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Polynomials Exam Questions Intro
Polynomials Exam Questions Intro
Madas
POLYNOMIAL
EXAM
QUESTIONS
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 1 (**)
Multiply out and simplify
( 2 x2 − x − 3)(1 + 2 x − x2 ) ,
writing the answer in ascending powers of x .
−3 − 7 x + 3 x 2 + 5 x 3 − 2 x 4
Question 2 (**)
f ( x ) ≡ x3 − 3 x 2 + 6 x − 40 .
MP1-N , ( x − 4)
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 3 (**)
The polynomial 3 x3 − 2 x 2 − 12 x + 8 is denoted by f ( x ) .
b) Factorize f ( x ) fully.
C2A , f ( x ) = ( 3 x − 2 )( x − 2 )( x + 2 )
Question 4 (**)
The polynomial x3 + 4 x 2 + 7 x + k , where k is a constant, is denoted by f ( x ) .
(
C2B , f ( x ) = ( x + 2 ) x 2 + 2 x + 3 )
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 5 (**)
b) Factorize x3 + 5 x 2 − 2 x − 24 fully.
( x + 3)( x − 2 )( x + 4 )
Question 6 (**+)
Find the coefficient of x3 in the expansion of
( 2 x3 − 5x2 + 2 x − 1)(3x3 + 2 x2 − 9 x + 7 ) .
... + 60 x3...
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 7 (**+)
Multiply out and simplify
(1 + x ) (1 + x 2 )(1 − x + x 2 ) ,
1 + x 2 + x 3 + x5
Question 8 (**+)
( x + 3)( x + 2 )( x − 5 )
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 9 (**+)
f ( x ) ≡ ax3 − x 2 − 5 x + b ,
C2D , a = 1 , b = 42
Question 10 (**+)
A cubic function is defined in terms of the constant k as
f ( x ) ≡ x3 + x 2 − x + k , x ∈ .
SYN-A , k = −1, 0
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 11 (**+)
f ( x ) ≡ x3 − 2 x 2 + kx + 6 ,
where k is a constant.
Question 12 (**+)
( x + 1)( x + 2 )( 2 x − 3)
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 13 (**+)
f ( x ) ≡ 2 x3 − 7 x 2 − 5 x + 4
c) Factorize f ( x ) completely.
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 14 (**+)
f ( x ) ≡ x3 + x 2 + ax + b ,
a = −17 , b = 15
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 15 (**+)
f ( x ) ≡ px3 − 32 x 2 − 10 x + q ,
C2J , proof
Question 16 (***)
Solve the equation
x3 + x 2 − ( x − 1)( x − 2 )( x − 3) = 12 .
x = − 3 ,2
7
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 17 (***)
f ( x ) ≡ 3 x3 − 2 x 2 − 12 x + 8 .
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 18 (***)
It is given that
f ( x ) ≡ 2 x3 + 3 x 2 − 8 x + c ,
a) Show that c = 3 .
b) Factorize f ( x ) fully.
( 2 x − 1)( x − 1)( x + 3) , R = 15
2
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 19 (***)
f ( x ) ≡ 6x2 + x + 7 , x ∈ .
C2N , a = 1
6
Question 20 (***)
A cubic function is defined in terms of the positive constant k as
f ( x ) ≡ x3 + ( k − 1) x 2 − k 3 , x ∈ .
k =3 , 9
8
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 21 (***)
A cubic graph is defined as
f ( x ) ≡ x3 + x 2 − 10 x + 8 , x ∈ .
MP1-K , f ( x ) = ( x − 2 )( x − 1)( x + 4 )
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 22 (***)
f ( x ) ≡ 4 x3 + 9 x 2 + 3 x + 2
(
f ( x ) ≡ ( x + 2 ) ax 2 + bx + c , )
find the value of each of the constants a , b and c .
a = 4 , b =1 , c =1
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 23 (***)
f ( x ) ≡ x3 + px 2 + qx + 6
… ( x − 1) is a factor of f ( x )
C2H , p = −2 , q = −5 , x = 1, − 2, 3
Question 24 (***)
f ( x ) ≡ 2 x3 − 7 x 2 − 2 x + 1
x = − 1 ,2 ± 3
2
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 25 (***)
( )
6 x3 − 7 x 2 − x + 2 ≡ ( x − 1) ax 2 + bx + c .
