Question 1209729
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Let t be a root of f(x) = x^3 - x + 3.  Evaluate t^6 - 4t^5 + 7t^4 - 3t^2 + 10t - 13.
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        The answer in the post by @CPhill is incorrect.


        After detecting his erroneous answer, I did a thorough analysis and check.

        My results are shown below.

        I disproved incorrect answer to @CPhill and produced a correct solution/answer.



<pre>
From the condition, we have t^3 - t + 3 = 0,  or  t^3 = t-3.


It allows to reduce the degrees in the given expression  t^6 - 4t^5 + 7t^4 - 3t^2 + 10t - 13.


We have 

    t^6 = t^3*t^3 = (t-3)*(t-3) = t^2 - 6t + 9,

    t^5 = t^2*t^3 = t^2*(t-3) = t^3 - 3t^2 = (t-3)- 3t^2 = -3t^2 + t - 3,

    t^4 = t*t^3 = t*(t-3) = t^2 - 3t.


Now we substitute these reduced expressions for t^6, t^5 and t^4 into the given expression. We get

    t^6 - 4t^5 + 7t^4 - 3t^2 + 10t - 13 = (t^2 - 6t + 9) - 4*(-3t^2 + t - 3) + 7*(t^2 - 3t) - 3t^2 + 10t - 13 = 

    = now combine like terms = (t^2 + 12t^2 + 7t^2 - 3t^2) + (-6t - 4t - 21t + 10t) + (9 + 12 - 13) = 

    = 17t^2 - 21t + 8.


At this point, we can not simplify further.


    +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
    |   At this point, after obtaining the same reduced expression,            |
    |   @CPhill in his post produced WRONG answer 8 for the expression value.  |
    +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+



So, to find the value of t, we should solve this equation x^3 - x + 3 = 0.


It has no rational roots.  So, I used the online solver 

https://www.mathportal.org/calculators/solving-equations/polynomial-equation-solver.php

to find a/the real root.


The solver determined that this polynomial has one real root (which is not rational) and two complex roots.

                The real root is  t = -1.6717 (approximately)


See the solution by the online solver at this link

https://www.mathportal.org/calculators/solving-equations/polynomial-equation-solver.php?val1=x%5E3+-+x+%2B+3&val2=0&val3=%7Bx%7D%5E%7B3%7D-x%2B3%3D0 )


        Let's check this root  (-1.6717)^3 - (-1.6717) + 3 = -8.73813E-07,

              so we can accept that it is the right real root.


Then the value of our final reduced expression is  17*(-1.6717)^2 - 21*(-1.6717) + 8 = 90.61357513.


It is just almost the answer to the problem.


To make check, I substitute t = -1.6717 into the given expression and calculate 

    (-1.6717)^6 - 4*(-1.6717)^5 + 7*(-1.6717)^4 - 3*(-1.6717)^2 + 10*(-1.6717) - 13 = 90.61360678.


With good/reasonable precision, we can accept this check.
</pre>

So, the correct answer (=the correct evaluation for the expression) is 90.6136 (approximately)


The answer by @CPhill, giving the value of 8, is incorrect.


-----------------------


Couple of words after completing the solution // post-solution notes.


In this problem, using the method of reducing degree does not lead to a nice solution.

The problem can be solved, with the same success, by the method of brute force
(solving equation approximately using calculator or online solvers and substituting the root into the expression).


In that sense, &nbsp;the problem contains &nbsp;NOTHING &nbsp;except making stupid calculations,
and, &nbsp;THEREFORE, &nbsp;has &nbsp;ZERO &nbsp;educational value.



/////////////////////////////////////



&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Regarding the post by @CPhill . . . 



Keep in mind that @CPhill is a pseudonym for the Google artificial intelligence.


The artificial intelligence is like a baby now. It is in the experimental stage 
of development and can make mistakes and produce nonsense without any embarrassment.



&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It has no feeling of shame - it is shameless.



This time, again, &nbsp;it made an error.



Although the @CPhill' solution are copy-paste &nbsp;Google &nbsp;AI solutions, &nbsp;there is one essential difference.


Every time, &nbsp;Google &nbsp;AI &nbsp;makes a note at the end of its solutions that &nbsp;Google &nbsp;AI &nbsp;is experimental
and can make errors/mistakes.  &nbsp;&nbsp;So, &nbsp;in this sense, &nbsp;Google &nbsp;AI &nbsp;is honest.


All @CPhill' solutions are copy-paste of &nbsp;Google &nbsp;AI &nbsp;solutions, with one difference:
@PChill never makes this notice and never says that his solutions are copy-past that of Google.
So, &nbsp;in this sense, &nbsp;@CPhill &nbsp;makes a dishonest business at this forum.


Every time, &nbsp;@CPhill embarrassed to tell the truth.

But I am not embarrassing to tell the truth, &nbsp;as it is my duty at this forum.



And the last my comment.


When you obtain such posts from @CPhill, &nbsp;remember, &nbsp;that &nbsp;NOBODY &nbsp;is responsible for their correctness, 
until the specialists and experts will check and confirm their correctness.


Without it, &nbsp;their reliability is &nbsp;ZERO and their creadability is &nbsp;ZERO, &nbsp;too.