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Chapter 7 Cubic Polynomials

Review Exercise 7

1 (a) 2x2 = 3x – 5
2x2 – 3x + 5 = 0
3
α+β=
2
5
αβ =
2
α β
+
2β + 1 2α + 1
α (2α + 1) + β (2β + 1)
=
(2β + 1) (2α + 1)
2α 2 + α + 2β2 + β
=
4αβ + 2β + 2α + 1
2 (α 2 + β2 ) + α + β
=
4αβ + 2 (α + β) + 1
2 [(α + β)2 − 2αβ] + (α + β)
=
4αβ + 2 (α + β) + 1
  3 2  5  3
2   − 2   +
 2  2 2
=
 5  3
4  + 2  +1
 2  2
− 11 3
+
= 2 = 2 −= 4 −2
10 + 3 + 1 14 7
α β −2
(b) Sum of the roots = + =
2β + 1 2α + 1 7
 α  β 
Product of roots = 
 2β + 1  2α + 1
5
αβ 5
= = 2=
(2β + 1) (2α + 1) 14 28
The equation is:
2 5
x2 + x + = 0
7 28
28x2 + 8x + 5 = 0
2
2 2x – 5x + 7 = 0
5
α+β=
2
7
αβ =
2

Unit 1 Answers: Chapter 7 © Macmillan Publishers Limited 2013

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1 1
Sum of the roots = α + +β+
α β
β+α
= (α + β) +
αβ
5
5 2
= +
2 7
2
5 5 45
= + =
2 7 14
 1  1
Product of the roots =  α +   β + 
 
α  β
α β 1
= αβ + + +
β α αβ
α 2 + β2 1
= αβ + +
αβ αβ
(α + β)2 − 2αβ 1
= αβ + +
αβ αβ
2
 5  7
−2 
7  2   2 1
= + +
2 7 7
2 2
7  3 2
= + −  +
2  14  7
25
=
7
1 1
The equation with roots α + , β + is
α β
45 25
x2 − x+ = 0
14 7
14x2 – 45x + 50 = 0
3 (a) 3x2 = – (2x – 1)
⇒ 3x2 + 2x – 1 = 0
−2
α+β=
3
1
αβ = −
3
−2
2
4
α 2 + β2 + 2αβ = (α + β) 2 =   =
 3  9
(b) α −β +α −β
4 4 2 2

= (α 2 − β2 ) (α 2 + β2 ) + α 2 − β2
= (α 2 − β2 ) (α 2 + β2 + 1)
= (α − β) (α + β) ((α + β)2 − 2αβ + 1)

Unit 1 Answers: Chapter 7 © Macmillan Publishers Limited 2013

 Page 3 of 9

 − 2  − 2  1 
2

=      − 2  −  + 1 (α − β)
 3   3   3 
− 38
= (α − β)
27
−2
2
 1  4 4 16
(α − β) = (α + β) − 4αβ = 
2 2
 − 4 −  = + =
 3   3 9 3 9
16 4
α −= β = , α >β
9 3
− 38 4 − 152
∴ α 4 − β4 + α 2 −=β2 ×=
27 3 81
4 (a) x3 – 10x + 6 = 0
α+β+γ=0
α β + α γ + β γ = – 10
αβγ=–6
∑ α= ( ∑ α ) − 2 ∑ αβ
2
2
(b)
= (0)2 – 2 (– 10)
= 20.
(c) x = α ⇒ α3 – 10α + 6 = 0
x = β ⇒ β3 – 10β + 6 = 0
x = γ ⇒ γ3 – 10γ + 6 = 0
Add] ⇒ ∑ α 3 − 10 ∑ α + 18 =0

∑ α − 10 (0) + 18 =0
3

∴ ∑ α =− 18.
3

5 (a) 2x3 – x2 – 10x – 6 = 0

1
∑α = α + β + γ = 2
∑ αβ = − 5
− (− 6)
=
αβγ = 3
2
1
∑ α =2
∑ α= ( ∑ α ) − 2 ∑ αβ
2
2
(b)
2
 1
=   − 2 (− 5)
 2
1
= 10
4
x = α, 2α 3 − α 2 − 10α − 6 = 0 

(c) x = β, 2β3 − β2 − 10β − 6 = 0  add
x = γ , 2 γ 3 − γ 2 − 10 γ − 6 = 0 
⇒ 2 ∑ α 3 − ∑ α 2 − 10 ∑ α − 18 =0
 1  1
∴ 2 ∑ α 3 −  10  − 10   − 18 =0
 4  2

