Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Mathematics/2010 December 24

= December 24 =

Why does this get so ugly so fast? (factoring cubic equations)
I've tried to factor $$x^3 - x - 1$$ and wolfram gives me this HUGE crazy equation:

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=factor+x^3+-+x+-+1

Why does it happen like that?

$$x^2 - x - 1 $$ is relatively simple in contrast... but the cubic becomes a nightmare!!!

Can someone explain this?

(also, wolfram refuses to answer if I put it to the fourth or fifth degree instead. What's up with that?)--99.179.21.131 (talk) 05:04, 24 December 2010 (UTC)


 * Compare the complexity of Cubic function to the simplicity of Quadratic function. I don't know how Wolfram Alpha works but Quartic function gives further complications. For a quintic equation, the Abel–Ruffini theorem says there is no general algebraic solution. PrimeHunter (talk) 05:26, 24 December 2010 (UTC)
 * Note that if you drop the word "factor" and give it a quartic polynomial, it will give you its roots, and you can click on "exact form" to get the symbolic expressions. -- Meni Rosenfeld (talk) 05:40, 24 December 2010 (UTC)

Why can't I take the indefinite integral of the reciprocate of the Log Integral function?
The Log Integral is $$li(x) = \int \frac{1}{ln(x)} dx $$

When I try to put $$g(x) = \int \frac{1}{li(x)} dx $$ into wolfram, it says it cannot be found. Who has studied this function and where can I find more information about it? Thanks.--99.179.21.131 (talk) 19:32, 24 December 2010 (UTC)


 * See Nonelementary integral. It is unlikely that anyone has studied that integral, Li is already a name for a special integral rather than being an elementary function. Dmcq (talk) 23:32, 24 December 2010 (UTC)

Condition of a circle within another circle
Hello, I am solving a problem where I have to find the condition that one of the circles $$ x^2+y^2+2ax+c=0 $$ and $$ x^2+y^2+2bx+c=0 $$ lies within the other. The four options given are (a) $$ ab>0, \,c<0 $$ (b) $$ ab<0, \,c<0 $$ (c) $$ ab>0,  \,c>0 $$ and (d) $$ ab<0,  \,c>0 $$. I start by finding the distance between the centres of circles which are at $$(-a,0)$$ and $$(-b,0)$$. So the distance is $$|a-b|$$. This distance should be less than the absolute difference in the radii of the circle. So, the equation would become something like $$|a-b|<|\sqrt{a^2-c}-\sqrt{b^2-c}|$$, but from here to reach any of the options given in the questions is causing me problems. Could somebody help me or give me different approach? Thanks - DSachan (talk) 22:31, 24 December 2010 (UTC)


 * Since you only have 4 possible answers, you can just pick some numbers and try out each scenario on graph paper (or a graphing program/calculator). This might help you understand the equation of a circle a bit better, too. StuRat (talk) 23:02, 24 December 2010 (UTC)
 * Thanks, I drew them in Mathematica, and the answer I got was option (c). But I am still getting mightily confused in removing the modulus and making tons of cases. There ought to be a more elegant way to solve it. I somehow feel it. - DSachan (talk) 00:52, 25 December 2010 (UTC)
 * Square both sides of the inequality, both sides are positive so this is valid. When you simplify you get $$ab-c>\sqrt{a^2-c}\sqrt{b^2-c}$$. This is equivalent to $$ab-c>0$$ and $$(ab-c)^2>(a^2-c)(b^2-c)$$. The second inequality becomes $$(a-b)^2c>0$$ or simply c>0. Given that, and the fact that you know a2>c and b2c, it's easy to see (waving hands vigorously) that the first condition is equivalent to ab>0.--RDBury (talk) 11:13, 25 December 2010 (UTC)