Chapter Review
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Recall the Conjugate Root Theorem.
5-sqrt(3), sqrt(2)
To find two additional roots of P(x)=0, let's recall the first part of the Conjugate Root Theorem.
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If P(x) is a polynomial with rational coefficients, then any irrational roots of P(x)=0 occur in conjugate pairs. |
The above statement tell us that if a + sqrt(b) is an irrational root, then a - sqrt(b) is also a root. Let's use this to find an additional irrational root.
| Hypotheses | Conclusion |
|---|---|
| P(x) has rational coefficients | 5-sqrt(3) is also a root of P(x) |
| 5+sqrt(3) is an irrational root of P(x)=0 | |
| P(x) has rational coefficients | sqrt(2) is also a root of P(x) |
| - sqrt(2) is an irrational root of P(x)=0 |
The two additional roots that we can know for certain using the Conjugate Root Theorem are 5-sqrt(3) and sqrt(2).