Quandaries
and Queries
i am a student in grade 12th secondary level question
If a quadratic has real root, its discriminant b2-4ac>=0 Is there any similar condition or method by which you can find whether roots of a cubic equation are real or not?
Hi,
Every polynomial equation has a discriminant D, which is the product squared of the diferences of all pairs of roots. ( If the roots are labeled x1, x2, ... up to xn, then D = P2 where P = the product of xi - xj for i < j.) The easiest way to compute D for a cubic is to reduce the cubic to the form y3 + py = q. (To do this, divide through by the coefficient of x3 to get x3 + ax2 + bx + c = 0, then make the substitution x = y - (a/3).) The discriminant is D = -4p3 - 27 q2. The original polynomial has three real roots if D is greater or equal zero, and two imaginary roots if D is negative. (A cubic always has at lest one real root.) When D = 0 there are repeated roots.
Chris