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x4 8x3 + 18x2 8x 3 = 0.
Since we already know that x = 1, 3 are
solutions, two synthetic divisions will reduce to problem of finding the remaining
solutions to that of solving a quadratic
equation. The synthetic division is displayed below:
1
1 8
18 8 3
1 7 11
3
1 7
11
3
3 12 3
1 4 1
P = P (2 + 5, f (2 + 5)), and
R = R(2 5, f (2 5)).
51:2:
5 1.
1 2
0
1
1 1 1
1 1 1
1+ 5
1 5
conjugate:
and 2 . It follows,
2
therefore
that
the
ratio P Q : P R : RS
1+ 5
1:
: 1.
is the ratio
2
1 5
1 5
:1:
.
2
2
While it may seem premature, we nonormalize by dividing
tice that the middle factor is precisely the As above, we
1 5
,
which now produces the
through
by
Golden Ratio, which is the positive solu2
2
tion of the quadratic equation x x1 = equivalent ratio
0. The next obvious step is to try another
1+ 5
example to see if the same result obtains.
1:
: 1,
2
We take up the ostensibly simpler exactly as in the case above!
quartic polynomial g(x) = x4 2x3 . As
We formalize the above as a conjecg 00 (x) = 12x2 12x = 12x(x 1), we
see that the points of inflection are at the ture.
points (0, 0) and (1, 1). The relevant be- Conjecture. Let f (x) be a quartic
havior is depicted below:
polynomial and assume that The graph
Dividing all quantities by
the equivalent ratio
of y = f (x) has two distinct points, Q factor; we accomplish this via a synthetic
and R of inflection. Then the straight division:
line passing through Q and R meets the
a 1 2a
0
a3
graph of y = f (x) in two other distinct
2
a a a3
points P and S;furthermore P Q = RS
1 a a2
QR
1+ 5
, the Golden Ratio.
and
=
2
PQ
and so the x-coordinates of P and S are
We analyze the general case along the the solutions of the quadratic equation
following lines. Assume that the graph
y = f (x) of the quartic polynomial f (x)
x2 ax a2 = 0.
has two points of inflection Q and R. By
1
These
solutions
are
x
=
(a
a
5),
translating this graph in the x and y di2
from
which
we
conclude
that
the
ratio
rections if necessary, we may assume that
Q is the origin and that R has coordi- P Q : QR : RS is given by
nates R(a, f (a)), for some real number a.
a
5)
:
a
:
(a
+
a
5).
2
2
that
00
f (x) = bx(x a).
Finally, upon normalizing so that the first
Integrating twice we conclude that f (x) factor is unity, we arrive at the ratio
must have the form
1+ 5
1:
: 1,
2
f (x) = 1 b(x4 2ax3 + cx),
12
QR
1+ 5
these points, l must meet the graph of y =
=
,
f (x) in two other distinct points P and
PQ
2
S. Finally, if we order the points P , Q, the Golden Ratio.