asked 108k views
2 votes
X^4-2x^3+6x^2-18x-27 given 3i is a solution, find all solutions ​

1 Answer

1 vote

Answer:

x ∈ {-1, 3, 3i, -3i}

Explanation:

Polynomials with real coefficients have complex roots in conjugate pairs. That means -3i is also a solution to this quartic. Then two factors are ...

(x -3i)(x +3i) = (x^2 +9)

Dividing the given polynomial by this using your favorite method, you find the other quadratic factor to be ...

(x^2 -2x -3) = (x +1)(x -3)

The solutions are the values of x that make these factors zero, so are x = -1, and x = 3.

The full set of solutions to this quartic is ...

x ∈ {-1, 3, -3i, 3i}

_____

Comment on dividing by x^2+9

Since there is no x term in this divisor, the first two terms of the quotient will be (x^4 -2x^3)/x^2 = x^2 -2x. The last term of the quotient will be -27/9 = -3. Thus, we can do the long division with hardly any effort to find ...

x^4 -2x^3 +6x^2 -18x -27 = (x^2 -2x -3)(x^2 +9)

= (x +1)(x -3)(x -3i)(x +3i)

The above makes the assumption that there is no remainder, a reasonable assumption for a problem of this nature. In any event, checking the factorization by multiplying it out shows it to be correct.

answered
User Ashish Pethkar
by
8.3k points

No related questions found

Welcome to Qamnty — a place to ask, share, and grow together. Join our community and get real answers from real people.