Question
If the polynomial equation $\text{a}_0\text{x}^{\text{n}}+\text{a}_{\text{n}-1}\text{x}^{\text{n}-1}+\text{a}_{\text{n}-2}\text{x}^{\text{n}-2}+...\text{a}_2\text{x}^2+\text{a}_1\text{x}+\text{a}_0=0$ n positive integer,has two different real roots $\alpha$ and $\beta,$ then between $\alpha$ and $\beta,$ the equation $\text{n}\text{a}_{\text{n}}\text{x}^{\text{n}-1}+(\text{n}-1)\text{a}_{\text{n}-1}\text{x}^{\text{n}-2}+...+\text{a}_1=0$ has:
  1. Exactly one root.
  2. Almost one root.
  3. At least one root.
  4. No root.

Answer

  1. At least one root.
Solution:
We observe that, $\text{n}\text{a}_{\text{n}}\text{x}^{\text{n}-1}+(\text{n}-1)\text{a}_{\text{n}-1}\text{x}^{\text{n}-2}+...+\text{a}_1=0$ is the derivative of the polynomial $\text{a}_{\text{n}}\text{x}^{\text{n}}+\text{a}_{\text{n}-1}\text{x}^{\text{n}-1}+\text{a}_{\text{n}-2}\text{x}^{\text{n}-2}+...\text{a}_2\text{x}^2+\text{a}_1\text{x}+\text{a}_0=0$Polynomial function is continuous everywhere in R and concequently derivative in R.
Therefore, $\text{a}_{\text{n}}\text{x}^{\text{n}}+\text{a}_{\text{n}-1}\text{x}^{\text{n}-1}+\text{a}_{\text{n}-2}\text{x}^{\text{n}-2}+...\text{a}_2\text{x}^2+\text{a}_1\text{x}+\text{a}_0$ is continuous on $\alpha,\beta$ and derivative on $\alpha,\beta.$
Hence, it is satisfies the both the conditions of Rolle's theorem.
By algebric interpretation of Roll's theorem, we know that between any two roots of a function f(x), there exists atleast one root of its derivative.
Hence, the equation $\text{n}\text{a}_{\text{n}}\text{x}^{\text{n}-1}+(\text{n}-1)\text{a}_{\text{n}-1}\text{x}^{\text{n}-2}+...+\text{a}_1=0$ will have atleast one root between $\alpha$ and $\beta.$

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