Determine K and solve the equation x^3-kx^2+3x+54=0, if one of its zeros is triple of another.

let the roots be a, 3a and b

then
(x-a)(x-3a)(x-b) = x^3 - kx^2 + 3x + 54

looking at the last term -3a^2b = 54
a^2b = -18 , the only square factors of -18 are 1 and 9
case 1: a=1, b = -18
then
(x-1)(x-3)(x+18) would be the expression
this give us x^3 + 14x^2 - 69x + 54
which would not match up the x terms

case 2: a=3, b=-2
then
(x-3)(x-9)(x+2) would be the expression for
x^3 - 10x^2 + 3x + 54

this matches if k = 10

and the roots are 3,9 and -2

(there should be an easier way to do this)

To determine the value of K and solve the equation x^3 - kx^2 + 3x + 54 = 0, when one of its zeros is triple the value of another, we can use Vieta's formulas.

Let's assume the zeros of the equation are a, b, and 3b (where b is non-zero).

Vieta's formulas state that for a cubic equation of the form ax^3 + bx^2 + cx + d = 0, the sum of the roots is given by:

Sum of roots (a + b + 3b) = -b/a

And the product of the roots is given by:

Product of roots (a * b * 3b) = -d/a

In our equation, the sum of the roots is a + b + 3b = -(-k)/1 = k

And the product of the roots is a * b * 3b = 54/1 = 54

We have two equations:

1) k = a + b + 3b
2) 54 = a * b * 3b

Now we can solve these equations to find the value of K and the corresponding roots.

Substituting the value of k from equation 1 into equation 2, we get:

54 = (k - b - 3b) * b * 3b
54 = (k - 4b) * b^2 * 3

Simplifying, we have:

18 = (k - 4b) * b^2

Dividing both sides by b^2:

18/b^2 = k - 4b

Rearranging the equation:

k = 18/b^2 + 4b

Now we have the equation for K in terms of b. We can substitute this value of K back into equation 1 to find the value of b:

k = a + b + 3b

Substituting k = 18/b^2 + 4b:

18/b^2 + 4b = a + b + 3b

Rearranging the equation and simplifying:

18/b^2 = a + 2b

Now, we can choose a value for b and find the corresponding values of a and K, and then solve for the roots of the equation.

For example, let's say b = 2:

k = 18/2^2 + 4*2 = 18/4 + 8 = 4.5 + 8 = 12.5

a = 18/2^2 - 2*2 = 18/4 - 4 = 4.5 - 4 = 0.5

Hence, when b = 2, we have a = 0.5 and k = 12.5.

To find the roots of the equation, we can substitute these values of a and k back into the original equation:

x^3 - kx^2 + 3x + 54 = 0
x^3 - 12.5x^2 + 3x + 54 = 0

You can use numerical methods or the Rational Root Theorem to find the roots of this equation.