Does this make a cubic out of a quadratic system?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the possibility of deriving cubic equations from a system of quadratic equations related to the invariance of the wave equation. Participants explore the implications of variable transformations and the degrees of resulting polynomials in the context of theoretical physics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents a system of equations and proposes that introducing a lightspeed movement could yield cubic roots from a quadratic system.
  • Another participant questions the distinction between variables and parameters, suggesting that simultaneous consideration of quadratic polynomials could lead to higher-degree polynomials.
  • Some participants express skepticism about the emergence of cubic roots, noting that transformations applied to quadratic equations typically do not increase their degree beyond two.
  • A minimal example is provided where two quadratic equations lead to a quartic equation, illustrating that combining quadratic equations can result in higher-degree polynomials.
  • There is a discussion about the degree of polynomials remaining at most two under linear transformations, with emphasis on the nature of the transformations applied.
  • One participant raises the possibility of a different solution involving cubics while maintaining wave equation invariance, linking it to historical theories in physics.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on whether cubic equations can arise from the given quadratic system. Some argue that the transformations do not allow for higher degrees, while others suggest that alternative solutions involving cubics may exist.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the dependence on the definitions of variables and parameters, as well as the unresolved nature of the transformations and their effects on polynomial degrees.

jk22
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Suppose the system of equations (coming from invariance of the wave equation) :

$$B=-vE\\A^2-B^2/c^2=1\\E^2-c^2D^2=1\\AD=EB/c^2\\B=vA\\AE-BD=1$$

If one adds a lightspeed movement like

$$A=a+f\\B=b-cf\\D=d+h\\E=e-ch$$

Then solving equ 1 for f gives

$$f=(b+ve-vch)/c$$

Equ 4 for h implies

$$h=(ve^2+ac^2d+bcd+vecd)/(vec-ac^2-bc+vc^2d)$$

And finally equ 3 for e yields

$$vce^3\\+e^2(ac^2-vc^2d+bc+2vc^2d)\\+e(vc+vc^3d^2+2c(ac^2d+bcd+c^3vd^2))\\+(-ac^4d^2-bc^3d^2+vc^4d^3-ac^2-bc+vc^2d+2ac^4d^2+2bc^3d^2)=0$$

Hence this should make cubic roots appear in the solving of the system of equation.

Is it a mistake or is it possible to make a cubic come out of a quadratic system of equations ?
 
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It is hard to tell what you consider a variable and what a parameter. Anyway.

We have a system of ##n## quadratic polynomials in, say ##\mathbb{R}[X_k]##.
If you now consider them all simultaneously, which you did via the coordinate transformation, which combines them, then we get polynomials from ##\mathbb{R}[X_1,X_2,\ldots,X_n]##. Their degrees are thus up to ##n^2##.
 
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So normally these cubic root shall simplify to the usual square root of Lorentz transform ? But I don't see how this were possible.
 
jk22 said:
So normally these cubic root shall simplify to the usual square root of Lorentz transform ? But I don't see how this were possible.
I only see an alphabet soup. I'll try to analyse it more specifically.We have polynomials ##p_1,\ldots,p_6 \in \mathbb{R}[A,B,D,E]## with ##\deg p_i \leq 2##. Then you change variables by setting ##A=a+ f\, , \, B=b-c f\, , \, D=d+ h\, , \,E=e-c h## with two additional auxiliary variables ##f,h##.

The resulting equations in ##a,b,d,e,f,h## are still of degree at most two even though in more variables, since we introduced only linear modifications. Sorry, I didn't look close enough on the degree of your transformations before.

Now you should write down your new equations:
\begin{align}
B=-vE &\longrightarrow b-c f = - ve + v c h \\
A^2-\frac{1}{c^2}B^2=1&\longrightarrow (a+f)^2-\frac{1}{c^2}(b-c f)^2=1\\
&\ldots
\end{align}

If you will have written all six equations in the new variables, out multiplied or not, then you can proceed.
Obey the following rules:
  • do not divide
  • trace the numbers of the equations you used to avoid doubles and reversals
  • for the calculation you could rename ##c=\gamma, v=\sigma## in order to distinguish them from variables. Rename them back afterwards.
You should not get polynomials of degree higher than two. The resulting formulas shouldn't be very different to the original ones.
 
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A minimal example: ##a=(b+1)^2## and ##b=(c-1)^2##. Plugging the second equation into the first we get ##a=c^4 - 3 c^3 + 8 c^2 - 8 c + 4##. The two simple quadratic equations produced a messy-looking quartic equation.
 
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So it can go up to ##2^n## ?
 
jk22 said:
So it can go up to ##2^n## ?
ät
Only if the transformation formulas have an according degree. The degree doesn't change in your case, since the transformations are linear: e.g. ##p_1(B,E)=B+vE## is the first polynomial, ##p_1(B,E)=0## the first equation, and ##B=b-cf\, , \,E=e-ch## the transformations. We therefore get ##0=B+vE=(b-cf)+v(e-ch)=b+ve-c(f+h)## which is still linear in the new variables ##b,e,f,h##. The second polynomial is quadratic: ##p_2(A,B)=A^2-\frac{1}{c^2}B^2-1##. Now we change variables again by linear transformations: ##A=a+f\, , \,B=b-cf##, and we expect the degree to be ##2## again:
$$
p_2(A,B)=A^2-\frac{1}{c^2}B^2-1=(a+f)^2-\frac{1}{c^2}(b-cf)^2-1=a^2+\frac{1}{c^2}b^2+2af-\frac{2}{c}bf-1
$$
Now ##\deg p_2= max\{\deg (a^2),\deg(b^2),\deg(af),\deg(bf)\} =2## as expected for ##p_2\in \mathbb{R}[a,b,f,]##.

The degree only raises if the transformations have a degree strictly greater than one, which is not the case in our example.
 
But AE is of degree 2 ?
 
jk22 said:
But AE is of degree 2 ?
Yes, assuming ##A,B,D,E## are the indeterminates.
 
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What if another solution involving cubics could exist as keeping the wave-equation invariant but allowing for any speed of the observer, obtained by superposing to a general uniform motion a light speed movement like here above ?

This could be the theory EPR sought and the one Bell pointed out with his theorem ?

On the other hand it is not the direction wanted since infinite speeds were said to be non physical by Newton, so it is coming back or going back and forth between different trends in history of science masters...
 

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