Questions

EXT 1: Functions (Ext1), F2 Polynomials (Y11)

  Sum, Products and Multiplicity of Roots (Ext1) 1.  Functions, EXT1′ F2 2015 HSC 4 MC

Teacher: Kirtana Hariharan The polynomial    has a double root at  

Exam Equivalent Time: 84 minutes (based on HSC allocation of 1.5 minutes approx. per What is the value of  
mark)
(A) 

(B) 
F2 Polynomials
(C) 

(D) 

1%
Remainder and Factor Theorems
Sum, Product and Multiplicity of Roots
2% 3%
*Analytics based on the average
contribution to the EXT1 HSC
exams over the past decade.
4%
2.  Functions, EXT1 F2 2012 HSC 3 MC
A polynomial equation has roots   ,   ,    where

,   ,   .
 
Which polynomial equation has the roots   ,   , and   ?
HISTORICAL CONTRIBUTION
(A)   
Polynomials in the new Ext1 course is primarily taken from the old Ext1 course,
although some limited content from the old Ext2 course is also included. (B)   

This topic has been split into two categories for analysis purposes which are: 1- (C)   
Remainder and Factor Theorems (1.9%) and 2-Sum, Products and Multiplicity of Roots (D)   
(1.6%).
This analysis looks at Sum, Products and Multiplicity of Roots. 3.  Functions, EXT1′ F2 2012 HSC 5 MC

HSC ANALYSIS - What to expect and common pitfalls The equation    has roots   , and .

Sum, Products and Multiplicity of Roots (1.6%) has been examined 7 times in the last What is the value of   ?
decade of Ext1 exams, primarily via multiple choice questions.
The removal of Polynomials from the new Ext2 syllabus create the possibility that (A)  
Sum, Products and Multiplicity of Roots could be examined to a greater degree of
difficulty than in the past, in our view. (B)  
2021 provided case in point to the above comment, with students required to
(C)  
perform root calculations for a polynomial of degree 4 (see 2021 Ext1 11h),
producing a mean mark of 56%. (D)    

The 2020 exam tested this topic area via a multiple choice question and a very
challenging cross-topic question with trigonometry (see 2020 Ext1 14b).
Numerous Ext2 past questions that are now examinable within the new Ext1 course
are included in the database - a number focus on the multiplicity of roots which we
regard as an important revision area.
4.  Functions, EXT1′ F2 2017 HSC 5 MC 7.  Functions, EXT1 F2 2020 HSC 5 MC

The polynomial    has roots , and . A monic polynomial    of degree 4 has one repeated zero of multiplicity 2 and is divisible by 
.
What is the value of   ?
Which of the following could be the graph of  ?
A.
B.
C.
D.
A. B.
5.  Functions, EXT1′ F2 2018 HSC 3 MC

The cubic equation    has roots, , and .

Which cubic equation has roots  ?

A.

B.

C. C. D.

D.

6.  Functions, EXT1′ F2 2019 HSC 4 MC

The polynomial    has roots 1 and – 3, with one of them being a double root.
What is a possible value of  ?
A. – 10
B. –5
C. 5
D. 10
8.  Functions, EXT1 F2 2013 HSC 4 MC 10.  Functions, EXT1 F2 2016 HSC 10 MC

Which diagram best represents the graph   ? Consider the polynomial    with and positive.
 
Which graph could represent   ?
 

11.  Functions, EXT1 F2 2019 HSC 7 MC

Let    where and are constants, . One of the zeros of 
  is  .
Given that    is a zero of  , which of the following is also a zero?

A.     

B.     

C.     

9.  Functions, EXT1 F2 2014 HSC 5 MC

D.     
Which group of three numbers could be the roots of the polynomial equation  
?
(A)   
(B)   
(C)   
(D)   
12.  Functions, EXT1′ F2 2016 HSC 2 MC 18.  Functions, EXT1′ F2 2017 HSC 12d
Which polynomial has a multiple root at   Let be a polynomial.

(A)  i. Given that    is a factor of , show that

 
(B) 
.  (2 marks)
(C)   

(D)  ii. Given that the polynomial    has a factor   , find the value
of .  (2 marks)

13.  Functions, EXT1 F2 2013 HSC 11a

19.  Functions, EXT1 F2 SM-Bank 2
The polynomial equation    has roots   ,    and   . 
The polynomial    has roots  .
Find   .   (1 mark)
i. Find the value of  .  (1 mark)

14.  Functions, EXT1′ F2 2014 HSC 14a ii. Find the value of  .  (1 mark)
iii. It is known that two of the roots are equal in magnitude but opposite in sign.
Let   .  
Find the third root and hence find the value of .  (2 marks)
  Show that    is a root of    of multiplicity three.  (2 marks)

