Public-domain books

First Course in the Theory of Equations

Constructions with Ruler and Compasses

Excerpts

Equations

Problems

Exercise Page30

  1. Exercise Page30, problem 1, p. 30

    $x^2 - 5x + 4 = 0$.

    Printed answer:
    • $1$, $4$.

    verified: the printed answer passed a computed check

    How it was checked
    • solve: passes [1, 4]
  2. Exercise Page30, problem 2, p. 30

    $x^2 + 5x + 4 = 0$.

    Printed answer:
    • $-1$, $-4$.

    verified: the printed answer passed a computed check

    How it was checked
    • solve: passes [-1, -4]
  3. Exercise Page30, problem 3, p. 30

    $x^2 + 5x - 4 = 0$.

    Printed answer:
    • $0.7$, $-5.7$.

    verified: the printed answer passed a computed check

    How it was checked
    • solve: passes [0.7, -5.7]
  4. Exercise Page30, problem 4, p. 30

    $x^2 - 5x - 4 = 0$.

    Printed answer:
    • $-0.7$, $5.7$.

    verified: the printed answer passed a computed check

    How it was checked
    • solve: passes [-0.7, 5.7]
  5. Exercise Page30, problem 5, p. 30

    $x^2 - 4x + 4 = 0$.

    Printed answer:
    • $2$, $2$.

    verified: the printed answer passed a computed check

    How it was checked
    • solve: passes [2, 2]
  6. Exercise Page30, problem 6, p. 30

    $x^2 - 3x + 4 = 0$.

    Printed answer:
    • Imaginary.

    verified: the printed answer passed a computed check

    How it was checked
    • solve: passes []

Exercise Page40

  1. Exercise Page40, problem 1, p. 39

    Show by $(16)$ that the roots of $(12)$ are $2\cos 2\pi/7$, $2\cos 4\pi/7$, $2\cos 6\pi/7$.

    Printed answer:
    • (none printed)

    unverified: no computed check settled this one (yet)

    How it was checked
    • other: not a kind the checker handles
  2. Exercise Page40, problem 10, p. 39

    To construct a straight line representing the distance from the circular base of a hemisphere to the parallel plane which bisects the hemisphere.

    Printed answer:
    • See $(11)$, §32.

    unverified: no computed check settled this one (yet)

    How it was checked
    • other: not a kind the checker handles
  3. Exercise Page40, problem 11, p. 39

    To construct lines representing the lengths of the edges of an existing rectangular parallelopiped having a diagonal of length $5$, surface area $24$, and volume $1$, $2$, $3$, or $5$.

    Printed answer:
    • Edges roots of $x^3 - 7x^2 + 12x - v = 0$, all real (§45) and irrational.

    unverified: no computed check settled this one (yet)

    How it was checked
    • other: not a kind the checker handles
  4. Exercise Page40, problem 12, p. 39

    To trisect an angle whose cosine is $\frac{1}{2}$, $\frac{1}{3}$, $\frac{1}{4}$, $\frac{1}{8}$ or $p/q$, where $p$ and $q$ ($q>1$) are integers without a common factor, and $q$ is not divisible by a cube.

    Printed answer:
    • (none printed)

    unverified: no computed check settled this one (yet)

    How it was checked
    • other: not a kind the checker handles
  5. Exercise Page40, problem 13, p. 39

    To trisect an angle whose cosine is $(4a^3 - 3ab^2)/b^3$, where the integer $a$ is numerically less than the integer $b$; for example, $\cos^{-1} 11/16$ if $a = -1$, $b = 4$.

    Printed answer:
    • (none printed)

    unverified: no computed check settled this one (yet)

    How it was checked
    • other: not a kind the checker handles
  6. Exercise Page40, problem 14, p. 39

    To construct the legs of a right triangle, given its area and hypotenuse.

    Printed answer:
    • $\Delta = \text{area}$, $c = \text{hypotenuse}$, squares of legs $\tfrac{1}{2}(c^2 ± \sqrt{c^4 - 16\Delta^2})$.

    unverified: no computed check settled this one (yet)

    How it was checked
    • other: not a kind the checker handles
  7. Exercise Page40, problem 15, p. 39

    To construct the third side of a triangle, given two sides and its area.

