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Write a Polynomial of least degree with rational coefficients that has...

Write a Polynomial of least degree with rational coefficients that has...-example-1
User Tigran
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1 Answer

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We are asked to determine a polynomial that has the following roots:


1+\sqrt[]{2},2-i

As roots. We will use a polynomial of degree 4 that has the roots:


1\pm\sqrt[]{2},2\pm i

This means that the factors of the polynomials are:


(x-(1+\sqrt[]{2})(x-(1-\sqrt[]{2}))(x-(2-i))(x-(2+i))

Now we must expand the given factor in order to get a polynomial of rational coefficients. First, we will take the two first products:


(x-(1+\sqrt[]{2})(x-(1-\sqrt[]{2}))

Now we will reassociate terms inside each parenthesis:


((x-1)-\sqrt[]{2})((x-1)+\sqrt[]{2}))

Now we apply the distributive law using the associated terms:


(x-1)^2+\sqrt[]{2}(x-1)-\sqrt[]{2}(x-1)-(\sqrt[]{2})^2

Simplifying:


(x-1)^2-2

Therefore, the first two products can be replaced by the term we just found:


((x-1)^2-2)(x-(2-i))(x-(2+i))

Now we take the third and fourth products:


(x-(2-i))(x-(2+i))

Now we reassociate the terms:


((x-2)+i))((x-2)-i))

Now we apply the distributive law:


(x-2)^2+i(x-2)-i(x-2)-(i)^2

Simplifying we get:


(x-2)^2+1

Now we can replace this for the third and fourth products:


((x-1)^2-2)((x-2)^2+1)

Now we solve the squares in each parenthesis:


(x^2-2x+1-2)(x^2-4x+4+1)

Adding like terms:


(x^2-2x-1)(x^2-4x+5)

Now we apply the distributive property:


x^4-4x^3+5x^2-2x^3+8x^2-10x-x^2+4x-5

Adding like terms we get:


x^4-6x^3+12x^2-6x-5

And thus we get the desired polynomial.

User Philask
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