CIE IGCSE ADDITIONAL MATHEMATICS

(0606)

TOPICAL PRACTICE QUESTIONS

TOPIC 5:
FACTORS OF
POLYNOMIALS

"You will never always be motivated,

Compiled from: so you must learn to be disciplined."
Paper 2
Variants 1, 2 and 3
2016- 2020
Source: 0606/21/M/J/18 - Question No. 4 Page 1 of 14

1 Do not use a calculator in this question.

It is given that x + 4 is a factor of p ^xh = 2x 3 + 3x 2 + ax - 12 . When p ^xh is divided by x - 1 the

remainder is b.

(i) Show that a =- 23 and find the value of the constant b. [2]

(ii) Factorise p ^xh completely and hence state all the solutions of p ^xh = 0 . [4]

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Source: 0606/21/M/J/20 - Question No. 3 Page 2 of 14

2 DO NOT USE A CALCULATOR IN THIS QUESTION.

p (x) = 15x 3 + 22x 2 - 15x + 2

(a) Find the remainder when p(x) is divided by x + 1. [2]

(b) (i) Show that x + 2 is a factor of p(x) . [1]

(ii) Write p(x) as a product of linear factors. [3]

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Source: 0606/21/O/N/19 - Question No. 7 Page 3 of 14

3 (a) (i) Use the factor theorem to show that 2x - 1 is a factor of p (x) , where p (x) = 4x 3 + 9x - 5 .
[1]

(ii) Write p (x) as a product of linear and quadratic factors. [2]

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Source: 0606/21/O/N/20 - Question No. 7 Page 4 of 14

4 DO NOT USE A CALCULATOR IN THIS QUESTION.

p (x) = 2x 3 - 3x 2 - 23x + 12

(a) Find the value of p b l.

1
[1]
2

(b) Write p (x) as the product of three linear factors and hence solve p (x) = 0 . [5]

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Source: 0606/22/M/J/16 - Question No. 4 Page 5 of 14

5   Do not use a calculator in this question. 

  The polynomial p (x) = 2x 3 - 3x 2 + qx + 56 has a factor x – 2.

  (i)  Show that q = −30. [1]

  (ii)  Factorise p (x) completely and hence state all the solutions of p (x) = 0 . [4]

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Source: 0606/22/M/J/17 - Question No. 3 Page 6 of 14

6 Without using a calculator, factorise the expression 10x 3 - 21x 2 + 4 . [5]

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Source: 0606/22/M/J/18 - Question No. 3 Page 7 of 14

7 It is given that x + 3 is a factor of the polynomial p (x) = 2x 3 + ax 2 - 24x + b . The remainder when
p (x) is divided by x − 2 is −15. Find the remainder when p (x) is divided by x + 1. [6]

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Source: 0606/22/M/J/19 - Question No. 3 Page 8 of 14

8 (i) Given that x - 2 is a factor of ax 3 - 12x 2 + 5x + 6 , use the factor theorem to show that a = 4 . [2]

(ii) Showing all your working, factorise 4x 3 - 12x 2 + 5x + 6 and hence solve 4x 3 - 12x 2 + 5x + 6 = 0 .
[4]

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Source: 0606/22/M/J/20 - Question No. 4 Page 9 of 14

1
9 The three roots of p (x) = 0 , where p(x) = 2x 3 + ax 2 + bx + c
are x = , x = n and x =- n, where
2
a, b, c and n are integers. The y-intercept of the graph of y = p(x) is 4. Find p(x), simplifying your
coefficients. [5]

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Source: 0606/22/O/N/19 - Question No. 7 Page 10 of 14

10 (a) The cubic equation x 3 + ax 2 + bx - 40 = 0 has three positive integer roots. Two of the roots are 2
and 4. Find the other root and the value of each of the integers a and b. [4]

(b) Do not use a calculator in this question.

Solve the equation x 3 - 5x 2 - 46x - 40 = 0 given that it has three integer roots, only one of which is
positive. [4]

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Source: 0606/23/M/J/18 - Question No. 4 Page 11 of 14

11 Do not use a calculator in this question.

It is given that x + 4 is a factor of p ^xh = 2x 3 + 3x 2 + ax - 12 . When p ^xh is divided by x - 1 the

remainder is b.

(i) Show that a =- 23 and find the value of the constant b. [2]

(ii) Factorise p ^xh completely and hence state all the solutions of p ^xh = 0 . [4]

© UCLES 2018 Compilation: www.mystudycompass.com

Source: 0606/23/O/N/16 - Question No. 4 Page 12 of 14

12 The cubic given by p (x) = x 3 + ax 2 + bx - 24 is divisible by x - 2 . When p (x) is divided by x - 1

the remainder is - 20 .

(i) Form a pair of equations in a and b and solve them to find the value of a and of b. [4]

(ii) Factorise p (x) completely and hence solve p (x) = 0 . [4]

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Source: 0606/23/O/N/17 - Question No. 11 Page 13 of 14

13 The cubic equation x 3 + ax 2 + bx − 36 = 0 has a repeated positive integer root.

(i) If the repeated root is x = 3 find the other positive root and the value of a and of b. [4]

(ii) There are other possible values of a and b for which the cubic equation has a repeated positive
integer root. In each case state all three integer roots of the equation. [4]

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Source: 0606/23/O/N/19 - Question No. 8 Page 14 of 14

14 The roots of the equation x 3 + ax 2 + bx + 24 = 0 are 2, 3 and p, where p is an integer.

(i) Find the value of p. [1]

(ii) Show that a =-1 and find the value of b. [4]

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