Created by T.

Madas

POLYNOMIALS

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 1 (**)

( )
When f ( x ) is divided by x 2 + 1 the quotient is ( 3x − 1) and the remainder is ( 2 x − 1) .

Determine an expression for f ( x ) .

f ( x ) = 3x3 − x 2 + 5 x − 2

Question 2 (***)
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 3 (***)
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 4 (***)

x4 + 1 C
2
≡ Ax 2 + B + 2
.
x +1 x +1

Find the value of each of the constants A , B and C .

A = 1 , B = −1 , C = 2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 5 (***+)
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 .

When f ( x ) is divided by ( x − 2 ) the remainder is −7 .

When f ( x ) is divided by ( x + 1) the remainder is −16 .

a) Determine in any order the value of a and the value of b .

b) Find the remainder when f ( x ) is divided by ( x − 2 )( x + 1) .

a = −4 , b = 3 , 3 x − 13

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 6 (***+)
A polynomial p ( x ) is defined, in terms of a constant a , by

p ( x ) = x 4 + 2 x3 + 9 x + a .

When p ( x ) is divided by x 2 − x + 2 the quotient is x 2 + bx + 1 and the remainder is

Find the value of a , b and c .

a = 7, b = 3, c = 4

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 7 (***+)

( )
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.

b) Solve the equation for the value of k , found in part (a).

k = 10 , x = −5, 4,1

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 5 (***+)
The following information is given for a polynomial f ( x ) .

• When f ( x ) is divided by ( x − 2 ) the remainder is 5 .

• When f ( x ) is divided by ( x + 2 ) the remainder is −11 .

• When f ( x ) is divided by ( x + 2 )( x − 2 ) the remainder is ax + b , and the

a) Determine the value of a and the value of b .

It is further given that

f ( x ) = 3 x 4 + px + q ,

where p and q are constants.

b) Find a simplified expression for g ( x ) .

(
SYN-D , a = −4 , b = 3 , g ( x ) = 3 x 2 + 4 )

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 9 (****)

f ( x ) = x3 + ( a + 2 ) x 2 − 2 x + b ,

where a and b are non zero constants.

It is given that ( x − 2 ) and ( x + a ) are factors of f ( x ) , a > 0 .

a) By forming two equations show that a = 3 and find the value of b .

b) Solve the equation f ( x ) = 0 .

b = −24 , x = −4, −3, 2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 10 (****)
When the polynomial f ( x ) is divided by ( x − 2 ) the remainder is 7 .

2
When f ( x ) is divided by ( x − 3) the remainder is ( 4 x + 17 ) .

Find the remainder when f ( x ) is divided by ( x − 2 )( x − 3) .

22 x − 37

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 11 (****)
A polynomial p ( x ) is given by

p ( x ) = 4 x3 − 2 x 2 + x + 5 .

a) Find the remainder and the quotient when p ( x ) is divided by x 2 + 2 x − 5 .

A different polynomial q ( x ) is defined as

q ( x ) = 4 x3 − 2 x 2 + ax + b .

b) Find the value of each of the constants a and b so that when q ( x ) is divided by
x 2 + 2 x − 5 there is no remainder.

R = 41x − 45 , Q = 4 x − 10 , a = −40, b = 50

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 12 (****)

f ( x ) = 2 x3 − 9 x 2 + px + q

a) Find the value of each of the constants p and q , given that ( x − 2 ) and ( 2 x + 1)
are factors of f ( x ) .

b) Hence solve the equation

7 6
2 y+ = 9− .
y y

p = 7 , q = 6 , y = 4,9

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 13 (****+)

f ( x ) ≡ x 4 − 9 x3 + 30 x 2 − 44 x .

The polynomial f ( x ) satisfies the relationship

3
f ( x ) ≡ ( x − 3)( x − A ) + B ,

where A and B are constants.

a) Find the value of A and the value of B .

The polynomial f ( x ) also satisfies the relationship

2
f ( x ) ≡ ( x + 3) g ( x ) + Px + Q , where P and Q are constants.

b) Find the value of each of the constants P and Q .

A = 2 , B = −24 , P = −575 , Q = −999

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 14 (****+)

f ( x ) ≡ 9 x 4 + 24 x3 − 32 x − 16 .

The polynomial f ( x ) has linear factors

( x + 2) and ( 3x + 2)

a) Show that the roots of the equation f ( x ) = 0 are

α , 3α , β and − β ,

where α and β must be stated in exact form if appropriate.

b) Hence determine a cubic equation with integer coefficients with roots

−2α , β − 3α and − β − 3a .

α = − 2 , β = − 2 3 , 9 x3 − 48 x 2 + 72 x − 32 = 0
3 3

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 15 (****+)
A polynomial f ( x ) is defined by

f ( x ) ≡ 2 x6 + ax5 + bx 4 + 2 x 2 ,

where a and b are constants.

When f ( x ) is divided by ( x − 2 )( 2 x + 1) the remainder is ( 3 x + 2 ) .

a) Determine the value of a and the value of b .

2
When f ( x ) is divided by ( x − 2 ) the quotient is h ( x ) and the remainder is ( Ax + B ) ,
where A and B are constants..

b) Find …

i. … the value of A and the value of B .

ii. … an expression for h ( x ) .

a = −3 , b = −2 , A = 88 , B = −168 , h ( x ) = 2 x 4 + 5 x3 + 10 x 2 + 20 x + 42

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 16 (*****)
A polynomial in x satisfies the relationship

( )
f ( x ) = x 2 − 4 g ( x ) + Ax + B ,

where A and B are constants.

a) Find the value of A and the value of B , given that f ( 2 ) = 5 and f ( −2 ) = −7 .

