Solve the equation x^6-2x^5+3x^4-3x^2+2x-1=0

Tristin Wu

Tristin Wu

Answered question

2022-12-03

Solve the equation x 6 2 x 5 + 3 x 4 3 x 2 + 2 x 1 = 0
Let's divide both sides of the equation by x 3 0 (as x = 0 is obviously not a solution, we can consider x 0). Then we have
x 3 2 x 2 + 3 x 3 1 x + 2 1 x 2 1 x 3 = 0 ( x 3 1 x 3 ) 2 ( x 2 1 x 2 ) + 3 ( x 1 x ) = 0
What do we do now? If we say y = x 1 x , we won't be able to express ( x 2 1 x 2 ) in terms of y because of the minus sign as ( a b ) 2 = a 2 2 a b + b 2 . On the other side,
y 3 = x 3 1 x 3 3 ( x 1 x ) x 3 1 x 3 = y 3 + 3 y
I think this is a traditional issue when solving reciprocal equations, but I can't figure out how to deal with it.

Answer & Explanation

Chaya Proctor

Chaya Proctor

Beginner2022-12-04Added 10 answers

Noticing that x = 1 and x = 1 are roots and by long division, you'll get x 6 2 x 5 + 3 x 4 3 x 2 + 2 x 1 = ( x 1 ) ( x + 1 ) ( x 4 2 x 3 + 4 x 2 2 x + 1 )
Considering x 4 2 x 3 + 4 x 2 2 x + 1 = 0, you now divide by x 2 and you'll get x 2 + 1 x 2 2 ( x + 1 x ) + 4 = 0 which, using the substitution y = x + 1 x , gives y 2 2 y + 2 = 0.
I believe you can finish this from here :)
Poklekom5zc

Poklekom5zc

Beginner2022-12-05Added 1 answers

( x 3 1 x 3 ) 2 ( x 2 1 x 2 ) + 3 ( x 1 x ) = 0
There are two roots ± 1 associated with the factor of x 1 / x. To find the other roots, divide by x 1 / x to get
x 2 + 1 + 1 x 2 2 ( x + 1 x ) + 3 = 0
Noticing that ( x + 1 / x ) 2 = x 2 + 2 + 1 / x 2 we have
( x + 1 / x ) 2 2 ( x + 1 / x ) + 2 = 0 ,
This quadratic has solutions x + 1 / x = 1 ± i. Then you need to solve x 2 ( 1 ± i ) x + 1 = 0 to get the final roots.

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