How do you solve 64x^3+27=0?#?

2 Answers
Sep 29, 2015

Factor 64x^3+27 = (4x+3)(16x^2-12x+9)

Hence 64x^3 + 27 = 0 when 4x+3 = 0, that is when x = -3/4

Explanation:

In general a^3+b^3 = (a+b)(a^2-ab+b^2)

Putting a=4x and b=3 we find:

64x^3+27 = (4x)^3+3^3 = (4x + 3)((4x)^2 - (4x)*3 + 3^2)

= (4x+3)(16x^2 - 12x + 9)

The remaining quadratic factor has no linear factors with Real coefficients.

You can tell that because its discriminant is negative:

16x^2 - 12x + 9 is of the form ax^2+bx+c with a = 16, b = -12 and c = 9.

Its discriminant Delta is given by the formula:

Delta = b^2 - 4ac = (-12)^2 - (4xx16xx9) = 144 - 576

= -432

In fact, 16x^2 - 12x + 9 = (4x+3omega)(4x+3omega^2)

where omega = -1/2 + sqrt(3)/2i is the primitive cube root of unity.

omega is used when finding all the roots of a general cubic equation.

Sep 30, 2015

x= -3/4

Explanation:

(As an alternate method)
64x^3+27=0

rArr (4x)^3 = (-3)^3

rArr 4x=-3

rArr x= -3/4