Creating  Quadratic Functions  (Equations) from Irrational Roots

 

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Given Irrational Roots:    (  –3  +/–  Ö4  )    Locate Roots,  Add & Subtract Roots,  Create Equation

 

                       

 

                                           -4      -3      -2      -1        0     +1     +2      +3    +4

 

Roots: X = –3 – Ö4                               X = –3 + Ö4 

 

Sum & Product:                                            Sum =   6                   Product = + 5

 

Equation (Function):  X2    ( R1 + R2 ) X + ( R1R2)  =  X2 ­–  6X  + 5

 

Changing all signs generates an equivalent but negative quadratic:  Y   or   F(X) =    X2 ­+  6X    5

 

To do this opposite (­–) generation change all signs of (X) terms  then  to check factor equation.

 

 

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Given Irrational Roots:    (  +2  +/–  Ö3  )    Locate Roots,  Add & Subtract Roots,  Create Equation

 

                       

 

                                           -4      -3      -2      -1        0     +1     +2      +3    +4

 

Roots: X =  +2 – Ö3                    X =  +2 + Ö3         

 

Sum & Product:                                    Sum = + 4                           Product = + 7

 

Equation (Function): X2    ( R1 + R2 ) X + ( R1R2)  =  X2 ­+ 4X + 7

 

Changing all signs generates an equivalent but negative polynomial:  Y  or  F(X) =X2 ­ 4X 7

 

To do this opposite ( ­– ) generation change all signs of (x) terms  then  to check factor equation.

 

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Creating Quadratic Functions with  Irrational ( Pairs of Numbers )Roots tends to be more difficult

but using the handy dandy Abstract Trinomial generator  X2    ( R1 + R2 ) X + ( R1R2)   does help!

 

It is derived from (X – R1 ) ( X – R2 ) = ( X2 – R1X  – R2 X + R1 R2 ) = X2  – ( R1 + R2 ) X + R1R2.

Since Given Roots of:   R1 & R2    thus  X = + R1  and   X = + R2   and therefore  (X – R1 ) ( X – R2 ).

 

Tom Love                       Malone College                    Fall 2007