Problem Maths
Cambridge IGCSE Additional Mathematics 0606
Paper 21 Q4 Jun 2018
Question 1
It is given that x + 4 is a factor of
3 2
p(x) = 2x + 3x + ax − 12.
When p(x) is divided by x − 1, the remainder is b.
i) Show that a = −23 and find the value of the constant b.
Solution:
Since x + 4 is a factor, we know:
p(−4) = 0.
Substitute x = −4 into p(x):
3 2
p(−4) = 2(−4) + 3(−4) + a(−4) − 12 = −128 + 48 − 4a − 12 = −92 − 4a.
Set p(−4) = 0:
−92 − 4a = 0 ⇒ a = −23.
Now find b using the Remainder Theorem:
3 2
b = p(1) = 2(1) + 3(1) + (−23)(1) − 12 = 2 + 3 − 23 − 12 = −30.
Answer: a = −23, b = −30
ii) Factorise p(x) completely and hence state all the solutions of
p(x) = 0.
We are given:
3 2
p(x) = 2x + 3x − 23x − 12.
We already know x + 4 is a factor. Dividing p(x) by x + 4:
2
p(x) = (x + 4)(2x − 5x − 3).
Factor the quadratic:
2
2x − 5x − 3 = (2x + 1)(x − 3).
So the full factorisation is:
p(x) = (x + 4)(2x + 1)(x − 3).
Solutions of p(x) = 0:
1
x = −4, x = − , x = 3.
2
Paper 11 Q2 Nov 2018
Question 2
3 2
p(x) = 2x + 5x + 4x + a,
2
q(x) = 4x + 3ax + b.
It is given that p(x) has a remainder of 2 when divided by 2x + 1, and q(x) is divisible by
x + 2.
i) Find the values of the constants a and b.
Let x = − 1
2
in p(x):
3 2
1 1 1 1 1 5
p (− ) = 2(− ) + 5(− ) + 4 (− ) + a = − + − 2 + a = −1 + a.
2 2 2 2 4 4
Given the remainder is 2:
−1 + a = 2 ⇒ a = 3.
Now substitute a = 3 into q(x):
2
q(x) = 4x + 9x + b.
Since q(x) is divisible by x + 2, then:
2
q(−2) = 4(−2) + 9(−2) + b = 16 − 18 + b = −2 + b = 0 ⇒ b = 2.
Answer: a = 3, b = 2
ii) Given r(x) = p(x) − q(x), find the exact remainder when r(x) is
divided by 3x − 2.
We have:
3 2 2 3 2
r(x) = p(x) − q(x) = (2x + 5x + 4x + 3) − (4x + 9x + 2) = 2x + x − 5x + 1.
Let x = 2
3
(root of 3x − 2):
2 8 4 10 16 12 90 27
r( ) = 2( ) + ( ) − ( ) + 1 = + − + .
3 27 9 3 27 27 27 27
−35
= .
27
35
Answer: Remainder is −
27
Paper 11 Q3 Jun 2019
Question 3
The polynomial is:
p(x) = (2x − 1)(x + k) − 12
i) Write down the value of p(−k) .
p(−k) = (2(−k) − 1)(−k + k) − 12 = (−2k − 1)(0) − 12 = −12.
Answer: p(−k) = −12
ii) When p(x) is divided by x + 3 , the remainder is 23. Find the
value of k.
Let x = −3:
p(−3) = (2(−3) − 1)(−3 + k) − 12 = (−7)(−3 + k) − 12 = 21 − 7k − 12 = 9 − 7k.
Set equal to 23:
9 − 7k = 23 ⇒ −7k = 14 ⇒ k = −2.
Answer: k = −2
iii) Using your value of k, show that the equation p(x) = −25 has
no real solutions.
Substitute k = −2:
p(x) = (2x − 1)(x − 2) − 12.
Expand:
2 2
p(x) = (2x − 1)(x − 2) − 12 = 2x − 5x + 2 − 12 = 2x − 5x − 10.
Solve p(x) = −25:
2 2
2x − 5x − 10 = −25 ⇒ 2x − 5x + 15 = 0.
Discriminant:
2
D = (−5) − 4(2)(15) = 25 − 120 = −95.
Since the discriminant is negative, there are no real solutions.
Answer: No real solutions since D = −95 < 0.
Cambridge IGCSE Additional Mathematics 0606
Paper 21 Q7 Nov 2020
Question 4
3 2
p(x) = 2x − 3x − 23x + 12
a) Find the value of p(
1
2
)
Solution:
3 2
1 1 1 1 1 1 23
p( ) = 2( ) − 3( ) − 23 ( ) + 12 = 2 ⋅ − 3 ⋅ − + 12
2 2 2 2 8 4 2
1 3 23 24 1 1
= − − + = − + = 0
4 4 2 2 2 2
Answer: p ( 1
2
) = 0
b) Write p(x) as the product of three linear factors and hence
solve p(x) = 0
We know 1
2
is a root, so 2x − 1 is a factor.
