Algebra Task 2 – Solutions

1. Let f(x) = 5x + 4 and g(x) = 2x – 6, find the following:

a. ( f + g ) (x)
b. ( f – g ) (x)
c. ( f g ) (x)
d. ( f + g ) (5)

Solutions:

a. ( f + g ) (x) = f(x) + g(x) Given.

= (5x + 4) + (2x – 6) Substitute the value of f(x) and g(x)
and add.
= 5x + 4 + 2x – 6 Combine like terms.
= 7x – 2 Final answer

b. ( f – g ) (x) = f(x) – g(x) Given.

= (5x + 4) – (2x – 6) Substitute the value of f(x) and g(x)
and subtract.
= 5x + 4 – 2x + 6 Combine like terms.
= 3x + 10 Final answer

c. ( f g ) (x) = f(x) • g(x) Given.

= (5x + 4) • (2x – 6) Substitute the value of f(x) and g(x)
and multiply using FOIL Method.
= 10 x 2 – 30x + 8 x – 24 Combine like terms.
= 10 x 2 – 22x – 24 Final answer

d. ( f + g ) (5) = f(5) + g(5) Given.

= [ 5 ( 5 ) +4 ] + [ 2(5)– 6 ] Substitute the value of f(5) and g(5).
= [ 25+4 ] + [ 10 – 6 ] Simplify.
= 29 + 4 Add.
= 33 Final answer
 2. Solve the equation by completing the square. Write your answer as a solution set.
2
4 x – 2x + 5 = 0 Given.
2
4 x – 2 x +5 0
= Divide both sides by 4.
4 4
1 5
x 2−¿ x+ = 0
2 4
1 5 −5 −5 5
x −¿ x+
2
=0 Subtract both sides by .
2 4 4 4 4
1 −5
x −¿ 2 x = 4
2

() ()
2 2
1 1 −5 1
x −¿ x+
2
= + Add a number to both sides to make
2 4 4 4
the left side Perfect Square
Trinomial.

( ) = −54 + 161
2
1 1
x −¿ x+
2
Simplify.
2 4

x −¿ x+ ( ) =
2
1
2 1 −20+1
2 4 16

( 4 ) 16
2
1 −19
x− = Factor and simplify.

√( ) √
2
1
x− = −19 Square root both sides.
4 16

√( ) √
2
1
x− = −19 Cancel out the square root and the
4 16
square of the left side.

( x− 14 ) = ± √−19
4

1
=±
√−19
x− Simplify.
4 4
1 1
x− + =±
√−19 + 1 Add both sides by
1
.
4 4 4 4 4

1 √−19
x= ± Simplify to get the value of x 1 ¿ x 2.
4 4
 x1 =
1
+¿
√−19 = 1+ √−19
4 4 4
x2 =
1
−¿
√−19 = 1−√−19
4 4 4

1+ √−19 1− √−19
( , ) Final Answer
4 4
3. Given the polynomial P(x) = x 4 −2 x 3−7 x 2 + 18x – 18
a. Without long division, find the remainder if P is divided by x+1 .
b. If one zero of P is 1- i, find the remaining zeros of P.
c. Write P in factored form.

Solutions:

a. x + 1 = 0 Equate x + 1 to zero to get the value

of x.
x+1–1=0–1 Subtract both sides by – 1.
x=–1
P(x) = x 4 −2 x 3−7 x 2 + 18x – 18
P(– 1) = ( – 1)4 −2(– 1)3−7 ( – 1)2 + 18 (– 1) – 18 By using the Remainder Theorem,
substitute the value of P(x) to P(– 1).
= 1 – 2( – 1 ) – 7(1) – 18 – 18 Simplify.
= 1 + 2 – 7 – 36
= 3 – 43
= – 40 Final answer

b. P(x) = x 4 −2 x 3−7 x 2 + 18x – 18

1 −2 −7 18 – 18 Identify the numerical coeffient of

P(x)

By using Synthetic Division, 3 and – 3 are zeros of P(x).

3 1 −2 −7 18 –18
3 3 –12 18
1 1 −4 6 0

−¿ 3 1 1 −4 6
 −3 6 −6
1 −2 2 0

The given answers of the Synthetic Division above will form a quadratic equation of
2
x – 2x + 2 = 0 .

Since it is now in quadratic equation, we can easily use the quadratic formula to get
the other two zeros of P(x).
2
x – 2x + 2 = 0

a = 1, b = – 2, c = 2

– b ± √ b – 4 ac
2
x= Quadratic Formula
2a
– (−2) ± √ (−2) – 4( 1)(2)
2
= Substitute the value of a, b,
2(1)
and c to
the Quadratic Formula.

2± √ 4 – 8
= Simplify to get the value of x 1and
2

x 2.
2± √ – 4
=
2
2± 2 i
=
2
x = 1 ±i
x1 = 1 + i
x 2 = 1 −¿ i

Therefore, the remaining zeros are 3, −3 and 1 + . Final Answer

c. P(x) = x 4 −2 x 3−7 x 2 + 18x – 18

Since the zeros of P(x) = x 4 −2 x 3−7 x 2 + 18x – 18

are 3, −3, 1 + i and 1 – i, it can be written as:
(x – 3)
(x + 3)
[ x−( 1+i)] = [ x−1−i ] = ( x−1−i )
[ x−( 1−i) ] = [ x−1+i ] = ( x−1+i )

So, the factored form of P(x) = x 4 −2 x 3−7 x 2 + 18x – 18 is

P(x) = (x – 3) (x – 3)( x−1−i ) ( x−1+i ) Final Answer