Prakhar Birla - Grade 12 C

Zeros of cubic function - Type I

Mathematics Portfolio Type I – By Prakhar Birla Grade 12 C

Page 1
Q1. Consider the cubic equation: f(x) = 2x3 + 6x2 – 4.5x – 13.5 …
A1. The graph:
y f(x)=2x^3 + 6x^2 - 4.5x - 13.5

x
-4 -3 -2 -1 1 2

-5

Window values:
-10
x Min: -4.3556517
x Max: 2.98128718

y Min: -17.61584636
-15 y Max: 7.191107

The roots of the equation are:

• x = 1.5
• x = -1.5
• x = -3.0

Proof using the remainder theorem:

• f(x) = 2x3 + 6x2 – 4.5x –13.5
f(1.5) = 2(1.5)3 + 6(1.5)2 – 4.5(1.5) – 13.5
f(1.5) = 0
• f(x) = 2x3 + 6x2 – 4.5x -13.5
f(-1.5) = 2(-1.5)3 + 6(-1.5)2 – 4.5(-1.5) –13.5
f(-1.5) = 0
• f(x) = 2x3 + 6x2 – 4.5x -13.5
f(-3.0) = 2(-3.0)3 + 6(-3.0)2 – 4.5(-3.0) –13.5
f(-3.0) = 0

Equations of tangent lines (average of two of roots):

• Roots 1.5 and -1.5
Average = [1.5 + (-1.5)]/2 = 0
f(0) = 2(0)3 + 6(0)2 – 4.5(0) –13.5
f(0) = -13.5

f `(x) = 6x2 + 12x – 4.5

Slope at (0, -13.5) will be: f `(0) = 6(0)2 + 12(0) – 4.5 = -4.5
Equation of tangent: y – y1 = m(x – x1), where x1= 0; y1= -13.5; m= -4.5
y = -4.5x – 13.5

Mathematics Portfolio Type I – By Prakhar Birla Grade 12 C

Page 2
 y f(x)=2x^3 + 6x^2 - 4.5x - 13.5
y=-4.5x-13.5
5

x
-4 -3 -2 -1 1 2

-5

-10

-15

• Roots 1.5 and -3.0

Average = [1.5 + (-3.0)]/2 = -0.75
f(-1.5) = 2(-1.5)3 + 6(-1.5)2 – 4.5(-1.5) –13.5
f(-1.5) = -7.59 ≈ -7.6

Slope at (-0.75, -7.6) will be: f `(-0.75) = 6(-0.75)2 + 12(-0.75) – 4.5 = -10.125
Equation of tangent: y – y1 = m(x – x1), where x1= -1.5; y1= -7.6; m= -10.125
y = -10.125x – 15.2
y f(x)=2x^3 + 6x^2 - 4.5x - 13.5
y=-4.5x-13.5
5

x
-4 -3 -2 -1 1 2

-5

-10

-15

• Roots -1.5 and -3.0

Average = [(-1.5) + (-3.0)]/2 = -2.25
f(-2.25) = 2(-2.25) 3 + 6(-2.25) 2 – 4.5(-2.25) –13.5
f(-2.25) = -4.205 ≈ -4.2

Slope at (-2.25, 4.2) will be: f `(-2.25) = 6(-2.25)2 + 12(-2.25) – 4.5 = -1.125
Equation of tangent: y – y1 = m(x – x1), where x1= -2.25; y1= -4.2; m= -1.125
y = -1.125x + 1.7

Mathematics Portfolio Type I – By Prakhar Birla Grade 12 C

Page 3
 y f(x)=2x^3 + 6x^2 - 4.5x - 13.5
y=-1.125x+1.6875
5

x
-4 -3 -2 -1 1 2

-5

-10

-15

Intersection of equations of tangent with curve:

• y = -4.5x – 13.5
0 = -4.5x – 13.5
x = -3.0
Hence intersection will be (-3.0, 0)
• y = -10.125x – 15.2
0 = -10.125x – 15.2
x = -1.501 ≈ -1.5
Hence intersection will be (-1.5, 0)
• y = -1.125x + 1.7
0 = -1.125x + 1.7
x = 1.511 ≈ 1.5
Hence intersection will be (1.5, 0)

Observation:
The equation of tangent at the average of any two roots intersects the y–axis at the other root i.e. the root
that is not included in the average. This observation holds for all three examined cases.

