Simplify the brackets

[Damburger]

This is a time based challenge

You've probably all simplified brackets at school...

(x+a)(x-b)=x^2 + (a-b)x - ab

and so on.

But can you handle a really big expression?

(x-a)(x-b)(x-c)....(x-z)

All the letters of the alphabet, 26 terms.

See how quick you can do it :)

[snarkophilus]

See how quick you can do it :)

As fast as I can write it, really. If I can use a1, a2, a3... a26 instead of the actual letters, and the big pi product operator thingy, and summations, it takes a bit over a minute to write down.

To actually write out each term means writing down 2^26 terms... not nice. :)

[Damburger]

As fast as I can write it, really. If I can use a1, a2, a3... a26 instead of the actual letters, and the big pi product operator thingy, and summations, it takes a bit over a minute to write down.

To actually write out each term means writing down 2^26 terms... not nice. :)

Well, there is a quicker way....

[The_Radiation_Specialist]

it equals zero!

because you have to times it by (x-x)


ps, Am I smart or what? :o :D

[Damburger]

it equals zero!

because you have to times it by (x-x)


ps, Am I smart or what? :o :D

Yes, but you've gone and spolied it haven't you :p

[Setumadhava]

terribly smart man...............................