First we want a cubic equation whose three roots are the three cube roots of 343. We know that since 7³=343, that the REAL cube root of 343 is 7. So the cubic equation we are looking for to begin with is: x³ = 343 whose roots are the three cube roots of 343, which are the real root 7, and the two non-real cube roots of 343. Get 0 on the right x³ - 343 = 0 Factor: (x - 7)(x² + 7x + 49) = 0 Use zero-factor property: x - 7 = 0; x² + 7x + 49 = 0 x = 7; So x² + 7x + 49 = 0 has a non-real root whose cube is 343. In fact it has two of them! Answer:so (a,b) = (7,49) Edwin