Polynomial Division: Finding Q(x) for P(x)$x^3$

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the existence of a polynomial Q(x) such that the product P(x)Q(x) results in a polynomial of the form x^3. The context includes theoretical exploration and mathematical reasoning regarding polynomial division and the properties of polynomial roots.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that for any polynomial P(x), there exists a polynomial Q(x) such that P(x)Q(x) is a polynomial of x^3.
  • One participant suggests a method involving the roots of P(x) and expresses that if P(x) has complex coefficients, the polynomial can be expressed in terms of its roots.
  • A later reply indicates that the proposed method also applies to real polynomials, noting that non-real roots occur in conjugate pairs, ensuring that Q(x) remains a real polynomial.
  • Another participant poses a specific example with P(x) = x^2 + x + 3 and asks for Q(x) such that the product yields a polynomial of the form f(x^3).

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the existence of Q(x) under certain conditions, but there are multiple approaches and methods discussed, indicating that the topic remains somewhat contested and unresolved.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes assumptions about the nature of the coefficients of P(x) and the implications of using complex versus real numbers, which may affect the validity of the proposed methods.

kaliprasad
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Let P(x) be a polynomial of x. Show that there exists a polynomial Q(x) such that P(x)Q(x) is a polynomial of $x^3$
 
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kaliprasad said:
Let P(x) be a polynomial of x. Show that there exists a polynomial Q(x) such that P(x)Q(x) is a polynomial of $x^3$
my solution :
let:
$P(x)=a_nx^n+a_{n-1}x^{n-1}+a_{n-2}x^{n-2}+------+a_0,(a_n\neq0)$ is a polynomial of $x$ with degree n
$M(x^2)=b_n(x^2)^n+b_{n-1}(x^2)^{n-1}+b_{n-2}(x^2)^{n-2}+------+b_0,\\
=b_n(x^{2n})+b_{n-1}(x^{2n-2})+------+b_0,(b_n\neq 0)$ is a polynomial of $x^2$ with degree n
$N(x^3)=c_n(x^3)^n+c_{n-1}(x^3)^{n-1}+c_{n-2}(x^3)^{n-2}+------+c_0,$
$=c_n(x^{3n})+c_{n-1}(x^{3n-3})+------+c_0,$ is a polymonial of $x^3$ with degree n
$(c_n\neq 0)$
set :$P(x)\times M(x^2)+R(x)=N(x^3)$ ,$R(x)$ is a polymonial of $x$ with degree less than n
if $R(x)=0 $ then $Q(x)=\dfrac {N(x^3)}{P(x)}=M(x^2)$
else $Q(x)=\dfrac {N(x^3)-R(x)}{P(x)}$
so this $Q(x)$ always exists
 
Last edited:
Albert said:
my solution :
else $Q(x)=\dfrac {N(x^3)-R(x)}{P(x)}=M(x^2)$
so this $Q(x)$ always exists

in the else part the condition is not met.
 
kaliprasad said:
in the else part the condition is not met.
in this case $Q(x)=\dfrac {N(x^3)-R(x)}{P(x)}$
 
Albert said:
in this case $Q(x)=\dfrac {N(x^3)-R(x)}{P(x)}$

but we want $N(x^3) = P(x)Q(x)$ which does not satisfy original requirement
 
exam :
$x^3+1=(x+1)(x^2-x+1)+R(x), \,\, P(x)=x+1, Q(x)=x^2-x+1,R(x)=0$
$N(x^3)=x^3+1$ is a multiple of $x+1$
$x^3+2=(x+1)(x^2-x+1)+1---(A)$
the coefficient of $(A)\in Z$
$N(x^3)=x^3+2$ is not a multipl of $x+1$
but $x^3+2=x^3+(2^{\frac {1}{3}})^3=(x+2^{\frac {1}{3}})(x^2-2^{\frac {1}{3}}x+2^{\frac {2}{3}})---(B)$
here $P(x)=(x+2^{\frac {1}{3}}),Q(x)=(x^2-2^{\frac {1}{3}}x+2^{\frac {2}{3}})$
the coefficient of $(B)\in R$
the diversity occurs because the coefficients coming from different set
 
Last edited:
Albert said:
exam :
$x^3+1=(x+1)(x^2-x+1)+R(x), \,\, P(x)=x+1, Q(x)=x^2-x+1,R(x)=0$
$N(x^3)=x^3+1$ is a multiple of $x+1$
$x^3+2=(x+1)(x^2-x+1)+1---(A)$
the coefficient of $(A)\in Z$
$N(x^3)=x^3+2$ is not a multipl of $x+1$
but $x^3+2=x^3+(2^{\frac {1}{3}})^3=(x+2^{\frac {1}{3}})(x^2-2^{\frac {1}{3}}x+2^{\frac {2}{3}})---(B)$
here $P(x)=(x+2^{\frac {1}{3}}),Q(x)=(x^2-2^{\frac {1}{3}}x+2^{\frac {2}{3}})$
the coefficient of $(B)\in R$
the diversity occurs because the coefficients coming from different set

if $P(x) = x^2 + 1$ then $ Q(x) = x^4 - x^2 - 1$
if $P(X) = x^2 +x + 1$ then $Q(x) = x - 1$
if $(P(X) = x^2 + x + 3$ then how do you find Q(x)
note: more than one Q(x) may be there and we are interested in anyone
 
kaliprasad said:
if $P(x) = x^2 + 1$ then $ Q(x) = x^4 - x^2 - 1$
if $P(X) = x^2 +x + 1$ then $Q(x) = x - 1$
if $(P(X) = x^2 + x + 3$ then how do you find Q(x)
note: more than one Q(x) may be there and we are interested in anyone
Do you consider $(x^2+1)(x^4-x^2-1)=x^6-2x^2-1=(x^3)^2-2(x^3)^\frac{2}{3}-1$ as a polynomial of $x^3$?
 
