If $a =\cos (\frac{2 \pi}{7})+i \sin (\frac{2 \pi}{7}) $, then find a quadratic equation whose roots are $\alpha = a + a^2 + a^4$ and $ \beta = a^3 + a^5 + a^6$.
Using the fact that sum of $7th$ roots of unity is $0$, I obtained sum of roots as the following:
$\alpha+\beta=-a^6$ and product of roots=$\alpha \beta=1+a^9-a^{10}+a^{11}$ which still quite complicated.
Could some help me as how can I proceed further?
There is an obvious typo in the question $\beta$ should be $a^3+a^5+a^6$. Since $a$ is a complex 7th root of unity we have $1+a+a^2+a^3+a^4+a^5+a^6=0$, so $\alpha+\beta=-1$.
Multiplying out and using $a^7=1$ we have $\alpha\beta=3+a+a^2+a^3+a^4+a^5+a^6=2$. So $\alpha,\beta$ are the roots of the quadratic $x^2-x+2=0$.