New Senior Secondary Mathematics

Advanced Exercise Ch. 16: Inequalities

ADVANCED EXERCISE CH. 16: INEQUALITIES

[Finish the following questions if you aim at DSE Math Level 3]
Q1 [CE Maths 93 4]
Solve the inequality 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 2 < 0. Hence solve the inequality (𝑦 − 100)2 − (𝑦 − 100) − 2 < 0.

Q2 [CE Maths 90 4]
(a) Solve the following inequalities:
(i) 6𝑥 + 1 ≥ 2𝑥 − 3,
(ii) (2 − 𝑥)(𝑥 + 3) > 0.
(b) Using (a), find the values of x which satisfy both 6𝑥 + 1 ≥ 2𝑥 − 3 and (2 − 𝑥)(𝑥 + 3) > 0.

Q3 [CE Maths 89 2]
1
Consider 𝑥 + 1 > (3𝑥 + 2).
5
(a) Solve the inequality.
(b) In addition, if −4 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 4, find the range of x.

Q4 [CE Maths 82 3]
Solve 2𝑥 2 − 𝑥 < 36.

[Finish the following questions if you aim at DSE Math Level 4]

Q5 [CE Maths 92 6]
Find the range of values of k so that the quadratic equation 𝑥 2 + 2𝑘𝑥 + (𝑘 + 6) = 0 has two distinct real roots.

Q6 [CE Maths 88 3]
Solve the inequality 2𝑥 2 ≥ 5𝑥.

Q7 [CE AMath 92I 3]

Solve
𝑥(𝑥 + 5) > 6 or 𝑥(𝑥 + 5) < −6
Q8 [CE AMath 88I 5]
Let 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 4𝑚𝑥 + 4𝑚 + 15, where m is a constant. Find the discriminant of the equation 𝑓(𝑥) = 0 in terms of m.
Hence, or otherwise, find the range of values of m so that 𝑓(𝑥) > 0 for all real values of x.

Q9 [CE AMath 83I 1]

Determine the range of values of 𝜆 for which the equation 𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 2 + 𝜆(2𝑥 + 1) = 0 has no real roots.

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New Senior Secondary Mathematics
Advanced Exercise Ch. 16: Inequalities

[Finish the following questions if you aim at DSE Math Level 5]

Q10 [CE Maths 85 13]
In the figure, ABC is an equilateral triangle. AB = 2. D, E, F are points on AB, BC, CA respectively such that 𝐴𝐷 = 𝐵𝐸 = 𝐶𝐹 = 𝑥.

(a) By using the cosine formula or otherwise, express 𝐷𝐸 2 in terms of x.

(b) Show that the area of Δ𝐷𝐸𝐹 is
√3
(3𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 4).
4
Hence, by using the method of completing the square, find the value of x such that the area of Δ𝐷𝐸𝐹 is smallest.
√3
(c) If the area of Δ𝐷𝐸𝐹 ≤ , find the range of the values of x.
3

Q11 [CE Maths 83B 14]

𝛼 and 𝛽 are the roots of the quadratic equation 𝑥 2 − 2𝑚𝑥 + 𝑛 = 0 where m and n are real numbers.
(a) Find, in terms of m and n,
(i) (𝑚 − 𝛼) + (𝑚 − 𝛽),
(ii) (𝑚 − 𝛼)(𝑚 − 𝛽).
(b) Find, in terms of m and n, the quadratic equation having roots 𝑚 − 𝛼 and 𝑚 − 𝛽.
(c) If 𝑛 = 4, find the range of values of m such that the equation 𝑥 2 − 2𝑚𝑥 + 𝑛 = 0 has real roots.

Q12 [CE AMath 92I 9]

𝛼 and 𝛽 are the roots of the quadratic equation 𝑥 2 + (𝑝 + 1)𝑥 + (𝑝 − 1) = 0, where p is a real number.
(a) Show that 𝛼, 𝛽 are real and distinct.
(b) Express (𝛼 − 2)(𝛽 − 2) in terms of p.
(c) Given 𝛽 < 2 < 𝛼.
5
(i) Using the results of (b), show that 𝑝 < − .
3
(ii) If (𝛼 − 𝛽)2 < 24, find the range of possible values of p. Hence write down the possible integral value(s) of p.