Albert said:
Do you consider $(x^2+1)(x^4-x^2-1)=x^6-2x^2-1=(x^3)^2-2(x^3)^\frac{2}{3}-1$ as a polynomial of $x^3$?
My mistake I meant
$x^4-x^2+1$ giving $x^6+1$
 
  • #10
kaliprasad said:
Let P(x) be a polynomial of x. Show that there exists a polynomial Q(x) such that P(x)Q(x) is a polynomial of $x^3$
[sp][This method only works if the coefficients are allowed to be complex numbers.]
Let $a_1,\ldots,a_n$ be the (complex) roots of $P(x)$, so that $$P(x) = c\prod_{j=1}^n(x-a_j)$$ for some constant $c.$ The identity $x^3 - a^3 = (x-a)(x^2 + ax + a^2)$ shows that $$c\prod_{j=1}^n(x^3-a_j^3) = c\prod_{j=1}^n(x-a_j)(x^2 + a_jx + a_j^2).$$ So let $$Q(x) = \prod_{j=1}^n (x^2 + a_jx + a_j^2).$$ Then $$P(x)Q(x) = c\prod_{j=1}^n(x^3-a_j^3),$$ which is clearly a polynomial in $x^3.$

[/sp]
Edit:
[sp]In fact, that method also works for real polynomials. If $P(x)$ is a polynomial with real coefficients, then its non-real roots occur in adjoint pairs. Suppose that $x-a_j$, $x-a_k$ is a pair of adjoint factors (so $a_k$ is the complex conjugate of $a_j$). Then $x^2 + a_kx + a_k^2$ is the complex conjugate of $x^2 + a_jx + a_j^2$. So the product $(x^2 + a_jx + a_j^2)(x^2 + a_kx + a_k^2)$ will be real.

Thus any non-real factors of $Q(x)$ will also occur in complex conjugate pairs, and therefore $Q(x)$ will be a real polynomial.

[/sp]
 
Last edited:
  • #11
answer for kaliprasad's question:
$P(x)=x^2+x+3$
find $Q(x)=?$
to make: $P(x)\times Q(x)=f(x^3)$
let $Q(x)=x^4+ax^3+bx^2+cx+9$
$P(x)Q(x)=x^6+(a+1)x^5+(3+a+b)x^4+(3a+b+c)x^3+(9+3b+c)x^2+(9+3c)x+27=f(x^3)$
so we have $a=-1,b=-2,c=-3$
$Q(x)=x^4-x^3-2x^2-3x+9$
$P(x)Q(x)=x^6-8x^3+27$ is a polynomial of $x^3$
here $Q(x)$ is not unique,there are many other "possibilities"
 
  • #12
kaliprasad said:
Let P(x) be a polynomial of x. Show that there exists a polynomial Q(x) such that P(x)Q(x) is a polynomial of $x^3$

we have
$P(x) = \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} a_nx^n$
this can be written as $A(x) + x B(x) + x^2C(x)$
where
$A(x) = \sum_{k=0}^{\infty} a_{3n}x^{3n}$
$B(x) = \sum_{k=0}^{\infty} a_{3n+1}x^{3n}$
$C(x) = \sum_{k=0}^{\infty} a_{3n+2}x^{3n}$
Now let
$R(x) = A(x) + x B(x)w + x^2C(x)w^2$ where w is cube root of one
and
$S(x) = A(x) + x B(x)w^2 + x^2C(x)w$
using $(a+b+c)(a+bw^2+cw)(a+bw+cw^2) = a^3+b^3+c^3 - 3abc$
we get $P(x)R(x)S(x) = (\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} a_{3n}x^{3n})^3 + (\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} a_{3n+1}x^{3n})^3 x^3 + (\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} a_{3n+2}x^{3n})^3x^6$
$- 3(\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} a_{3n}x^{3n})(\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} a_{3n+1}x^{3n})(\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} a_{3n+2}x^{3n})x^3$
which is a polynomial of $x^3$
now using $(a+bw+cw^2)( a+ bw^2 +cw) = (a^2+b^2+c^2-ab-bc-ca)$
we have
$R(x)S(x) = (A(x) + x B(x)w + x^2C(x)w^2)(A(x) + x B(x)w^2 + x^2C(x)w)$
$= (\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} a_{3n}x^{3n})^2 + (\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} a_{3n+1}x^{3n})^2)x^2 + (\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} a_{3n+1}x^{3n})^2x^4$
$- (\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} a_{3n+1}x^{3n}) (\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} a_{3n+1}x^{3n})x$
$- (\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} a_{3n+1}x^{3n}))(\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} a_{3n+2}x^{3n})x^3$
$-(\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} a_{3n+2}x^{3n}\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} a_{3n}x^{3n})x^3$
multiplying by the above polynomial say Q(x) we get a polynomial of $x^3$
 

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