Riah Kim

Ms. Heykoop
DP Math HL 11
7 June 2017
Mini IA - Mathematical Exploration

PART 1 : Finding the imaginary friend of Quadratic Polynomials

For this task, I was given a quadratic formula, y 1 = (x a)2 + b 2 , where a, b R . The
vertex of the basic model is (a, b2 ) and the values of the zeros are imaginary since its concavity
is upwards. To find out the value of imaginary zeros, I came up with another function,
y 2 = (x a)2 + b 2 . To find the pattern of zeros of y 1 and y 2 , Ive tested the functions by
substituting different values in a and b .

** y 1 is red, y 2 is blue and y m (the generating function) is green.

Quadratic Polynomials

y1 y2 Zeros of y 2 Zeros of y 1 Graphs

(x 3)2 + 2 2 (x 3)2 + 2 2 32 3 2i

(x 9)2 + 3 2 (x 9)2 + 3 2 93 9 3i

2 2 7 7
(x 27 ) + 3 2 (x 27 ) + 3 2 2 3 2 3i
From this data, we can see the pattern between y 1 and y 2 : If the zero of y 2 is a b , then the
zero of y 1 is a bi . This happens because the two graphs are reflected upon a single line( y m )
with one another; theyre symmetrical. With this pattern, we now know that we can use the zeros
of y 2 in order to find the zeros of y 1 by simply adding an i after b .

During the process, I also got to know how y 2 would look like when its expressed in terms of y 1
and y m . y 2 = (x a)2 + b 2 , y 1 = (x a)2 + b 2 and y m = b 2 . What we do first to make y 1 into y 2
is adding a negative sign in front of y 1 . But when we do so, that b 2 at the end also becomes
negative. To make this b 2 positive, we need to add 2b 2 . And since y m = b 2 , we add 2y m .

Therefore, if we were to express y 2 in terms of y 1 and y m , it would look like this:

y 2 = y 1 + 2y m

PART 2 : Finding the imaginary friend of Cubic Polynomials

For this task, I was given an example, y 1 = (x + 2)(x (3 + 2i))(x (3 2i)) . If we expand this, it
can be rewritten as y 1 = (x + 2)((x 3)2 + 22 ) .

y 1 has zero values that are imaginary. y 1 and y 2 have opposite concavities and have two
intersecting points. y m , the generating function, passes through the points of intersection of y 1
and y 2 .

The zeros of y 2 are 2 and 3 2 .

I generalized the function so that its in the form of y 1 = (x + a)(x (b + ci))(x (b ci)) .

This function can be rewritten as y 1 = (x + a)((x b)2 + c2 ) .

From this form of y 1 , and by using our knowledge from the previous part with quadratic
polynomials, we can figure out that y 2 = (x + a)( (x b)2 + c2 ) .

** y 1 is red, y 2 is blue and y m (the generating function) is green.

Cubic Polynomials

y1 y2 ym Points of Graphs
Intersection
 (x + 3)((x 5)2 + 3 2 ) (x + 3)( (x 5)2 + 3 2 ) 9x + 27 ( 3, 0), (5, 72)

(x + 4)((x 3)2 + 2 2 ) (x + 4)( (x 3)2 + 2 2 ) 4x + 16 ( 4, 0), (3, 28)

(x + 2)((x 10)2 + 5 2 ) (x + 2)( (x 10)2 + 5 2 ) 25x + 50 ( 2, 0), (10, 300)

(x + 2)((x 10)2 + 5 2 ) (x + 4)((x 10)2 + 6 2 ) 36x + 144 ( 4, 0), (10, 504)

From this, I could conclude that y m = c2 x + a c2 .

Once we expand y 1 , we get x3 + (a 2b)x2 + (b2 + c2 2ab)x + ab2 + ac2 . Once we expand y 2 , we
get x3 (a 2b)x2 (b2 c2 2ab)x ab2 + ac2 . To make y 1 look like y 2 , we add a negative
sign in the front, to the entire function. But then we need to add 2c2 x + 2ac2 in order for it to look
like y 2 , so we add 2y m .

Therefore, if we were to express y 2 in terms of y 1 and y m , it would look like this:

y 2 = y 1 + 2y m
Lets verify if this is correct.
(x3 + (a 2b)x2 + (b2 + c2 2ab)x + ab2 + ac2 ) + 2(c2 x + a c2 )
= x3 (a 2b)x2 (b2 + c2 2ab)x ab2 ac2 + 2c2 x + 2ac2
= x3 (a 2b)x2 (b2 c2 2ab)x ab2 + ac2

The zeros of y 2 are a and b c . From our knowledge and findings from this part of our task and
the previous part, we can conclude that the complex zeros of y 1 are a and b ci . Although the
graphs of the two cubic functions dont reflect on one another, the zeros are related to each
other, just like they were in part 1. We know that part 1 and 2 have similar features(including
zeros), since in both cases the relationships between y 1 and y 2 are the same. ( y 2 = y 1 + 2y m )

CONCLUSION:

Were there any limitations?

- From these findings of imaginary friend, we could conclude that the relationship between
the functions y 1 , y 2 and y m in any type of polynomials(quadratic, cubic) is the same. The
relationship would have been clearer and more reliable if I had tried quartic or quintic
polynomials as well, since two trials cant really be enough to generalize a rule or a
function; it might be just a common feature of those two.

How would I compare my previous knowledge with my knowledge now? How can it be used?
- Before this assessment, I did not really know about the complex zeros nor what they
were nor how I find them. But now that I know, I think this could be useful when later I
have to find complex zeros of a function whose concavity is upwards.

How were the methods and processes that I used for completing this task?
- The process is reliable since there were enough examples(3 examples for part 1 and 4
for part 2) to let me figure out the pattern. All the examples clearly showed the patterns.

Resources

Desmos Graphing Calculator: www.desmos.com/calculator/