a=2/(√3-1)=(√3+1)(√3-1)/(√3-1)=√3+1
1/2a^3-a^2-a+2
=1/2a^2*a-a^2-a+2
=1/2(√3+1)^2*(√3+1)-(√3+1)^2-(√3+1)+2
=1/2(4+2√3)(√3+1)-(4+2√3)-√3+1
=1/2(6√3+10)-4-2√3-√3+1
=3√3+5-4-2√3-√3+1
=2
a=2/(√3-1)=(√3+1)(√3-1)/(√3-1)=√3+1
1/2a^3-a^2-a+2
=1/2a^2*a-a^2-a+2
=1/2(√3+1)^2*(√3+1)-(√3+1)^2-(√3+1)+2
=1/2(4+2√3)(√3+1)-(4+2√3)-√3+1
=1/2(6√3+10)-4-2√3-√3+1
=3√3+5-4-2√3-√3+1
=2