If you know that 3 + sqrt(11)3+11 is a root of a polynomial function, then the name given to 3 - sqrt(11)311 , another root of the same function , is a __ conjugate. ?

1 Answer
Dec 17, 2017

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)a2b2=(ab)(a+b)

So if aa and bb are terms consisting of square roots (possibly including ii which is a square root of -11), then we can simplify (a+b)(a+b) by multiplying by the conjugate (a-b)(ab) (or vice versa).

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(311))(x(3+11))=((x3)11)((x3)+11)

color(white)((x-(3-sqrt(11)))(x-(3+sqrt(11)))) = (x-3)^2-(sqrt(11))^2(x(311))(x(3+11))=(x3)2(11)2

color(white)((x-(3-sqrt(11)))(x-(3+sqrt(11)))) = x^2-6x+9-11(x(311))(x(3+11))=x26x+911

color(white)((x-(3-sqrt(11)))(x-(3+sqrt(11)))) = x^2-6x-2(x(311))(x(3+11))=x26x2

Note that the resulting quadratic polynomial has only rational coefficients - we have successfully eliminated the irrational sqrt(11)11 by using the radical conjugate.