Q13 [CE AMath 91I 7]

𝑝, 𝑞 and 𝑘 are real numbers satisfying the following conditions:
𝑝 + 𝑞 + 𝑘 = 2,
{
𝑝𝑞 + 𝑞𝑘 + 𝑘𝑝 = 1.
(a) Express pq in terms of k.
(b) Find a quadratic equation, with coefficients in terms of k, whose roots are p and q.
Hence find the range of possible values of k.

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New Senior Secondary Mathematics
Advanced Exercise Ch. 16: Inequalities

Q14 [CE AMath 89I 5]

Let
𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 + 1
= 𝑟 … … … (∗).
𝑥2 − 𝑥 + 1
Express (*) in the form 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0. Hence find the range of the values of r for real values of x.

Q15 [CE AMath 86I 7]

Solve
3
𝑥> +2
𝑥
for each of the following cases:
(a) 𝑥 > 0;
(b) 𝑥 < 0.

Q16 [CE AMath 85I 3]

Solve the inequality 𝑥 2 − 𝑎𝑥 − 4 ≤ 0, where a is real. If among the possible values of x satisfying the above inequality, the greatest is
4, find the least.

Q17 [CE AMath 84II 6]

Given the equation 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 2𝑘𝑥 + 4𝑘𝑦 + 6𝑘 2 − 2 = 0.
(a) Find the range of values of k so that the equation represents a circle with radius greater than 1.
(b) Find the locus of the centre of the circle as k varies within the range in (a).

Q18 [CE AMath 80I 1]

Find the range of values of k for which the equation
2𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 5 = 𝑘(𝑥 + 1)2
has no real roots.

[Finish the following questions if you aim at DSE Math Level 5*]
Q19 [CE AMath 89I 11]
(a) 𝛼 and 𝛽 are the roots of the quadratic equation
𝑥 2 + 𝑝𝑥 + 𝑞 = 0 … … … (∗)
where p and q are real numbers. Find, in terms of p and q,
(i) 𝛼 2 + 𝛽2,
(ii) 𝛼 3 + 𝛽3,
(iii) (𝛼 2 − 𝛽 − 1)(𝛽 2 − 𝛼 − 1).
(b) If the square of one root of (*) minus the other root equals 1, use (a), or otherwise, to show that
𝑞 2 − 3(𝑝 − 1)𝑞 + (𝑝 − 1)2 (𝑝 + 1) = 0 … … … (∗∗)
(c) Find the range of values of p such that the quadratic equation (**) in q has real roots.
(d) Suppose k is a real constant. If the square of one root of 4𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 + 𝑘 = 0 minus the other root equals 1, use the result in (b), or
otherwise, to find the value of k.

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New Senior Secondary Mathematics
Advanced Exercise Ch. 16: Inequalities

Q20 [CE AMath 88I 10]

Let 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 1 and 𝑔(𝑥) = −𝑥 2 + 2𝑘𝑥 − 𝑘 2 + 6 (where k is a constant).
(a) Suppose the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) cuts the x-axis at the points P and Q; and the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑔(𝑥) cuts the x-axis at the points R
and S.
(i) Find the lengths of PQ and RS.
(ii) Find, in terms of k, the x-coordinate of the mid-point of RS.
If the mid-points of PQ and RS coincide with each other, find the value of k.
(b) If the graphs of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑦 = 𝑔(𝑥) intersect at only one point, find the possible values of k; and for each value of k, find the
point of intersection.
(c) Find the range of values of k such that 𝑓(𝑥) > 𝑔(𝑥) for any real value of x.
Q21 [CE AMath 87I 11]
It is given that the equation
𝑧 2 − 2𝑧 + 𝑘 = 0 … … … (∗)
has no real roots, where k is a real number.
(a) Find the range of values of k.
(b) Find the quadratic equation whose roots are the cubes of the roots of (*) and show that the discriminant of this equation is
4(1 − 𝑘)(4 − 𝑘)2 .
If this equation has real roots, deduce the value of k.
(c) Find, in terms of k, the squares of the roots of (*), expressing the answers in the form 𝑥 + 𝑖𝑦 where x and y are real and 𝑖 2 = −1.

