0606 P13 - Nov 2023 - Q7 - 4 marks
7742
Solve the equation
\(6x^{\frac13}-2x^{-\frac13}-1=0.\)
Give your answers in exact form.
Solution
Answer: \(x=\frac8{27}\) or \(x=-\frac18\).
Rewrite the equation as a standard quadratic in the chosen variable, then solve and reject any value that does not satisfy the original form.
Let
\(m=x^{\frac13}.\)
Then \(x^{-\frac13}=\frac1m\), so the equation becomes
\(6m-\frac2m-1=0.\)
Multiplying by \(m\),
\(6m^2-m-2=0.\)
Factorising,
\((3m-2)(2m+1)=0.\)
Thus
\(m=\frac23\quad\text{or}\quad m=-\frac12.\)
Since \(m=x^{\frac13}\), cube both values:
\(x=\left(\frac23\right)^3=\frac8{27},\)
or
\(x=\left(-\frac12\right)^3=-\frac18.\)
Therefore the result matches the required answer.