    Printed answer:
    • $\Delta$ area, $a$, $b$ given sides, square third side is $a^2 + b^2 ± 2\sqrt{a^2b^2 - 4\Delta^2}$.

    unverified: no computed check settled this one (yet)

    How it was checked
    • other: not a kind the checker handles
  8. Exercise Page40, problem 16, p. 39

    To locate the point $P$ on the side $BC=1$ of a given square $ABCD$ such that the straight line $AP$ cuts $DC$ produced at a point $Q$ for which the length of $PQ$ is a given number $g$. Show that $y=BP$ is a root of a reciprocal quartic equation, and solve it when $g = 10$.

    Printed answer:
    • $y^4 - 2y^3 + (2 - g^2)y^2 - 2y + 1 = 0$, pos. roots $0.09125$, $10.95862$.

    unverified: no computed check settled this one (yet)

    How it was checked
    • other: not a kind the checker handles
  9. Exercise Page40, problem 2, p. 39

    The imaginary fifth roots of unity satisfy $y^4 + y^3 + y^2 + y + 1 = 0$, which by the substitution $(14)$ becomes $x^2 + x - 1 = 0$. It has the root R + 1R = 2 25 = 12(5-1). In a circle of radius unity and center $O$ draw two perpendicular diameters $AOA'$, $BOB'$. With the middle point $M$ of $OA'$ as center and radius $MB$ draw a circle cutting $OA$ at $C$ (Fig. 10). Show that $OC$ and $BC$ are the sides $s_{10}$ and $s_5$ of the inscribed regular decagon and pentagon respectively. Hints:

    Printed answer:
    • (none printed)

    unverified: no computed check settled this one (yet)

    How it was checked
    • other: not a kind the checker handles
  10. Exercise Page40, problem 3, p. 39

    If $R$ is a root of $(19)$ verify as at the end of §35 that $R+R^8$, $R^2+R^7$, and $R^4+R^5$ are the roots of $(11)$.

    Printed answer:
    • (none printed)

    unverified: no computed check settled this one (yet)

    How it was checked
    • other: not a kind the checker handles
  11. Exercise Page40, problem 4, p. 39

    Hence show that the roots of $(11)$ are $2\cos 2\pi/9$, $2\cos 4\pi/9$, $2\cos 8\pi/9$.

    Printed answer:
    • (none printed)

    unverified: no computed check settled this one (yet)

    How it was checked
    • other: not a kind the checker handles
  12. Exercise Page40, problem 5, p. 39

    Reduce $y^{11} = 1$ to an equation of degree $5$ in $x$.

    Printed answer:
    • $x^5 + x^4 - 4x^3 - 3x^2 + 3x + 1 = 0$.

    unverified: no computed check settled this one (yet)

    How it was checked
    • other: not a kind the checker handles
  13. Exercise Page40, problem 6, p. 39

    Solve $y^5 - 7y^4 + y^3 - y^2 + 7y - 1 = 0$ by radicals. [One root is $1$.]

    Printed answer:
    • $-\tfrac{1}{2}(1±\sqrt{-3})$, $\tfrac{1}{2}(7±\sqrt{45})$.

    verified: the printed answer passed a computed check

    How it was checked
    • solve: passes ["-1/2 + sqrt(-3)/2", "-1/2 - sqrt(-3)/2", "(7 + sqrt(45))/2", "(7 - sqrt(45))/2"]
  14. Exercise Page40, problem 7, p. 39

    After finding so easily in [chap:I]Chapter I the trigonometric forms of the complex roots of unity, why do we now go to so much additional trouble to find them algebraically?

    Printed answer:
    • (none printed)

    unverified: no computed check settled this one (yet)

    How it was checked
    • other: not a kind the checker handles
  15. Exercise Page40, problem 8, p. 39

    Prove that every real root of $x^4 + ax^2 + b = 0$ can be constructed with ruler and compasses, given lines of lengths $a$ and $b$.

