1952 AHSME Problems/Problem 26

Problem

If $\left(r+\frac1r\right)^2=3$, then $r^3+\frac1{r^3}$ equals

$\textbf{(A)}\ 1\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 2\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 0\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 3\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 6$

Solution

We know $r+\frac1r=\sqrt3$. Cubing this gives $r^3+3r+\frac3r+\frac1{r^3}=3\sqrt3$. But $3r+\frac3r=3\left(r+\frac1r\right)=3\sqrt3$, so subtracting this from the first equation gives $r^3+\frac1{r^3}=\boxed{0\textbf{ (C)}}$. (Actually, $r+\frac1r$ could have been equal to $-\sqrt3$ instead of $\sqrt3$, but this would have led to the same answer. Also, this answer implies that $r^6=-1$, which means that $r$ is a complex number.)

See also

1952 AHSC (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 25
Followed by
Problem 27
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