6 x3 − 7 x 2 − x + 2 = 0 .
C2M , a = 6, b = −1, c = −2 , x = − 1 , 2 ,1
2 3
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 26 (***)
A cubic polynomial is defined as
p ( x ) ≡ x3 − 4 x 2 + x + 6 , x ∈ .
p ( x ) = ( x − 3)( x − 2 )( x + 1)
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 27 (***)
f ( x ) ≡ x3 − 9 x 2 + 22 x − 12 .
b) Find, in exact surd form, the other two solutions of the equation f ( x ) = 0 .
x = 3± 5
Question 28 (***)
f ( x ) ≡ x 2 − 4 x + 12 .
C2P , k = 6, 2
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 29 (***)
f ( x ) ≡ 2 x3 + kx 2 − x − 6 ,
where k is a constant
Given that f ( 3) = 0 , …
a) … show that k = −5
c) … show further that, apart from x = 3 , the equation f ( x ) = 0 has no other real
f solutions.
(
f ( x ) = ( x − 3) 2 x 2 + x + 2 )
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 30 (***)
The polynomial function f is given below
2
f ( x ) ≡ ( 2 x − 1)( x + 4 ) − 4 ( x − 3) , x ∈ .
a) Simplify f ( x ) fully.
g ( x ) ≡ ( 3x − 2 )( x + 4 )( x + k ) , x ∈ .
C2V , f ( x ) ≡ −2 x 2 + 31x − 40 , k = −4
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 31 (***)
( )
When the polynomial f ( x ) is divided by x 2 + 1 the quotient is ( 3x − 1) and the
remainder is ( 2 x − 1) .
f ( x ) = 3x3 − x 2 + 5 x − 2
Question 32 (***)
( )
f ( x ) ≡ ( x + p ) 2 x2 + 5x − 4 − 4 ,
C2R , −4 , p = −1 , f ( x ) = x ( x + 3 )( 2 x − 3)
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 33 (***)
The polynomial 4 x3 + Ax 2 + Bx + 9 , where A and B are constants, is denoted by f ( x ) .
B − A = 14 .
(
A = 2 , B = 16 , f ( x ) = ( x + 3) x 2 − x + 19 )
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 34 (***)
The polynomial p ( x ) is defined as
p ( x ) = 2 x3 − 11x 2 + 20 x − 12 .
( )
p ( x ) = ( x + 2 ) 2 x 2 + ax + b + c .
2
C2O , p ( x ) = ( 2 x − 3)( x − 2 ) , −112 , a = −15, b = 50, c = −112
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 35 (***)
f ( x ) ≡ x 4 + 2 x3 + x 2 − 4 , x ∈ .
(
SYN-W , f ( x ) ≡ ( x + 2 ) x3 + x − 2 ,) ( x − 1) (
, f ( x ) ≡ ( x + 2 )( x − 1) x 2 + x + 2 )
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 36 (***+)
Solve the equation
( x + 1)( x + 4 )( 2 x − 1) = 33x − 12 − ( x − 2 )3 .
x = −3,0, 2
Question 37 (***+)
f ( x ) = x 4 + x3 − 3x 2 − 4 x − 4 .
b) Hence show that the equation f ( x ) = 0 has exactly two real roots.
( x − 2) , ( x + 2) , x = ±2
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 38 (***+)
The curve C has equation
y = x 4 − 6 x3 + 4 x 2 + 24 x − 32 .
b) Hence the graph of C , showing clearly the coordinates of any points where the
graph of C meets the coordinate axes.
2
y = ( x + 2 )( x − 4 )( x − 2 )
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 39 (***+)
The polynomials f ( x ) and g ( x ) are defined in terms of the constants a and b
( )
f ( x ) = a x3 + 1 − bx ( x + 1)
g ( x ) = bx3 − 5 x 2 − 2a ( x − 1) .
