Matrices & Determinants
Determinants
Grade Class 12

Question:

Let <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mfenced open="|" close="|"><mtable><mtr><mtd><mn>1</mn></mtd><mtd><mn>1</mn></mtd><mtd><mn>1</mn></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mn>1</mn></mtd><mtd><mn>2</mn></mtd><mtd><mn>3</mn></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mi>&#945;</mi></mtd><mtd><mi>&#946;</mi></mtd><mtd><mi>&#947;</mi></mtd></mtr></mtable></mfenced><mo>=</mo><mi>t</mi></math>, where t is an even prime number & &#945;, &#946;, &#947; are the integral roots of the equation x<sup>3</sup> - 14x<sup>2</sup> + Px - 36 = 0<br>On the basis of above information, answer the following :<br>The value of P is -
(A) a rational number
(B) a prime number
(C) an odd natural number
(D) an even natural number

Step-by-Step Solution

Key Concept: The determinant evaluates to (&#947; - &#946;) - (&#947; - &#945;) + (&#946; - &#945;) = &#947; - &#946; - &#947; + &#945; + &#946; - &#945; = 0. Wait, let's re-evaluate: 1(2&#947; - 3&#946;) - 1(&#947; - 3&#945;) + 1(&#946; - 2&#945;) = 2&#947; - 3&#946; - &#947; + 3&#945; + &#946; - 2&#945; = &#945; - 2&#946; + &#947; = t. Since t is an even prime, t = 2. Given &#945;, &#946;, &#947; are roots of x^3 - 14x^2 + Px - 36 = 0, we have &#945; + &#946; + &#947; = 14, &#945;&#946; + &#946;&#947; + &#947;&#945; = P, &#945;&#946;&#947; = 36. Using &#945; - 2&#946; + &#947; = 2 and &#945; + &#946; + &#947; = 14, we get 3&#946; = 12, so &#946; = 4. Then &#945; + &#947; = 10 and &#945;&#947; = 36/4 = 9. Solving x^2 - 10x + 9 = 0 gives roots 1 and 9. So {&#945;, &#946;, &#947;} = {1, 4, 9}. P = &#945;&#946; + &#946;&#947; + &#947;&#945; = 1*4 + 4*9 + 9*1 = 4 + 36 + 9 = 49.
Step 1: Evaluate the determinant and determine the value of $t$. The determinant is given as: $$ \begin{vmatrix} 1 & 1 & 1 \\ 1 & 2 & 3 \\ \alpha & \beta & \gamma \end{vmatrix} $$ Expanding the determinant: $$ 1(2\gamma - 3\beta) - 1(\gamma - 3\alpha) + 1(\beta - 2\alpha) $$ $$ = 2\gamma - 3\beta - \gamma + 3\alpha + \beta - 2\alpha $$ $$ = \alpha - 2\beta + \gamma $$ The problem states that this determinant equals $t$, where $t$ is an even prime number. The only even prime number is 2. Therefore, we have the equation: $$ \alpha - 2\beta + \gamma = 2 \quad (1) $$ Step 2: Apply Vieta's formulas to the given cubic equation. The cubic equation is $x^3 - 14x^2 + Px - 36 = 0$, and its integral roots are $\alpha, \beta, \gamma$. From Vieta's formulas, we have: Sum of the roots: $$ \alpha + \beta + \gamma = -(-14)/1 = 14 \quad (2) $$ Product of the roots: $$ \alpha\beta\gamma = -(-36)/1 = 36 \quad (3) $$ Sum of the products of the roots taken two at a time: $$ \alpha\beta + \beta\gamma + \gamma\alpha = P $$ Step 3: Solve for the roots $\alpha, \beta, \gamma$. Subtract equation (1) from equation (2): $$ (\alpha + \beta + \gamma) - (\alpha - 2\beta + \gamma) = 14 - 2 $$ $$ 3\beta = 12 $$ $$ \beta = 4 $$ Substitute $\beta = 4$ into equation (2): $$ \alpha + 4 + \gamma = 14 $$ $$ \alpha + \gamma = 10 $$ Substitute $\beta = 4$ into equation (3): $$ \alpha(4)\gamma = 36 $$ $$ 4\alpha\gamma = 36 $$ $$ \alpha\gamma = 9 $$ Now we have a system for $\alpha$ and $\gamma$: $$ \alpha + \gamma = 10 $$ $$ \alpha\gamma = 9 $$ Consider a quadratic equation whose roots are $\alpha$ and $\gamma$: $y^2 - (\alpha+\gamma)y + \alpha\gamma = 0$. $$ y^2 - 10y + 9 = 0 $$ Factoring the quadratic equation: $$ (y-1)(y-9) = 0 $$ Thus, the values for $\alpha$ and $\gamma$ are $1$ and $9$. The integral roots of the cubic equation are $\{1, 4, 9\}$. Step 4: Calculate the value of P. The value of $P$ is given by the sum of the products of the roots taken two at a time: $$ P = \alpha\beta + \beta\gamma + \gamma\alpha $$ Using the roots $\{1, 4, 9\}$: $$ P = (1)(4) + (4)(9) + (9)(1) $$ $$ P = 4 + 36 + 9 $$ $$ P = 49 $$ Step 5: Characterize P. The value of $P$ is $49$. This is an odd natural number.
Correct Answer: D

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