Q. If $\alpha,\ \beta,\ \gamma$ are the roots of the equation $x^{3} - 7x + 7 = 0$, then $\frac{1}{\alpha^{4}} + \frac{1}{\beta^{4}} + \frac{1}{\gamma^{4}}$ is

A) 7/3
B) 3/7
C) 4/7
D) 7/4
Explanation

(b)
Here, $\sum_{}^{}{\alpha = 0},\ \sum_{}^{}\alpha\beta = - 7,\ \alpha\beta\gamma = - 7$
$\therefore\frac{1}{\alpha^{4}} + \frac{1}{\beta^{4}} + \frac{1}{\gamma^{4}} = \frac{\alpha^{4}\beta^{4} + \beta^{4}\gamma^{4} + \gamma^{4}\alpha^{4}}{\alpha^{4}\beta^{4}\gamma^{4}}$
$= \frac{\sum_{}^{}{\alpha^{4}\beta^{4}}}{\alpha^{4}\beta^{4}\gamma^{4}}$ ...(i)
Now, $\sum_{}^{}{\alpha\beta}$ $\sum_{}^{}{\alpha\beta}$ $\sum_{}^{}{\alpha\beta}$ $\sum_{}^{}{\alpha\beta} = ({\sum_{}^{}{\alpha\beta)}}^{2}$ $({\sum_{}^{}{\alpha\beta)}}^{2}$
$\Rightarrow ( - 7)^{4} = \lbrack\alpha^{2}\beta^{2} + \beta^{2}\gamma^{2} + \gamma^{2}\alpha^{2} + 2\alpha\beta\gamma(\alpha + \beta + \gamma)\rbrack$
$\lbrack\alpha^{2}\beta^{2} + \beta^{2}\gamma^{2} + \gamma^{2}\alpha^{2} + 2\alpha\beta\gamma(\alpha + \beta + \gamma)\rbrack$
$= \left( \alpha^{2}\beta^{2} + \beta^{2}\gamma^{2} + \gamma^{2}\alpha^{2} \right)(\alpha^{2}\beta^{2} + \beta^{2}\gamma^{2} + \gamma^{2}\alpha^{2})$ $\lbrack\therefore\sum_{}^{}{\alpha = \alpha + \beta + \gamma = 0\rbrack}$
$= \alpha^{4}\beta^{4} + \beta^{4}\gamma^{4} + \gamma^{4}\alpha^{4} + 2\alpha^{4}\beta^{2}\gamma^{2} + 2\alpha^{2}\beta^{4}\gamma^{2} + 2\alpha^{2}\beta^{2}\gamma^{4}$
$= \sum_{}^{}{\alpha^{4}\beta^{4} + 2\alpha^{2}\beta^{2}}\gamma^{2}(\alpha^{2} + \beta^{2}{+ \gamma}^{4})$
$= \ \sum_{}^{}{\alpha^{4}\beta^{4} + 2\alpha^{2}\beta^{2}}\gamma^{2}\ \left\lbrack ({\sum_{}^{}{a)}}^{2} - 2\sum_{}^{}{\alpha\beta\ } \right\rbrack$
$= \ \sum_{}^{}{\alpha^{4}\beta^{4} + 2\alpha^{2}\beta^{2}}\gamma^{2}\left\lbrack \ 0 - 2 \times ( - 7) \right\rbrack$
$= \sum_{}^{}{\alpha^{4}\beta^{4} + 2( - 7)^{2}(2 \times 7)}$
$\Rightarrow \ \sum_{}^{}{\alpha^{4}\beta^{4} = ( - 7)^{4} + 4( - 7)^{3}}$
$\Rightarrow \ \ \sum_{}^{}{\alpha^{4}\beta^{4} = ( - 7)^{3}( - 7 + 4) = - 3( - 7)^{3}}$
On putting this value in Eq. (i) , we get
$\frac{1}{\alpha^{4}} + \frac{1}{\beta^{4}} + \frac{1}{\gamma^{4}} = \frac{- 3( - 7)^{3}}{( - 7)^{4}} = \frac{- 3}{- 7} = \frac{3}{7}$

Dr. Abubacker
Reviewed by Dr. Abubacker

Physics Educator & NEET/JEE Specialist

Ph.D. in Physics with 19+ years of teaching experience.