Cubic equations mathcentre.ac.uk（三次方程mathcentre.ac.uk）.pdfVIP

Cubic equations mc-TY-cubicequations-2009-1 A cubic equation has the form 3 2 ax + bx + cx + d = 0 where a = 0 All cubic equations have either one real root, or three real roots. In this unit we explore why this is so. Then we look at how cubic equations can be solved by spotting factors and using a method called synthetic division. Finally we will see how graphs can help us locate solutions. In order to master the techniques explained here it is vital that you undertake plenty of practice exercises so that they become second nature. After reading this text, and/or viewing the video tutorial on this topic, you should be able to: • explain why cubic equations possess either one real root or three real roots • use synthetic division to locate roots when one root is known • find approximate solutions by drawing a graph Contents 1. Introduction 2 2. Cubic equations and the nature of their roots 2 3. Solving cubic equations 5 4. Using graphs to solve cubic equations 10 c www.mathcentre.ac.uk 1 mathcentre 2009 1. Introduction In this unit we explain what is meant by a cubic equation and how such an equation can be solved. The general strategy for solving a cubic equation is to reduce it to a quadratic equation, and then solve the quadratic by the usual means, either by factorising or using the formula. 2. Cubic equations and the nature of their roots A cubi