2.12.9 Factorisation : factor
factor takes as argument an expression.
factor factorizes this expression on the field of it’s coefficients,
with the addition of i in complex mode. If sqrt is enabled
in the Cas configuration, polynomials of order 2 are factorized in
complex mode or in real mode if the discriminant is positive.
Examples
-
Factorize x4−1 over ℚ.
Input :
factor(x^
4-1)
Output :
(x^
2+1)*(x+1)*(x-1)
The coefficients are rationals, hence the factors are polynomials with
rationals coefficients.
- Factorize x4−1 over ℚ[i]
To have a complex factorisation, check complex in the cas
configuration (red button displaying the status line).
Input :
factor(x^
4-1)
Output :
-i*(-x+-i)*(i*x+1)*(-x+1)*(x+1)
- Factorize x4+1 over ℚ
Input :
factor(x^
4+1)
Output :
x^
4+1
Indeed x4+1 has no factor with rational coefficients.
- Factorize x4+1 over ℚ[i]
Check complex in the cas
configuration (red button rouge displaying the status line).
Input :
factor(x^
4-1)
Output :
(x^
2+i)*(x^
2+-i)
- Factorize x4+1 over ℝ.
You have to provide the square root required for extending the
rationals. In order to do that with the help of Xcas,
first check complex in the cas
configuration and input :
solve(x^
4+1,x)
Output :
[sqrt(2)/2+(i)*sqrt(2)/2,sqrt(2)/2+(i)*(-(sqrt(2)/2)),
-sqrt(2)/2+(i)*sqrt(2)/2,-sqrt(2)/2+(i)*(-(sqrt(2)/2))]
The roots depends on √2. Uncheck complex mode in the Cas configuration
and input :
factor(x^
4+1,sqrt(2))
Output :
(x^
2+sqrt(2)*x+1)*(x^
2+(-(sqrt(2)))*x+1)
To factorize over ℂ, check complex in the
cas configuration and input cFactor(x^
4+1,sqrt(2))
(cf cFactor).