MATHEMATICS IB HIGHER

PORTFOLIO

ZEROS OF CUBIC
FUNCTIONS

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2005

Peter Hamilton
 Zeros of cubic functions
HL Type I Investigation

Consider the cubic function:

f x=2 x 36 x 2−4.5 x−13.5

Graphed on a Ti-86 calculator:

The roots of this equation:

x=−3 x=−1.5 x=1.5

In order to find the tangent at any given point on the graph, the slope
at that point must be found. To find the slope at any given point, the
first differential of the function can be used:

f x=2 x 36 x 2−4.5 x−13.5

f 1  x=6 x 212 x−4.5

To find the tangent line of the average of two of the three roots, the
value must be plugged into the first differential equation in order to
find its slope.

Taking roots -3 and 1.5:

f 1 x=6 x 212 x−4.5

Average of -3 and 1.5
−31.5
=−0.75
2
f 1 −0.75=6−0.75212−0.75−4.5=−10.125
f 1 −0.75=−10.125

Taking roots -3 and -1.5:

 f 1 x=6 x 212 x−4.5
Average of -3 and -1.5
−3−1.5
=−2.25
2
f 1 −2.25=6−2.25212−2.25−4.5=−1.125
f 1 −2.25=−1.125

Taking roots 1.5 and -1.5:

f 1 x=6 x 212 x−4.5

Average of 1.5 and -1.5
1.5−1.5
=0
2
f 1 0=602120−4.5=−4.5
f 1 0=−4.5

A tangent line can be defined by:

y=m xb

By using the values obtained for the slope of these tangent lines, the
next values necessary are the respective y values in each case. These
can be determined by plugging the averages into the original
equation.

Roots -3 and 1.5:

3 2
f x=2 x 6 x −4.5 x−13.5
f −0.75=2−0.7536−0.752−4.5−0.75−13.5=−7.59375
f 0.75=−7.59375

Roots -3 and -1.5:

f x=2 x 36 x 2−4.5 x−13.5

f −2.25=2−2.2536−2.252−4.5−2.25−13.5=4.21875
f 2.25=4.21875

Roots 1.5 and -1.5

f x =2 x 36 x 2−4.5 x−13.5

f 0=203602−4.50−13.5
f 0=−13.5
Using the equation:

y=mx+b

and inserting the corresponding values which have been calculated,

the equations of the tangent lines can be found.

Roots -3 and 1.5:

y=mxb
y=−7.59375 m=−10.125 x=−0.75
−7.59375=−10.125 −0.75b
b=−15.1875
y=−10.125 x−15.1875

Roots -3 and -1.5:

y=mxb
y=4.21875 m=−1.125 x=−2.25
4.21875=−1.125−2.25b
b=1.6875
y=−1.125 x1.6875

Roots 1.5 and -1.5

y=mxb
y=−13.5 m=−4.5 x=0
−13.5=−4.50b
b=−13.5
y=−4.5 x−13.5

Now, by examining the x intercepts of each equation, a statement

concerning the nature of these intercepts can be made:

Roots -3 and 1.5:

y=−10.125 x−15.1875
Let y=0
0=−10.125 x−15.1875
15.1875=−10.125 x
x=−1.5

Roots -3 and -1.5:

 y=−1.125 x1.6875
Let y=0
0=−1.125 x1.6875
−1.6875=−1.125 x
x=1.5

Roots 1.5 and -1.5

y=−4.5 x−13.5
Let y=0
0=−4.5 x−13.5
13.5=−4.5 x
x=−3

The following graph demonstrates the route of each tangent line of

the function:

In each given scenario, the line tangent to the average of two roots of
a cubic equation also passes through the third root. To further
demonstrate this conjecture, similar cubic functions can be taken and
the same result may be found.
example 1
f x=x 3 −2 x 2−5 x6
Roots at: x=−2 x=1 x=3
Roots -2 and 3
−23
Average value: =0.5
2
3 2
f 0.5=0.5 −20.5 −50.56=3.125
f 1 x=3 x 2−4 x−5
f 1 0.5=30.52−40.5−5=−6.25
y=mxb
3.125=−6.250.5b
b=6.25
y=−6.25 x6.25
Let y=0
0=−6.25 x6.25
x=1
Roots 1 and 3
13
Average value: =2
2
3 2
f 2=2 −22 −526=−4
f 1 x=3 x 2−4 x−5
1 2
f 2=32 −42−5=−1
y=mxb
−4=−12b
b=−2
y=−x±2
Let y=0
0=−x−2
x=−2
Roots -2 and 1
−21
Average value: =−0.5
2
f −0.5=−0.53−2−0.52−5−0.56=7.875
1 2
f x =3 x −4 x−5
f 1 −0.5=3−0.52−4−0.5−5=−2.25
y=mxb
7.875=−2.25−0.5b
b=6.75
y=−2.25 x6.75
x=3
Let y=0
0=−6.25 x6.25
x=1
 Demonstrated graphically:

