Lesson 7: Rational & Conjugate Roots Theorem

Rational Roots Theorem

It is a single variable with integer coefficients polynomial equation which have a
rational number solution (roots), that leads coefficient (of the highest power) divisible by
the fraction denominator, and the constant term must be divisible by the numerator.
In mathematical structure for a polynomial equation of a single variable (x) is
𝑅(𝑥 ) = 𝑎𝑛 𝑥 𝑛 + 𝑎𝑛−1 𝑥 𝑛−1 + . . . +𝑎1 𝑥 1 + 𝑎0 = 0
Where:
𝑎0, 𝑎1 , . . . , 𝑎𝑛 Are ordinary integers.
If it has any rational roots, then it must be in the form
𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑎 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
± [𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑎 0 ] = ±[𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡]
𝑛

This is a very important theorem in finding roots and which roots belongs to a
rational or irrational ones. It tells you also that a given polynomial function with integer or
whole number coefficients, you can find a list of possible solutions by listing the factors of
the constant, or last term, over the factors of the lead term coefficient.

Example:
Consider the polynomial
𝑅(𝑥 ) = 2𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 − 11𝑥 + 6

𝑎𝑛 𝑎0
Factors of:
6: {1, 2, 3, 6}
2: {1, 2}
𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑎
So the possible rational roots are: (From Formula ± [𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑎 0 ])
𝑛

1 1 2 2 3 3 6 6
±{ , , , , , , , }
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
1 3
±{1, 2 , 2, 3, 2 , 6}

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 If you look at the given equation the degree of the leading is 3… so there are 3 roots
that needs to find.
So let’s start plugging the possible roots to the given equation equal to zero, to find
for the 3 roots.

Is x = 1?
2(1)3 − 3(1)2 − 11(1) + 6 = 0
2 – 3 -11 + 6 = 0
-6 ≠ 0 (not a root)
1
Is x = 2 ?

1 1 2 1
2( )3 − 3 ( ) − 11 ( ) + 6 = 0
2 2 2
1 3 11
4
−4− 2
+6=0

0=0 (Root)
Is x = 2?
2(2)3 − 3(2)2 − 11(2) + 6 = 0
16 – 12 – 26 + 6 = 0
-16 ≠ 0 (not a root)
Is x = 3?
2(3)3 − 3(3)2 − 11(3) + 6 = 0
54 – 27 – 33 + 6 = 0
0=0 (Root)
3
Is x = 2 ?

3 3 2 3
2( )3 − 3 ( ) − 11( ) + 6 = 0
2 2 2
54 27 33
− − +6=0
8 4 2
84
− ≠0 (not a root)
8

Is x = 6?
2(6)3 − 3(6)2 − 11(6) + 6 = 0
432 – 108 – 66 + 6 =0
264 ≠ 0 (not a root)

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 Now, remember the possible roots are ±, we still need to find the 3rd root…

Is x = -1?
2(−1)3 − 3(−1)2 − 11(−1) + 6 = 0 (Not a root)
Is x = -2?
2(−2)3 − 3(−2)2 − 11(−2) + 6 = 0
-16 – 12 + 22 +6 = 0
0=0 (Root)
Therefore:
1
Roots are; x = 2 , 𝑥 = 3 & 𝑥 = −2

And the factors are the reversed sign of the roots,

1
𝑅(𝑥 ) = (𝑥 − )(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 3)
2

Check the product of these factors if it is equal to the given equation;

1 1
𝑅(𝑥 ) = (𝑥 − ) (𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 3) = (𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 − 3)
2 2
3
= (𝑥 2 + 2 𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 − 3)
3 9
= 𝑥 3 + 2 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 3𝑥 2 − 2 𝑥 + 3
3 11
= 𝑥3 − 2 𝑥2 − 𝑥+6 (to remove the
2
denominator multiply
the equation by 2)
3 11
= (𝑥 3 − 2 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 + 6)2
2
1
𝑅 (𝑥 ) = (𝑥 − ) (𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 3) = 2𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 − 11𝑥 + 6
2

➢ The factor satisfies the equation.

