Viete's Formulas - what are they used for?
If we have a quadratic equation 2X^2 + 4X -6 = 0, whose roots are x1=1 and x2=-3 and where a = 2 b=4 and c=-6 then according to Viete's formulas (x1 + x2) = (-b/a) and (x1 • x2) = (c/a).
I suppose these formulas could be used as a double check for calculating the roots but do they serve any other purpose? (I also know there are other Viete's formulas for cubic, quartic, etc. equations).