Perform polynomial division:
2
p(x) = (2x − 1)(x − x − 12)
Factor the quadratic:
2
x − x − 12 = (x − 4)(x + 3)
So:
p(x) = (2x − 1)(x − 4)(x + 3)
Solutions of p(x) = 0:
1
x = , x = 4, x = −3
2
Paper 12 Q7 Mar 2016
Question 5
Let f (x) = ax 3
+ 7x
2
− 9x + b
i) f (x) is divisible by 2x − 1
Remainder when divided by x − 2 is 5 times the remainder when divided by x + 1.
Solution:
1 1
2x − 1 = 0 ⇒ x = ⇒ f ( ) = 0
2 2
Substitute:
1 1 1 1 a 7 9
f ( ) = a( ) + 7( ) − 9( ) + b = + − + b = 0
2 8 4 2 8 4 2
Multiply through by 8:
a + 14 − 36 + 8b = 0 ⇒ a + 8b = 22 (1)
Let R be the remainder when divided by x − 2, and R the remainder when divided by x + 1.
1 2
We are told: R 1 = 5R2
f (2) = 8a + 28 − 18 + b = 8a + b + 10 = R1
f (−1) = −a + 7 + 9 + b = −a + b + 16 = R2
Substitute:
8a + b + 10 = 5(−a + b + 16)
8a + b + 10 = −5a + 5b + 80
Simplify:
13a − 4b = 70 (2)
Solve equations (1) and (2):
From (1): a = 22 − 8b
Sub into (2):
13(22 − 8b) − 4b = 70 ⇒ 286 − 104b − 4b = 70 ⇒ −108b = −216 ⇒ b = 2
Then a = 22 − 8(2) = 6
Answer: a = 6, b = 2
ii) Show that f (x) = (2x − 1)(cx
2
+ dx + e)
Use polynomial division:
We know:
3 2 2
f (x) = 6x + 7x − 9x + 2 = (2x − 1)(3x + 5x − 2)
So:
2
f (x) = (2x − 1)(3x + 5x − 2)
Answer: c = 3, d = 5, e = −2
iii) Hence factorise f (x) completely.
Factor the quadratic:
2
3x + 5x − 2 = (3x − 1)(x + 2)
So:
f (x) = (2x − 1)(3x − 1)(x + 2)
Paper 22 Q3 Mar 2017
Question 6
Let:
4 3 2
p(x) = x − 2x − 3x + 8x − 4
i) Show that p(x) = (x − 1)(x
3
− x
2
− 4x + 4)
Factor using division:
Divide p(x) by (x − 1) → You get:
3 2
p(x) = (x − 1)(x − x − 4x + 4)
✔️ Shown.
ii) Factorise completely.
Factor the cubic:
Try rational root theorem → test x = 1, 2, −1, −2, 4, −4
Try x = 1:
1 − 1 − 4 + 4 = 0 ⇒ root
So (x − 1) is also a factor of the cubic.
Now divide:
3 2 2
x − x − 4x + 4 = (x − 1)(x − 4)
So:
2
p(x) = (x − 1) (x − 2)(x + 2)
Paper 12 Q1 Mar 2018
Question 7
Let:
3 2
p(x) = x + ax − 3x + b
Given:
Remainder when divided by x + 3 is twice the remainder when divided by x − 2
p(x) is divisible by x + 1 ⇒ p(−1) = 0
Use:
3 2
p(−1) = (−1) + a(−1) − 3(−1) + b = −1 + a + 3 + b = a + b + 2 = 0
⇒ a + b = −2 … (1)
p(−3) = (−27) + 9a + 9 + b = 9a + b − 18
p(2) = 8 + 4a − 6 + b = 4a + b + 2
Given p(−3) = 2p(2):
9a + b − 18 = 2(4a + b + 2)
9a + b − 18 = 8a + 2b + 4
a − b = 22 (2)
Now solve (1) and (2):
From (2): a = b + 22
Sub into (1):
b + 22 + b = −2 ⇒ 2b = −24 ⇒ b = −12 ⇒ a = 10
Answer: a = 10, b = −12
Paper 12 Q7 Mar 2020
Question 8
Let:
3 2
p(x) = ax + 3x + bx − 12
Given:
2x + 1 is a factor ⇒ p (− 1
2
) = 0
p(3) = 105
a) Find values of a and b
Substitute x = − : 1
1 1 1 b
p (− ) = a (− ) + 3( ) − − 12 = 0
2 8 4 2
Multiply both sides by 8:
−a + 6 − 4b − 96 = 0 ⇒ −a − 4b = 90 (1)
Now use x = 3:
p(3) = 27a + 27 + 3b − 12 = 27a + 3b + 15 = 105
27a + 3b = 90 ⇒ 9a + b = 30 (2)
From (2): b = 30 − 9a
Sub into (1):
−a − 4(30 − 9a) = 90 ⇒ −a − 120 + 36a = 90 ⇒ 35a = 210 ⇒ a = 6
Then b = 30 − 9(6) = −24
Answer: a = 6, b = −24
b) Write p(x) as a product of 2x + 1 and a quadratic factor
We know:
3 2
p(x) = 6x + 3x − 24x − 12
Divide by 2x + 1:
Result:
2
p(x) = (2x + 1)(3x − 3x − 12)
c) Solve p(x) = 0
Factor quadratic:
2 2
3x − 3x − 12 = 3(x − x − 4)
Solve:
1 ± √ 17
x =
2
Final answer:
1 1 ± √ 17
x = − , x =
2 2
