Pre-Semi-mock 4 Practice 4

Let f x   ax 2  bx  c 2 x 2  5 x  1  25 , where a, b and c are real constants. It is given that the
remainder when f  x  is divided by x  2 is 5 smaller than the remainder when f  x  is divided by
x  3 . Moreover, the constant term of f x  1 is 1 and the leading coefficient of f x  is 6.
(a) Find the value of a.

(b) Is f  x  divisible by  x  2 ? Explain your answer briefly.

(c) Fion claims that the equation f x   0 has exactly two real roots. Do you agree with her claim? Explain
your answer briefly.

設 f x   ax 2  bx  c 2 x 2  5 x  1  25 ，其中 a、b 及 c 為實常數。已知當 f  x  除以 x  2 的餘

式比當 f  x  除以 x  3 的餘式小 5。另外， f x  1 的常數項為 1 及 f  x  的首項系數為 6。

(a) 求 a 的值。

(b) f  x  能否被  x  2 ？試詳細解釋你的答案。

(c) 小安指出方程 f x   0 有恰好兩個根。你是否同意她的宣稱？試詳細解釋你的答案。

© Jacky Chan Yui Him (2016)

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a Since the leading coefficient of f  x  is 6,

2a  6
a3
b  
Since the constant term of f x  1  ax  1  bx  1  c 2x  1  5x  1  1  25 is 1,
2 2

3 1 2

 b 1  c 2 1  5 1  1  25  1
2

b  c  9      1
As the remainder when f  x  is divided by x  2  is 5 smaller than the remainder when f  x  is divided by  x  3 ,
f 2   f  3  5
32 2
   
 b2   c 22   52   1  3 3  b 3  c 2 3  5 3  1  5
2 2 2

192b  c  12   43b  c  27   5
10b  3c  25      2 

1  3  2 :
13b  52
b  4
Sub. b  4 into (1),
4  c  9
c5
  
f  2   3 2   4 2   5 2 2   5 2   1  25
2 2

0
Therefore, f  x  is divisible by x  2 .
c   
f  x   3 x 2  4 x  5 2 x 2  5 x  1  25
 3 x  10  x  2   252 x  1 x  2   1  25
 3 x  10 2 x  1 x  2    x  2 252 x  1  3 x  10 
2

  x  2 3 x  10 2 x  1 x  2   47 x  35 


  x  2  6 x 3  5 x 2  3 x  15 
f x   0
x  26 x 3

 5 x  3 x  15  0
2

x  2 or 6 x 3  5 x 2  3 x  15  0
When x  0 ,

 5 1
6 x 3  5 x 2  3 x  15  6 x x 2  x    15
 6 2
  5 
2
  5 
2 
      
 5 1 
 6 x  x 2  x   6    6    15
 6  2



 2  2


 
    
   

 5 
2
47 
 6 x  x      15
 12  144 
 47 
 6 x   15
 144 
 0  15  x  0 
0

Hence, the equation 6 x 3  5 x 2  3 x  15  0 does not have positive roots.

As a result, the equation has either three non-positive roots or one non-positive root along with a pair of nonreal complex
conjugate roots.
Let 6 x 3  5 x 2  3x  15  6x   x   x    , where α, β and γ are the roots of the equation 6 x 3  5 x 2  3 x  15  0 .

5
By comparing coefficients of x 2 on both sides, we have       .
6

Note that the sum of three non-positive numbers cannot add up to a positive number.
Hence, we know that there is only one non-positive root along with a nonreal complex conjugate roots.
As a result, the equation f x   0 has exactly two real roots.
Fion’s claim is agreed with.

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All rights reserved.