Tuesday, 9 May 2017

Find the polynomial equation when I know the roots



A polynomial of minimum degree has rational coefficients and has the roots: x1=15;x2=1+2i so there are x3=1+5 and x4=12i. I need to find the polynomial equation.



I tried to use (xx1)(xx2)(xx3)(xx4) but the calculations are too "heavy" and too long.There is an easier method to solve this?
Right answer: x43x2+18x20



Answer



Just to give a different approach, from x1+x2+x3+x4=0 and x1x2x3x4=20, we know the answer has the form



P(x)=x4+ax2+bx20



Now



P(1)=(25)(2+5)(2i)(2i)=(45)(4)=4



and




P(1)=(5)(5)(22i)(2+2i)=(5)(4+4)=40



so 1+a+b20=4 and 1+ab20=40, or



a+b=15ab=21




from which we find 2a=6 and 2b=36, so a=3 and b=18.



Whether this is "easier" than computing the two quadratic factors of P(x) and simply multiplying them together is unclear.


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