1984
Problem - 2839
The product of two of the four zeros of the quartic equation $$x^4 - 18x^3 + kx^2 + 200x - 1984 = 0$$ is $-32$. Find $k$.
Let the zeros be $a, b, c, d$. The relationship between zeros and coefficients yields
\begin{align}
a + b + c + d &= 18\\
ab + ac + ad + bc + bd + cd & = k\\
abc + abd + acd + bcd &= -200\\
abcd & = -1984
\end{align}
Assume $ab = -32$ and let $u = a + b, v = c + d, w = cd$. Then
\begin{align}
u + v & = 18\\
-32 + uv + w &= k\\
-32v + uw &= -200\\
-32w &= -1984
\end{align}
From the last equation we get $w = 62$, and replacing it in the other equations leads to $u = 4, v = 14$. Hence $$k = -32 + 4 \times 14 + 62 = \boxed{86}$$