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If two factors of \(2x^3 - px + q\) are \(x + 2\) and \(x - 1\), what is the value of \(p + q\)?

Roots = -2, 1, r

Sum of roots = -2+1 +r=r-1 = 0; r=1
-2*1 + -2*1 +1*1 =-3 = -p/2; p=6
Product of roots = (-2)*1*1=-2 =- q/2 ; q= 4

p+q = 6+4=10

IMO D
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If you didn’t know (as was the case with me) the (impressively) fast method presented above , you could proceed as follows:

Since the leading coefficient is 2 and the factors \((x+2)\) and \((x-1)\) are given, write the third factor as \( (2x +k)\)

The constant term \(q\) is the product of constants:

\(2 \cdot (-1) \cdot k = -2k\)

Therefore , \(-2k = q \Rightarrow k = -\frac{q}{2}\)

Expand the first two factors:

\((x+2)(x-1) = x^2 + x - 2\)

So the product of the three factors is :

\((x^2 + x - 2)\left(2x - \frac{q}{2}\right)\)

Equate the \(x^2\) coefficients:

\(-\frac{q}{2} + 2 = 0 \Rightarrow q = 4\)

Equate the \(x\) coefficients:

\(-\frac{q}{2}x - 4x = -2x - 4x = -6x\)

Thus \(-p = -6 \Rightarrow p = 6\)

\(p + q = 10\)
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