MHB Condition for A Quartic Equation to have a Real Root

  • Thread starter Thread starter anemone
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Condition Root
Click For Summary
The discussion focuses on the condition for the quartic equation y = x^4 + ax^3 + bx^2 + cx + 4 to have a real root, specifically proving that 20a^2 + 20b^2 + 5c^2 ≥ 64. Participants explore various approaches to demonstrate this inequality, emphasizing the importance of analyzing the behavior of the polynomial. The conversation includes attempts to correct previous mistakes and clarify misunderstandings regarding the proof. The mathematical rigor required for such a proof is highlighted, along with the implications of the findings for real roots in quartic equations. Ultimately, the condition is crucial for determining the existence of real solutions in the given polynomial.
anemone
Gold Member
MHB
POTW Director
Messages
3,851
Reaction score
115
Show $20a^2+20b^2+5c^2\ge 64$ if $y=x^4+ax^3+bx^2+cx+4$ has a real root.
 
Mathematics news on Phys.org
Made an oopsie! (Crying)

-Dan
 
Solution of other:
Note that $x=0$ is not a solution for $x^4+ax^3+bx^2+cx+4=0$.

$ax^3+bx^2+cx=-(x^4+4)\\(ax^3+bx^2+cx)^2=-(x^4+4)^2\\\left(2a\dfrac{x^3}{2}+2b\dfrac{x^2}{2}+cx \right)=-(x^4+4)^2 \le (4a^2+4b^2+c^2)\left(\dfrac{x^6}{4}+\dfrac{x^4}{4}+x^2\right)$
by the CauchySchwarz inequality

This gives
$4a^2+4b^2+c^2\ge \dfrac{4(x^4+4)^2}{x^6+x^4+4x^2}$

Let $t=x^2$, now, we have to prove $\dfrac{4(t^2+4)^2}{t^3+t^2+4t}\ge \dfrac{64}{5}$, i.e. $\dfrac{(t^2+4)^2}{t^3+t^2+4t}\ge \dfrac{16}{5}$.

This is true since $\dfrac{(t^2+4)^2}{t^3+t^2+4t}\ge \dfrac{16}{5}$ implies $5(t^4+8t^2+16)\ge 16t^3+16t^2+64t$, or $(t-2)^2(5t^2+4t+20)\ge 0$.
 
Seemingly by some mathematical coincidence, a hexagon of sides 2,2,7,7, 11, and 11 can be inscribed in a circle of radius 7. The other day I saw a math problem on line, which they said came from a Polish Olympiad, where you compute the length x of the 3rd side which is the same as the radius, so that the sides of length 2,x, and 11 are inscribed on the arc of a semi-circle. The law of cosines applied twice gives the answer for x of exactly 7, but the arithmetic is so complex that the...

Similar threads

Replies
1
Views
1K
Replies
1
Views
1K
Replies
16
Views
4K
Replies
6
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
1K
Replies
3
Views
1K
Replies
2
Views
1K
Replies
4
Views
1K