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Sum of All Possible Sums of Roots of Cubic

Source: 2013 AIME I Problem 10

March 15, 2013
algebrapolynomialAMCAIMEAIME I

Problem Statement

There are nonzero integers aa, bb, rr, and ss such that the complex number r+sir+si is a zero of the polynomial P(x)=x3ax2+bx65P(x) = x^3 - ax^2 + bx - 65. For each possible combination of aa and bb, let pa,bp_{a,b} be the sum of the zeroes of P(x)P(x). Find the sum of the pa,bp_{a,b}'s for all possible combinations of aa and bb.