If $\alpha$ and $\beta$ are the roots of the quadratic equation $2x^2 + 4x -5 = 0$, evaluate $\alpha^3 + \beta^3$..
I know that $$\alpha + \beta = \frac{-b}{a}$$ and $$\alpha \beta = \frac{c}{a}\\$$ I also know that factorising $\alpha^3 + \beta^3 = (\alpha + \beta)(\alpha + \beta -\alpha \beta)$
I substituted everything in..
$$ (\frac{-4}{2})((\frac{-4}{2})-(\frac{-5}{2})) = -1 $$
Unfortunately, the answer in my text book says otherwise, it's supposed to be $-23$. What am I doing wrong? Thanks in advance!
You have that $$\begin{align*}α^3+β^3&=(α+β)(α^2-αβ+β^2)=(α+β)(α^2+2αβ+β^2-3αβ)=\\&=(α+β)((α+β)^2-3αβ)\end{align*}$$