In algebra, casus irreducibilis (from Latin 'the irreducible case') is one of the cases that may arise in solving polynomials of degree 3 or higher with integer coefficients algebraically (as opposed to numerically), i.e., by obtaining roots that are expressed with radicals. It shows that many algebraic numbers are real-valued but cannot be expressed in radicals without introducing complex numbers. The most notable occurrence of casus irreducibilis is in the case of cubic polynomials that have three real roots, which was proven by Pierre Wantzel in 1843.^[1] One can see whether a given cubic polynomial is in so-called casus irreducibilis by looking at the discriminant, via Cardano's formula.^[2]

The three cases of the discriminant

Let

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

be a cubic equation with ${\displaystyle a\neq 0}$. Then the discriminant is given by

${\displaystyle D:={\bigl (}(x_{1}-x_{2})(x_{1}-x_{3})(x_{2}-x_{3}){\bigr )}^{2}=18abcd-4ac^{3}-27a^{2}d^{2}+b^{2}c^{2}-4b^{3}d~.}$

It appears in the algebraic solution and is the square of the product

${\displaystyle \Delta :=\prod _{j<k}(x_{j}-x_{k})=(x_{1}-x_{2})(x_{1}-x_{3})(x_{2}-x_{3})\qquad \qquad {\bigl (}\!=\pm {\sqrt {D)){\bigr )))$

of the ${\displaystyle {\tbinom {3}{2))=3}$ differences of the 3 roots ${\displaystyle x_{1},x_{2},x_{3))$.^[3]

1. If D < 0, then the polynomial has one real root and two complex non-real roots. ${\displaystyle \Delta \in i\mathbb {R} ^{\times ))$ is purely imaginary.
   Although there are cubic polynomials with negative discriminant which are irreducible in the modern sense, casus irreducibilis does not apply.^[4]
2. If D = 0, then ${\displaystyle \Delta =0}$ and there are three real roots; two of them are equal. Whether D = 0 can be found out by the Euclidean algorithm, and if so, the roots by the quadratic formula. Moreover, all roots are real and expressible by real radicals.
   All the cubic polynomials with zero discriminant are reducible.
3. If D > 0, then ${\displaystyle \Delta \in \mathbb {R} ^{\times ))$ is non-zero and real, and there are three distinct real roots which are sums of two complex conjugates.
   Because they require complex numbers (in the understanding of the time: cube roots from non-real numbers, i.e. from square roots from negative numbers) to express them in radicals, this case in the 16th century has been termed casus irreducibilis.^[5]

Formal statement and proof

More generally, suppose that F is a formally real field, and that p(x) ∈ F[x] is a cubic polynomial, irreducible over F, but having three real roots (roots in the real closure of F). Then casus irreducibilis states that it is impossible to express a solution of p(x) = 0 by radicals with radicands ∈ F.

To prove this,^[6] note that the discriminant D is positive. Form the field extension F(√D) = F(∆). Since this is F or a quadratic extension of F (depending in whether or not D is a square in F), p(x) remains irreducible in it. Consequently, the Galois group of p(x) over F(√D) is the cyclic group C₃. Suppose that p(x) = 0 can be solved by real radicals. Then p(x) can be split by a tower of cyclic extensions

${\displaystyle F\subset F({\sqrt {D)))\subset F({\sqrt {D)),{\sqrt[{p_{1))]{\alpha _{1))})\subset \cdots \subset K\subset K({\sqrt[{3}]{\alpha )))}$

At the final step of the tower, p(x) is irreducible in the penultimate field K, but splits in K(³√α) for some α. But this is a cyclic field extension, and so must contain a conjugate of ³√α and therefore a primitive 3rd root of unity.

However, there are no primitive 3rd roots of unity in a real closed field. Suppose that ω is a primitive 3rd root of unity. Then, by the axioms defining an ordered field, ω and ω² are both positive, because otherwise their cube (=1) would be negative. But if ω²>ω, then cubing both sides gives 1>1, a contradiction; similarly if ω>ω².

Solution in non-real radicals

Cardano's solution

The equation ax³ + bx² + cx + d = 0 can be depressed to a monic trinomial by dividing by ${\displaystyle a}$ and substituting x = t − b/3a (the Tschirnhaus transformation), giving the equation t³ + pt + q = 0 where

${\displaystyle p={\frac {3ac-b^{2)){3a^{2))))$

${\displaystyle q={\frac {2b^{3}-9abc+27a^{2}d}{27a^{3))}.}$

Then regardless of the number of real roots, by Cardano's solution the three roots are given by

${\displaystyle t_{k}=\omega _{k}{\sqrt[{3}]{-{q \over 2}+{\sqrt ((q^{2} \over 4}+{p^{3} \over 27))))}+\omega _{k}^{2}{\sqrt[{3}]{-{q \over 2}-{\sqrt ((q^{2} \over 4}+{p^{3} \over 27))))))$

where ${\displaystyle \omega _{k))$ (k=1, 2, 3) is a cube root of 1 (${\displaystyle \omega _{1}=1}$, ${\displaystyle \omega _{2}=-{\frac {1}{2))+{\frac {\sqrt {3)){2))i}$, and ${\displaystyle \omega _{3}=-{\frac {1}{2))-{\frac {\sqrt {3)){2))i}$, where i is the imaginary unit). Here if the radicands under the cube roots are non-real, the cube roots expressed by radicals are defined to be any pair of complex conjugate cube roots, while if they are real these cube roots are defined to be the real cube roots.

