Solution to polynomial $ax^k-bx^{k-1}+b-a=0$ I once spent far too long getting nowhere with this.
Is there a way of finding the real roots of
$ax^k-bx^{k-1}+b-a=0$ where $a, b, k\in \mathbb N$ and $b\gt a$ and $k\gt 1$?
I know that there is no general formula for solving polynomials of degree greater than 4, but with so few $x$s I thought it might be possible. Note that $x=1$ is always a solution.
Because of the dearth of $x$s the stationary points are easy to find, and I know a solution exists between $x=\frac{b(k-1)}{ak}$ and $x=\frac{b}{a}$.
 A: Let's examine the specific case where $a = 1,$ $b = 2$ and $n = 6$ i.e. consider the polynomial $$f(X) = X^6 - 2X^5 + 1.$$
As you've pointed out, $1$ is a root of $f$ and hence $X-1$ divides $f$ in $\mathbb{Q}[X].$ In fact,
$$f(X) = (X -1)(X^5 -X^4 -X^3 -X^2 - X - 1).$$
So let's instead consider the polynomial $$g(X) = X^5 -X^4 -X^3 -X^2 - X - 1.$$ We claim $g(X)$ is not solvable by radicals. 
First observe that $g(X)$ is irreducible over $\mathbb{Q}$ as it's reduction modulo $5$ is irreducible over $\mathbb{F}_5.$
Let $L$ be the splitting field of $g$ over $\mathbb{Q}$ and $G = Gal (L/\mathbb{Q}).$ There is a faithful representation of $G \rightarrow S_5$ given by the action of $G$ on the roots of $g,$ identify $G$ with it's image under this representation. 
As $L$ is the splitting field of a irreducible fifth degree polynomial, we have $5| |G|$. And so $G$ contains an element of order $5.$ As the only elements in $S_5$ of order $5$ are $5$ cylces, we obtain  $G$ contains a $5$-cycle.$
We claim that complex conjugation restricted to $G$ has a cycle decomposition equal to the product of two $2$-cycles. Note that this is equivalent to showing $g$ has one real root. So we show the latter. 
Observe
$$f'(X) = 6X^5 - 10X^4 = 2X^4(3X^4-5).$$
has $2$ real roots. It follows $f$ has at most $3$ real roots. So $g$ has at most $2$ real roots. As complex roots of a polynomial over $\mathbb{R}$ necessarily come in conjugate pairs and every odd degree polynomial over $\mathbb{R}$ has a real root, it must be the case that $g$ has exactly one real root.
So $G$ contains a five cycle and an element with a cycle decomposition equal to the product of two $2$-cycles. It follows $G$ contains $A_5$ and $G$ is not solvable. Consequently, $g$ will not be solvable by radicals. 
