MAA SL

Test on Lines and Quadratics

by Christos Nikolaidis
Date: 16 October 2019
Paper 1: without GDC

SOLUTIONS

1. [Maximum mark: 5]
The line L passes through the points A(4,3) and B(7,9).
(a) Find the equation of the line L in the form y = mx + c [3]

(b) Find the equation of the line L in the form ax + by = c , where a, b, c are
integers and c is positive. [2]

Solution

∆y 6
(a) m AB = = = 2 The line is y − 3 = 2(x - 4) ⇒ y = 2x - 5
∆x 3

(b) 2x - y = 5

2. [Maximum mark: 5]
Consider the line L with equation − 2 x + 4 y = 1

(a) Find the gradient of the line L . [2]

(b) Find the y -intercept of the line L . [1]

(c) Find the x -intercept of the line L . [2]

Solution

2 1 1 1 1
(a) 4y = 2x + 1 ⇒ y = x + ⇒ y = x + . Hence m =
2 4 2 4 2
1
(b) x=0⇒y=
4
1
(c) y=0⇒x=−
2

1
3. [Maximum mark: 5]
Let L be the line with equation y = 5 x + 3 .

(a) Find the equation of the line which is parallel to L and passes through the
point A(1,2). [3]
(b) Find the equation of the line which is perpendicular to L and passes through
the origin. [2]

Solution

(a) m =5 The line is y − 2 = 5(x - 1) ⇒ y = 5x - 3

1 1 1
(b) m⊥ = − The line is y − 0 = − (x - 0) ⇒ y = − x
5 5 5

4. [Maximum mark: 5]
Find the coordinates of the point of intersection of the lines
L1 : 2 x + 5 y = 15
L2 : x − 3y = 2
Solution

We solve the system

2x + 5y = 15 (1)

2x − 6y = 4 (2)

(1)-(2): 11y = 11 ⇒ y = 1

(1): x − 3y = 2 ⇒ x − 3 = 2 ⇒ x = 5
Hence the point of intersection is (1,5)

5. [Maximum mark: 8]
Let f ( x ) = 2 x 2 + 8 x − 10 .

(a) Solve the equation f ( x) = 0 and hence factorize f (x ) . [4]

(b) Express the quadratic in the form f ( x ) = a ( x − h) 2 + k . [4]

Solution

(a) 2x 2 + 8x − 10 = 0 ⇔ x 2 + 4x − 5 = 0
− 4 ±6
∆ = 16 + 20 = 36 , x= = −5 or 1
2
f(x) = 2(x + 5)(x − 1)
−8 −5 +1
(b) Vertex: x= = −2 or x = = −2 and y = 8 − 16 − 10 = -18
4 2
Hence V(-2,2) and f(x) = 2(x + 2) 2 − 18

2
6. [Maximum mark: 8]
The graph of the quadratic function f ( x ) = a ( x − h) 2 + k is shown below.

(a) Write down the value of h and the value of k . [2]

(b) Find the value of a . [2]

(c) Express the function in the form f ( x) = ax 2 + bx + c . [1]

(d) The greatest of the two x -intercepts has the form p + q 3 .

Find the value of p and the value of q [3]

Solution

(a) h = 4, k = −6
(b) y = a(x − 4) 2 − 6
1
Since A(0,2) lies on the curve: a(0 − 4) 2 − 6 = 2 ⇒ 16a = 8 ⇒ a =
2
1 1 1
(c) y= (x − 4) 2 − 6 = (x 2 − 8x + 16) − 6 = x 2 − 4x + 2
2 2 2
4 + 12
(d) ∆ = 16 − 4 = 12 , x= =4+2 3
1
Hence p = 4 , q = 2

7. [Maximum mark: 4]
The quadratic function y = 3 x 2 − 2 x + k has two distinct roots. Find the possible

values of k .