Unit 1 Answers: Chapter 7 © Macmillan Publishers Limited 2013

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1 1
∑=
α 3

2 
18 + 5 + 10
4 
133
=
8
6 (a) x3 + 4x + 1 = 0
Since the roots are p, q and r
p+q+r=0
pq + pr + qr = 4
pqr = – 1
p2 + q2 + r2 = (p + q + r)2 – 2 (pq + pr + qr)
= (0)2 – 2 (4)
=–8
(b) p3 + 4p + 1 = 0
q3 + 4q + 1= 0
r3 + 4r + 1= 0
p3 + q3 + r3 + 4 (p + q + r) + 3 = 0
p3 + q3 + r3 + 4 (0) + 3 = 0
∴ p3 + q3 + r3 = – 3
7 2x3 – 4x2 + 6x – 1 = 0
− (− 4)
α += β+γ = 2
2
6
αβ + αγ + βγ= = 3
2
1
αβγ =
2
1 1 1
Sum of the roots = + +
α β γ
βγ + αγ + αβ
=
αβγ
3
= = 6
1
2
Sum of product of pairs
 1   1  1   1  1  1
=    +     +    
 α   β  α   γ   β  γ 
γ +β+α 2
= = = 4
αβγ 1
2
 1   1  1
Product of the roots =      
 α   β  γ 
1
=
αβγ
1
= = 2
1
2
1 1 1
The equation with roots , , is
α β γ

Unit 1 Answers: Chapter 7 © Macmillan Publishers Limited 2013

 Page 5 of 9

x3 – 6x2 + 4x – 2 = 0
OR:
1 1
Let y = ⇒ x =
x y
1
Substituting x = into the equation
y
3 2
1 1 1
2   − 4   + 6   −1= 0
y y y
× y3 ⇒ 2 – 4y + 6y2 – y3 = 0
∴ y3 – 6y2 + 4y – 2 = 0
1 1 1
Since x = α, β, γ ⇒ y = , ,
α β γ
1 1 1
The equation with roots , , is
α β γ
y3 – 6y2 + 4y – 2 = 0
8 The roots of the equation are – 2, – 3 and 4
∴ (x + 2) (x + 3) (x – 4) = 0
⇒ (x2 + 5x + 6) (x – 4) = 0
⇒ x3 – 4x2 + 5x2– 20x + 6x – 24 = 0
⇒ x3 + x2 – 14x – 24 = 0
The equation with roots – 2, – 3 and 4 is
x3 + x2 – 14x – 24 = 0
Comparing with x3 + αx2 + βx+ γ = 0
⇒ α = 1, β = – 14, γ = – 24
OR:
Sum of the roots = (– 2) + (– 3) + 4
=–1
Sum of the product of pairs = (– 2) (– 3) + (– 2) (4) + (– 3) (4)
= 6 – 8 – 12 = – 14
Product of the roots = (– 2) (– 3) (4) = 24.
The equation is
x3 + x2 – 14x – 24 = 0
∴ α = 1, β = – 14, γ = – 24
9 (a) x3 + 6x2 + 10x + 14 = 0
α + β + γ = – 6, αβ + αγ + βγ = 10, αβγ = – 14
Let y = x 2 ⇒ x = y
Substituting into the equation:
( y)3 + 6 ( y) 2 + 10 y + 14 = 0
y y + 6y + 10 y + 14 =
0
y (y + 10) = − 14 − 6 y
Squaring: y (y + 10)2 = (– 14 – 6 y)2
y (y2 + 20y + 100) = 196 + 168y + 36y2
y3 – 16y2 – 68y – 196 = 0
Hence the equation with roots α2, β2 and γ2 is
y3 – 16y2 – 68y – 196 = 0
(b) Let y = x + 3
⇒x=y–3
Substituting into the equation:

Unit 1 Answers: Chapter 7 © Macmillan Publishers Limited 2013

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(y – 3)3 + 6 (y – 3)2 + 10 (y – 3) + 14 = 0
⇒ y3 – 9y2 + 27y – 27 + 6(y2 – 6y + 9) + 10y – 30 + 14 = 0
⇒ y3 – 3y2 + y + 11 = 0
The equation with roots α + 3, β + 3, γ + 3 is
y3 – 3y2 + y + 11 = 0
OR:
Sum of the roots = α + 3 + β + 3 + γ + 3
= (α + β + γ) + 9
=–6+9=3
Sum of the product of pairs = (α + 3) (β + 3) + (α + 3) ( γ + 3) + (β + 3) ( γ + 3)
= αβ + 3α + 3β + 9 + αγ + 3α + 3γ + 9 + βγ + 3β + 3γ + 9
= (αβ + αγ + βγ ) + 6 (α + β + γ ) + 27
= 10 + 6 (– 6) + 27
=1
Product of the roots
= (α + 3) (β + 3) (γ + 3)
= (αβ + 3α + 3β + 9) (γ + 3)
=αβγ + 3αβ + 3αγ + 9α + 3βγ + 9β + 9γ + 27
= αβγ + 3 (αβ + αγ + βγ ) + 9 (α + β + γ ) + 27
= – 14 + 3 (10) + 9 (– 6) + 27
= – 11
The equation with roots α + 3, β + 3, γ + 3 is
x3 – 3x2 + x + 11 = 0
10 3x3 – 4x2 + 8x – 7 = 0
1 1
Let y = ⇒ x =
x y
3 2
 1  1  1
∴ 3  − 4   + 8   − 7 = 0
 y  y  y
⇒ 3 – 4y + 8y2 – 7y3 = 0
1 1 1
The equation with roots , , is
α β γ
7y3 – 8y2 + 4y – 3 = 0
OR:
3x3 – 4x2 + 8x – 7 = 0
4
∑ α =3
8
∑ αβ = 3
7
∑ αβγ = 3
8
1 1 1 αβ + βγ + γα 3 8
Sum of the roots = + + = = =
α β γ αβγ 7 7
3
 1   1  1   1  1  1
Sum of the product of pairs =     +     +    
 α   β  α   γ   β  γ 