Conjecture:
The equation of tangent at the average of any two roots will intersects the y–axis at the third root i.e. the
root that is not included in the average.

Mathematics Portfolio Type I – By Prakhar Birla Grade 12 C

Page 4
Q2. Test your conjecture in similar other cubic functions.
A2. Test Equation: g(x) = x3 + 10x2 – 2x – 108
y f(x)=x^3 + 10x^2 - 2x - 108

40

20

x
-25 -20 -15 -10 -5 5 10 15 20

-20

-40

-60

-80

-100

The roots of the equation are:

• x = -9
• x = -4
• x=3
g `(x) = 3x2 + 20x – 2

Equations of tangent lines (average of two of roots):

• Roots -9 and -4
Average = [(-9) + (-4)]/2 = -6.5
g(-6.5) = (-6.5)3 + 10(-6.5)2 – 2(-6.5) – 108
g(-6.5) = 59.375

Slope at (-6.5, 59.375) will be: g `(-6.5) = 3(-6.5)2 + 20(-6.5) – 2 = -6.25

Intersection of equations of tangent with curve: y – y1 = m(x – x1), where x1= -6.5; y1= 59.375;
m= -6.25
At y=0, x=3

Mathematics Portfolio Type I – By Prakhar Birla Grade 12 C

Page 5
 y f(x)=x^3 + 10x^2 - 2x - 108
y=-5.25x+18.75

40

20

x
-25 -20 -15 -10 -5 5 10 15 20

-20

-40

-60

-80

-100

• Roots -9 and 3
Average = [(-9) + 3]/2 = -3
g(-3) = (-3)3 + 10(-3)2 – 2(-3) – 108
g(-3) = -36

Slope at (-3, -36) will be: g `(-3) = 3(-3)2 + 20(-3) – 2 = -36

Intersection of equations of tangent with curve: y – y1 = m(x – x1), where x1= -3; y1= -36; m= -36
At y=0, x=-4
y f(x)=x^3 + 10x^2 - 2x - 108
y=-35x-144

40

20

x
-25 -20 -15 -10 -5 5 10 15 20

-20

-40

-60

-80

-100

• Roots -4 and 3
Average = [(-9) + 3]/2 = -0.5
g(-0.5) = (-0.5)3 + 10(-0.5)2 – 2(-0.5) – 108
g(-0.5) = -104

Slope at (-0.5, -36) will be: g `(-0.5) = 3(-0.5)2 + 20(-0.5) – 2 = -12.3

Intersection of equations of tangent with curve: y – y1 = m(x – x1), where x1= -0.5; y1= -104; m=

Mathematics Portfolio Type I – By Prakhar Birla Grade 12 C

Page 6
 -12.3
At y=0, x=-9
y f(x)=x^3 + 10x^2 - 2x - 108
y=-11.25x-110.25

40

20

x
-25 -20 -15 -10 -5 5 10 15 20

-20

-40

-60

-80

-100

With this we can conclude that our conjecture stands for other cubic equations as well.
Q3. Prove your conjecture.
A3. Let f(x) = k(x-a)(x-b)(x-c)
 ab
Taking the average of two roots i.e. root a and root b at x  
 2 
Then y will be
  ab   ab   ab  
yk   a   b   c 
  2   2   2  

Simplifying the equation:

  a  b  2a   a  b  2b   a  b  2c  
k    
 2   2   2  
  b  a   b  a   a  b  2c  
k 
 8 
  a  b 2
 a  b  2c  
 k  
 8 