20.  Functions, EXT1′ F2 2013 HSC 15b

15.  Functions, EXT1′ F2 2017 HSC 13b
The polynomial    has remainder when divided by   .
Let and be real numbers. Suppose that    has roots   The polynomial has a double root at  

 where   . i. Show that    (2 marks)

  Prove that   .  (2 marks) ii. Hence, or otherwise, find the slope of the tangent to the graph    when     (1 mark)

16.  Functions, EXT1′ F2 2018 HSC 11b

The polynomial    has a zero at and a double zero at 4.
Find the values of  , and .  (3 marks)

17.  Functions, EXT1 F2 2008 HSC 2c

The polynomial    is given by   , where    and    are
constants.
The three zeros of    are   ,    and   .
Find the value of   .   (3 marks) 
21.  Functions, EXT1 F2 2019 HSC 14b 25.  Functions, EXT1′ F2 2009 HSC 3c
Let   , where    and    are real numbers.
The diagram shows the graph of  , where    is a positive real number.

  Find the values of    and    given that    is a factor of     (3 marks)

26.  Functions, EXT1 F2 SM-Bank 5

The polynomial    has roots  ,   and  .
i.  Explain why  .  (1 mark)
ii.  Show that  .  (1 mark)
iii.  Show that  .  (2 marks)

27.  Functions, EXT1 F2 2006 HSC 4a

The cubic polynomial   . where    and    are real numbers, has
three real zeros,     and  
i. Find the value of     (1 mark)
 
ii. Find the value of     (2 marks)
By considering the graphs of    and  , explain why the function 

  has exactly one real zero.  (2 marks)

28.  Functions, EXT1′ F2 2016 HSC 13d

Suppose    with and real,

22.  Functions, EXT1 F2 2021 HSC 11h i. Deduce that if    then  cuts the -axis only once.  (2 marks)

The roots of    are  and .

ii. If   , what is the multiplicity of the root     (2
What is the value of  ?  (2 marks) marks)

Copyright © 2004-21 The State of New South Wales (Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards NSW)
23.  Functions, EXT1 F2 SM-Bank 1

The equation    has 2 roots which are reciprocals of each other.

Find the value of .  (2 marks)

24.  Functions, EXT1′ F2 2007 HSC 3b

The zeros of    are    and  

Find a cubic polynomial with integer coefficients whose zeros are    and     (2 marks)
Worked Solutions 4.  Functions, EXT1′ F2 2017 HSC 5 MC

1.  Functions, EXT1′ F2 2015 HSC 4 MC

 
 
 

5.  Functions, EXT1′ F2 2018 HSC 3 MC

2.  Functions, EXT1 F2 2012 HSC 3 MC

3.  Functions, EXT1′ F2 2012 HSC 5 MC

 

 
 

 
6.  Functions, EXT1′ F2 2019 HSC 4 MC 7.  Functions, EXT1 F2 2020 HSC 5 MC

  8.  Functions, EXT1 F2 2013 HSC 4 MC

9.  Functions, EXT1 F2 2014 HSC 5 MC

 

 
10.  Functions, EXT1 F2 2016 HSC 10 MC 13.  Functions, EXT1 F2 2013 HSC 11a

 
14.  Functions, EXT1′ F2 2014 HSC 14a

 
 

11.  Functions, EXT1 F2 2019 HSC 7 MC

15.  Functions, EXT1′ F2 2017 HSC 13b

Mean mark 51%.

 
 

12.  Functions, EXT1′ F2 2016 HSC 2 MC

 
 

 
16.  Functions, EXT1′ F2 2018 HSC 11b 17.  Functions, EXT1 F2 2008 HSC 2c

 
 

MARKER'S COMMENT: Many
students displayed
significant inefficiencies in solving
simultaneous equations.

 
18.  Functions, EXT1′ F2 2017 HSC 12d 19.  Functions, EXT1 F2 SM-Bank 2

i.   i.   

   
   
ii.   
 
 
iii.   

   

ii.  

   

   
 

 
20.  Functions, EXT1′ F2 2013 HSC 15b 21.  Functions, EXT1 F2 2019 HSC 14b

i.  
 
 
 

  

`
 

 
 
 

ii. 

 
22.  Functions, EXT1 F2 2021 HSC 11h
 

 
23.  Functions, EXT1 F2 SM-Bank 1 24.  Functions, EXT1′ F2 2007 HSC 3b

COMMENT: Substituting 
  into the equation
solves this question efficiently.
 

   
   

 
 

 
25.  Functions, EXT1′ F2 2009 HSC 3c 27.  Functions, EXT1 F2 2006 HSC 4a

i. 

 
 

   

  ii. 

 
26.  Functions, EXT1 F2 SM-Bank 5
i.   

 
ii.   

iii.   

 
 
28.  Functions, EXT1′ F2 2016 HSC 13d
i.     

ii.  

 
 

 
♦♦ Mean mark 32%.

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