − ab and r1 r2 = ac .

We will prove this later on in the text.

Let’s use this in a simple example problem.

Example 1.2
1
Let the roots of the quadratic x2 + 4x + 5 be a and b. Find the value of a2 + b2 and a + 1b .

Solution: We begin by noting that by Vieta’s, a + b = −4 and ab = 5. However, we want a2 + b2 , and

neither of our equations seem helpful. Since, we are stuck, let’s try to play around with our equations. Since
we want squared terms, squaring the equation a + b = −4 will result in both a2 and b2 . Squaring yields
a2 + b2 + 2ab = 16. Aha! We know the value of 2ab. It’s just 2 · 5 = 10. Thus, a2 + b2 = 6.
1
We can use a similar tactic for the second part. Rearranging a + 1b yields a+b
ab . Plugging in from our equations
above, we find that the answer is − 45 .

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Evan Chen 2 Vieta’s for Cubics

Exercises:
1 1
1. In Example 1.2, find the value of a2 + b2 .
2. In Example 1.2, find the value of a b + ab2 .
2

1.2 Constructing Quadratics

Example 1.3
Find the monic quadratic with roots 2 and 5 without expanding the product (x − 2)(x − 5).

Solution: Call the quadratic x2 + bx + c. The sum of the roots are 7, and the product of the roots are 10.
Thus, b = −7/1 = −7 and c = 10/1 = 10, so the quadratic is x2 − 7x + 10.

Exercises:
1. Find the quadratic with leading coefficient 2 with roots 8 and 9 without expanding 2(x − 8)(x − 9). 2.(1960
AHSME) If 2 is a solution (root) of x3 + hx + 10 = 0, then what is the value of h?

1.3 Problems
1.(2021 OPCAT) Let the roots of x2 + 13x − 20 be α and β. Compute
1 1
+ 2 .
α2 − αβ β − αβ

2.(April Fools Mock AMC 8) In the quadratic x2 − ax − bx + ab, all roots are positive integers. Let the
sum of the roots be p and the product of the roots be q. If p + q = 20, find pq.
3.(2015 AMC 12A) The zeroes of the function f (x) = x2 − ax + 2a are integers. What is the sum of the
possible values of a?
4 (Challenge).(2020 AOIME) Let P (x) = x2 −3x−7, and let Q(x) and R(x) be two quadratic polynomials
also with the coefficient of x2 equal to 1. David computes each of the three sums P + Q, P + R, and Q + R
and is surprised to find that each pair of these sums has a common root, and these three common roots are
m
distinct. If Q(0) = 2, then R(0) = , where m and n are relatively prime positive integers. Find m + n.
n

2 Vieta’s for Cubics

Vieta’s arises so often in cubics that we dedicated a whole section to it, rather than jumping directly into the
generalization.

Theorem 2.1 (Vieta’s for Cubics)

Given the cubic f (x) = ax3 + bx2 + cx + d with roots r1 , r2 , r3 , r1 + r2 + r3 = − ab , r1 r2 + r2 r3 + r1 r3 = ac ,
and r1 r2 r3 = − ad .

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Evan Chen 2 Vieta’s for Cubics

Since we already have a little practice, let’s dive into a more challenging problem.

Example 2.2 (2008 AIME II)

Let r, s, and t be the three roots of the equation

8x3 + 1001x + 2008 = 0.

Find (r + s)3 + (s + t)3 + (t + r)3 .

Solution from AoPS Wiki: By Vieta’s formulas, we have r + s + t = 0, and so the desired answer is
(r + s)3 + (s + t)3 + (t + r)3 = (0 − t)3 + (0 − r)3 + (0 − s)3 = −(r3 + s3 + t3 ). Additionally, using the
factorization
r3 + s3 + t3 − 3rst = (r + s + t)(r2 + s2 + t2 − rs − st − tr) = 0
−2008
we have that r3 + s3 + t3 = 3rst. By Vieta’s again, rst = 8 = −251 =⇒ −(r3 + s3 + t3 ) = −3rst = 753 .

Notice that whenever we have a problem relating to roots of a polynomial, it seems like Vieta’s is a good
choice. By altering our desired expression in terms of our Vieta equations, we can solve many polynomial
root problems.

Substitution is also a method that arises often in Vieta problems. Here’s another challenging example where
substitution is helpful:

Example 2.3 (2011 AIME)

For some integer m, the polynomial x3 − 2011x + m has the three integer roots a, b, and c. Find
|a| + |b| + |c|.

Solution: From Vieta’s formula we obtain that

a+b+c=0 and ab + bc + ca = −2011

Substituting c = −a − b yields that a2 + ab + b2 = 2011. By the quadratic formula, this implies that
√
−b ± 8044 − 3b2
a=
2
Now we want to make 8044 − 3b2 a perfect square. Trying the closest perfect squares, we obtain that
8044 − (88)2 = 3(10)2 . Hence b = 10 and a = −5 ± 44. Symmetry between a and c gives that a = 39 and
b = −49. Thus, the answer is 98 .

