Multiple choice

Suppose $A, B, C$ are defined as $A=a^2b+ab^2-a^2c-ac^2, B=b^2c+bc^2-a^2b-ab^2$ and $C=a^2c+ac^2-b^2c-bc^2$, where $a > b > c > 0$ and the equation $Ax^2+Bx+C=0$ has equal roots, then $a, b, c$ are in

  1. $A.P.$
  2. $G.P.$
  3. $H.P.$
  4. $A.G.P.$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The equation Ax^2 + Bx + C = 0 has equal roots if B^2 = 4AC. Substituting the expressions for A, B, and C and simplifying shows that the condition holds when 1/a + 1/c = 2/b, which is the definition of a harmonic progression.

AI explanation

The condition for the equation Ax^2 + Bx + C = 0 to have equal roots is that its discriminant must be zero, meaning B^2 - 4AC = 0. Substituting the given expressions yields (b^2c + bc^2 - a^2b - ab^2)^2 - 4(a^2b + ab^2 - a^2c - ac^2)(a^2c + ac^2 - b^2c - bc^2) = 0. Factoring the terms inside the formula gives (bc(b+c) - ab(a+b))^2 - 4(ab(a+b) - ac(a+c))(ac(a+c) - bc(b+c)) = 0. By applying the algebraic identity that (x-y)^2 - 4(y-z)(z-x) is equivalent to (x+z-2y)^2, we establish that a+b-2c = 0. The relation a+c = 2b means that a, b, and c form an arithmetic progression, which implies that their reciprocals 1/a, 1/b, and 1/c form a harmonic progression.