Topic 4: Cubic polynomials Test A Name: _________________________

Short answer — technology-free

1 If P( x) = 2 x3 − 7 x 2 − x + 9 , evaluate P ( −1) . P( x) = 2 x 3 − 7 x 2 − x + 9 1
P(−1) = 2(−1)3 − 7(−1) 2 − (−1) + 9
= −2 − 7 + 1 + 9
=1

2 If P( x) = x ( x 2 + 3) and Q( x) = 11 − 5 x 2 + 3x3 , P( x) − 2Q( x) 2

express P( x) − 2Q( x) in descending powers = x ( x 2 + 3) − 2 (11 − 5 x 2 − 3 x3 )
of x . = x3 + 3x − 22 + 10 x 2 + 6 x3
= −7 x3 + 10 x 2 + 3 x − 22

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3 Consider P( x) = x3 − 2 x 2 − 5 x + 6 . P( x) = x 3 − 2 x 2 − 5 x + 6 1
a Show that ( x − 1) is a factor. a P(1) = 1 − 2 − 5 + 6 = 0
b Hence, express x3 − 2 x 2 − 5 x + 6 as the  ( x − 1) is a factor.
product of its linear factors. b By inspection, 2
x3 − 2 x 2 − 5 x + 6 = ( x − 1) ( x 2 − x − 6 )
= ( x − 1)( x − 3)( x + 2)

4 a State the coordinates of the stationary point of y = 2 x3 − 2

inflection on the graph of y = 2 x3 − 2 . a Stationary point of inflection at (0, −2) . 1
b Sketch the graph of y = 2 x3 − 2 . b x-intercept: let y = 0 2
c Hence, or otherwise, obtain the values of x 2 x3 − 2 = 0
for which 2 x3 − 2  0 . x3 = 1
x =1

c 2 x3 − 2  0 for x  1

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5 Solve the equation −12 x3 + 50 x 2 − 48 x = 0 . −12 x3 + 50 x 2 − 48 x = 0 3
−2 x ( 6 x 2 − 25 x + 24 ) = 0
−2 x(2 x − 3)(3x − 8) = 0
3 8
 x = 0, x = , x =
2 3

6 Determine the equation of the cubic graph shown The graph cuts the x-axis at x = 0 and 3
in the diagram. touches it at x = 10 .
The equation is of the form y = ax( x − 10)2 .
Substitute the point (8, −128) .
−128 = a (8)(−2) 2
32a = −128
a = −4
The equation is y = −4 x( x − 10)2 .

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Topic 4: Cubic polynomials Test A Name: _________________________
Multiple choice

1 Select the polynomial from the following E 5 The values of x which are the roots of the D
expressions. cubic equation x3 − 9 x 2 + 9 x = 81 are:
2
A 2 x3 − 7 x 2 + − 3 A x = 9 , x = 3
x B x = 9
B 9x + x + 3 9x +1
3
93 5
C x= ,x =0
3x 4 2
C −
4 3x D x = 9 only
D 2 x 5 + 8 x 4 − 3x − 4 E x = 0, x = 9
3 6
E 4 − 9x + x 6 The solution set to the inequation C
2 {x : ( x + 4)( x + 1)( x − 6)  0} is:
2 Select the incorrect statement about the C A {x : x  −1}  {x : x  6}
polynomial P( x) = ( 2 x3 − 1)( 3x 2 + 5 x − 9 ) . B {x : −4  x  6} \{−1}
C {x : x  −4}  {x : −1  x  6}
A Its leading coefficient is 6.
B In expanded form, the polynomial has D {x : −4  x  −1}  {x : x  6}
6 terms. E {x : x = −4, −1, 6}
C Its degree is 6.
D P (0) = 9 7 The coordinates of the point of inflection of D
E P(−1) = 33 the graph with equation y = 8 + 4(7 − 2 x)3
are:
3 When P( x) = x3 + 3x 2 − x − 5 is divided by B A (−7,8)
x + 2 , the remainder is: B (8,7)
A 13 C (8, 28)
B 1 D (3.5,8)
C –2 E (−3.5,8)
D –3
E –5
8 Select the correct statement about the graph E
4 If (2 x − 1) is a factor of A of a cubic polynomial.
A The graph always has at least one
P( x) = 8x − 8x + kx + 9 , then k is equal
3 2
stationary point of inflection.
to: B The graph always has two turning
A –16 points.
B –9 C The graph always has three
C –7 x-intercepts.
1 D The graph has the long-term behaviour
D that as x →  , y →  .
2
E 12 E The graph always has at least one
x-intercept.

