Chapter 10 Polynomials test

Student name:

1 Consider the polynomial 𝑃(𝑥) = 3𝑥 4 − 2𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 21. State:

a the degree of 𝑃(𝑥),
b the leading coefficient of 𝑃(𝑥),

c the leading term of 𝑃(𝑥),

d the constant term of 𝑃(𝑥),

2 The polynomial 𝑃(𝑥) has degree 4. Write down the degree of the polynomial:
4
a 4𝑃(𝑥) b (𝑃(𝑥))

3 Find the coefficient of 𝑥 2 in the polynomial 𝑃(𝑥) = (2𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 4)(3𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 + 11).

4 a Sketch the graph of the polynomial function 𝑦 = (𝑥 − 1)2 (2𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 + 2), showing all
intercepts with the coordinate axes.
b Hence find the values of 𝑥 for which (𝑥 − 1)2 (2𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 + 2) < 0.

5 Sketch the graph of the polynomial 𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑥 7 − 𝑥 5 .

6 Suppose that the polynomial 𝑃(𝑥) = 3𝑥 3 − 8𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 12 is divided by 𝐷(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 2.
a Find the quotient 𝑄(𝑥) and the remainder 𝑅(𝑥).
b Write down a division identity using the information above.
7 Without long division find the remainder when 𝑃(𝑥) = 7𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 11 is divided by:
a 𝑥+1 b 𝑥−4
8 a Use the factor theorem to show that 𝑥 − 3 is a factor of 𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 + 𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 − 12.
b Hence factor 𝑃(𝑥) fully.
9 Find the value of k given that (𝑥 + 1) is a factor of 𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 − 𝑘𝑥 − 8.
10 Find the values of 𝑏 and 𝑐 given that (𝑥 + 2) is a factor of 𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 + 𝑏𝑥 2 + 𝑐𝑥 − 24, and the
remainder is −54 when 𝑃(𝑥) is divided by 𝑥 + 5.

11 Find the values of ℎ and 𝑘 given that (𝑥 − 6) is a factor of 𝑄(𝑥) = (𝑥 + ℎ)2 + 𝑘, and the
remainder is −6 when 𝑄(𝑥) is divided by 𝑥.

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12 The polynomial 𝑃(𝑥) is divided by (𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 3). Suppose that the quotient is 𝑄(𝑥) and the
remainder is 𝑅(𝑥).
a Explain why the general form of 𝑅(𝑥) is 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏, where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are constants.
b When 𝑃(𝑥) is divided by (𝑥 + 2) the remainder is 19, and when 𝑃(𝑥) is divided by (𝑥 − 3)
the remainder is −6. Find 𝑎 and 𝑏. (Hint: Use the division identity.)
13 Suppose that the polynomial 𝑄(𝑥) = 2𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 3 has zeroes 𝛼 and 𝛽. Without finding the
zeroes, find the value of:
a 𝛼+𝛽 b 𝛼𝛽 c 𝛼 2𝛽 + 𝛽2𝛼
1 1
d + e (𝛼 − 2)(𝛽 − 2) f 𝛼 2 + 𝛽2
𝛼 𝛽

14 If 𝛼, 𝛽 and 𝛾 are the roots of the equation 𝑥 3 − 7𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 13 = 0, find:

a 𝛼+𝛽+𝛾 b 𝛼𝛽 + 𝛼𝛾 + 𝛽𝛾 c 𝛼𝛽𝛾
1 1 1 1 1 1
d + + e + +
𝛼 𝛽 𝛾 𝛼𝛽 𝛼𝛾 𝛽𝛾

f (𝛼 + 2)(𝛽 + 2)(𝛾 + 2) g 𝛼 2 𝛽2 𝛾 + 𝛼 2 𝛾 2 𝛽 + 𝛽 2 𝛾 2 𝛼 h 𝛼 2 + 𝛽2 + 𝛾 2
1 1 1
i + +
𝛼2𝛽2 𝛼 2 𝛾2 𝛽 2 𝛾2

15 The equation 𝑥 3 − 13𝑥 2 + 𝑐𝑥 + 𝑑 = 0 has roots −6, 8 and 𝛾,

a Use the sum of the roots to find 𝛾.
b Use the products of the roots to find 𝑑.
c Use the sum of the roots in pairs to find 𝑐.
16 The equation 6𝑥 3 + 5𝑥 2 − 16𝑥 − 15 = 0 has roots 𝛼, 𝛽 and𝛾, where 𝛼𝛽 = −2.5.
a Use the product of the roots to find 𝛾.
b Use the sum of the roots to find the other two roots.
17 One root of the equation 𝑎𝑥 2 + 3𝑏𝑥 + 2𝑐 = 0 is the reciprocal of the cube of the other root.
2
2𝑐 2 18𝑏2 𝑐
Show that (1 + ( ) ) = .
𝑎 𝑎3

18 Solve the equation 3𝑥 3 + 9𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 9 = 0 given that the roots are 𝛼 − 𝛽, 𝛼, 𝛼 + 𝛽.

