1 Homework

P. 1.1. Using the identity

(u + v)3 − 3uv(u + v) − u3 − v 3 = 0 ,
solve the reduced 3rd degree equation
x3 + px + q = 0 ,
by performing the substitution x = α2 β + αβ 2 and obtaining a 2nd degree equation whose roots are α3
and β 3 .
P. 1.2. Solve the 4th degree equation

x4 + ax3 + bx2 + cx + d = 0

by performing the substitution y = x + a4 , to obtain a reduced equation

y 4 + py 2 + qy + r = 0.

By coefficient identification in

y 4 + py 2 + qy + r = (y 2 + αy + β)(y 2 − αy + γ) ,

express β and γ in terms of α and obtain a 3rd degree equation with respect to α2 . One solution of this
resolvent equation leads then to a factorization which reduces the solution of the reduced equation to the
solution of two 2nd degree equations

y 2 + αy + β = 0 and y 2 − αy + γ = 0 .