Example 2
3 2
f  x=x −3 x −4 x12
Roots at: x=−2 x=2 x=3

Roots -2 and 2
−22
Average value: =0
2
3 2
f 0=0 −30 −4012=12
1 2
f x=3 x −6 x−4
f 1 0=302−60−4=−4
y=mxb
12=−40b
b=12
y=−4 x12
Let y=0
0=−4 x12
x=−3
 Roots -2 and 3
−23
Average value: =0.5
2
3 2
f 0.5=0.5 −30.5 −40.512=9.375
f 1 x=3 x 2−6 x−4
f 1 0.5=30.52−60.5−4=−6.25
y=mxb
9.375=−6.250.5b
b=12.5
y=−6.25 x12.5
Let y=0
0=−6.25 x12.5
x=−2
Roots 2 and 3
23
Average value: =2.5
2
3 2
f 2.5=2.5 −32.5 −42.512=−1.125
f 1 x=3 x 2−6 x−4
1 2
f 2.5=32.5 −62.5−4=−0.25
y=mxb
−1.125=−0.252.5b
b=−0.5
y=−0.25 x−0.5
Let y=0
0=−0.25 x−0.5
x=−2
Demonstrated graphically:

These examples are consistent with the idea that the tangent to the
average of any two roots of a cubic passes through the third root. In
order to prove this as a property for all roots, a general case must be
taken and proven true for all instances.
A function with roots  ,  , and  can be used to provide a general
case.

f x=x−x−x−
=x 2− x− x x−
= x 3− x 2− x 2  x− x 2  x  x−  
f x=x 3− x 2    x−  

As multiplication is commutative, it can be said that

f x=x−x−x− is equivalent to f x= x−x−x− and
therefore only one case is necessary in proving that the tangent to the
average of any two roots will pass through the third root.


By substituting the value into the first differential we can find
2
the slope of the average of two roots of a cubic.

f 1 x=3 x 2−2 x   

  2 
f 1 =3  −2    
2 2 2
3
= 2−   
4
3 4 4
= 22  2 − 2   2     
4 4 4
2 2 2 2
3  6  3  −4  −4  −4  −4  −8  4  4  4  
=
4
2 2 2
1  − 2  −  −−
f  = =
2 4 4
2
1  −−
f  =
2 4

Additionally, the y value of the average of two roots in necessary in

order to find the tangent. This is found by plugging the value

into the original function.
2
 f x=x 3− x 2    x−  
  3  2 
f =  −      −  
2 2 2 2
 3 33 2 3  232 2   2 
= −
2 4
2 2 2 2
  2       2   
 −
2 2
  3  3     2   2  2 2  22 
3 3 2 2 3 2
= − 
8 4 2
3 2 2 3 2 2
 −    − 2  −4   2  
f =
2 8

This value, along with that obtained with the first differential can be
used to find the tangent to the average of two roots. By substituting
the corresponding slope and y-value, the tangent can be solved for.
y=mxb
−3 2  2−32 2 −4   2 2 
Let y=
8
2
−−
m=
4

x=
2
−   2−32 2 −4   2 2  −−2 
3 2
= b
8 4 2
−32  2−32 2 −4   2 2 3− 2−2 3 
b=
8
2 2
2  −4   2  
b=
8
2 2 2
−− 2  −4   2  
y= x
4 8

With the tangent line completed, the test to the conjecture can be
shown by substituting the root  , 0 into equation. If the equation
holds true, then the conjecture has been proven for all cubics.
 −−2 2 2 −4   2 2 
y= x
4 8
Let y=0 x=
−−2 2 2 −4   2 2 
0= 
4 8
2 2
2  −4   2 2 
2
 −2   
0=−2 
8 8
2 2 2 2
−2  4   −2  2  −4   2  
0=
8
0
0= =0
8

Therefore this conjecture has been proved true for all cubic functions
which can be expressed as x−x−x− .

There exist certain cubic functions which contain roots unlike the
previous examples. Some cubics only have one root, others have only
two roots, and others have one real root and two imaginary ones.

