CAIE FP1 2010 November — Question 7 9 marks

Exam BoardCAIE
ModuleFP1 (Further Pure Mathematics 1)
Year2010
SessionNovember
Marks9
PaperDownload PDF ↗
Mark schemeDownload PDF ↗
TopicRoots of polynomials
TypeEquation with nonlinearly transformed roots
DifficultyChallenging +1.3 This is a structured Further Maths question on polynomial root transformations requiring systematic application of standard techniques (substitution to derive new equation, using Vieta's formulas for power sums, Newton's identities for the recurrence relation). While it involves multiple steps and Further Maths content, each part follows predictable methods with clear guidance, making it moderately above average difficulty but not requiring novel insight.
Spec4.05a Roots and coefficients: symmetric functions4.05b Transform equations: substitution for new roots

7 The roots of the equation \(x ^ { 3 } + 4 x - 1 = 0\) are \(\alpha , \beta\) and \(\gamma\). Use the substitution \(y = \frac { 1 } { 1 + x }\) to show that the equation \(6 y ^ { 3 } - 7 y ^ { 2 } + 3 y - 1 = 0\) has roots \(\frac { 1 } { \alpha + 1 } , \frac { 1 } { \beta + 1 }\) and \(\frac { 1 } { \gamma + 1 }\). For the cases \(n = 1\) and \(n = 2\), find the value of $$\frac { 1 } { ( \alpha + 1 ) ^ { n } } + \frac { 1 } { ( \beta + 1 ) ^ { n } } + \frac { 1 } { ( \gamma + 1 ) ^ { n } }$$ Deduce the value of \(\frac { 1 } { ( \alpha + 1 ) ^ { 3 } } + \frac { 1 } { ( \beta + 1 ) ^ { 3 } } + \frac { 1 } { ( \gamma + 1 ) ^ { 3 } }\). Hence show that \(\frac { ( \beta + 1 ) ( \gamma + 1 ) } { ( \alpha + 1 ) ^ { 2 } } + \frac { ( \gamma + 1 ) ( \alpha + 1 ) } { ( \beta + 1 ) ^ { 2 } } + \frac { ( \alpha + 1 ) ( \beta + 1 ) } { ( \gamma + 1 ) ^ { 2 } } = \frac { 73 } { 36 }\).

AnswerMarks Guidance
\(y = \frac{1}{x+1}\) \(\therefore x = \frac{1-y}{y}\)M1 use in given cubic equation
\(\text{Gives } 6y^3 - 7y^2 + 3y - 1 = 0\)A1
\(n = 1: \text{given expression} = \text{sum of roots} = \frac{7}{6}\)B1
\(n = 2: \sum\frac{1}{(\alpha+1)^2} = \left[\sum\frac{1}{(\alpha+1)}\right]^2 - 2\sum\alpha\beta = \frac{13}{36}\)B1
From cubic in \(y\):
AnswerMarks Guidance
\(6\sum\left(\frac{1}{\alpha+1}\right)^3 - \pi\frac{13}{36} + 3\left(\frac{7}{6}\right) - 3 = 0\)M1
\(\sum\left(\frac{1}{\alpha+1}\right)^3 = \frac{73}{216}\)A1
\(\text{LHS} = \sum\left(\frac{(\beta+1)(\gamma+1)(\alpha+1)}{(\alpha+1)^3}\right)\)M1
\(= \left(\frac{1}{6}\right)^{-1} \times \frac{73}{216}\)M1 recognise product of roots
\(= \frac{73}{36}\)A1
$y = \frac{1}{x+1}$ $\therefore x = \frac{1-y}{y}$ | M1 | use in given cubic equation

$\text{Gives } 6y^3 - 7y^2 + 3y - 1 = 0$ | A1 | | [2]

$n = 1: \text{given expression} = \text{sum of roots} = \frac{7}{6}$ | B1 | | [2]

$n = 2: \sum\frac{1}{(\alpha+1)^2} = \left[\sum\frac{1}{(\alpha+1)}\right]^2 - 2\sum\alpha\beta = \frac{13}{36}$ | B1 | | [2]

**From cubic in $y$:**

$6\sum\left(\frac{1}{\alpha+1}\right)^3 - \pi\frac{13}{36} + 3\left(\frac{7}{6}\right) - 3 = 0$ | M1

$\sum\left(\frac{1}{\alpha+1}\right)^3 = \frac{73}{216}$ | A1 | | [2]

$\text{LHS} = \sum\left(\frac{(\beta+1)(\gamma+1)(\alpha+1)}{(\alpha+1)^3}\right)$ | M1

$= \left(\frac{1}{6}\right)^{-1} \times \frac{73}{216}$ | M1 | recognise product of roots

$= \frac{73}{36}$ | A1 | | [3]

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7 The roots of the equation $x ^ { 3 } + 4 x - 1 = 0$ are $\alpha , \beta$ and $\gamma$. Use the substitution $y = \frac { 1 } { 1 + x }$ to show that the equation $6 y ^ { 3 } - 7 y ^ { 2 } + 3 y - 1 = 0$ has roots $\frac { 1 } { \alpha + 1 } , \frac { 1 } { \beta + 1 }$ and $\frac { 1 } { \gamma + 1 }$.

For the cases $n = 1$ and $n = 2$, find the value of

$$\frac { 1 } { ( \alpha + 1 ) ^ { n } } + \frac { 1 } { ( \beta + 1 ) ^ { n } } + \frac { 1 } { ( \gamma + 1 ) ^ { n } }$$

Deduce the value of $\frac { 1 } { ( \alpha + 1 ) ^ { 3 } } + \frac { 1 } { ( \beta + 1 ) ^ { 3 } } + \frac { 1 } { ( \gamma + 1 ) ^ { 3 } }$.

Hence show that $\frac { ( \beta + 1 ) ( \gamma + 1 ) } { ( \alpha + 1 ) ^ { 2 } } + \frac { ( \gamma + 1 ) ( \alpha + 1 ) } { ( \beta + 1 ) ^ { 2 } } + \frac { ( \alpha + 1 ) ( \beta + 1 ) } { ( \gamma + 1 ) ^ { 2 } } = \frac { 73 } { 36 }$.

\hfill \mbox{\textit{CAIE FP1 2010 Q7 [9]}}