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Miscellaneous Exercise 4(A) · Q40

Q.If ∣xkxk+2xk+3ykyk+2yk+3zkzk+2zk+3∣=(x−y)(y−z)(z−x)(1x+1y+1z)\begin{vmatrix} x^k & x^{k+2} & x^{k+3} \\ y^k & y^{k+2} & y^{k+3} \\ z^k & z^{k+2} & z^{k+3} \end{vmatrix} = (x-y)(y-z)(z-x)\left(\dfrac{1}{x}+\dfrac{1}{y}+\dfrac{1}{z}\right) then
A) k=-3
B) k=-1
C) k=1
D) k=3

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✓ Free question

Factor xkx^k from row 1, yky^k from row 2, zkz^k from row 3: D=xkykzk∣1x2x31y2y31z2z3∣D=x^ky^kz^k\begin{vmatrix}1&x^2&x^3\\1&y^2&y^3\\1&z^2&z^3\end{vmatrix}.

Expanding this reduced determinant (a standard identity) gives ∣1x2x31y2y31z2z3∣=(x−y)(y−z)(z−x)(xy+yz+zx)\begin{vmatrix}1&x^2&x^3\\1&y^2&y^3\\1&z^2&z^3\end{vmatrix}=(x-y)(y-z)(z-x)(xy+yz+zx).

So D=(xyz)k(x−y)(y−z)(z−x)(xy+yz+zx)D=(xyz)^k(x-y)(y-z)(z-x)(xy+yz+zx).

Also 1x+1y+1z=xy+yz+zxxyz\dfrac1x+\dfrac1y+\dfrac1z=\dfrac{xy+yz+zx}{xyz}, so the RHS is (x−y)(y−z)(z−x)⋅xy+yz+zxxyz=(x−y)(y−z)(z−x)(xy+yz+zx)⋅(xyz)−1(x-y)(y-z)(z-x)\cdot\dfrac{xy+yz+zx}{xyz}=(x-y)(y-z)(z-x)(xy+yz+zx)\cdot(xyz)^{-1}.

Comparing, (xyz)k=(xyz)−1⇒k=−1(xyz)^k=(xyz)^{-1}\Rightarrow k=-1 (verified numerically with x=1,y=2,z=4x=1,y=2,z=4: both sides equal 10.5).

✓Final answer

Option B — k=-1

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