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If $x_1$ and $x_2$ are the roots of $$ax^2+bx+c=0$$ then $x_1^3$ and $x_2^3$ are the roots of which equation?

So I tried by solving this for $x_{1/2}$ so I could change it in $(x-x_1^3)(x-x_2^3)$

$x_{1/2}=\large{-b\pm{\sqrt{4ac}}\over2a}$

and from here:

$$\begin{align}x_1^3&=\bigg({-b+{\sqrt{4ac}}\over2a}\bigg)^3\\&={(\sqrt{4ac}-b)^2(\sqrt{4ac}-b)\over8a^3}\\&={(4ac-2b\sqrt{4ac}+b^2)(\sqrt{4ac}-b)\over8a^3}\\&={4ac\sqrt{4ac}-4abc-8abc-2b^2\sqrt{4ac}+b^2\sqrt{4ac}-b^3\over8a^3}\\&={4ac\sqrt{4ac}-12abc-b^2\sqrt{4ac}-b^3\over8a^3}\end{align}$$

but from here I realized it's probably pointless to do this since I wouldn't be able to use it, and I'm out of ideas.

Aleksa
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2 Answers2

6

HINT

We have

$$(x-x_1)(x-x_2)=x^2-(x_1+x_2)x+x_1x_2$$

$$(x-x_1^3)(x-x_2^3)=x^2-(x_1^3+x_2^3)x+x_1^3x_2^3$$

and

$$x_1^3x_2^3=(x_1x_2)^3$$

$$x_1^3+x_2^3=?$$

user
  • 154,566
  • Is this correct considering there's $a$? And I made a mistake in my question saying $(x-x_1^3)(x-x_2^3)$, it should be $(ax-x_1^3)(ax-x_2^3)$ I think – Aleksa Nov 08 '18 at 15:20
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    @Aleksa As noticed we can divide wlog by $a$ and then consider an equation in the form x^2+Bx+C, or consider $$a(x-x_1)(x-x_2)=ax^2-a(x_1+x_2)x+ax_1x_2$$ $$a(x-x_1^3)(x-x_2^3)=ax^2-a(x_1^3+x_2^3)x+ax_1^3x_2^3$$ and proceed comapring the terms. – user Nov 08 '18 at 15:24
  • Yeah, you're right, I got $a^3x^2+b(b^2-3ac)x+c^3=0$, should be correct I think – Aleksa Nov 08 '18 at 15:27
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    @Aleksa Yes I obtain the same result! – user Nov 08 '18 at 15:32
4

Let $B=b/a$ and $C=c/a$. Then $x_1$ and $x_2$ are the roots of $x^2+Bx+C$. Moreover, $x_1+x_2=-B$ and $x_1x_2=C$.

The roots of the polynomial $$x^2-(x_1^3+x_2^3)x+x_1^3x_2^3$$ are $x_1^3$ and $x_2^3$. But $x_1^3x_2^3=C^3$ and $x_1^3+x_2^3=(x_1+x_2)(x_1^2-x_1x_2+x_2^2)=-B(B^2-3C)$

ajotatxe
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