Solution

∆ = 4 − 12k
4 1
∆ > 0 ⇒ 4 − 12k > 0 ⇒ 4 > 12k ⇒ k < ⇒k<
12 3

3
 MAA SL
Test on Lines and Quadratics
by Christos Nikolaidis
Date: 16 October 2019
Paper 2: with GDC

SOLUTIONS

1. [Maximum mark: 5]
Let f ( x) = −13 x 2 + 13 x + 26 .

(a) Factorize f (x ) . [2]

(b) Express the quadratic in the form f ( x ) = a ( x − h) 2 + k . [3]

Solution

(a) By GDC the solutions are x = −1 , x = 2 . Hence f(x) = -13(x + 1)(x − 2)

1 2 9
(b) By GDC (graph) the vertex is V(1/2,-9/4). Hence f(x) = -13(x − ) −
2 4

2. [Maximum mark: 6]
Consider the lines
L1 : x + 2y = 6
L2 : y = 2x + 1
and the curve of the quadratic function
Q: y = x 2 − 5x + 7
(a) Find the coordinates of the point of intersection between the lines L1 and L2 . [3]

(b) Find the coordinates of the points of intersection between L1 and Q . [3]

Solution

(a) The system is x + 2y = 6 and - 2x + y = 1

4 13
By GDC the solution is x = = 0.8 , y = = 2.6 .
5 5
6−x
(b) By GDC (graph) the points of intersection between the line y = and
2

the quadratic y = x 2 − 5x + 7 are (-1.22 , 2.39) and (3,28 , 1.36)

4
3. [Maximum mark: 6]
The diagram shows the graph of a quadratic function which passes through the origin
and has the following equivalent expressions

f ( x) = ax 2 + bx + c

f ( x ) = a ( x − h) 2 + k
f ( x ) = a ( x − p )( x − q ) with p < q

Tick the appropriate boxes below to show whether each expression is positive,
negative or zero.

Solution

Expression positive negative zero

a √
c √

∆ = b 2 − 4ac √

b √

h √

k √
p √
q √

b
For b: h=− ⇒ b = -2ah , hence b is negative.
2a

5
4. [Maximum mark: 8]

(a) Find the gradient of the line segment [AC]. [2]

(b) Write down the equation of the line (BC). [1]
(c) Find the distance between the points A and B. [2]
(d) Find coordinates of the midpoint of the line segment [AB]. [1]
(e) Find the area of the triangle ABC. [2]

Solution

−4
(a) m AC = = −4
1

(b) y=3

(c) d AB = 3 2 + 4 2 = 5

2+5 7 7+3 7 
(d) x= = and y = =5 , hence M ,5 
2 2 2 2 

base × height 4×4

(e) Area = = =8
2 2

6
5. [Maximum mark: 8]
The graph of the quadratic function f ( x) = ax 2 + bx + c is shown below.

(a) Write down three linear equations in a , b and c . [3]

(b) Hence find a , b and c [2]

(c) Express the function in the form f ( x ) = p ( x − q ) 2 + r . [3]

Solution

(a) the three points give

(2,-4): 4a + 2b + c = −4
(8,2): 64a + 8b + c = 2
(10,12): 100a + 10b + c = 12
(b) The GDC (simultaneous) gives
1
a= b = −4 c=2
2
(c) The vertex by using GDC (graph) is V(4.-6)
1
Hence f(x) = (x − 4) 2 − 6
2

7
6. [Maximum mark: 7]
Let A(1,5) and B(7,1) be two points in the Cartesian plane.

Find the equation of perpendicular bisector of the line segment [AB]. Express your
answer in the form ax + by = c , where a, b, c are integers.
[the perpendicular bisector is the perpendicular line to (AB) which passes through the
midpoint of [AB] ]

Solution

−4 2
The gradient of [AB] is m AB = =−
6 3
3
Hence the gradient of the perpendicular line is m ⊥ =
2
1 +7 5 +1
The midpoints is x = = 4 and y = = 3 , hence M(4,3)
2 2

Hence the equations of the perpendicular bisector is

3
y−3 = (x − 4) ⇒ 2y − 6 = 3x − 12 ⇒ 3x − 2y = 6
2