Conjugate Roots Theorem

If the polynomials R(x) has the root a + bi with real coefficients, then a – bi is also
the root of the polynomial.
When we say conjugate, it is joined in a reciprocal relationship, having in particular
the same real parts and similar magnitudes but contrasting signs of imaginary parts.
e.g. (3 + 5i) its conjugate is (3 – 5i)

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 The imaginary term symbolizes with letter i, that has the following properties;
𝑖0 1 Note: the pattern of values
𝑖1 𝑖 repeats on the upper
𝑖2 −1 and below of the table
𝑖3 −𝑖

Theorem: Each polynomial has exactly n roots with positive degree n.

Examples:
1. Find a cubic equation with integral coefficient, whose roots -2 and 6i.

Solution:
• For a cubic polynomial𝑥 3 , we need to find 3 roots.
• For a given root 6i the opposite -6i is also a root.
• So the factors are; (reverse the sign of the 3 roots)
(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 6𝑖 )(𝑥 + 6𝑖 ) = 0

• Then evaluate the product of the factors.

(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 6𝑖 )(𝑥 + 6𝑖 ) = 0
(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 2 + 6𝑖𝑥 − 6𝑖𝑥 − 36𝑖 2 ) = 0
(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 2 − 36𝑖 2 ) = 0 (From table above 𝑖 2 =-1)
(𝑥 + 2)[𝑥 2 − 36(−1)] = 0
(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 2 + 36) = 0 Then multiply
3 2
𝑥 + 36𝑥 + 2𝑥 + 72 = 0 Arranged in standard form
3 2
𝑥 + 2𝑥 + 36𝑥 + 72 = 0 Cubic equation with roots -2, 6i & -6i.
Check: by plugging the root to the arrived equation.
For x = -2
(−2)3 + 2(−2)2 + 36(−2) + 72 = 0
-8 + 8 -72 + 72 = 0
0=0
➢ The factor satisfies the equation.

2. Find a cubic equation with integral coefficient, whose roots -1 and -1+i.
So, the complex -1 – i is the 3rd root.
Therefore the factors are:
(𝑥 + 1)[𝑥 − (−1 − 𝑖 )][𝑥 − (−1 + 𝑖 )] = 0

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 (𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 + 1 + 𝑖 )(𝑥 + 1 − 𝑖 ) = 0
(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 𝑖𝑥 + 𝑥 + 1 − 𝑖 + 𝑖𝑥 + 𝑖 − 𝑖 2 ) = 0
(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 1 − 𝑖 2 ) = 0
(𝑥 + 1)[𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 1 − (−1)] = 0
(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 1 + 1) = 0
(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 2) = 0
𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 2 = 0
𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 2 = 0 The cubic equation of the given roots
Check:
(−1)3 + 3(−1)2 + 4(−1) + 2 = 0
-1 + 3 – 4 + 2 = 0
0=0

3. Determine the roots of 2𝑥 3 + 9𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 − 39, given that -3 + 2i is a root.

Hence, factorize the polynomial. (Email - mathsosc@gmail.com, Website -
https://sites.google.com/view/infinit...)

Given:
−3 + 2𝑖 Is a root

Therefore:
From the conjugate theorem −3 − 2𝑖 is also a root
Solution:
The given polynomial have a cubic exponent, so it will also have 3 roots.
So the factors are:
[𝑥 − (−3 − 2𝑖 )[𝑥 − (−3 + 2𝑖 )][𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏] Because the 3rd root is unknown.
Required:
a&b (unknown)
Multiply all first term of the factors and equate to (𝑎𝑛 ) the first term of the given
polynomial.
(𝑥 )(𝑥 )(𝑎𝑥 ) = 2𝑥 3
𝑎𝑥 3 = 2𝑥 3
𝑎=2

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 Then do the same for the factor’s 2nd term and equate to (𝑎𝑜 ) the last term of the
given polynomial.
(−3 + 2𝑖)(−3 − 2𝑖)(𝑏) = −39
(9 + 6𝑖 − 6𝑖 − 4𝑖 2 )(𝑏) = −39
(9 − 4𝑖 2 )(𝑏) = −39
[9 − 4(−1)](𝑏) = −39 From table 𝑖 2 = −1
(9 + 4)(𝑏) = −39
13𝑏 = −39
−39
𝑏= 13

𝑏 = −3
Therefore the factors are:
[𝑥 − (−3 − 2𝑖 )[𝑥 − (−3 + 2𝑖 )][2𝑥 − 3] Ans.

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