Calculate (1/x1)+(1/x2)+(1/x3), where x1,x2,x3 are the solutions of the eq. x^3 -3x +1=0

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You need to remember that Vieta's formulas provide the relations between coefficients of equation and its roots.

The problem provides an polynomial equation of third order,`x^3 -3x +1=0` , hence it needs to have three roots.

You should use Vieta's formulas such that:

`x_1 + x_2 + x_3= -0/1`  (coefficient of term that contains `x^2`  is 0, since this term is missing) => `x_1 + x_2 + x_3 = 0`

`x_1*x_2+x_2*x_3+x_1*x_3 = -3/1 = -3`

`x_1*x_2*x_3 = -1/1 = -1`

You need to evaluate the sum `1/x_1 + 1/x_2 + 1/x_3` , hence you should bring these terms to a common denominator `x_1*x_2*x_3`  such that:

`1/x_1 + 1/x_2 + 1/x_3 = (x_2*x_3 + x_1*x_3 + x_1*x_2)/x_1*x_2*x_3`

You need to substitute -1 for `x_1*x_2*x_3`  and -3 for `x_1*x_2+x_2*x_3+x_1*x_3`  such that:

`1/x_1 + 1/x_2 + 1/x_3 = (-3)/(-1)`

`1/x_1 + 1/x_2 + 1/x_3 = 3`

Hence, evaluating the sum `1/x_1 + 1/x_2 + 1/x_3`   yields `1/x_1 + 1/x_2 + 1/x_3 = 3` .

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Related Questions

neela | Student

This is a 3rd degree equation.

By theory of equation, the relation between roots and coefficients of the terms of the given equation is as follows:

sum of roots x1+x2+x3 = -coefficient of x^2/coefficient of x^3 =0/1=0

x1x2+x2x3+x3x1 = coefficient of x /coefficient of x^3 = -3/1 =-3 and

x1x2x3 = -constant term/ coefficient of x^3 =-1/1 =-1.

Using these,

1/x1 +1/x2 +1/x3 = (x2x3+x3x1+x1x2)/(x1x2x3) = -3/(-1) = 3

Alternate method:

Transform    by 1/x = y  or x = 1/y  to get the equation whose roots are reciprocal of the given equation.

Then f(1/y) = 1/y^3 -3/y +1 =0 . Multiply by y^3 both sides to get

1-3y^2+y^3 = 0 . This is the equation in y whose roots are 1/x1, 1/x2 ,1/x3.

Therefore the sum of the roots 1/x1+1/x2+1/x3 = -coefficient of y^2/ coefficient of y^3 = -(-3)/1 = 3