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 40 (***+)
A polynomial p ( x ) is defined, in terms of a constant a , by
p ( x ) = x3 − 16 x 2 + 72 x + a .
c) Hence find, in exact surd form where appropriate, the three solutions of the
equation p ( x ) = 0 .
a = −88 , ( x − 2 ) ( x 2 − 14 x + 44 ) , x = 2, 7 ± 5
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 41 (***+)
A polynomial p ( x ) is defined, in terms of a constant k , by
p ( x ) = x3 + kx 2 − x + 12 .
i. … the value of k .
i. … ( x + 4 ) is a factor of p ( x ) .
SYN-Z , k = 3 , r = 15
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 42 (***+)
Find the three solutions of the cubic equation
2 x3 − x 2 = 7 x − 6 .
x = −2, 1, 3
2
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 43 (***+)
f ( x ) ≡ 2 x3 − 9 x 2 − 11x + 30 .
The sketch must include the coordinates of all the points where the graph meets
the coordinate axes.
c) Find the x coordinates of the points where the line with equation y = 7 x + 30
meets the graph of f ( x ) .
SYN-S , f ( x ) ≡ ( x − 5 )( 2 x − 3)( x + 2 ) , x = − 3 ∪ x = 0 ∪ x = 6
2
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 44 (***+)
A cubic graph is defined by
f ( x ) ≡ x3 − 3 x 2 − 4 x + 12 , x ∈ .
2
g ( x ) ≡ ( x − 2 )( x − 4 ) , x ∈ .
MP1-F , f ( x ) = ( x − 2 )( x + 2 )( x − 3) , x = 2, 22
7
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 45 (***+)
O x
A B C
D
f ( x ) = − x3 + 5 x 2 + 17 x − 21 , x ∈ .
The graph meets the coordinate axes at four distinct points, labelled A , B , C and D .
Given that the coordinates of the point A are ( −3,0 ) , determine the coordinates of the
points B , C and D .
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 46 (***+)
f ( x ) ≡ 10 x3 − 21x 2 − x .
C2X , R = −6 , ( x − 2 )( 5 x − 3)( 2 x + 1)
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 47 (***+)
f ( x ) ≡ x3 − 3 x 2 − 6 x + 8 , x ∈ .
The figure below shows the graphs of the curves with equations
y1 = x 4 + x3 − 4 x 2 − 10 and y2 = x 4 − x3 + 2 x 2 + 12 x − 26 .
y1 y
y2 R
O
x
P Q
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 48 (***+)
Find the quotient of the division of
2 x 6 − 3 x5 − 2 x 4 + 2 x 2 − 88 x + 168 by x2 − 4 x + 4 .
2 x 4 + 5 x3 + 10 x 2 + 20 x + 42
Question 49 (***+)
( )
x3 + 2 − 1 k x 2 − ( 2k + 1) x + 20 = 0 .
5
a) Determine the value of the real constant k , if the above equation is to have x = 1
as one of its roots.
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 50 (***+)
A cubic curve C has equation
y = 6 x3 + Ax 2 − 6 x + B , x ∈ ,
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 51 (***+)
The following information is given for a polynomial f ( x ) .
f ( x ) = ( x − 2 )( x + 2 ) g ( x ) + ax + b
f ( x ) = 3 x 4 + px + q ,
SYN-D , a = −4 , b = 3 , p = 4 , q = −51
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 52 (***+)
A cubic curve and a quartic curve, are both defined for all real numbers, and have
respective equations
3
y = x3 − 3x 2 and y = x ( x − 2) .
a) Sketch both curves in the same set of axes, indicating the coordinates of any
points where each curve meets the coordinate axes.
3
x3 − 3 x 2 = x ( x − 2 ) , x ∈ .
c) Indicate by shading in the set of axes of part (a) the region satisfied by the
following inequality.
3
x3 − 3 x 2 ≤ y ≤ x ( x − 2 ) ∩ −1 < x < 4 .
MP1-M , 2 solutions
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 53 (****)
f ( x ) ≡ x3 + 3 x 2 − 24 x + 20 , x ∈ .
