If you know that 3 + sqrt(11)3+√11 is a root of a polynomial function, then the name given to 3 - sqrt(11)3−√11 , another root of the same function , is a __ conjugate. ?
1 Answer
radical conjugate
Explanation:
A conjugate is an object which when combined with the original object makes some kind of whole.
Note that the difference of squares identity tells us that:
a^2-b^2 = (a-b)(a+b)a2−b2=(a−b)(a+b)
So if
In the case of square roots, this is a radical conjugate.
For example, we find:
(x-(3-sqrt(11)))(x-(3+sqrt(11))) = ((x-3)-sqrt(11))((x-3)+sqrt(11))(x−(3−√11))(x−(3+√11))=((x−3)−√11)((x−3)+√11)
color(white)((x-(3-sqrt(11)))(x-(3+sqrt(11)))) = (x-3)^2-(sqrt(11))^2(x−(3−√11))(x−(3+√11))=(x−3)2−(√11)2
color(white)((x-(3-sqrt(11)))(x-(3+sqrt(11)))) = x^2-6x+9-11(x−(3−√11))(x−(3+√11))=x2−6x+9−11
color(white)((x-(3-sqrt(11)))(x-(3+sqrt(11)))) = x^2-6x-2(x−(3−√11))(x−(3+√11))=x2−6x−2
Note that the resulting quadratic polynomial has only rational coefficients - we have successfully eliminated the irrational