2

Solutions for chapter 2

Solution to Exercise 2.12

It is convenient to make a linear transformation w = x + A and to dene the function

g (w ) by
1 3
g (w ) = f (w
A) =
aw
Bw + C:
3
the constant A being chosen to ensure that the coecient of w2 in g (w) is zero, that
is A = b=a. The stationary points of g (w) are at the roots of
r

0 = g (w) = aw
0

that is

w1

B
a

w2

B
a

These are real if B=a > 0 and complex if B=a < 0.

Then g (wk ) = f (xk ), where xk = wk A, k = 1; 2 and
1
2
2

a (w1
w2 ) w1 + w1 w2 + w2
B (w1
g (w1 )
g (w2 )
=
3 r
r
 3=2
2
B
B
4 B
=
B
2B
=
a
3
a
a
3
a
a

(w1

w2

w2

)3 ;

which is the rst result.

For the second identity we note that w1 + w2 = x1 + x2 + 2A and since w1 + w2 = 0,
(x1 + x2 )=2 = A and so


(0) = f (

Also
( ) + f (x2 ) =

f x1

hence


f

x1

1
a
3

)=f

w1

+ x2
2

+ w23

1
2

x1

+ x2
2

= C:

(w1 + w2 ) + 2C = 2C

( ) + f (x2 )

f x1