if a+1/a=sqrt(3) then a^4+1/a^'=?

a + 1/a = √3    Multiply by a:

a² + 1 = √3a

a² - √3a + 1 = 0    Solve by quadratic formula:

a = [ √3 ± √(3 - 4) ] / 2

a = [ √3 ± i ] / 2

a^4 = (a²)²

a² =  [ √3 + i ]/ 2  x  [ √3 + i ]/2  =  [1 + √3i] / 2

a^4 =  [1 + √3] / 2 x  [1 + √3] / 2  =  [-1 + √3i] / 2

1/ a^4  =  1 / (  [-1 + √3i] / 2 )  =  2 / [-1 + √3i]  x  [-1 - √3i]  / [-1 - √3i]  = [-1 - √3] / 2

a^4 + 1 / a^4  =  [-1 + √3i] / 2 + [-1 - √3] / 2  =  -1

What is the last symbol right before the equal sign?

geno3141 it's a to the power of 4