    Printed answer:
    • (none printed)

    unverified: no computed check settled this one (yet)

    How it was checked
    • other: not a kind the checker handles
  16. Exercise Page40, problem 9, p. 39

    Show that the real roots of $x^3 - px - q = 0$ are the abscissas of the intersections of the parabola $y = x^2$ and the circle through the origin with the center $(\frac{1}{2}q, \frac{1}{2} + \frac{1}{2}p)$.

    Printed answer:
    • (none printed)

    unverified: no computed check settled this one (yet)

    How it was checked
    • other: not a kind the checker handles

Exercise Page44

  1. Exercise Page44, problem 1, p. 44

    If $a$ and $b$ are relatively prime numbers, so that their greatest common divisor is unity, we can find integers $c$ and $d$ such that $ac + bd = 1$. Show that, if regular polygons of $a$ and $b$ sides can be constructed and hence angles $2\pi/a$ and $2\pi/b$, a regular polygon of $a·b$ sides can be derived.

    Printed answer:
    • (none printed)

    unverified: no computed check settled this one (yet)

    How it was checked
    • other: not a kind the checker handles
  2. Exercise Page44, problem 2, p. 44

    If $p = 2^h + 1$ is a prime, $h$ is a power of $2$. For $h = 2^0$, $2^1$, $2^2$, $2^3$, the values of $p$ are $3$, $5$, $17$, $257$ and are primes. [Show that $h$ cannot have an odd factor other than unity.]

    Printed answer:
    • (none printed)

    unverified: no computed check settled this one (yet)

    How it was checked
    • other: not a kind the checker handles
  3. Exercise Page44, problem 3, p. 44

    For $13$th roots of unity find the least $g$ (§38), write out the three periods each of four terms, and find the cubic equation having them as roots.

    Printed answer:
    • $g=2$, $R + R^8 + R^{12} + R^5$, etc., $z^3 + z^2 - 4z + 1 = 0$.

    unverified: no computed check settled this one (yet)

    How it was checked
    • other: not a kind the checker handles
  4. Exercise Page44, problem 4, p. 44

    For the primitive ninth roots of unity find the least $g$ and write out the three periods each of two terms.

    Printed answer:
    • $g=2$, $R+R^8$, $R^2+R^7$, $R^4+R^5$.

    unverified: no computed check settled this one (yet)

    How it was checked
    • other: not a kind the checker handles
  5. Exercise Page44, problem 5, p. 44

    $y^4 + 4y^3 - 3y^2 + 4y + 1 = 0$.

    Printed answer:
    • $\tfrac{1}{2}(1±\sqrt{-3})$, $\tfrac{1}{2}(-5±\sqrt{21})$.

    verified: the printed answer passed a computed check

    How it was checked
    • solve: passes [(1+sqrt(-3))/2, (1-sqrt(-3))/2, (-5+sqrt(21))/2, (-5-sqrt(21))/2]
  6. Exercise Page44, problem 6, p. 44

    $y^5 - 4y^4 + y^3 + y^2 - 4y + 1 = 0$.

    Printed answer:
    • $-1$, $2±\sqrt{3}$, $\tfrac{1}{2} ± \tfrac{1}{2}\sqrt{-3}$.

    verified: the printed answer passed a computed check

    How it was checked
    • solve: passes [-1, 2+sqrt(3), 2-sqrt(3), (1+sqrt(-3))/2, (1-sqrt(-3))/2]
  7. Exercise Page44, problem 7, p. 44

    $2y^6 - 5y^5 + 4y^4 - 4y^2 + 5y - 2 = 0$.

    Printed answer:
    • $1$, $1$, $1$, $-1$, $\tfrac{1}{4}(1±\sqrt{-15})$.

    verified: the printed answer passed a computed check

    How it was checked
    • solve: passes [1, 1, 1, -1, (1+sqrt(-15))/4, (1-sqrt(-15))/4]
  8. Exercise Page44, problem 8, p. 44

    $y^5 + 1 = 31(y + 1)^5$.

    Printed answer:
    • $-1$, $-2$, $-\tfrac{1}{2}$, $\tfrac{1}{6}(-5±\sqrt{-11})$.

    verified: the printed answer passed a computed check

    How it was checked
    • solve: passes [-1, -2, -1/2, (-5+sqrt(-11))/6, (-5-sqrt(-11))/6]