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The roots of the cubic equation $2x^3 + x^2 - 7 = 0$ are $\alpha$, $\beta$ and $\gamma$ - CIE - A-Level Further Maths - Question 1 - 2016 - Paper 1

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The roots of the cubic equation $2x^3 + x^2 - 7 = 0$ are $\alpha$, $\beta$ and $\gamma$. Using the substitution $y = 1 + \frac{1}{x}$, or otherwise, find the cubic e... show full transcript

Worked Solution & Example Answer:The roots of the cubic equation $2x^3 + x^2 - 7 = 0$ are $\alpha$, $\beta$ and $\gamma$ - CIE - A-Level Further Maths - Question 1 - 2016 - Paper 1

Step 1

Using the substitution $y = 1 + \frac{1}{x}$

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Answer

We start with the substitution:

y=1+1xx=1y1y = 1 + \frac{1}{x} \Rightarrow x = \frac{1}{y - 1}

Substituting into the original equation:

2(1y1)3+(1y1)27=02\left(\frac{1}{y - 1}\right)^3 + \left(\frac{1}{y - 1}\right)^2 - 7 = 0

Simplifying this gives us:

2(y1)3+(y1)27(y1)=02(y - 1)^3 + (y - 1)^2 - 7(y - 1) = 0

Expanding and simplifying terms will form a new cubic equation in yy.

Step 2

Finding the new cubic equation

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Answer

After substitution, we have:

2(y1)3+(y1)27(y1)=02(y - 1)^3 + (y - 1)^2 - 7(y - 1) = 0

This expands to:

2(y33y2+3y1)+(y22y+1)7y+7=02(y^3 - 3y^2 + 3y - 1) + (y^2 - 2y + 1) - 7y + 7 = 0

Combining like terms yields:

2y36y2+6y2+y22y+17y+7=02y^3 - 6y^2 + 6y - 2 + y^2 - 2y + 1 - 7y + 7 = 0

Thus,

2y35y23y+6=02y^3 - 5y^2 - 3y + 6 = 0

This can be simplified further to determine aa, bb, cc, and dd as follows: a=2,b=5,c=3,d=6.a = 2, b = -5, c = -3, d = 6.

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