calculate $x^{206}+x^{200}+x^{90}+x^{84}+x^{18}+x^{12}+x^{6}+1$ given $(x+x^{-1})^2 = 3$

Hint: $$x^2+\frac{1}{x^2} = 1 \quad \Longrightarrow \quad x^4 = x^2-1 \quad \Longrightarrow \quad x^6=x^2x^4=-1.$$


Since, we have $x^2=x^4+1 \implies x^4=x^2-1 \implies x^8 = -x^2$.

Then, we get

$x^6 = x^2 .x^4= -1 $

$x^{12} = x^6 . x^6 = 1$

$x^{18} = x^{12}.x^6= (1)(-1)=-1$

$x^{84}= x^{(18).(4)}.x^{12}=(-1)^4 .(1)=1$

$x^{90}=x^{(18)(5)}=(-1)^5=-1$

$x^{200}=x^{(12)(16)}.x^6.x^2=(1)^{16}.(-1).x^2=-x^2$

$x^{206}=x^{200}.x^6=(-x^2).(-1)=x^2$

Therefore,

$x^{206}+x^{200}+x^{90}+x^{84}+x^{18}+x^{12}+x^6+1=x^2-x^2 -1+1-1+1-1+1=0.$