1. How to simplify?

Question directions simply state to simplify: (hehe, simply simplify)
(20+14sqrt(2))^(1/3) + (20-14sqrt(2))^(1/3)

WolframAlpha solution says to express 20 + 14√(2) as a cube to equal 8 + 12√(2) + 6((√2))^2+(√(2))^3. Can someone explain how these numbers were crunched up? Is it to do with (a^3+b^3)=(a+b)(a^2-ab+b^2)?

2. Re: How to simplify?

How do you want to simplify this? If its in terms of common factors multiplication wise then I don't think you can do that.

3. Re: How to simplify?

As far as i know this kind of thing relies a lot on luck. We can try

$\displaystyle \sqrt[3]{20 + 14 \sqrt{2}} = a + b \sqrt{2}$

cube both sides to get

$\displaystyle 20 + 14 \sqrt{2} = a^3 + 6ab^2 + (3a^2b + 2b^3) \sqrt{2} \ \ \ \ \$ (1)

Now we see

$\displaystyle a^3 + 6ab^2 = 20$

$\displaystyle 3a^2b + 2b^3 = 14$

Luckily , we find with very little effort, a = 2 , b = 1 works so

$\displaystyle \sqrt[3]{20 + 14 \sqrt{2}} = a + b \sqrt{2} = 2 + 1 \sqrt{2}$

Repeating the procedure using the right hand side of $(1) , you don't have to start from scratch , we find the other cube root must satisfy$\displaystyle 20 - 14 \sqrt{2} = a^3 + 6ab^2 + (3a^2b + 2b^3) \sqrt{2} \displaystyle a^3 + 6ab^2 = 20 \displaystyle 3a^2b + 2b^3 = -14 $And again with little effort we find a = 2 , b = -1 works so$\displaystyle \sqrt[3]{20 - 14 \sqrt{2}} = a + b \sqrt{2} = 2 + (-1) \sqrt{2}$So the sum of your cube roots is actually the very humble integer 4.$\displaystyle \sqrt[3]{20 + 14 \sqrt{2}} + \sqrt[3]{20 - 14 \sqrt{2}} = 2 + \sqrt{2} + 2 - \sqrt{2} = 4$He heh... 4. Re: How to simplify? Ahhh! I knew it had to be a guess and check method! There is no systematic way other than plugging away at numbers? There will be a huge time constraint when I have to deal with this during my exam Oh well, thank you very much! 5. Re: How to simplify?$\displaystyle x=\left(a+b\sqrt{d}\right)^{1/3}+\left(a-b\sqrt{d}\right)^{1/3}$is the unique real solution of the cubic equation$\displaystyle x^3-3p x - 2a =0$where$\displaystyle p=\left(a^2-b^2 d\right)^{1/3}$6. Re: How to simplify? Originally Posted by Idea$\displaystyle x=\left(a+b\sqrt{d}\right)^{1/3}+\left(a-b\sqrt{d}\right)^{1/3}$is the unique real solution of the cubic equation$\displaystyle x^3-3p x - 2a =0$where$\displaystyle p=\left(a^2-b^2 d\right)^{1/3}$How in the world... that is so cool! Where did you derive these formulas from? Are there similar forms for$\displaystyle x=\left(a+b\sqrt{d}\right)^{1/2}+\left(a-b\sqrt{d}\right)^{1/2}$? 7. Re: How to simplify? Originally Posted by facebook How in the world... that is so cool! Where did you derive these formulas from? Are there similar forms for$\displaystyle x=\left(a+b\sqrt{d}\right)^{1/2}+\left(a-b\sqrt{d}\right)^{1/2}$?$\displaystyle x=\left(a+b\sqrt{d}\right)^{1/2}+\left(a-b\sqrt{d}\right)^{1/2}\displaystyle x^2=2a+2\sqrt{a^2-b^2d}$Example$\displaystyle \left(17+12\sqrt{2}\right)^{1/2}+\left(17-12\sqrt{2}\right)^{1/2} = 6\$

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find the cube root of 20 14√2

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