JEEAdvanced

Real numbers a, b, c satisfy a + b + c = 6, a^2 + b^2 + c^2 = 14, and…

Question

Real numbers a, b, c satisfy a + b + c = 6, a^2 + b^2 + c^2 = 14, and a^3 + b^3 + c^3 = 36. Find a^4 + b^4 + c^4.

✓ Verified answer: 98checked by our engine — not a guess

Step-by-step solution

Let e1, e2, e3 be the elementary symmetric polynomials and p_k the power sums.

e1 = 6. From p2 = e1^2 - 2e2: 14 = 36 - 2e2, so e2 = 11.
Newton: p3 = e1 p2 - e2 p1 + 3 e3 ⇒ 36 = 6·14 - 11·6 + 3e3 = 84 - 66 + 3e3 = 18 + 3e3, so e3 = 6.
Then p4 = e1 p3 - e2 p2 + e3 p1 = 6·36 - 11·14 + 6·6 = 216 - 154 + 36 = 98.
(Indeed a,b,c are 1,2,3, and 1+16+81 = 98.)

Final answer98

Stuck on a problem like this?

Paste any JEE or NEET question — verified working, a confidence %, and an honest “not sure” instead of a bluff.

Solve my doubt →

More Algebra solutions