The cubic keeps three relations
A quadratic has at most 2 zeros. A cubic, with highest power x³, has at most 3.
x³ − 6x² + 11x − 6 crosses the x-axis at 1, 2 and 3. Step 1 of 4
- The curve of
x³ − 6x² + 11x − 6crosses the x-axis at 1, 2 and 3. - Add the zeros: 1 + 2 + 3 = 6. And
−b/a = 6. - Add the products of pairs: 1×2 + 2×3 + 3×1 = 11. And
c/a = 11. - Multiply the zeros: 1 × 2 × 3 = 6. And
−d/a = 6.
The rule
A cubic polynomial has the form ax³ + bx² + cx + d, with a not 0.
Suppose the cubic has three zeros α, β and γ. Then:
α + β + γ = −b/a. αβ + βγ + γα = c/a. αβγ = −d/a.
The middle line adds products of two zeros at a time.
One cubic, checked
2x³ − 5x² − x + 6 has zeros 2, −1 and 3/2. First check each one.
| Input | Working | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 16 − 20 − 2 + 6 | 0 |
| −1 | −2 − 5 + 1 + 6 | 0 |
| 3/2 | 27/4 − 45/4 − 6/4 + 24/4 | 0 |
Here a = 2, b = −5, c = −1 and d = 6.
| Relation | From the zeros | From the coefficients |
|---|---|---|
| sum | 2 − 1 + 3/2 = 5/2 | −b/a = 5/2 |
| pairs | −2 − 3/2 + 3 = −1/2 | c/a = −1/2 |
| product | 2 × (−1) × 3/2 = −3 | −d/a = −6/2 = −3 |
The pairs are 2×(−1) = −2, (−1)×(3/2) = −3/2 and (3/2)×2 = 3.
Now try it. Three zeros are shown. Tap the cubic that has them.
Loading lab…