AQA FP2 2007 June — Question 2

Exam BoardAQA
ModuleFP2 (Further Pure Mathematics 2)
Year2007
SessionJune
TopicRoots of polynomials

2 The cubic equation $$z ^ { 3 } + p z ^ { 2 } + 6 z + q = 0$$ has roots \(\alpha , \beta\) and \(\gamma\).
  1. Write down the value of \(\alpha \beta + \beta \gamma + \gamma \alpha\).
  2. Given that \(p\) and \(q\) are real and that \(\alpha ^ { 2 } + \beta ^ { 2 } + \gamma ^ { 2 } = - 12\) :
    1. explain why the cubic equation has two non-real roots and one real root;
    2. find the value of \(p\).
  3. One root of the cubic equation is \(- 1 + 3 \mathrm { i }\). Find:
    1. the other two roots;
    2. the value of \(q\).