Lills Geometric Method for Approximating Polynomial Roots

Author Tony Foster 1. Divide quadratic by leading coefficient (3) 2. Coefficients 1, 10, 11 are used in order for the quadratic pathway (green) 3. Starting point is (0,-1), move up +1 on the y-axis, and then follow the direction scheme below for the rest of the coefficients to construct the quadratic pathway. 4. Direction paths: horizontal path: + coefficients = left, - coefficients = right vertical path: + coefficients = down, - coefficients = up 5. Once quadratic path is finished, draw a line from the starting point to the terminus (blue dash line). Take a compass and draw a solution circle based on that diameter (blue dash line). 6. The roots of the quadratic equation will be where the circle intersects with the B-line (yellow points). The roots also can be found using the tangent of the angles shown below. (Notice that Lill made use of right angle pathways to approximate the roots)

1. Divide quadratic by leading coefficient if needed. 2. Coefficients 1,-10, -15 are used in order for the quadratic pathway (green) 3. Starting point is (0,-1), move up +1 on the y-axis, and then follow the direction scheme below for the rest of the coefficients to construct the quadratic pathway. 4. Direction paths: horizontal path: + coefficients = left, - coefficients = right vertical path: + coefficients = down, - coefficients = up 5. Once quadratic path is finished, draw a line from the starting point to the terminus (blue dash line). Take a compass and draw a solution circle based on that diameter (blue dash line). 6. The roots of the quadratic equation exist where the circle intersects with the X-axis (yellow points). The roots also can be found using the tangent of the angles shown below.

1. Coefficients of the quartic equation (10, 17, 15, 11, 3) are used for the quartic pathway starting at (0, 0). 2. Using the coefficients in sequence build the pathway by going right 10, up 17, left 15, down 11, rig. 3. Once the quartic pathway is made, construct a right angle pathway inside that reflects off the walls from the starting point to the terminus. The right angle pathway must reflect off the walls in such a way that when it arrives at the terminus, the pathway intersects the terminus point perfectly (see diagram below). If done by hand, this will take several attempts. 4. The root of the quartic can be ascertained by taking the tangent of the angle below (yellow).

1. Coefficients 1, 14, 28, 14 are used for the cubic path (green) 2. Starting point is (0,-1). move up +1 on the y-axis 3. Using the coefficients in sequence, go left 14, down 28, and right 14. 4. Construct a right angle pathway that reflects off the walls from the starting point to the terminus (note: right angle pathway must intersect perfectly with terminus point (red point)) 5. Line B reveals a root (yellow point). Another method for find the root would be using the tangent of the angles shown in the diagram (blue)