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9 Which of the following could be the graph A
of y = x3 + 2 x 2 − 8x ?
A

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 P( x) = − x3 + 2ax + a is a cubic polynomial
10 A B
and a is a real constant. For what values of
a does P(2a) = a ?
A a = 0 or a = 2
1
B a = 0 or a =
2
C a = 0 or a =  2
1
D a = 0 or a = −
2
E a = 0 or a = −2

Topic 4: Cubic polynomials Test A Name: _________________________

Extended response

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1 Determine the values of a, b and c so that Expand and group like terms together. 4
ax + (2 x + b) + 3( x + 2c) + a + b − c
3 2
ax3 + 4 x 2 + x(4b + 3) + ( b 2 + 5c + a + b )
 5 x3 + 4 x 2 + 11x − 14. = 5 x3 + 4 x 2 + 11x − 14
Equate coefficients of like terms.
x3 : a =5
x: 4b + 3 = 11
b = 2
Constants: b + 5c + a + b = −14
2

4 + 5c + 5 + 2 = −14
5c = −25
 c = −5
Answer: a = 5, b = 2, c = −5

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2 Consider the polynomial
P( x) = 10 x − 39 x − 139 x + 420 .
3 2
a The polynomial has three zeros, two of
7 12
which are x = − and x = .
2 5
Use these zeros to write down two linear
factors of P ( x ) which have integer
coefficients.
b Hence obtain the third linear factor of P ( x )
and express P ( x ) in factored form.
c The graph of
y = 0.1(10 x − 39 x − 139 x + 420 ) is shown
3 2
in the diagram.
a Using the rational root theorem, the 2
factors are (2 x + 7) and (5 x − 12) .
b The quadratic factor is 3
(2 x + 7)(5x − 12) = 10 x 2 + 11x − 84 .
Hence,
10 x3 − 39 x 2 − 139 x + 420
( )
= 10 x 2 + 11x − 84 (ax + b)
( )
= 10 x 2 + 11x − 84 ( x − 5)
The third factor is ( x − 5) and
P( x) = (2 x + 7)(5 x − 12)( x − 5) .
c y = 0.1(2 x + 7)(5 x − 12)( x − 5) 2
 7 
The x intercepts are A  − , 0  , B
 2 
 12 
 , 0  and C ( 5,0) . The y-intercept is D
 5 
( 0, 42) .

d 10 x3 − 39 x 2 + 420  139 x 1
 10 x3 − 39 x 2 − 139 x + 420  0
 0.1(10 x3 − 39 x 2 − 139 x + 420 )  0
State the coordinates of the points A, B, C
and D. From the graph, the solution set is
d Find  x :10 x3 − 39 x 2 + 420  139 x .  7 12 
 x : −  x    {x : x  5} .
 2 5

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3 A designer lounge chaise shown in a recent a Let P( x) = 4 − 6 x + 2 x 2 + 3x3 . 3
exhibition in Milan is cut from a block of wood P(−2) = 4 + 12 + 8 − 24 = 0
in such a way that its upper leather surface is
modelled by the section of the curve  ( x + 2) is a factor.
4 − 6 x + 2 x 2 + 3x3 = 3x3 + 2 x 2 − 6 x + 4
y = ( 4 − 6 x + 2 x + 3x ) for a  x  b . The
1 2 3

24 = ( x + 2) ( 3x 2 − 4 x + 2 )
chair is shown in the diagram.
The x-intercepts occur when
( x + 2) ( 3 x 2 − 4 x + 2 ) = 0 .
 x = 2 or 3 x − 2 x + 4 = 0
2

The vertical height of the chair above the floor
level is y metres, and x is the horizontal
distance covered.
The discriminant of 3x 2 − 4 x + 2 = 0 is
 = (−4)2 − 4(3)(2) = −8 . Since   0 ,
there are no further x-intercepts.
Hence, there is exactly one x-intercept
( −2, 0) .
b When x = a , y = 0 1

a Show that y = 4 − 6 x + 2 x 2 + 3x3 has 1

24
( 4 − 6a + 2a 2 + 3a 3 ) = 0
exactly one x-intercept.
b At the position x = a the chair reaches the 4 − 6a + 2a 2 + 3a3 = 0
floor. What is the value of a ? From part a, a = −2
c The greatest height of the chair above the
floor is one metre at the position x = b . c When x = b , y = 1 2
What is the value of b ? 1
24
( 4 − 6b + 2b 2 + 3b3 ) = 1

4 − 6b + 2b 2 + 3b3 = 24
b = 2 (using CAS technology)

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4 a Sketch the graph of y = 2(1 − x)3 + 4 a y = 2(1 − x)3 + 4 3
labelling any intercepts with the coordinate Stationary point of inflection is (1, 4) .
axes with their exact coordinates. y-intercept: (0,6)
b Show that the x-coordinates of the points of
intersection of the line y = 6 − 6 x and the x-intercept when 2(1 − x)3 + 4 = 0
(1 − x)3 = −2
curve y = 2(1 − x)3 + 4 must satisfy the
equation 3 x 2 − x3 = 0 . 1− x = − 3 2
c Hence obtain the coordinates of the points x = 1+ 3 2
of intersection.
d At which point is the line y = 6 − 6 x a (
 1 + 3 2, 0 )
tangent to the graph of y = 2(1 − x)3 + 4 ?
Explain the reason for your answer.

b At the intersection, 6 − 6 x = 2(1 − x)3 + 4 2

0 = (1 − x)3 + 3 x − 1
1 − 3x + 3x 2 − x3 + 3x − 1 = 0
3x 2 − x3 = 0

c 3x 2 − x3 = 0 2

x 2 (3 − x) = 0
 x = 0 or x = 3
The points of intersection are (0,6) and
(3, −12) .

d The line is a tangent to the cubic graph at 1

the point (0,6) .
In the equation x 2 (3 − x) = 0 , the factor
x 2 has multiplicity 2 while the factor
(3 − x) has multiplicity 1. The line
touches the cubic graph at (0,6) and cuts
it at (3, −12) .

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