POW 10: Irrational and Complex Roots Report

Advanced Algebra
Brigid OBrien

Using the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra, find the roots in the polynomial
f (x) = x 4 + 8x 3 + 25x 2 + 66x + 30. One root is 3 + 6 .

A root in algebra is a solution that satisfies a quadratic equation. Roots are also the x intercepts
of a quadratic formula.

The Fundamental Theorem of Algebra is essential in understanding this problem, as it states

that the polynomial of degree n has exactly n roots in its complex number system.

For this equation, there will be four roots total. This is because the polynomial equations largest
exponent is to the fourth.
The first root is given to us is 3 + 6.
The second root is 3 6.
We know the second root because it is the conjugate of the first root. A conjugate is a binomial
formed by negating the second term of a binomial. In this case, we change the addition to
subtraction, but keep the negative three the same.

To find the other two roots in this equation, we first need to set the roots we already have equal
to zero.

First, take the 3 and add it to the other side of the equation.
x = 3 + 6.
x + 3 = 6
Then, subtract the square root of six to the other side of the equation as well.
x + 3 6 = 0

Do the same thing to the conjugate of this equation.

x = 3 6
Add the three to the other side of the equation.
x + 3 = 6.
Add the square root of six to the other side of the equation also.
x + 3 + 6 = 0

Take the two conjugates that we made equal to zero and put them in parenthesis next to each
other.
(x + 3 6) (x + 3 + 6)
Distribute these equations.
x 2 + 3x + x6 + 3x + 9 + 36 x6 36 6

Distribute further.
x 2 + 6x + 3

Plug the previous equation numbers 1, 6, and 3 into the quadratic formula for a, b, and c.
x = b b 4ac
2

2a
a=1
b=6
c=3
6 6 2 4(1)(3)
x= 2(1)

Simplify this equation by squaring the 6, multiplying the 4 by the 1 and 3, and the 2 by 1.
6 3612
x= 2

Simplify this equation further by subtracting 36 by 12.

6 24
x= 2

To simplify this equation even more, one must factor the 24 into a four and a six, since four
times six is 24. Then, take the 2 outside of the square root with the four still in the square root.
6 26
x= 2

Divide the numerator by the denominator - x = 3 6

Now we need to split this equation into individuals from the sign and make the equations
equal to zero.
x = 3 6
x = 3 + 6

x + 3 + 6 = 0
x + 3 6 = 0

Then, put these two now equal to zero equations next to each other and foil them.
(x + 3 + 6 ) (x + 3 6)

When foiled, the equation is: x 2 + 6x + 3.

This means that the final simplification of (x + 3 6) (x 3 6) is x 2 + 6x + 3.

Take this new equation and divide it by the very first equation given to us.
x 2 +6x+3
x 4 +8x 3 +25x 2 +66x+30

This should equal x 2 + 2x + 10.

Plug this equation into the quadratic formula, using 1, 2, and 10 for a, b, and c.
x = b b 4ac
2

2a
a=1
b=2
c = 10
2 2 2 4(1)(10)
x= 2(1)

Simplify this equation by squaring the 2 and multiplying the 4 by the 1 and 10.
2 440
x= 2

Simplify further by subtracting 4 by 40.

2 36
x= 2

Simplify even further by changing 36 to 6i. Since you cant take the square root of a negative
number, use 6i to simplify.
2 6i
x= 2

Divide the numerator by the denominator and you should get 1 3i.

This means that all of the four roots for this equation are 3 + 6 and 3 6 are 1 + 3i
and 1 3i.
We can see these roots if you graph the equation f (x) = x 4 + 8x 3 + 25x 2 + 66x + 30.

However, you can only see the first two roots 3 + 6 and 3 6. When simplified, they are
-5.449 and -0.551.
You can not see the last two roots that we found when graphed. This is because 1 + 3i and
1 3i are complex numbers (a combination of an imaginary number and a real number) which
you cannot graph.

When seeing these two coordinates on the graph, we know that their x intercepts are -5.449
and -0.551, but we can also see that their y intercepts are zero. Compare these numbers to
different integers on the graph, and you can see that they are the only numbers with a y
intercept of zero. This is because all roots have x intercepts, but no y intercepts (as seen on the
table below).
In conclusion, the four roots of the polynomial f (x) = x 4 + 8x 3 + 25x 2 + 66x + 30 are 3 + 6 and
3 6 as well as 1 + 3i and 1 3i. We solved this through conjugation, the quadratic
formula, and polynomial division.