Casus irreducibilis occurs when none of the roots are rational and when all three roots are distinct and real; the case of three distinct real roots occurs if and only if q²/4 + p³/27 < 0, in which case Cardano's formula involves first taking the square root of a negative number, which is imaginary, and then taking the cube root of a complex number (the cube root cannot itself be placed in the form α + βi with specifically given expressions in real radicals for α and β, since doing so would require independently solving the original cubic). Even in the reducible case in which one of three real roots is rational and hence can be factored out by polynomial long division, Cardano's formula (unnecessarily in this case) expresses that root (and the others) in terms of non-real radicals.

Example

The cubic equation

${\displaystyle 2x^{3}-9x^{2}-6x+3=0}$

is irreducible, because if it could be factored there would be a linear factor giving a rational solution, while none of the possible roots given by the rational root test are actually roots. Since its discriminant is positive, it has three real roots, so it is an example of casus irreducibilis. These roots can be expressed as

${\displaystyle t_{k}={\frac {3-\omega _{k}{\sqrt[{3}]{39-26i))-\omega _{k}^{2}{\sqrt[{3}]{39+26i))}{2))}$

for ${\displaystyle k\in \left\{1,2,3\right\))$. The solutions are in radicals and involve the cube roots of complex conjugate numbers.

Trigonometric solution in terms of real quantities

While casus irreducibilis cannot be solved in radicals in terms of real quantities, it can be solved trigonometrically in terms of real quantities.^[7] Specifically, the depressed monic cubic equation ${\displaystyle t^{3}+pt+q=0}$ is solved by

${\displaystyle t_{k}=2{\sqrt {-{\frac {p}{3))))\cos \left[{\frac {1}{3))\arccos \left({\frac {3q}{2p)){\sqrt {\frac {-3}{p))}\right)-k{\frac {2\pi }{3))\right]\quad {\text{for))\quad k=0,1,2\,.}$

These solutions are in terms of real quantities if and only if ${\displaystyle {q^{2} \over 4}+{p^{3} \over 27}<0}$ — i.e., if and only if there are three real roots. The formula involves starting with an angle whose cosine is known, trisecting the angle by multiplying it by 1/3, and taking the cosine of the resulting angle and adjusting for scale.

Although cosine and its inverse function (arccosine) are transcendental functions, this solution is algebraic in the sense that ${\displaystyle \cos \left[\arccos \left(x\right)/3\right]}$ is an algebraic function, equivalent to angle trisection.

Relation to angle trisection

The distinction between the reducible and irreducible cubic cases with three real roots is related to the issue of whether or not an angle is trisectible by the classical means of compass and unmarked straightedge. For any angle θ, one-third of this angle has a cosine that is one of the three solutions to

${\displaystyle 4x^{3}-3x-\cos(\theta )=0.}$

Likewise, θ⁄3 has a sine that is one of the three real solutions to

${\displaystyle 4y^{3}-3y+\sin(\theta )=0.}$

In either case, if the rational root test reveals a rational solution, x or y minus that root can be factored out of the polynomial on the left side, leaving a quadratic that can be solved for the remaining two roots in terms of a square root; then all of these roots are classically constructible since they are expressible in no higher than square roots, so in particular cos(θ⁄3) or sin(θ⁄3) is constructible and so is the associated angle θ⁄3. On the other hand, if the rational root test shows that there is no rational root, then casus irreducibilis applies, cos(θ⁄3) or sin(θ⁄3) is not constructible, the angle θ⁄3 is not constructible, and the angle θ is not classically trisectible.

As an example, while a 180° angle can be trisected into three 60° angles, a 60° angle cannot be trisected with only compass and straightedge. Using triple-angle formulae one can see that cos π/3 = 4x³ − 3x where x = cos(20°). Rearranging gives 8x³ − 6x − 1 = 0, which fails the rational root test as none of the rational numbers suggested by the theorem is actually a root. Therefore, the minimal polynomial of cos(20°) has degree 3, whereas the degree of the minimal polynomial of any constructible number must be a power of two.

