Let r1,r2,...,r7 be the roots of f(x)=x7+5x6−4x4+5x3−9x2+x+a. Let g(x)=x3+3x−3. Then the product g(r1)g(r2)...g(r7) can be expressed as a polynomial in a. Find this polynomial.
By Vieta's formulas, the sum of the roots of f(x) is −5, so the sum of the roots of x3+3x−3=0 is −(r1+r2+⋯+r7)=5.
By the Factor Theorem, x−5 is a factor of x3+3x−3. We can use polynomial division (or inspection) to find that x3+3x−3=(x−5)(x2+8x+3). Then
g(r1)g(r2)⋯g(r7)=(r1−5)(r21+8r1+3)(r2−5)(r22+8r2+3)⋯(r7−5)(r27+8r7+3) =(r1−5)(r2−5)⋯(r7−5)(r21+r22+⋯+r27+8(r1+r2+⋯+r7)+21).
By Vieta's formulas again, r12+r22+⋯+r72=49−2⋅4+2⋅5−9+1=43, and r1+r2+⋯+r7=−5.
Hence, g(r1)g(r2)⋯g(r7)=(−5)(−5)⋯(−5)(43+8⋅−5+21) =125a+3125.