How do you find all the real and complex roots of x664=0?

1 Answer
Jan 20, 2016

x=±2,1±3i,1±3i

Explanation:

Knowing the following factoring techniques is imperative:

  • Difference of squares: a2b2=(a+b)(ab)
  • Sum of cubes: a3+b3=(a+b)(a2ab+b2)
  • Difference of cubes: a3b3=(ab)(a2+ab+b2)

x664=0

Apply difference of squares: x6=(x3)2,64=82.

(x3+8)(x38)=0

Use both sum & difference of cubes: x3=(x)3,8=23.

(x+2)(x22x+4)(x2)(x2+2x+4)=0

From here, set each portion of the product equal to 0. The linear factors x+2 and x2 are easiest:

x+2=0x=2
x2=0x=2

The following two quadratic factors can be solved via completing the square or using the quadratic formula.

Solving x22x+4=0:

x=2±4162=2±23i2=1±3i

Solving x2+2x+4=0:

x=2±4162=2±23i2=1±3i