It is now given that the polynomial in x also satisfies the relationship

2
f ( x ) = ( x − 2 ) h ( x ) + Cx + D .

b) Find the value of each of the constants C and D , given that f ′ ( 2 ) = 31 .

c) Given further that g ( x ) = 3x + 1 , find h ( x ) .

A = 3 , B = −1 , C = 31 , D = −57 , h ( x ) = 3 x + 13

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 17 (*****)
A polynomial in x is given by

f ( x ) = x8 + kx5 − 27 x 2 − 13 , where k is a constant.

The polynomial also satisfies the relationship

2
f ( x ) = ( x − 1) g ( x ) + Ax + B ,

where A and B are constants.

Find the value of A and the value of B , given that f ( 2 ) = 7

A = −26 , B = −9

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 18 (*****)

f ( x ) ≡ Ax5 + Bx 4 + 8 x 2 ,

where A and B are non zero constants.

The polynomial f ( x ) satisfies the relationship

f ( x ) ≡ ( 2 x − 1)( x − 2 ) g ( x ) + 169 x − 82 .

a) Find the value of A and the value of B .

b) Determine the polynomial g ( x ) .

The polynomial f ( x ) also satisfies the relationship

2
f ( x ) ≡ ( x + 2 ) h ( x ) + Px + Q ,

where P and Q are constants.

c) Find the value of each of the constants P and Q .

SYN-L , A = 4 , B = 6 , g ( x ) ≡ 2 x3 + 8 x 2 + 18 x + 41 , P = 96 , Q = 192

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 19 (*****)

ax3 + ax 2 + ax + b = 0 ,

where a and b are non zero real constants.

Given that x = b is a root of the above cubic equation, determine the range of possible
values of a .

−4 ≤a≤0
3

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 20 (*****)

f ( x ) ≡ x5 + 3 x 4 − 40 x3 − 47 x 2 .

The polynomial f ( x ) satisfies the relationship

( )
f ( x ) ≡ ( x − 2 )( x + A )( x + B ) x 2 + 3x − 1 − 249 x + 70 ,

where A and B are integer constants.

a) Find the value of A and the value of B .

The polynomial f ( x ) also satisfies the relationship

2
f ( x ) ≡ ( x − 2 ) h ( x ) + Px + Q ,

where P and Q are constants.

b) Find the value of each of the constants P and Q .

SP-S , A = 7 , B = −5 , P = −492 , Q = 556

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 21 (*****)

f ( x, y ) ≡ 4 x 4 − 4 x3 y − 7 x 2 y 2 + 4 xy 3 + 3 y 4 .

Express f ( x, y ) as a product of 4 linear factors.

SP-P , f ( x, y ) ≡ ( x + y )( x − y )( 2 x + y )( 2 x − 3 y )

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 22 (*****)
Solve the cubic equation

( ) ( )
4 x3 − 4 1 + 3 x 2 + 9 + 4 3 x − 9 = 0 , x ∈ » .

SP-P , x = 1

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 23 (*****)

f ( x ) ≡ x 4 − 16 x3 + 68 x 2 − 32 x + 3 , x ∈ » .

Factorize f ( x ) into a product of 4 linear factors.

( )( )(
SP-B , f ( x ) ≡ x − 4 − 15 x − 4 + 15 x − 4 − 13 x − 4 + 13)( )

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 24 (*****)

f ( a , b, c ) ≡ a 4 ( b − c ) + b 4 ( c − a ) + c 4 ( a − b ) .

Factorize f ( a, b, c ) into a product of 3 linear factors and 1 quadratic factor.

(
SP-M , f ( a, b, c ) ≡ − ( a − b )( b − c )( c − a ) a 2 + b 2 + c 2 + ab + bc + ca )

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 25 (*****)
A quartic curve C has the following equation.

y = x ( x − 4 )( x + 2 )( x − 6 ) , x ∈ » .

By considering suitable transformations, show that C is even about the straight line with
equation x = 2 .

MP2-T , proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 26 (*****)
A cubic curve with equation

y = x3 − 3 x 2 − 9 x + 3 , x ∈ » ,

is odd about some point P .

Find the coordinates of P and use transformation arguments to justify the assertion that
the curve is odd about P .

SYN-T , P (1, −8 )

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 27 (*****)

y = x3 − x 4
x
O
L

The figure above shows the curve C with equation

y = x3 − x 4 .

The straight line L is a tangent to the C , at two distinct points.

Determine an equation of L .

SP-B , y = 1 x + 1
8 64

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 28 (*****)
Solve the cubic equation

16 x3 − 48 x 2 + 60 x − 31 = 0 , x ∈ » .

You may assume that this cubic equation only has one real root.

− 23 − 43
SPX-H , x = 1 + 2 − 2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 29 (*****)
Solve the cubic equation

16 x3 + 96 x 2 + 180 x + 99 = 0 , x ∈ » .

You may assume that this cubic equation only has one real root.

− 23 − 43
SPX-D , x = −2 + 2 − 2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 30 (*****)
Solve the cubic equation

x3 − 9 x 2 + 3 x − 3 = 0 , x ∈ » .

You may assume that this cubic equation only has one real root.

5 4
SPX-L , x = 3 + 2 3 + 2 3

Created by T. Madas