10/9/2020 CEMC's Open Courseware - Enrichment, Extension, and Application

Exercises

1. A quadratic function is of the form f (x) = x

2
+ bx + c . The roots of the equation f (x) = 0 are 1 and k. If f (2) = 5 ,
determine k.

2. The parabola y = x
2
− 2x + 4 is translated p units to the right and q units down. The x - intercepts of the resulting parabola
are 3 and 5. Determine the values of p and q.

b
3. a. For the quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 , where a ≠ 0 , show that the sum of the roots is − and the product
a
c
of the roots is .
a

b. The roots of x2 + cx + d = 0 are a and b . The roots of x2 + ax + b = 0 are c and d. If a , b , c , and d are all non-
zero, determine the value of a + b + c + d .

4. Prove that the line with equation y = 2x − 1 does not intersect the curve with equation y = x
4
+ 3x
2
+ 2x .

5. a. If r1 , r2 , and r3 are the roots of the cubic equation ax3 + bx

2
+ cx + d = 0 , find equations which relate r1 , r2 ,

and r3 to the values of the coefficients, a , b , c , and d.

b. If a , b , and c are the roots of the equation x3 − 3x

2
+ mx + 24 = 0 and −a and −b are the roots of the equation
x
2
+ nx − 6 = 0 , find the value of n .

6. A quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 , where a , b , and c are not zero has real roots. Prove that a , b and c cannot be

consecutive terms of a geometric sequence. (Note: A geometric sequence is a sequence in which each term after the first is
obtained from the previous term by multiplying it by a non-zero constant. For example, 3, 6, 12, 24, … is a geometric

sequence).

7. The function, max [a, b] , is defined to be the larger of a or b (if a = b , then max [a, b] = a = b ). If x is a real number, and
3 2
g(x) = −x + 11x − 24x

2
h(x) = −x + 6x + 8

f (x) = max[g(x), h(x)] (0 ≤ x ≤ 7)

determine the values of x for which f (x) = h(x) 0 ≤ x ≤ 7, .

8. The equations x2 + 5x + 6 = 0 and x2 + 5x − 6 = 0 each have integer solutions. However, only one of the equations in
the pair x and x has integer solutions.
2 2
+ 4x + 5 = 0 + 4x − 5 = 0

a. Show that if x2 + px + q = 0 and x2 + px − q = 0 both have integer solutions, then it is possible to find positive

integers a and b such that p (i.e., a, b, p is a Pythagorean triple).

2 2 2
= a + b

b. Determine q in terms of a and b .

9. Identify the degree of the polynomial and find the value of f (x) that satisfies the following:
a. f (x) − f (x − 1) = 4 with f (0) = 4

b. f (x) − 2f (x − 1) + f (x − 2) = 6 with f (1) = 6, f (0) = 1

10. If x and y are real numbers,

https://courseware.cemc.uwaterloo.ca/8/43/assignments/279/0 1/2
10/9/2020 CEMC's Open Courseware - Enrichment, Extension, and Application

a. Prove that x4 + 4y
4
+ 1 ≥ 4xy .

b. Determine all values of x and y for which x4 + 4y

4
+ 1 = 4xy .

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