How do you use the rational roots theorem to find all possible zeros of y=2x^3+2x^2-23x-9y=2x3+2x223x9?

1 Answer
Jul 7, 2016

Use a trigonometric method to find Real zeros:

x_n = 1/3(sqrt(142) cos(1/3 arccos((8sqrt(142))/2201) + (2npi)/3) - 1)xn=13(142cos(13arccos(81422201)+2nπ3)1)

for n = 0, 1, 2n=0,1,2.

Explanation:

f(x) = 2x^3+2x^2-23x-9f(x)=2x3+2x223x9

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Rational roots theorem

Any rational zeros of f(x)f(x) are expressible in the form p/qpq for integers pp, qq with pp a divisor of the constant term -99 and qq a divisor of the coefficient 22 of the leading term.

So the only possible rational zeros are:

+-1/2, +-1, +-3/2, +-3, +-9/2, +-9±12,±1,±32,±3,±92,±9

None of these works, so f(x)f(x) has no rational zeros.

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Discriminant

The discriminant Delta of a cubic polynomial in the form ax^3+bx^2+cx+d is given by the formula:

Delta = b^2c^2-4ac^3-4b^3d-27a^2d^2+18abcd

In our example, a=2, b=2, c=-23 and d=-9, so we find:

Delta = 2116+97336+288-8748+14904 = 105896

Since Delta > 0, this cubic has 3 Real zeros.

As a result, pure algebraic methods like Cardano's method will yield results containing irreducible cube roots of Complex numbers. So choose to use a trigonometric solution instead.

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Tschirnhaus transformation

First, simplify the cubic using a linear substitution:

108 f(x) = 216x^3+216x^2-2484x-972

=(6x+2)^3-426(6x+2)-128

=t^3-426t-128

where t = 6x+2

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Trigonometric solution

We want to solve:

t^3-426t-128 = 0

Consider the substitution:

t = k cos theta

Then:

t^3-426t-128

= k^3 cos^3 theta - 426 k cos theta - 128

= k^3/4 (4cos^3 theta) - 142k (3cos theta) - 128

Solve:

k^3/4 = 142k

to get:

k = +-2sqrt(142)

Let k = 2sqrt(142) to get:

0 = t^3-426t-128

= 284 sqrt(142)(4 cos^3theta - 3cos theta)-128

= 284 sqrt(142)cos(3 theta)-128

Hence:

cos(3 theta) = 128/(248sqrt(142)) = (8sqrt(142))/2201

Hence roots:

t_n =2 sqrt(142) cos(1/3 arccos((8sqrt(142))/2201) + (2npi)/3)

giving distinct values for n = 0, 1, 2

Then x = 1/6(t-2) so the zeros of the original cubic are:

x_n = 1/3(sqrt(142) cos(1/3 arccos((8sqrt(142))/2201) + (2npi)/3) - 1)

for n = 0, 1, 2.