Finding general solution of Radical Equation

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the feasibility of finding a general solution for radical equations, particularly those of the form A1 + A2x + A3√(B1 + B2x + B3x^(3/2) + B4√x + B5x^2) + A4√(C1 + C2x + C3x^(3/2) + C4√x + C5x^2) = 0. Participants conclude that while isolating square roots and squaring both sides can simplify the equation, a general solution does not exist for polynomial equations of degree 5 or higher, as per the Abel-Ruffini theorem. The complexity increases with the introduction of higher degree terms, suggesting that solutions may not be expressible in terms of radicals.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of radical equations and their properties.
  • Familiarity with polynomial equations and their degrees.
  • Knowledge of the Abel-Ruffini theorem regarding polynomial solvability.
  • Basic algebraic manipulation skills, including isolating terms and squaring equations.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the Abel-Ruffini theorem in detail to understand its implications on polynomial equations.
  • Learn techniques for solving radical equations, including isolation and squaring methods.
  • Explore numerical methods for approximating solutions to complex radical equations.
  • Investigate alternative forms of solutions for higher-degree equations, such as using numerical solvers or graphical methods.
USEFUL FOR

Mathematicians, algebra students, and anyone interested in the complexities of solving radical equations and polynomial equations of higher degrees.

I_am_learning
Messages
681
Reaction score
16
Before trying to find out the general solution of a radical equation; I would first like to know if it can be found?
For example I have a equation of the form
<br /> \text{A1}+\text{A2} x + \text{A3}\sqrt{\text{B1}+\text{B2} x+\text{B3} x^{\frac{3}{2}}+\text{B4}\sqrt{x}+\text{B5} x^2}+ \text{A4}\sqrt{\text{C1}+\text{C2} x+\text{C3} x^{\frac{3}{2}}+\text{C4}\sqrt{x}+\text{C5} x^2}=0
Can I find x in terms of the Constants A1,A2 etc?
What is the general view on deciding whether a general solution to radical equation exist or not?
I tried searching, but couldn't find out the answer regarding radical equation.
For polynomial equation though, I learned that a general solution doesn't exist for polynomials of degree 5 or higher.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abel–Ruffini_theorem
 
Mathematics news on Phys.org
1. Isolate one of the square roots.
2. Square both sides which will leave a single square root.
3. Isolate that square root.
4. Now you will have an equation involving powers of x of 2 3/2, 1, and 1/2. Let y= x1/2 so that you have a polynomial involving y4, y3, y2, and y.

(There cannot be a "general solution for a polynomial equation" of degee greater than 5 involving only powers and roots of the coefficients because they may have solution that cannot be written in terms of roots.)
 
HallsofIvy said:
1. Isolate one of the square roots.
2. Square both sides which will leave a single square root.
3. Isolate that square root and Square both sides
4. Now you will have an equation involving powers of x of 2 3/2, 1, and 1/2. Let y= x1/2 so that you have a polynomial involving y4, y3, y2, and y.