The possibility of a cubic having one root is illustrated with the

following example:

f x=x 33 x 23 x1

Root x=1
This equation has 3 identical roots
Therefore, the average of any two roots will result in the
same calculation
11
Average: =0
2
f 1=13=1
f 1 x=2 x 2
f 1 1=212=2
y=mxb
Let y=1 x=1 m=2
1=12b
b=−1
y=x−1
To test the conjecture, it is necessary to test the final root
in the tangent equation
Let x=1 y=0
0=1−1=0
Proven True
A cubic with only two roots follows the same pattern. In reality it has
3 roots, with 2 of them being identical roots. For example:

f  x=x 3 x 2 −8 x−12
Roots x=3 x=−2 with a double root at x=−2

Roots 3 and -2
3±2
Average =0.5
2
f 0.5=0.530.52−80.5−12=−15.625
f 1  x=3 x 22 x−8
1 2
f 0.5=30.5 20.5−8=−6.25
y=mxb
Let y=−15.625 x=0.5 m =−6.25
−15.625=−6.25.5b
b =−12.5
Therefore the tangent equation is: y=−6.25 x−12.5
By substiting the x and y values of the third root of the cubic, the conjecture can be tested
Let y=0 x=−2
0=−6.25−2−12.5=0
Proven True
Roots -2 and -2
−2±2
Average =−2
2
3 2
f −2=−2 −2 −8−2−12=0
f 1  x=3 x 22 x−8
f 1 −2=3−222−2−8=0
y=mxb
Let y=0 x=−2 m =0
0=0 −2b
b =0
Therefore the tangent equation is: y=0
By substiting the x and y values of the third root of the cubic, the conjecture can be tested
Let y=0 x=3
0=0−2−0=0
Proven True
 Two Roots Shown Graphically

Thus, it has been shown that for cubics with either a double or triple
root follows the conjecture stated above. The final area of
investigation is beyond the domain of real numbers. A cubic with one
real and two complex roots will also adhere to the conjecture, as is
shown in the following example:

f  x= x 3− x 2 x−1
Roots x=i x=−i x=1
Roots i and 1
1i 
Average:
2
1i  1i  3 1i  2 1i 
f  =  −  −1
2 2 2 2
13 i −3−i  12 i −1 1i  2
= −  −
8 4 2 2
13 i −3−i −2−4 i 244 i −8
=
8
1i  −62 i 
f  =
2 8
1 2
f  x=3 x −2 x1
1i  1i  2 1i 
f 1 =3  −2 1
2 2 2
1i  2 i  1i  4
f 1 =3 −4 
2 4 4 4
1 1i  2 i 
f  =
2 4

Using the value of slope and the x and y values of the average of the
two roots, the tangent line can be solved for:
 y=mxb
−62 i  1i  2 i 
Let y= x= m=
8 2 4
−62 i  2 i  1i 
= b
8 4 2
−4
b =
8
2 i  −4
y= x
4 8
If the third root is subsituted the equation should still be true, proving the conjecture
Let y=0 x=−i
2 i  −4
0= −i 
4 8
4 −4
0= 
8 8
4−4
0= =0
8
Proven True
Roots −i and 1
1−i 
Average:
2
3 2
1−i  1−i  1−i  1−i 
f  =  −  −1
2 2 2 2
1−3 i −3i  1−2 i −1 1−i  2
= −  −
8 4 2 2
1−3 i −3i −24 i 24−4 i −8
=
8
1−i  −6−2 i 
f  =
2 8
1 2
f  x=3 x −2 x1
2
1 1−i  1−i  1−i 
f  =3  −2 1
2 2 2
1−i  −2 i  1−i  4
f 1 =3 −4 
2 4 4 4
1 1−i  −6 i −44 i 4 −i
f  = =
2 2 2

Using the value of slope and the x and y values of the average of the
two roots, the tangent line can be solved for.
 y=mxb
−3−i  1−i  −i 
Let y= x= m=
4 2 2
−3−i  −i  1−i 
= b
4 2 2
−3−i i 1 −1
b = =
4 2
−i  1
y= x−
2 2
If the third root is subsituted the equation should still be true, proving the conjecture
Let y=0 x=i
−i  1
0= i −
2 2
1 1
0= −
2 2
1−1
0= =0
2
Proven True
Roots −i and i
i −i 
Average: =0
2
f 0=03−0 20−1=−1
f 1  x=3 x 2 −2 x1
f 1 0=302 −201
f 1 0=30−401=1

y=mxb
Let y=−1 x=0 m =1
−1=10b
b =−1
y= x−1
If the third root is subsituted, the equation should still be true, proving the conjecture
Let y=0 x=1
0=1−1=0
Proven True
Graph and real tangents shown graphically
In conclusion, it is evident that this conjuncture has proved true.

For a cubic in form f  x= x− x− x− the tangent at the
average of any two roots will pass through the third root.

It has been shown true for various cubics, been demonstrated true for
a general case, and verified with examples including one root, two
roots, and one real and two complex roots.