ME343 – Numerical Method in Engineering (Sec.

2)
Homework #2

Hakan Salman 210203002

1- Proof how to find exact solution of a general cubic equation of ax^3+bx^2+cx+d=0
 x^3+ax^2+bx+c=0
 Let’s put x= y-b/3a ;
 a(y-b/3a)^3 + b(y-b/3a)^2+c(y-b/3a)+d= 0
 Expanding Equation and simplifying, we obtain the following equation
 ay^3+(c-(b^2)/3a)y+(d+((2b^3)/(27a^2)-bc/3a)=0
 This equation is called the depressed cubic since the quadratic term is absent. Having the
equation in this form makes it easier to solve for the roots of the cubic equation.
 First, convert the depressed cubic Equation into the form
 y^3+(1/a)(c-(b^2)/3a)y+(1/a)(d+((2b^3)/(27a^2)-bc/3a) = 0
 y^3+ey+f=0
 where e=(1/a)(c-(b^2)/3a)
 f=(1/a)(d+((2b^3)/(27a^2)-bc/3a)
 Now, reduce the above equation using Vieta’s substitution
 y=z+s/z
 For the time being, the constant s is undefined. Substituting into the depressed cubic equation ,
we get
 (z+s/z)^3+ e(z+s/z)+f=0
 Expanding out and multiplying both sides by z^3 , we get
 z^6+(3s+e)z^4+fz^3+s(3s+e)z^2+s^3=0
 Now, let s=-e/3(s is no longer undefined) to simplify the equation into a tri-quadratic equation.
 z^6+fz^3-(e^3)/27=0
 By making one more substitution,w=z^3 , we now have a general quadratic equation which can
be solved using the quadratic formula.
 w^2+fw-(e^3)/27=0
 Once you obtain the solution to this quadratic equation, back substitute using the previous
substitutions to obtain the roots to the general cubic equation.
 wzyx
 w=z^3
 y=z+s/z
 s=-e/3
 x=y-b/3a

Referance: http://mathforcollege.com