(There cannot be a "general solution for a polynomial equation" of degee greater than 5 involving only powers and roots of the coefficients because they may have solution that cannot be written in terms of roots.)
(I made a little amendments). Thanks.
1.\text{A1}+\text{A2} x + \text{A3}\sqrt{\text{B1}+\text{B2} x+\text{B3} x^{\frac{3}{2}}+\text{B4}\sqrt{x}+\text{B5} x^2}= \text{A4}\sqrt{\text{C1}+\text{C2} x+\text{C3} x^{\frac{3}{2}}+\text{C4}\sqrt{x}+\text{C5} x^2}
2.\left(\text{A1}+\text{A2} x + \text{A3}\sqrt{\text{B1}+\text{B2} x+\text{B3} x^{\frac{3}{2}}+\text{B4}\sqrt{x}+\text{B5} x^2}\right)^2= \left(\text{A4}\sqrt{\text{C1}+\text{C2} x+\text{C3} x^{\frac{3}{2}}+\text{C4}\sqrt{x}+\text{C5} x^2}\right)^2
\left(\text{A1}^2+\text{A3}^2 \text{B1}+\text{A3}^2 \text{B4} \sqrt{x}+2 \text{A1} \text{A2} x+\text{A3}^2 \text{B2} x+\text{A3}^2 \text{B3} x^{3/2}+\text{A2}^2 x^2+\text{A3}^2 \text{B5} x^2+\text{A3} (2 \text{A1}+2 \text{A2} x) \sqrt{\text{B1}+\text{B4} \sqrt{x}+\text{B2} x+\text{B3} x^{3/2}+\text{B5} x^2}\right)=\text{A4}^2 \text{C1}+\text{A4}^2 \text{C4} \sqrt{x}+\text{A4}^2 \text{C2} x+\text{A4}^2 \text{C3} x^{3/2}+\text{A4}^2 \text{C5} x^2
3.\text{A3} (2 \text{A1}+2 \text{A2} x) \sqrt{\text{B1}+\text{B4} \sqrt{x}+\text{B2} x+\text{B3} x^{3/2}+\text{B5} x^2}=\left(\text{A4}^2 \text{C1}+\text{A4}^2 \text{C4} \sqrt{x}+\text{A4}^2 \text{C2} x+\text{A4}^2 \text{C3} x^{3/2}+\text{A4}^2 \text{C5} x^2\right)-\left(\text{A1}^2+\text{A3}^2 \text{B1}+\text{A3}^2 \text{B4} \sqrt{x}+2 \text{A1} \text{A2} x+\text{A3}^2 \text{B2} x+\text{A3}^2 \text{B3} x^{3/2}+\text{A2}^2 x^2+\text{A3}^2 \text{B5} x^2\right)
\left(\text{A3} (2 \text{A1}+2 \text{A2} x) \sqrt{\text{B1}+\text{B4} \sqrt{x}+\text{B2} x+\text{B3} x^{3/2}+\text{B5} x^2}\right)^2=\left(\left(\text{A4}^2 \text{C1}+\text{A4}^2 \text{C4} \sqrt{x}+\text{A4}^2 \text{C2} x+\text{A4}^2 \text{C3} x^{3/2}+\text{A4}^2 \text{C5} x^2\right)-\left(\text{A1}^2+\text{A3}^2 \text{B1}+\text{A3}^2 \text{B4} \sqrt{x}+2 \text{A1} \text{A2} x+\text{A3}^2 \text{B2} x+\text{A3}^2 \text{B3} x^{3/2}+\text{A2}^2 x^2+\text{A3}^2 \text{B5} x^2\right)\right)^2
4.4 \text{A1}^2 \text{A3}^2 \text{B1}+4 \text{A1}^2 \text{A3}^2 \text{B4} \sqrt{x}+8 \text{A1} \text{A2} \text{A3}^2 \text{B1} x+4 \text{A1}^2 \text{A3}^2 \text{B2} x+4 \text{A1}^2 \text{A3}^2 \text{B3} x^{3/2}+8 \text{A1} \text{A2} \text{A3}^2 \text{B4} x^{3/2}+4 \text{A2}^2 \text{A3}^2 \text{B1} x^2+8 \text{A1} \text{A2} \text{A3}^2 \text{B2} x^2+4 \text{A1}^2 \text{A3}^2 \text{B5} x^2+8 \text{A1} \text{A2} \text{A3}^2 \text{B3} x^{5/2}+4 \text{A2}^2 \text{A3}^2 \text{B4} x^{5/2}+4 \text{A2}^2 \text{A3}^2 \text{B2} x^3+8 \text{A1} \text{A2} \text{A3}^2 \text{B5} x^3+4 \text{A2}^2 \text{A3}^2 \text{B3} x^{7/2}+4 \text{A2}^2 \text{A3}^2 \text{B5} x^4=\text{A1}^4+2 \text{A1}^2 \text{A3}^2 \text{B1}+\text{A3}^4 \text{B1}^2-2 \text{A1}^2 \text{A4}^2 \text{C1}-2 \text{A3}^2 \text{A4}^2 \text{B1} \text{C1}+\text{A4}^4 \text{C1}^2+2 \text{A1}^2 \text{A3}^2 \text{B4} \sqrt{x}+2 \text{A3}^4 \text{B1} \text{B4} \sqrt{x}-2 \text{A3}^2 \text{A4}^2 \text{B4} \text{C1} \sqrt{x}-2 \text{A1}^2 \text{A4}^2 \text{C4} \sqrt{x}-2 \text{A3}^2 \text{A4}^2 \text{B1} \text{C4} \sqrt{x}+2 \text{A4}^4 \text{C1} \text{C4} \sqrt{x}+4 \text{A1}^3 \text{A2} x+4 \text{A1} \text{A2} \text{A3}^2 \text{B1} x+2 \text{A1}^2 \text{A3}^2 \text{B2} x+2 \text{A3}^4 \text{B1} \text{B2} x+\text{A3}^4 \text{B4}^2 x-4 \text{A1} \text{A2} \text{A4}^2 \text{C1} x-2 \text{A3}^2 \text{A4}^2 \text{B2} \text{C1} x-2 \text{A1}^2 \text{A4}^2 \text{C2} x-2 \text{A3}^2 \text{A4}^2 \text{B1} \text{C2} x+2 \text{A4}^4 \text{C1} \text{C2} x-2 \text{A3}^2 \text{A4}^2 \text{B4} \text{C4} x+\text{A4}^4 \text{C4}^2 x+2 \text{A1}^2 \text{A3}^2 \text{B3} x^{3/2}+2 \text{A3}^4 \text{B1} \text{B3} x^{3/2}+4 \text{A1} \text{A2} \text{A3}^2 \text{B4} x^{3/2}+2 \text{A3}^4 \text{B2} \text{B4} x^{3/2}-2 \text{A3}^2 \text{A4}^2 \text{B3} \text{C1} x^{3/2}-2 \text{A3}^2 \text{A4}^2 \text{B4} \text{C2} x^{3/2}-2 \text{A1}^2 \text{A4}^2 \text{C3} x^{3/2}-2 \text{A3}^2 \text{A4}^2 \text{B1} \text{C3} x^{3/2}+2 \text{A4}^4 \text{C1} \text{C3} x^{3/2}-4 \text{A1} \text{A2} \text{A4}^2 \text{C4} x^{3/2}-2 \text{A3}^2 \text{A4}^2 \text{B2} \text{C4} x^{3/2}+2 \text{A4}^4 \text{C2} \text{C4} x^{3/2}+6 \text{A1}^2 \text{A2}^2 x^2+2 \text{A2}^2 \text{A3}^2 \text{B1} x^2+4 \text{A1} \text{A2} \text{A3}^2 \text{B2} x^2+\text{A3}^4 \text{B2}^2 x^2+2 \text{A3}^4 \text{B3} \text{B4} x^2+2 \text{A1}^2 \text{A3}^2 \text{B5} x^2+2 \text{A3}^4 \text{B1} \text{B5} x^2-2 \text{A2}^2 \text{A4}^2 \text{C1} x^2-2 \text{A3}^2 \text{A4}^2 \text{B5} \text{C1} x^2-4 \text{A1} \text{A2} \text{A4}^2 \text{C2} x^2-2 \text{A3}^2 \text{A4}^2 \text{B2} \text{C2} x^2+\text{A4}^4 \text{C2}^2 x^2-2 \text{A3}^2 \text{A4}^2 \text{B4} \text{C3} x^2-2 \text{A3}^2 \text{A4}^2 \text{B3} \text{C4} x^2+2 \text{A4}^4 \text{C3} \text{C4} x^2-2 \text{A1}^2 \text{A4}^2 \text{C5} x^2-2 \text{A3}^2 \text{A4}^2 \text{B1} \text{C5} x^2+2 \text{A4}^4 \text{C1} \text{C5} x^2+4 \text{A1} \text{A2} \text{A3}^2 \text{B3} x^{5/2}+2 \text{A3}^4 \text{B2} \text{B3} x^{5/2}+2 \text{A2}^2 \text{A3}^2 \text{B4} x^{5/2}+2 \text{A3}^4 \text{B4} \text{B5} x^{5/2}-2 \text{A3}^2 \text{A4}^2 \text{B3} \text{C2} x^{5/2}-4 \text{A1} \text{A2} \text{A4}^2 \text{C3} x^{5/2}-2 \text{A3}^2 \text{A4}^2 \text{B2} \text{C3} x^{5/2}+2 \text{A4}^4 \text{C2} \text{C3} x^{5/2}-2 \text{A2}^2 \text{A4}^2 \text{C4} x^{5/2}-2 \text{A3}^2 \text{A4}^2 \text{B5} \text{C4} x^{5/2}-2 \text{A3}^2 \text{A4}^2 \text{B4} \text{C5} x^{5/2}+2 \text{A4}^4 \text{C4} \text{C5} x^{5/2}+4 \text{A1} \text{A2}^3 x^3+2 \text{A2}^2 \text{A3}^2 \text{B2} x^3+\text{A3}^4 \text{B3}^2 x^3+4 \text{A1} \text{A2} \text{A3}^2 \text{B5} x^3+2 \text{A3}^4 \text{B2} \text{B5} x^3-2 \text{A2}^2 \text{A4}^2 \text{C2} x^3-2 \text{A3}^2 \text{A4}^2 \text{B5} \text{C2} x^3-2 \text{A3}^2 \text{A4}^2 \text{B3} \text{C3} x^3+\text{A4}^4 \text{C3}^2 x^3-4 \text{A1} \text{A2} \text{A4}^2 \text{C5} x^3-2 \text{A3}^2 \text{A4}^2 \text{B2} \text{C5} x^3+2 \text{A4}^4 \text{C2} \text{C5} x^3+2 \text{A2}^2 \text{A3}^2 \text{B3} x^{7/2}+2 \text{A3}^4 \text{B3} \text{B5} x^{7/2}-2 \text{A2}^2 \text{A4}^2 \text{C3} x^{7/2}-2 \text{A3}^2 \text{A4}^2 \text{B5} \text{C3} x^{7/2}-2 \text{A3}^2 \text{A4}^2 \text{B3} \text{C5} x^{7/2}+2 \text{A4}^4 \text{C3} \text{C5} x^{7/2}+\text{A2}^4 x^4+2 \text{A2}^2 \text{A3}^2 \text{B5} x^4+\text{A3}^4 \text{B5}^2 x^4-2 \text{A2}^2 \text{A4}^2 \text{C5} x^4-2 \text{A3}^2 \text{A4}^2 \text{B5} \text{C5} x^4+\text{A4}^4 \text{C5}^2 x^4

But now there are x^4,x^{\frac{7}{2}},x^3,x^{\frac{5}{2}},x^2,x^{\frac{3}{2}},x,\sqrt{x}
If I replace x = y^2 then I will have polynomial of degree 8.
So it appears the equation won't have general solution. (Atleast not in terms of roots and powers as you said). But I wonder in what form I might get the solution, if at all.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
1K
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
1K