Exercise 6 10: Mixed exercises on cubic graphs

1. Given f (x) = x3 + x2 5x + 3.
a) Show that (x 1) is a factor of f (x) and hence factorise f (x).
b) Determine the coordinates of the intercepts and the turning points.
c) Sketch the graph.
2.

a) Sketch the graph of f (x) = x3 + 4x2 + 11x 30. Show all the turning
points and intercepts with the axes.
b) Given g(x) = x3 4x2 11x + 30, sketch the graph of g without any further
calculations. Describe the method for drawing the graph.

3. The sketch shows the graph of a cubic function, f , with a turning point at (2; 0),
going through (5; 0) and (0; 20).

f
2
5

20
a) Find the equation of f .
b) Find the coordinates of turning point A.
4.

a) Find the intercepts and stationary point(s) of f (x) = 31 x3 + 2 and draw a

sketch of the graph.
b) For which values of x will:
i. f (x) < 0
ii. f (x) < 0
iii. f (x) < 0
Motivate each answer.

5. Use the information below to sketch a graph of each cubic function (do not find
the equations of the functions).
a)
g(6) = g(1,5) = g(2) = 0
g (4) = g (1) = 0
g (x) > 0 for x < 4 or x > 1
g (x) < 0 for 4 < x < 1

Chapter 6. Differential calculus

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