MHB Finding the Largest Root of a Polynomial Using Synthetic Division

  • Thread starter Thread starter karush
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Gre Root
AI Thread Summary
The polynomial \(x^3 - 3x^2 - 6x + 8\) has -2 as the smallest root. Using synthetic division, the polynomial is factored down to \(x^2 - 5x + 4\). This quadratic factors further into \((x - 1)(x - 4) = 0\). The roots of this quadratic are 1 and 4, making 4 the largest root. Therefore, the largest root of the polynomial is 4.
karush
Gold Member
MHB
Messages
3,240
Reaction score
5
$\tiny{GRE.al.06}$
For the polynomial $x^3-3x^2-6x+8\quad -2$ is the smallest root.
Find the largest root.
$a.\, -1 \quad b.\, 1 \quad c.\, 2 \quad d.\, 3 \quad e.\, 4$
Since -2 is a root then use synthetic division

$\begin{array}{r|rrrr}
-2&1&-3&-6&8\\
& & -2& 10&-8\\
\hline
&1& -5& 4&0
\end{array}$
then
$x^{2}- 5 x+4=(x-1)(x-4)=0$
so the largest factor is 4

hopefully
I doubt if it could done without some calculation maybe

 
Last edited:
Mathematics news on Phys.org
the largest root is 4
 
Thread 'Video on imaginary numbers and some queries'
Hi, I was watching the following video. I found some points confusing. Could you please help me to understand the gaps? Thanks, in advance! Question 1: Around 4:22, the video says the following. So for those mathematicians, negative numbers didn't exist. You could subtract, that is find the difference between two positive quantities, but you couldn't have a negative answer or negative coefficients. Mathematicians were so averse to negative numbers that there was no single quadratic...
Insights auto threads is broken atm, so I'm manually creating these for new Insight articles. In Dirac’s Principles of Quantum Mechanics published in 1930 he introduced a “convenient notation” he referred to as a “delta function” which he treated as a continuum analog to the discrete Kronecker delta. The Kronecker delta is simply the indexed components of the identity operator in matrix algebra Source: https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/what-exactly-is-diracs-delta-function/ by...
Thread 'Unit Circle Double Angle Derivations'
Here I made a terrible mistake of assuming this to be an equilateral triangle and set 2sinx=1 => x=pi/6. Although this did derive the double angle formulas it also led into a terrible mess trying to find all the combinations of sides. I must have been tired and just assumed 6x=180 and 2sinx=1. By that time, I was so mindset that I nearly scolded a person for even saying 90-x. I wonder if this is a case of biased observation that seeks to dis credit me like Jesus of Nazareth since in reality...

Similar threads

Replies
2
Views
1K
Replies
8
Views
1K
Replies
3
Views
1K
Replies
2
Views
1K
Replies
6
Views
1K
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
1K
Back
Top