How do you find all the real and complex roots of x6−64=0?
1 Answer
Jan 20, 2016
Explanation:
Knowing the following factoring techniques is imperative:
- Difference of squares:
a2−b2=(a+b)(a−b) - Sum of cubes:
a3+b3=(a+b)(a2−ab+b2) - Difference of cubes:
a3−b3=(a−b)(a2+ab+b2)
x6−64=0
Apply difference of squares:
(x3+8)(x3−8)=0
Use both sum & difference of cubes:
(x+2)(x2−2x+4)(x−2)(x2+2x+4)=0
From here, set each portion of the product equal to
x+2=0⇒x=−2
x−2=0⇒x=2
The following two quadratic factors can be solved via completing the square or using the quadratic formula.
Solving
x=2±√4−162=2±2√3i2=1±√3i
Solving
x=−2±√4−162=−2±2√3i2=−1±√3i