Appendix B.

Solution of Polynomials with Complex Coefficients - Examples.

B.1 Same Sign Roots, (Imaginary Component).

Consider the equation,


y = ( x + 2 ){ x + ( 1 + j2 ) }{ x + ( 3 + j4 ) }
(B.1)

This multiplies out to,


y = x3 + ( 6 + j6 )x2 + ( 3 + j2 )x + ( - 10 + j20 )
(B.2)


To determine the roots of (B.2) using Bairstow, first multiply (B.2) by its complex conjugate equation


yc = x3 + ( 6 - j6 )x2 + ( 3 - j2 )x + ( - 10 - j20 )
(B.3)

To give


yyc = x6 + 12x5 + 78x4 + 280x3 + 621x2 + 820x + 500
(B.4)


Equating (B.4) to zero and inserting its coefficients into the Bairstow spreadsheet yields the roots as,


yyc = ( x + 2 )2{ x + ( 1 + j2 ) }{ x + ( 1 - j2 ) }{ x + ( 3 + j4 ) }{ x + ( 3 - j4 ) }
(B.5)


Consequently, within (B.5), the roots of (B.2), from an application Descartes' Rule of Signs to the imaginary components of (B.2), are determined to be those of (B.1).

B.2 Opposite Sign Roots, (Imaginary Components).

If (B.1) were


y = ( x + 2 ){ x + ( 1 + j2 ) }{ x + ( 3 - j4 ) }
(B.6)

To give


y = x3 + ( 6 - j2 )x2 + ( 19 - j2 )x + ( 22 + j4 )
(B.7)


Multiplying (B.7) by its complex conjugate again gives (B.4) and subsequently (B.5). Descartes' Rule of Signs applied to (B.7) then shows complex roots with both positive and negative imaginary components. The correct ones are then identified by inserting the two complex root combination possibilities, i.e. (1 + j2) with (3 - j4) or (1 - j2) with (3 + j4), together with the single real root, into the Polynomial Construction spreadsheet to determine which gives the correct coefficients of (B.7).



M3 Version 1.0.0
Ó P.G.Bass, January 2010

On to the Next Section:- References

Back to the Introduction to this Paper:- Bairstow Polynomial Roots

Back to the Home Page for this Site:- Home