Algebra

Discovering and Programming the Cubic Formula

Authors: Timothy W. Jones
Comments: 12 Pages. Some suggestions were given by a reader and a solution to the puzzle of the earlier version is added.

Solving a cubic polynomial using a formula is possible; a formula exists. In this article we connect various dots from a pre-calculus course and attempt to show how the formula could be discovered. Along the way we make a TI-84 CE menu driven program that allows for experiments, confirmations of speculations, and eventually a working program that solves all cubic polynomials.
Category: Algebra