CAIE FP1 2015 November — Question 5

Exam BoardCAIE
ModuleFP1 (Further Pure Mathematics 1)
Year2015
SessionNovember
TopicRoots of polynomials

5 The cubic equation \(x ^ { 3 } + p x ^ { 2 } + q x + r = 0\), where \(p , q\) and \(r\) are integers, has roots \(\alpha , \beta\) and \(\gamma\), such that $$\begin{aligned} \alpha + \beta + \gamma & = 15 ,
\alpha ^ { 2 } + \beta ^ { 2 } + \gamma ^ { 2 } & = 83 . \end{aligned}$$ Write down the value of \(p\) and find the value of \(q\). Given that \(\alpha , \beta\) and \(\gamma\) are all real and that \(\alpha \beta + \alpha \gamma = 36\), find \(\alpha\) and hence find the value of \(r\).