Exercises:
1.(Hong Kong) Let a, b, c be the three roots of the equation x3 − (k + 1)x2 + kx + 12 = 0, where k is a
real number. If (a − 2)3 + (b − 2)3 + (c − 2)3 = −18, find the value of k.
2.(2015 AIME II) Steve says to Jon, ”I am thinking of a polynomial whose roots are all positive integers.
The polynomial has the form P (x) = 2x3 − 2ax2 + (a2 − 81)x − c for some positive integers a and c. Can you
tell me the values of a and c?”
After some calculations, Jon says, ”There is more than one such polynomial.”

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Evan Chen 3 Vieta’s Formulas for Polynomials

Steve says, ”You’re right. Here is the value of a.” He writes down a positive integer and asks, ”Can you tell
me the value of c?”
Jon says, ”There are still two possible values of c.”
Find the sum of the two possible values of c.
3.(TMC 10A) Given the polynomial x3 + 6x2 + 5x − 7 with roots r1 , r2 , and r3 , what is the value of
 
1 1 1
+ + · (r12 − 3r1 + 2) · (r22 − 3r2 + 2) · (r32 − 3r3 + 2)?
r1 r2 r3

3 Vieta’s Formulas for Polynomials

Theorem 3.1 (Vieta’s Formulas)

For a polynomial of the form f (x) = an xn + an−1 xn−1 + ... + a1 x + a0 with roots r1 , r2 , r3 , ...rn , Vieta’s
formulas state that:

an−1
s1 = r1 + r2 + r3 + · · · + rn =−
an
an−2
s2 = r1 r2 + r1 r3 + r1 r4 + · · · + rn−2 rn−1 =
an
an−3
s3 = r1 r2 r3 + r1 r2 r4 + · · · + rn−2 rn−1 rn =−
an
..
.
a0
sn = r1 r2 r3 · · · rn = (−1)n .
an

Proof: Let P (x) be a polynomial of degree n, so P (x) = an xn + an−1 xn−1 + · · · + a1 x + a0 , where the
coefficient of xi is ai and an 6= 0. As a consequence of the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra, we can also
write P (x) = an (x − r1 )(x − r2 ) · · · (x − rn ), where ri are the roots of P (x). We thus have that
an xn + an−1 xn−1 + · · · + a1 x + a0 = an (x − r1 )(x − r2 ) · · · (x − rn ). Expanding out the right-hand side gives
us
an xn − an (r1 + r2 +· · ·+ rn )xn−1 + an (r1 r2 + r1 r3 +· · ·+ rn−1 rn )xn−2 +· · ·+ (−1)n an r1 r2 · · · rn . The coefficient
of xk in this expression will be the (n − k)-th elementary symmetric sum of the ri .
We now have two different expressions for P (x). These must be equal. However, the only way for two
polynomials to be equal for all values of x is for each of their corresponding coefficients to be equal. So,
starting with the coefficient of xn , we see that
.
a =a a
n n = −a (r + r + · · · + r ) a
n−1 n 1 2 n n−2= a (r r + r r + · · · + r
n 1 2 1 3 r ) .. a = (−1)n a r r · · · r
n−1 n 0 n 1 2 n
More commonly, these are written with the roots on one side and the ai on the other (this can be arrived at
by dividing both sides of all the equations by an ).
If we denote σk as the k-th elementary symmetric sum, then we can write those formulas more compactly as
σk = (−1)k · an−k
an , for 1 ≤ k ≤ n. 

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Evan Chen 3 Vieta’s Formulas for Polynomials

3.1 A Couple Problems from the AMCs

Let’s see this is action.

Example 3.2 (2017 AMC 12A)

For certain real numbers a, b, and c, the polynomial

g(x) = x3 + ax2 + x + 10

has three distinct roots, and each root of g(x) is also a root of the polynomial

f (x) = x4 + x3 + bx2 + 100x + c.

Solution: Let r1 , r2 , and r3 be the roots of g(x). Let r4 be the additional root of f (x). Then from Vieta’s
formulas on the quadratic term of g(x) and the cubic term of f (x), we obtain the following:

r1 + r2 + r3 = −a
r1 + r2 + r3 + r4 = −1

Thus r4 = a − 1.
Now applying Vieta’s formulas on the constant term of g(x), the linear term of g(x), and the linear term of
f (x), we obtain:

r1 r2 r3 = −10
r1 r2 + r2 r3 + r3 r1 = 1
r1 r2 r3 + r2 r3 r4 + r3 r4 r1 + r4 r1 r2 = −100

Substituting for r1 r2 r3 in the bottom equation and factoring the remainder of the expression, we obtain:

−10 + (r1 r2 + r2 r3 + r3 r1 )r4 = −10 + r4 = −100

It follows that r4 = −90. But r4 = a − 1 so a = −89
Now we can factor f (x) in terms of g(x) as

f (x) = (x − r4 )g(x) = (x + 90)g(x)

Then f (1) = 91g(1) and

g(1) = 13 − 89 · 12 + 1 + 10 = −77
Hence f (1) = 91 · (−77) = −7007 .

Many problems that require Vieta’s initially look like they don’t.

