Properties of Quartics
Abstract: The aim of this paper is to investigate on a property of quartic polynomials.
Considering a “W” shaped function with inflection points Q and R, a line was drawn through
the points to meet the function again at P and S. The ratio of PQ:QR:RS is found to correspond
to the Golden Ratio hence a conjecture is produced and formally proven in order to demonstrate
this.
The function
f (x) = x 4 - 8x 3 + 18x 2 - 12x + 24 is a “W”
shape quartic with two points of inflection. Its
first derivative f ′(x) = 4 x 3 - 24 x 2 + 36x - 12
is a cubic function and its second derivative
f ′′(x) = 12x 2 - 48x + 36 a quadratic.
Fig 1
x
Fig 1 shows the function f (x) and its first and
second derivatives. Note that the points where
f ′(x) = 0 are the function’s inflection points.
The quartic’s points of inflection are found by
equating the second derivative to zero.
f ′′(x) = 12x 2 - 48x + 36
       0 =12(x - 1)(x - 3)
x = 1 and x = 3 ,
Substituting for x, f (1) = 23 and f (3) = 15
hence points of inflection are Q(1,23) and
R(3,15) The equation of the straight line
joining Q and R is:
y - y1 = m(x - x1 )
y - 23 = - 4(x - 1)
        y = - 4 x + 27
Let points P and S be the intersection of the
line QR and the quartic function. They are
found by equating, factorizing using long
division and solving for x.
−4 x + 27 = x 4 - 8x 3 +18x 2 - 12x + 24
0 = x 4 - 8x 3 + 18x 2 - 8x - 3
0 = (x 2 - 4 x + 3)(x 2 - 4 x +1)
4 ± 20
x=
2
x = 2 + 5   and  x = 2 - 5 
Note that the other quadratic equation gives
the x-values of Q and R. The coordinates of
points P and S are therefore
P((2 - 5), f (2 - 5)) and
S((2 + 5), f (2 + 5)).
The investigation must then consider the ratio
of PQ:QR:RS. This can be done using
Pythagoras Theorem, however, because the
coordinates of P and S are irrational, the
process is long and tedious. The features of
similar triangles enable us to concentrate on x
coordinates only. Since all four points lie on
the same line, the triangles they form are occur when the second derivative equals zero:
similar and the ratio of their distances is the g (x)
′′ = 24 x 2 - 24 x
same as the ratio of their components. 0 = 24 x(x - 1)         
Fig 2 x = 0        x = 1
g(0) = 0   g(1) = - 2
Hence coordinates are Q(0,0) and R(1,-2).
Since the line QR goes through the origin, its
equation is y = - 2x which intersects with the
quartic when:
2x 4 - 4 x 3 = - 2x
2x 4 - 4 x 3 + 2x = 0
Long division using the factor (x - 1)
simplifies the equation into two quadratics,
which can then be solved using the formula.
2x 4 - 4 x 3 + 2x = 0
(2x 2 - 2x)(x 2 - x - 1) = 0
In Fig 2,points P, Q, R, and S lie on the line 4± 4 1± 5
y = - 4 x + 27 . The dotted lines illustrate the x=   and  x =
4 2
similar triangles they form. The x-coordinates of points P and S are

The ratio PQ:QR:RS is found using the 1- 5 1+ 5

therefore and respectively.
previously calculated x-values. Let 2 2
Calculating the ratio is simpler in this case
xP = 2 - 5 , xS = 2 + 5 , xq = 1
since the point of inflection Q lies on the
and x R = 3
origin. The ratio PQ:QR:RS corresponds to
x P - xQ : xQ - x R : x R - x S
x P - xQ = (2 - 5) - 1 = 5 - 1
5-1 5-1
: 1 :
xQ - x R = 1- 3 = 2 2 2

x R - x S = 3 - (2 + 5) = 5 - 1 5-1
and dividing through by simplifies to
2
1+ 5
1: :1
PQ:QR:RS is 5 - 1: 2 : 5 - 1and dividing 2
through by 5 - 1 simplifies to

1+ 5
1: :1
2
Considering the simpler quartic function
g(x) = 2x 4 - 4 x 3 , the points of inflection also
 Fig 3
Let us consider the general case of a quartic
polynomial function f (x) . It will have two
distinct points of inflection, Q and R, if its
second derivative has two real roots. This
means that the quadratic function f ′′(x) must
be in the form of y = bx(x - a) where a and b
are real numbers.

Fig 4

Fig 3 shows the graph of g(x) and y = - 2x . Points 1

y= b(x 4 - ax 3 + cx)
Q and R are inflection points and P and S 12
intersection points.

In both cases, we assist to the emergence of

the golden ratio defined as the positive

1+ 5
solution of x 2 - x - 1 = 0 or .
2
We therefore produce a conjecture based of
the previous investigations.

