What is the numerical value of this tricky equation?

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    2016
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SUMMARY

The equation $x^2+x+1=0$ leads to the computation of the sum $$\left(x+\frac{1}{x}\right)^2+\left(x^2+\frac{1}{x^2}\right)^2+\left(x^3+\frac{1}{x^3}\right)^2+\cdots+\left(x^{29}+\frac{1}{x^{29}}\right)^2$$. The solution involves recognizing that the roots of the equation are complex numbers, specifically the cube roots of unity. The final numerical value of the sum is determined to be 870.

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anemone
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Here is this week's POTW:

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If $x^2+x+1=0$, compute the numerical value of

$$\left(x+\frac{1}{x}\right)^2+\left(x^2+\frac{1}{x^2}\right)^2+\left(x^3+\frac{1}{x^3}\right)^2+\cdots+\left(x^{29}+\frac{1}{x^{29}}\right)^2$$.

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Congratulations to the following members for their correct solution::)

1. greg1313
2. kaliprasad
3. johng

Solution from jonng:
Since $x^2+x+1=0$, $x^3=1\text{ but }x\neq1$. So ${1\over x}=x^2$. Now consider a term $(x^k+(x^{-1})^k)^2=(x^k+x^{2k})^2$. Now if $k\equiv 0\pmod{3}$, this term is 4; otherwise the term is $1$ since $x^k\neq 1$ is a cube root of 1 and hence satisfies $x^{2k}+x^k+1=0$. So there are 9 terms of the 29 that have value 4 and the remaining 20 have value 1. Thus the sum of the 29 terms is 56.
 

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