The line with equation y = −8 touches the graph of f ( x ) at the point Q ( 2, −8 ) and
crosses the graph of f ( x ) at the point P , as shown in the figure below.
y f ( x) = 0
O x
P Q y = −8
( )
SYN-E , f ( x ) = ( x − 1) x 2 + 4 x − 20 , x = 1, − 2 ± 2 6 , P ( −7, −8 )
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 54 (****)
A polynomial p ( x ) is defined, in terms of a constant a , by
p ( x ) = x 4 + 2 x3 + 9 x + a .
SYN-Q , a = 7, b = 3, c = 4
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 55 (****)
The quadratic function f is given, in terms of three non zero constants a , b and c , by
f ( x ) ≡ ax 2 + bx + c , x ∈ .
SYN-V , a = 6 , b = −17 , c = 12
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 56 (****)
f ( x ) ≡ x3 − 3x + 2 , x ∈ .
2
f ( x ) = ( x − 1) .
2
MP1-H , f ( x ) = ( x + 2 )( x − 1) , x = ±1
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 57 (****)
A quintic polynomial is defined, in terms of the constants a and b , by
f ( x ) = x5 + ax 4 + bx3 − x 2 + 4 x − 3 .
SYN-U , a = −4 , b = 3 , 3 x − 13
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 58 (****)
A polynomial f ( x ) is defined in terms of the constants a , b and c as
f ( x ) = 2 x3 + ax 2 + bx + c , x ∈ .
The sketch must include the coordinates of any points where the graph of f ( x )
meets the coordinate axes.
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 59 (****)
A polynomial p ( x ) is given by
p ( x ) = 4 x3 − 2 x 2 + x + 5 .
q ( x ) = 4 x3 − 2 x 2 + ax + b .
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 60 (****)
f ( x ) = 2x2 + 9 x − 5
SYN-O , k = −12,3 , k = 3
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 61 (****)
A cubic function is defined in terms of the constants a , b and c as
f ( x ) = x3 + ax 2 + bx + c , x ∈ .
a + b + c = −1 .
The sketch must include the coordinates of any points where the graph of f ( x )
meets the coordinate axes.
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 62 (****)
f ( x ) ≡ x3 + ( a + 2 ) x 2 − 2 x + b ,
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 63 (****)
f ( x ) = x3 − 9 x 2 + 24 x − 20
C2Q , k = 1, 4
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 64 (****+)
The quadratic functions f and g are defined by
f ( x ) ≡ 4 x2 + a , x ∈
g ( x ) ≡ x 2 + bx + a , x ∈ ,
where a , b and c are non zero constants, such that a = −2c and b = −3c .
Determine the value of a , b and c , and hence factorize f and g , showing clearly the
common factor in these factorizations.
2 2 (
MP1-W , a = −1 , b = − 3 , c = 1 , f ( x ) ≡ 4 x + 1
2 )( x − 12 ) ,
g ( x ) ≡ ( x + 1 ) ( x − 2)
2
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 65 (****+)
A cubic curve has the following equation.
f ( x ) ≡ x3 − 6 x 2 + 12 x + B , x ∈ ,
3
a) If f ( x ) can be written in the form ( x − A ) − 4 , where A is also a non zero
constant, find the value of A and the value of B .
g ( x ) ≡ x2 − 4x + 5 , x ∈ .
b) Sketch the graph of f ( x ) and the graph of g ( x ) in the same set of axes.
The sketch must include the coordinates of any points where each of the
graphs meets the coordinate axes, the coordinates of the point of inflexion of
f ( x ) and the coordinates of the minimum point of g ( x ) .
c) Hence, state with full justification the number of real roots of the equation
x3 − 7 x 2 + 16 x + B = 5 .
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 66 (****+)
f ( x ) = 2 x3 − 9 x 2 + px + q
a) Find the values of the constants p and q , given that ( x − 2 ) and ( 2 x + 1) are
factors of f ( x ) .
7 6
2 y+ = 9− .
y y
MP1-U , p = 7 , q = 6 , y = 4 ∪ x = 9
Created by T. Madas
Created by T. Madas
Question 67 (*****)
ax3 + ax 2 + ax + b = 0 ,
Given that x = −b is a root of the above cubic equation, determine the range of the
possible values of a .
C2T , 0 < a ≤ 4
3
Created by T. Madas