Question
Find cube root of \sqrt[3]{128-64\sqrt{5}}
Find cube root of \sqrt[3]{128-64\sqrt{5}}
Let
128+64\sqrt{5} = (a+b\sqrt{5})^3
128-64\sqrt{5} = (a-b\sqrt{5})^3
in which a and b are positive integers
Addition of the two equations gives
(a+b\sqrt{5})^3+(a-b\sqrt{5})^3 = 256
Factoring the LHS using sum of cubes formula.
2a[(a+b\sqrt{5})^2+(a-b\sqrt{5})^2-a^2+5b^2)=256
a(2a^2+2b^2\cdot 5 - a^2+5b^2) = 128
Multiplying the two equations gives
(128+64\sqrt{5})(128-64\sqrt{5}) = (a+b\sqrt{5})^3 (a-b\sqrt{5})^3
Simplify the equation using difference of square formula
(a^2 - b^2\cdot 5)^3 = 128^2 - 64^2\cdot 5=-4096
Taking cube root gives
A system of equations is obtained from (1) and (2)
\begin{cases} a^3 + 15ab^2 &=128 \\ a^2-5b^2 &=-16 \end{cases}
Solving the equation yields
a = 2, b=2
Therefore,
The cube root of
\sqrt[3]{128+64\sqrt{5}}=\sqrt[3]{(2+2\sqrt{5})^3}=2+2\sqrt{5}
\sqrt[3]{128-64\sqrt{5}}=\sqrt[3]{(2-2\sqrt{5})^3}=2-2\sqrt{5}