[Finish the following questions if you aim at DSE Math Level 5**]
Q22 [CE AMath 82II 12]
Let 𝜆1 and 𝜆2 be the roots of the quadratic equation
𝑡 2 − (𝑏 + 1)𝑡 + (𝑏 − 1) = 0 … … … (∗),
where b is a real number.
(a) (i) Show that 𝜆1 and 𝜆2 are real and distinct.
(ii) By proving (1 − 𝜆1 )(1 − 𝜆2 ) < 0, deduce that either 𝜆1 < 1 < 𝜆2 or 𝜆2 < 1 < 𝜆1 .
(b) Let 𝜆 be one of the roots of (*). Find b in terms of 𝜆 and hence express
(1 − 𝜆)[(𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 𝑏) − 𝜆(𝑥 2 + 1)]
as a perfect square.
(c) Using the results of (a) and (b), show that if 𝜆1 < 𝜆2 , then
𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 𝑏
𝜆1 ≤ ≤ 𝜆2
𝑥2 + 1
for all real values of x.
Answer:
3 3
1 −1 < 𝑥 < 2, 99 < 𝑦 < 102 2(a)(i) 𝑥 ≥ −1 (ii) −3 < 𝑥 < 2 (b) −1 ≤ 𝑥 < 2 3(a) 𝑥 > − (b) − < 𝑥 ≤ 4
2 2
9 5
4 −4 < 𝑥 < 5 𝑘 < −2 or 𝑘 > 3 6 𝑥 ≥ or 𝑥 ≤ 0 7 𝑥 < −6 or −3 < 𝑥 < −2 or 𝑥 > 1
2 2
3 5 2 4
8− <𝑚< 9 −2 < 𝜆 < −1 10(a) 𝐷𝐸 2 = 3𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 4 (b) 𝑥 = 1 (c) ≤ 𝑥 ≤
2 2 3 3
2 2 2 5
11(a)(i) 0 (ii) −𝑚 + 𝑛 (b) 𝑥 − 𝑚 + 𝑛 = 0 (c) 𝑚 ≥ 2 or 𝑚 ≤ −2 12(b) 3𝑝 + 5 (c)(ii) 1 − 2√5 < 𝑝 < − , 𝑝 = −2 or −3
3
4
13(a) 1 − 2𝑘 + 𝑘 2 (b) 0 ≤ 𝑘 ≤ 14 −1 ≤ 𝑟 ≤ 7 15(a) 𝑥 > 3 (b) −1 < 𝑥 < 0 16 −1
3
17(a) −1 < 𝑘 < 1 (b) A segment on 2𝑥 + 𝑦 = 0 from (−1, 2) to (1, −2) with end-points excluded.
13 5 3
18 𝑘 < 19(a)(i) 𝑝2 − 2𝑞 (ii) −𝑝(𝑝2 − 3𝑞) (iii) 𝑞 2 − 3(𝑝 − 1)𝑞 + (𝑝 − 1)2 (𝑝 + 1) (c) 𝑝 ≤ (d)
8 4 2
20(a)(i) 𝑃𝑄 = 2√2, 𝑅𝑆 = 2√6 (ii) k, −1 (b) 𝑘 = 3, (1, 2); 𝑘 = −5, (−3, 2) (c) 𝑘 > 3 or 𝑘 < −5
21(a) 𝑘 > 1 (b) 𝑧 2 + (6𝑘 − 8)𝑧 + 𝑘 3 = 0 (c) (2 − 𝑘) ± 2√𝑘 − 1𝑖
1+𝜆−𝜆2
22(b) 𝑏 = , [(1 − 𝜆)𝑥 + 1]2
1−𝜆

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