Question
Find the coefficient of x^{49} in the polynomial p(x)=(x–1)(x–2)(x–3) \dots(x-50)
Find the coefficient of x^{49} in the polynomial p(x)=(x–1)(x–2)(x–3) \dots(x-50)
(x-a_1)(x-a_2)(x-a_3)
=[x^2-(a_1+a_2)x+a_1a_2)](x-a_3)
=x^3-(a_1+a_2)x^2+a_1a_2x-a_3x^2 +(a_1+a_2)a_3x-a_1a_2a_3
=x^3-(a_1+a_2+a_3)x^2+(a_1a_2+a_1a_3+a_1a_3)x-a_1a_2a_3
So the coefficient of the term x^{49} is,
-(1+2+3+\dots+50)
=\dfrac{51}{2} \times 50
=50\times 25+25
=1275
Using vieta’s formula, the second leading term has the coefficient that is equal to the opposite of sum of all roots.
Therefore,the coefficient of x^{49} is
-(1+2+\dots+50)
=-1275