Let S = \x3 + ax2 + bx + c : a, b, c N and a, b, c 20\ be a set of polynomials. Then the number of polynomials in S, which are divisible by x2 + 2, is
- 6
- 120
- 20
- 10
Answer
(4) 10
Solution
A monic cubic divisible by x2 + 2 has the form (x2 + 2)(x + k):
x3 + ax2 + bx + c = (x2 + 2)(x + k)
= x3 + kx2 + 2x + 2k
a = k, b = 2, c = 2a
a, c ∈ N and c = 2a ≤ 20 a = 1, 2, …, 10
number of such polynomials = 10
Answer: (4)