Let a and b be the solutions to 5x^2 - 11x + 4 = 4x^2 - 17x + 6. Find 1/a^3 + 1/b^3.
First, let's cobine all like terms and solve for x. Combing all like terms, we have
\(x^{2}+6x-2=0\)
Using the quadratic equation, we find that
\(x=\sqrt{11}-3\\ x=-\sqrt{11}-3\)
Now, it's time for the more tedious part of this problem. This is not efficient but it should work.
We have the equation
\(\frac{1}{\left(\sqrt{11}-3\right)^3}+\frac{1}{\left(-\sqrt{11}-3\right)^3}\)
Taking the LCM on both sides to get a common denominator, we get that
\(\frac{-126-38\sqrt{11}}{\left(\sqrt{11}-3\right)^3\left(-3-\sqrt{11}\right)^3}+\frac{38\sqrt{11}-126}{\left(\sqrt{11}-3\right)^3\left(-3-\sqrt{11}\right)^3}=\frac{-252}{\left(\sqrt{11}-3\right)^3\left(-3-\sqrt{11}\right)^3}\)
Now, we simply have to simplfy the denominator of the two equatins. We get that
\(\left(\left(\sqrt{11}-3\right)\left(-3-\sqrt{11}\right)\right)^3=(-2)^3 = -8\)
Thus, we have the answer as -252/-8 = 31.5
So 31.5 is our answer.
Thanks! :)
Thx, NTS....here's another way { no square roots involved !!! }
x^2 + 6x - 2 = 0
In the form mx^2 + nx + p = 0
Product of the roots ab = -n/m = -2
So 2ab = -4
Sum of the roots a + b = p/m = -6 square both sides
a^2 + b^2 + 2ab = 36
a^2 + b^2 - 4 =36
a^2 + b^2 = 40
1/a^3 + 1/b^3 =
(a^3 + b^3) / (ab)^3 Note : a^3 + b^3 = (a + b) (a^2 + b^2 - ab)
So we have
(a + b) ( a^2 + b^2 -ab) / (ab)^3 =
(-6) (40 - -2) / (-8) =
(6) (42 / 8) = 31.5
Nice...Quite smart tactic here, CPhill.
I loved the part where you did
\(1/a^3 + 1/b^3 = (a^3 + b^3) / (ab)^3 \\ \frac{(a + b) (a^2 + b^2 - ab)}{(ab)^3}\)
This is a very efficient way to complete the problem.
Lol, I just brute forced it because I got bored...
At least we got that same answer!
~NTS