Derivation of Cubic Formula

Question

How do we derive the so called cubic formula without using Cardano's method or substitution? I would like to see a step by step proof of where wolfram alpha derives this answer. And also explain where the factor of $\dfrac{1\pm i\sqrt{3}}{6\sqrt[3]2a}$ comes from in the 2nd and 3rd roots.

Answer by WA

Answer 1

A general form for the cubic equation is,

$$ax^3+bx^2+cx+d=0 \tag{1}$$

To find the roots of this equation we first try to get rid of the quadratic term $x^2$. The substitution $x=y-\dfrac{b}{3a}$ helps in achieving our goal. This results in, $$ay^3+\left(c-\dfrac{b^2}{3a}\right)y+\left(d+\dfrac{2b^3}{27a^2}-\dfrac{bc}{3a}\right)=0\tag{2}$$ which we transform into the following, $$y^3+\dfrac{1}{a}\left(c-\dfrac{b^2}{3a}\right)y+\dfrac{1}{a}\left(d+\dfrac{2b^3}{27a^2}-\dfrac{bc}{3a}\right)=0\tag{3}$$ Upon assuming $e=\dfrac{1}{a}\left(c-\dfrac{b^2}{3a}\right)$ and $f=\dfrac{1}{a}\left(d+\dfrac{2b^3}{27a^2}-\dfrac{bc}{3a}\right)$ we get the equation as, $$y^3+ey+f=0\tag{4}$$ We reduce this equation by the substitution $y=z+\dfrac{s}{z}$ and choosing $s=-\dfrac{e}{3}$ we obtain the simplified equation as, $$z^6+fz^3-\dfrac{e^3}{27}=0\tag{5}$$ What only remains is to make the substitution $u=z^3$.