Example 3.3 (2015 AMC 12A)

The graph of y = x6 − 10x5 + 29x4 − 4x3 + ax2 lies above the line y = bx + c except at three values of x,
where the graph and the line intersect. What is the largest of those values?

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Evan Chen 3 Vieta’s Formulas for Polynomials

Solution: The line must be tangent to the polynomial at the three intersection points. Thus, y = x6 − 10x5 +
29x4 − 4x3 + ax2 − bx − c = 0 is equivalent to (x − t)2 (x − u)2 (x − v)2 = 0.
By Vieta’s, we have that t + u + v = 5. Also, t2 + u2 + v 2 + 4tu + 4tv + 4uv = 29. (t + u + v)2 = 5, so
tu + tv + uv = 2. Furthermore, from Vieta’s, 2t2 u + 2t2 v + 2u2 t + 2u2 v + 2v 2 t + 2v 2 u + 6tuv = 4. This is
equivalent to 2(t + u + v)(tu + tv + uv) + 2tuv = 4, so tuv = −8.
By Vieta’s, we must now solve the cubic equation x3 − 5x2 + 2x + 8 = 0, which has solutions x = 4, x = 2,
and x = −1. The largest is 4 .

Exercises:
1.(2021 AMC 10A) All the roots of polynomial z 6 − 10z 5 + Az 4 + Bz 3 + Cz 2 + Dz + 16 are positive
integers, possibly repeated. What is the value of B?

3.2 A Problem From the USAMO

The problem that we are about to solve requires a special tool call the Trivial Inequality. If you are
unfamiliar with this, see here.

Example 3.4
Prove that the roots of
x5 + ax4 + bx3 + cx2 + dx + e = 0
cannot all be real if 2a2 < 5b.

Solution from AoPS Wiki:

Lemma:
For all real numbers x1 , x2 , · · · x5 ,

2(x21 + x22 + · · · + x25 ) ≥

x1 x2 + x1 x3 + · · · + x4 x5
By the Trivial Inequality,

x2 y2
x2 + y 2 ≥ 2xy ⇒ + ≥ xy
2 2
Making such an inequality for all the variable pairs and summing them, we find the lemma is true.
Now, let our roots be x1 , x2 , · · · , x5 . By Vieta’s, a = x1 + x2 + · · · + x5 and b = x1 x2 + x1 x3 + · · · + x4 x5
If we show that for all real x1 , x2 , · · · , x5 that 2a2 ≥ 5b, then we have a contradiction and all of x1 , x2 , · · · , x5
cannot be real. We start by rewriting 2a2 ≥ 5b as

2(x1 + x2 + · · · + x5 )2 ≥ 5(x1 x2 + x1 x3 + · · · + x4 x5 )
We divide by 2 and find
5
(x1 + x2 + · · · + x5 )2 ≥ (x1 x2 + x1 x3 + · · · + x4 x5 )
2
Expanding the LHS, we have

6
Evan Chen 4 Problems

5
x21 + x22 + · · · + x25 + 2(x1 x2 + x1 x3 + · · · + x4 x5 ) ≥ (x1 x2 + x1 x3 + · · · + x4 x5 )
2
We subtract the sum in brackets, and then multiply by 2 to find

2x21 + 2x22 + · · · + 2x25 ≥ x1 x2 + x1 x3 + · · · + x4 x5

which is true by our lemma.

4 Problems
We present a series of problems requiring Vieta’s Formulas that are in no particular order (specifically, they
don’t go from easiest to hardest). Enjoy!
1.(1983 AIME) What is the product of the real roots of the equation
p
x2 + 18x + 30 = 2 x2 + 18x + 45 ?

2.(2014 AIME II) Real numbers r and s are roots of p(x) = x3 + ax + b, and r + 4 and s − 3 are roots of
q(x) = x3 + ax + b + 240. Find the sum of all possible values of |b|.
3.(2010 AMC 10A The polynomial x3 − ax2 + bx − 2010 has three positive integer zeros. What is the
smallest possible value of a?
4.(AoPS Forums) Let α and β be the roots to x2 + x − 3 = 0. Find α3 − 4β 2 + 20.
5.(OMMC) Let P (x) = x3 + 8x2 − x + 3 and let the roots of P be a, b, and c. The roots of a monic
polynomial Q(x) are ab − c2 , ac − b2 , bc − a2 . Find Q(−1).
6.(ARML) Find the two values of k for which 2x3 − 9x2 + 12x − k has a double root.
7.(2015 CCA Math Bonanza) If a, b, c are the roots of x3 + 20x2 + 1x + 5, compute (a2 + 1)(b2 + 1)(c2 + 1).
2
8.(2019 BMT) Find the sum of all real solutions to (x2 − 10x − 12)x +5x+2
= 1.
3 2
9.(2018 MTE) For some real number k, the polynomial x + 20x +√18x + k has exactly two distinct roots,
both of which are real. Their product can be written in the form a db−c , where a, b, c, and d are positive
integers, b is not divisible by the square of any prime, and gcd(a, d) = 1. Find a + b + c + d.

For more problems and discussion of Vieta’s formulas, look here.