𝛼
19 Find the zeroes of the polynomial 𝑃(𝑥) = 2𝑥 3 − 6𝑥 2 − 12𝑥 + 16 given that they are , 𝛼
𝛽
and 𝛼𝛽.

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20 The polynomial 𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 − 7𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 + 16 has a double zero.
a Find 𝑃′(𝑥) and hence find the double zero.
b Find the remaining zero, and hence factor 𝑃(𝑥).
21 The polynomial 𝑃(𝑥) = 2𝑥 4 + 9𝑥 3 + 6𝑥 2 − 20𝑥 − 24 has a triple zero.
a Find the zeroes of 𝑃′′(𝑥).
b Determine which of the zeroes of 𝑃′′(𝑥) is the triple zero of 𝑃(𝑥).
c Find the remaining zero of 𝑃(𝑥).
22 The line 𝑦 = −4𝑥 + 8 is the tangent to the curve 𝑦 = 2𝑥 2 − 𝑥 3 at the point 𝐴(2, 0). The line
intersects the curve at another point B. Suppose that the 𝑥-coordinate of B is 𝛼.
a Write down the cubic equation whose roots are the x-coordinate of A and B.
b Explain why the roots of this equation are 2, 2 and 𝛼
c Hence find the point 𝐵.

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Answers
1 a deg 4

b 3

c 3𝑥 4

d 21

2 a deg 4

b deg 16

3 -25

4 a

1
b −2 < 𝑥 < − 2

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5

6 a 𝑄(𝑥) = 3𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 1, 𝑅(𝑥) = −10

b 3𝑥 3 − 8𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 12 = (𝑥 − 2)(3𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 1) − 10

7 a −25

b 385

8 a 𝑃(3) = 0

b 𝑃(𝑥) = (𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 2)2

9 𝑘=6

10 𝑏 = 1, 𝑐 = −14
5 49
11 ℎ = −2, 𝑘 = − 4

12 a The divisor (𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 3) has a degree of 2, hence the remainder must be of degree 1.
Therefore the general form of the remainder is 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏.

b 𝑎 = −5, 𝑏 = 9

5
13 a 2
3
b 2
15
c 4
5
d
3
1
e 2
13
f 4

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14 a 7

b 3

c -13
3
d −13
7
e − 13

f 29

g -39

h 43
43
i 169

15 a 𝛾 = 11

b 𝑑 = 528

c 𝑐 = −26

16 a 𝛾 = −1
5 3
b 𝛼 = , 𝛽 = − , 𝛾 = −1
3 2
1
17 Let 𝛼 be a root, hence the other root is 𝛼3 .
1 3𝑏
Sum of roots: 𝛼 + 𝛼3 = − 𝑎
1 1 2𝑐
Product of roots: 𝛼× = =
𝛼3 𝛼2 𝑎

From the sum of roots divide everything by 𝛼.

1 3𝑏
1 + 𝛼4 = − 𝑎𝛼

2𝑐 2 3𝑏
1 + (𝑎) = − 𝑎
𝑎√
2𝑐

2
2𝑐 2 9𝑏 2 18𝑏 2 𝑐
(1 + ( 𝑎 ) ) = 𝑎 = . As required
𝑎2 ( ) 𝑎3
2𝑐

18 𝑥 = −3, 𝑥 = −1, 𝑥 = 1

19 𝑥 = −2, 𝑥 = 1, 𝑥 = 4

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20 a 𝑃′ (𝑥) = 3𝑥 2 − 14𝑥 + 8 𝑥=4

b 𝑥 = −1, 𝑃(𝑥) = (𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 4)2

1
21 a 𝑃′′ (𝑥) = 24𝑥 2 + 54𝑥 + 12 𝑥 = −2, 𝑥 = − 4

b 𝑥 = −2
3
c 𝑥=2

22 a 𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 8

b The line 𝑦 = −4𝑥 + 8 meets the given cubic at 2 points A and B. However the line is a
tangent at A acting as a double zero, hence when we equate the two equations there is
a double root at 𝑥 = 2.

c (−2,16)

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