Unit 1 Answers: Chapter 7 © Macmillan Publishers Limited 2013

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4
α+β+γ 3 4
= = =
αβγ 7 7
3
 1   1  1
Product of roots =      
 α   β  γ 
1 1 3
= = =
αβγ 7 7
3
1 1 1
The equation with roots , , is
α β γ
8 4 3
x3 − x2 + x − = 0
7 7 7
7x3 – 8x2 + 4x – 3 = 0
11 (a) 2x3 – x2 – 10x − 6 = 0
1
α+β+γ =
2
(∑ α) − 2 ∑ αβ
2
(b) α 2 + β2 + =
γ2
2
 1
=   − 2 (− 5)
 2
1
= 10
4
(c) 9β2 + 9 γ 2 = 32α 2
32 2
β 2 + γ=2
α
9
1
Substitute into α 2 + β2 + γ 2 =10
4
32 2 41
⇒ α2 + α =
9 4
41 2 41 9 −3
α = ⇒ α2 = , α= ,α<0
9 4 4 2
1 1 3
α + β + γ= ⇒ β + γ= + = 2
2 2 2
γ= 2 − β
 3
αβγ = 3 ⇒  −  β (2 − β) = 3
 2
2
2β − β = − 2
β 2 − 2β − 2 = 0
2± 4+8
β=
2
2 ± 12
=
2
= 1± 3
β > 0 ∴ β= 1 + 3 , γ= 1 − 3

Unit 1 Answers: Chapter 7 © Macmillan Publishers Limited 2013

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−3
α= , β = 1 + 3, γ = 1 − 3
2
12 x3 + ax2 + bx + c = 0
α+β+ γ = −a
αβ + βγ + γα = b
αβγ = − c
α + β + γ = 6 ⇒ − a= 6
a=–6
∑ α 2 =14
∑ α= ( ∑ α ) − 2 ∑ αβ
2 2

= (−6)2 – 2b
36 – 2b = 14
2b = 22
b = 11
∑ α3 + a ∑ α 2 + b ∑ α + 3c =0
36 + (– 6) (14) + (11) (+ 6) + 3c = 0
36 – 84 + 66 + 3c = 0
c=6
∴ a = – 6, b = 11, c = 6
13 x3 + ax2 + bx + c = 0
∑ α = − a, ∑ αβ = b, αβγ = − c
Now ∑α = 0 ⇒ a = 0
∑ α= 14 ⇒ ( ∑ α ) − 2 ∑ αβ=
2
2
14
– 2b = 14
b=–7
∑ α 3 + a ∑ α 2 + b ∑ α + 3c =0
18 + 0 – 7 (0) + 3c = 0
c=–6
a = 0, b = – 7, c = – 6
14 x3 – 6x + 3 = 0
x +1
Let y =
x
⇒ xy = x + 1
⇒ xy – x = 1
x (y – 1) = 1
1
x=
y −1
Substituting into the equation:
3
 1   1 
 y − 1 − 6  y − 1 + 3 =0

× (y – 1)3 ⇒ 1 – 6 (y – 1)2 + 3 (y – 1)3 = 0

1 – 6 [y2 – 2y + 1] + 3 [y3 – 3y2 + 3y – 1] = 0
∴ 3y3 – 15y2 + 21y – 8 = 0
α +1 β +1 γ +1
∴ The equation with roots , , is
α β γ

Unit 1 Answers: Chapter 7 © Macmillan Publishers Limited 2013

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3x3 – 15x2 + 21x – 8 = 0

15 (a) x3 – 2x2 + 4x + 5 = 0
α + β + γ =2
αβ + βγ + γα = 4
αβγ = − 5
Sum of the roots = 2α + 2β + 2 γ
= 2 (α + β + γ )
= 2 (2) = 4
Sum of the product of pairs = (2α) (2β) + (2α) (2 γ) + (2β) (2 γ)
= 4 [αβ + αγ + βγ ]
= 4 (4) = 16
Product of the roots = (2α ) (2β) (2 γ )
= 8 αβγ = 8 (− 5) = − 40
The equation is
x3 – 4x2 + 16x + 40 = 0
OR:
3 2
y  y  y  y
y = 2x ⇒ x = ∴   −2  + 4  +5= 0
2  2   2   2
× 8 ⇒ y – 4y + 16y + 40 = 0
3 2

1 1
(b) =
y ⇒x=
x y
3 2
1 1 1
∴  − 2   + 4   + 5 = 0
y y y
× y3 ⇒ 1 – 2y + 4y2 + 5y3 = 0
The equation with roots
1 1 1
, , is
α β γ
5x3 + 4x2 – 2x + 1 = 0

Unit 1 Answers: Chapter 7 © Macmillan Publishers Limited 2013