Conjecture: If f (x) is a quartic polynomial Fig 4 shows the relationship between the
with two distinct points of inflection, Q and R, function and its second derivative.

then the straight line joining Q and R meets

The quartic function is obtained by
the graph of y = f (x) in two other points P
integrating f ′′(x) twice.
and S. In its simplest form, the ratio of
1
òòbx(x - a) dx = 12 b(x 4
- 2ax 3 + cx + d)
1+ 5
PQ:QR:RS is equal to 1: :1 so that
2 For simplicity, we assume that the point Q lies
on the origin (0,0). The constant d must
QR 1+ 5
= or the Golden Ratio. therefore equal zero so that f (0) = 0 meaning
PQ 2
that the quartic is expressed as
 1
f (x) = b(x 4 - 2ax 3 + cx) .
12
Now if Q is the origin, the other root of the
second derivative is a hence the second point Using factor (x - a) first:
of inflection R has coordinates R(a, f (a)) . x 3 - ax 2 - a 2 x
Substituting for f (a) , the coordinates are x - a)    x - 2ax 3 + a 3 x
4

- (x 4 - ax 3 )
1
R(a, b(- a 4 + ac)) .         - ax 3 + a 3 x
12
The gradient of the straight line joining points     - (- ax 3 + a 2 x 2 )
                 - a 2 x 2 + a 3 x
1              - (- a 2 x 2 + a 3 x)
bx(- a 4 + ac) 1
Q and R is 12 = bx(- a 3 + c) so
a 12                                   0
                  
1
its equation is y = bx(- a 3 + c) because the
12
y-intercept is zero. The line intersects the and then factor (x - 0)

quartic at points P and S and the x-coordinates x 2 - ax - a 2

x - 0)     x 3 - ax 2 - a 2 x
of these points are the solutions of the
- (x 3 )        
equation
       - ax 2 - a 2 x
1 1
bx(- a 3 + c) = bx(x 3 - 2ax 2 + c)        - (- ax 2 )
12 12
x(- a 3 ) = x(x 3 - 2ax 2 )                  - a 2 x

x 4 - 2ax 3 + a 3 x = 0              - (- a 2 x)
                       0

The easiest way to obtain the solutions of the Simplifies the equation into the quadratic

equation in terms of a is to use the quadratic y = x 2 - ax - a 2 whose roots are found using the
formula. This means simplifying the quartic
a ± a 2 - 4(- a 2 )
into a quadratic by long division using the formula x = hence
2
already known real factors (x - a) and (x - 0) .
a + 5a 2 a - 5a 2 x = 0
xS = , xP = , Q and x R = a .
2 2

Once again, properties of similar triangles
enable us to use x-coordinates only to find the
ratio PQ:QR:RS.
x P - xQ : xQ - x R : x R - x S
The first type has no points of inflection since
its second derivative has no real roots. The
quadratic f ′′(x) does not cross the x-axis
because its determinant b 2 - 4ac is negative. A
quartic with no points of inflection will have a
“U” shape as shown on fig.5
Fig 5

5a 2 - a 5a 2 - a
:    a    :
2 2
The ratio can be greatly simplified:

5a 2 - a 5a 2 - a
:a:
2 2
5a 2 - a
(dividing through by )
2
2a
1: :1
5a 2 - a x4 x2
Fig 5 shows the graph of y = 12 + 2 and its
(simplifying the fraction)
second derivative y = x 2 + 1. Note that the
2a a 2 1+ 5 quadratic has no real roots hence the quartic
  =   ´  = 
5a 2 - a a 5-1 2 is “U” shaped.

1+ 5
Hence the ratio equals 1: :1 or the The second type of quartic does not have any
2
Golden Ratio points of inflection because its second
derivative has only one real solution. Indeed,
since its determinant equals zero, it touches the
It is important to mention the limitations of
x-axis at one point and does not change sign.
this conjecture that cannot be extended to
Quartics of such type have a flattened U shape.
quartic functions that are not strictly of a “W”
Fig6
shape. The ratio of lengths can only be found
if the function has two distinct points of
inflection meaning its second derivative must
have two real roots. There are therefore two
types of quartics that will not illustrate the
golden ratio.
As a result, the conjecture only4 holds if the
Fig6 shows the graph of y = x and its Theorem: Let f (x) be a quartic polynomial
determinant of the second
second derivative y =12x 2derivative
. is greater
with two distinct points of inflection Q and R,
than zero. Integrating the general function
the straight line joining these points will meet
twice:
the function again at P and S. If points P,Q,R,S
ax 4 bx 3 cx 2
òò(ax + bx + c)dx = 12 + 6 + 2 + dx + e
2
are ordered by increasing x-

Hence the conjecture only affects quartic coordinates, then PQ = RS and

function with b 2 - 4ac > 0 QR 1+ 5

= , the Golden Ratio
RS 2

Using the proof of the conjecture and the

analysis of its limitations, it is possible to
produce a formal theorem on this specific
property of quartic polynomials.