MATLAB: How to solve a fourth order algebraic equation

Question

How to solve the value of x for the equation 2x^4+x=34.

Can we solve the fourth order algebraic equations using solve command?

Thanks

Answer 1

It’s easier than that. Create a vector of its coefficients and use the roots function:

% 2x^4+x=18 -> 2x^4 + x -18 = 0
coefvct = [2  0  0  1 -18];     % Coefficient Vector
x = roots(coefvct)              % Solution

produces:

x =
      -1.7732e+000 +             i
      41.6666e-003 +  1.7326e+000i
      41.6666e-003 -  1.7326e+000i
       1.6899e+000 +             i

Two real and two complex roots.