Mathematics Portfolio Type I – By Prakhar Birla Grade 12 C

Page 7
As y = k (x  a )(x  b)(x  c)
ln y  ln k  ln( x  a )  ln( x  b)  ln( x  c)
1 1 1 1
f '( x)  0   
y xa xb xc
So, f ( x)  k  ( x  b)( x  c )  ( x  a )( x  c)  ( x  a)( x  b)
 ab     ab    ab    ab     ab     ab     ab  
f '  p     a     b      a     c      b     c  
 2     2     2     2     2     2     2   
  a  r  2a   a  b  2b   a  b  2a   a  b  2c   a  b  2b   a  b  2c  
k         
 2   2   2   2   2   2  
    a  b  2    b  a   a  b  2c     a  b   a  b  2c   
k       
  4
 
4   4  
    a  b  2    b  a   a  b  2c     b  a   a  b  2c   
k       
  4
 
4   4  
  a  b 2 
 k  
 4 

So the equation is:

 k (a  b) 2 (a  b  2c)   kx(a  b) 2 a( a  b)(a  b) 2
y    
 8  4 8
kx (a  b) 2 k (a  b)(a  b) 2 a(a  b) 2 (a  b  2c)
y  
4 8 8
kx (a  b) k (a  b)(a  b)  k (a  b) (a  b  2c)
2 2 2
y 
4 8
kx(a  b) 2
 k (a  b)  k (a  b  2c)  As y is zero when the tangent cuts the x-axis
 ( a  b) 2  
4  8
 k (a  b)  k (a  b  2c) 
kx   
 2
2 px  ka  kb  ka  kb  2kc
2kx  2kc
Or, x  c
As x = c, which is the third i.e. the root not included in the average, we can conclude that our conjecture
is true for all cubic equations. Restating it “The equation of tangent at the average of any two roots
will intersects the y–axis at the third root i.e. the root that is not included in the average.”

Mathematics Portfolio Type I – By Prakhar Birla Grade 12 C

Page 8
Q4. Investigate the above properties with cubic equations which have:
(a) one root
(b) two roots
(c) one real and two complex roots.
A4.
(a) Let us consider the equation g(x) = 6x3 + 7x2 + 8x + 9

Mathematics Portfolio Type I – By Prakhar Birla Grade 12 C

Page 9
 y f(x)=(6) x^3 + (7) x^2 + (8) x + (9)

x
-8 -6 -4 -2 2 4 6 8

-2

-4

-6

-8

The root of the equation is:

 x = -1.1456

Proof using the remainder theorem:

 f(x) = 6x3 + 7x2 + 8x + 9
f(-1.1456) = 6(-1.1456)3 + 7(-1.1456)2 + 8(-1.1456) + 9
f(-1.1456) = 0

Equation of the tangent line (average of two of roots):

 Roots -1.1456 and -1.1456
Average = [(-1.1456) + (-1.1456)]/2 = -1.1456
f(-1.1456) = 6(-1.1456)3 + 7(-1.1456)2 + 8(-1.1456) + 9
f(-1.1456) = 0

f `(x) = 18x2 + 14x + 8

Slope at (-1.1456, 0) will be: f `(-1.1456) = 18(-1.1456)2 + 14(-1.1456) + 8 = 15.6
Equation of tangent: y – y1 = m(x – x1), where x1= -1.1456; y1= 0; m= 15.6
At y = 0, x = -1.1456 i.e. the third root (as all three roots are equal)

Mathematics Portfolio Type I – By Prakhar Birla Grade 12 C

Page 10
 y f(x)=(6) x^3 + (7) x^2 + (8) x + (9)

20 y=15.5848x+17.855

15

10

x
-20 -15 -10 -5 5 10 15 20 25

-5

-10

-15

-20

This shows that the conjecture is applicable to a cubic equation with one root, although not
required.

