Extract Coefficient from Root Formula

Question

I have a solution in the form

Root[a + b #1 + c #1^2 &, 1]

with {a,b,c} very long symbolic expressions How can I extract the coefficient {a,b,c}? I'd like to obtain a result like

coeff={a,b,c}

Answer 1

If your starting point is an explicit number (i.e. it has no symbolic parameters), then you could use MinimalPolynomial and CoefficientList.

This works with a Root object ...

MinimalPolynomial[Root[1 + 2 #1 + #1^5 &, 1], x]
(* 1 + 2 x + x^5 *)

CoefficientList[%, x]
(* {1, 2, 0, 0, 0, 1} *)

... or any other algebraic number.

MinimalPolynomial[Sqrt[2] + Sqrt[3], x]
(* 1 - 10 x^2 + x^4 *)

CoefficientList[%, x]
(* {1, 0, -10, 0, 1} *)

Do keep in mind that MinimalPolynomial will aim to generate a polynomial with integer coefficients. Thus be aware of results like this:

MinimalPolynomial[Root[1 + 2 #1 + Sqrt[2] #1^2 &, 1], x]
(* -1 - 4 x - 4 x^2 + 2 x^4 *)

Answer 2

Your example is automatically evaluated into the quadratic solution

Root[a + b #1 + c #1^2 &, 1]

(*  -(b/(2 c)) - 1/2 Sqrt[(b^2 - 4 a c)/c^2]  *)

To maintain the Root form, the polynomial must be a higher order. For example,

expr = Root[a + b #1 + c #1^5 &, 1]

(*  Root[a + b #1 + c #1^5 &, 1]  *)

Just use the first argument of Root to form a polynomial in x and then use CoefficientList

CoefficientList[expr[[1]][x], x]

(*  {a, b, 0, 0, 0, c}  *)