Subcontests
(8)discriminant of cubic polynomial into matrix form
For a real coefficient cubic polynomial f(x)=ax3+bx2+cx+d, denote three roots of the equation f(x)=0 by α,β,γ. Prove that the three roots α,β,γ are distinct real numbers iff the real symmetric matrix
\begin{pmatrix} 3 & p_1 & p_2 \\ p_1 & p_2 & p_3 \\ p_2 & p_3 & p_4 \end{pmatrix}, p_i = \alpha^i + \beta^i + \gamma^i
is positive definite.