Expressing cos(20°) in radicals results in

${\displaystyle \cos \left({\frac {\pi }{9))\right)={\frac ((\sqrt[{3}]{1-i{\sqrt {3))))+{\sqrt[{3}]{1+i{\sqrt {3))))}{2{\sqrt[{3}]{2))))}$

which involves taking the cube root of complex numbers. Note the similarity to e^iπ/3 = 1+i√3/2 and e^−iπ/3 = 1−i√3/2.

The connection between rational roots and trisectability can also be extended to some cases where the sine and cosine of the given angle is irrational. Consider as an example the case where the given angle θ is a vertex angle of a regular pentagon, a polygon that can be constructed classically. For this angle 5θ/3 is 180°, and standard trigonometric identities then give

${\displaystyle \cos(\theta )+\cos(\theta /3)=2\cos(\theta /3)\cos(2\theta /3)=-2\cos(\theta /3)\cos(\theta )}$

thus

${\displaystyle \cos(\theta /3)=-\cos(\theta )/(1+2\cos(\theta )).}$

The cosine of the trisected angle is rendered as a rational expression in terms of the cosine of the given angle, so the vertex angle of a regular pentagon can be trisected (mechanically, by simply drawing a diagonal).

Generalization

Casus irreducibilis can be generalized to higher degree polynomials as follows. Let p ∈ F[x] be an irreducible polynomial which splits in a formally real extension R of F (i.e., p has only real roots). Assume that p has a root in ${\displaystyle K\subseteq R}$ which is an extension of F by radicals. Then the degree of p is a power of 2, and its splitting field is an iterated quadratic extension of F.^{[8][9]: 571–572}

Thus for any irreducible polynomial whose degree is not a power of 2 and which has all roots real, no root can be expressed purely in terms of real radicals, i.e. it is a casus irreducibilis in the (16th century) sense of this article. Moreover, if the polynomial degree is a power of 2 and the roots are all real, then if there is a root that can be expressed in real radicals it can be expressed in terms of square roots and no higher-degree roots, as can the other roots, and so the roots are classically constructible.

Casus irreducibilis for quintic polynomials is discussed by Dummit.^[10]: 17

Relation to angle pentasection (quintisection) and higher

The distinction between the reducible and irreducible quintic cases with five real roots is related to the issue of whether or not an angle with rational cosine or rational sine is pentasectible (able to be split into five equal parts) by the classical means of compass and unmarked straightedge. For any angle θ, one-fifth of this angle has a cosine that is one of the five real roots of the equation

${\displaystyle 16x^{5}-20x^{3}+5x-\cos(\theta )=0.}$

Likewise, θ/5 has a sine that is one of the five real roots of the equation

${\displaystyle 16y^{5}-20y^{3}+5y-\sin(\theta )=0.}$

In either case, if the rational root test yields a rational root x₁, then the quintic is reducible since it can be written as a factor (x—x₁) times a quartic polynomial. But if the test shows that there is no rational root, then the polynomial may be irreducible, in which case casus irreducibilis applies, cos(θ⁄5) and sin(θ⁄5) are not constructible, the angle θ⁄5 is not constructible, and the angle θ is not classically pentasectible. An example of this is when one attempts to construct a 25-gon (icosipentagon) with compass and straightedge. While a pentagon is relatively easy to construct, a 25-gon requires an angle pentasector as the minimal polynomial for cos(14.4°) has degree 10:

${\displaystyle {\begin{aligned}\cos \left({\frac {2\pi }{5))\right)&={\frac ((\sqrt {5))-1}{4))\\16x^{5}-20x^{3}+5x+{\frac {1-{\sqrt {5))}{4))&=0\qquad \qquad x=\cos \left({\frac {2\pi }{25))\right)\\4\left(16x^{5}-20x^{3}+5x+{\frac {1-{\sqrt {5))}{4))\right)\left(16x^{5}-20x^{3}+5x+{\frac {1+{\sqrt {5))}{4))\right)&=0\\4\left(16x^{5}-20x^{3}+5x\right)^{2}+2\left(16x^{5}-20x^{3}+5x\right)-1&=0\\1024x^{10}-2560x^{8}+2240x^{6}+32x^{5}-800x^{4}-40x^{3}+100x^{2}+10x-1&=0.\end{aligned))}$

Thus,

${\displaystyle {\begin{aligned}e^{2\pi i/5}&={\frac {-1+{\sqrt {5))}{4))+{\frac {\sqrt {10+2{\sqrt {5)))){4))i\\e^{-2\pi i/5}&={\frac {-1+{\sqrt {5))}{4))-{\frac {\sqrt {10+2{\sqrt {5)))){4))i\\\cos \left({\frac {2\pi }{25))\right)&={\frac ((\sqrt[{5}]{-1+{\sqrt {5))-i{\sqrt {10+2{\sqrt {5))))))+{\sqrt[{5}]{-1+{\sqrt {5))+i{\sqrt {10+2{\sqrt {5))))))}{2{\sqrt[{5}]{4)))).\end{aligned))}$