(b) Let us consider the equation g(x) = x3 + 4 x2 + 5x + 2

y f(x)=(1) x^3 + (4) x^2 + (5) x + (2)

x
-8 -6 -4 -2 2 4 6 8

-2

-4

-6

-8

The roots of the equation are:

• x = -2
• x = -1
• x = -1

Proof using the remainder theorem:

• f(x) = x3 +4 x2 + 5x + 2
f(-1) = (-1)3 + 4(-1)2 + 5(-1) + 2
f(-1) = 0

Mathematics Portfolio Type I – By Prakhar Birla Grade 12 C

Page 11
 • f(x) = x3 +4 x2 + 5x + 2
f(-2) = (-2)3 + 4(-2)2 + 5(-2) + 2
f(-2) = 0

Equation of the tangent line (average of two of roots):

• Roots -2 and -1
Average = [(-1) + (-2)]/2 = -1.5
f(-1.5) = (-1.5)3 + 4(-1.5)2 + 5(-1.5) + 2
f(-1.5) = 0.125

f `(x) = 3x2 + 7x + 5
Slope at (-1.5, 0.125) will be: f `(-1.1456) = 3(-1.1456)2 + 7(-1.1456) + 5 = -0.25
Equation of tangent: y – y1 = m(x – x1), where x1= -1.5; y1= 0.125; m= -0.25
At y = 0, x = -1 i.e. the third root
y f(x)=(1) x^3 + (4) x^2 + (5) x + (2)
y=0x+0
8

x
-8 -6 -4 -2 2 4 6 8

-2

-4

-6

-8

This again shows that the conjecture is applicable to a cubic equation with two roots.
(b) Let us consider the equation g(x) = x3 + x2 + x + 1
y f(x)=(6) x^3 + (9) x^2 + (3) x + (68)

x
-8 -6 -4 -2 2 4 6 8

-2

-4

-6

-8

The roots of the equation are:

• x = -1
• x = 1i
Mathematics Portfolio Type I – By Prakhar Birla Grade 12 C
Page 12
 • x = -1i

Proof using the remainder theorem:

• f(x) = x3 + x2 + x + 1
f(-1) = (-1)3 + (-1)2 + (-1) + 1
f(-1) = 0
• f(x) = x3 + x2 + x + 1
f(1i) = (1i)3 + (1i)2 + (1i) + 1
f(1i) = 0
• f(x) = x3 + x2 + x + 1
f(-1i) = (-1i)3 + (-1i)2 + (-1i) + 1
f(-1i) = 0

Equation of the tangent line (average of two of roots):

• Roots -1 and 1i
Average = [(-1) + (-1i)]/2 = -0.5 – 0.5i
f(-0.5 – 0.5i) = (-0.5 – 0.5i)3 + (-0.5 – 0.5i)2 + (-0.5 – 0.5i) + 1
f(-0.5 – 0.5i) = 0.75 + 0.25i

f `(x) = 3x2 + 2x + 1
Slope at (-0.5 – 0.5i, 0.75 + 0.25i) will be: f `(-0.5 – 0.5i) = 3(-0.5 – 0.5i)2 + 1(-0.5 – 0.5i) + 1 =
-0.5i
Equation of tangent: y – y1 = m(x – x1), where x1= -0.5 – 0.5i; y1= 0.75 + 0.25i; m= -0.5i
At y = 0, x = -i i.e. the third root
Hence this cubic equation also complies with the conjecture stated.

“The equation of tangent at the average of any two roots will

intersects the y–axis at the third root i.e. the root that is not
included in the average.”

Mathematics Portfolio Type I – By Prakhar Birla Grade 12 C

Page 13
Bibliography
1. Graphing Software – Graph v1.4
2. Document Editor – Microsoft Word 2003
3. Advanced Equation Editor – Design Science MathType 5.2c

Mathematics Portfolio Type I – By Prakhar Birla Grade 12 C

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