Solving Equations on Graphs Revision

Finding x /y or solving an equation

1. The given graph has the equation y = − x 2 + 6x + 2
(a) Using the graph, estimate the solution to the
equation 6x − 5 = x 2 to 1 decimal place.
(b) Using the graph, estimate the solution to the
equation x 2 − 6x − 2 = − 4 to 1 decimal place.
(c) Using the graph, estimate the roots of the equation
−2x 2 + 12x − 18 = 0 to 1 decimal place.

2. The given curve has the equation y = x 3 − 2x 2 − x + 2

(a) Using the graph, estimate the solution to the equation x 3 − 2x 2 − x + 1 = 0
(b) Using the graph, and drawing a suitable line, estimate the solution to the equation
0 = x 3 − 2x 2 + 2
3. The curves of equations for figure (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv) are y = x 2 − 2x − 2, y = x 2 − 2x − 1,
y = x 2 − x + 1, and y = x 2 respectively.
Using the graph of each figure, solve the equation x 2 − 2x − 2 = 0

(i) y = x 2 − 2x − 2 (ii) y = x 2 − 2x − 1

(iii) y = x2 − x + 1 (iv) y = x 2
4. The graph for the equation y = x 2 − 3x + 2 is given below. By drawing a suitable line, explain why the
equation x 2 − 3x + 2 = − 1 have no solution in the interval −2 ⩽ x ⩽ 5

5. The graph for the equation y = x 2 − 3x + 4 is given below. By drawing a suitable line, explain why the
1
equation x 2 − 3x + 4 = − x + 2 has no solution in the interval −2 ⩽ x ⩽ 5
2
Finding Range/Interval
6. For the following graphs, use your curve to estimate the range of values of x, to one decimal, for which
the given inequality holds.

(i) y = −x 2 + 3x + 1, y > 2 (ii) y = x 2 − 2x − 1, y > 2

(iii) y = x 3 − 2x 2 − x + 2, y ⩾ 1
7. The curve with the equation y = x 2 − 5x + 6 is given below. Using the graph, find the range of values
of x, to 2 decimal places, for the inequality x 2 − 5x + 2 < 0

8. The curve with the equation y = − x 2 + 3x + 1 is given below, Using the graph, and drawing a suitable
line, find the range of values of x for the inequality −x 2 + 3x + 1 > x + 1
9. The curve with the equation y = x 2 − 5x + 1 is given below. Using the graph, find an estimate for the
range of values of x, to 1 decimal place, for the inequality x 2 − 4x + 2 > 0

10. The curve with the equation y = x 3 − 4x 2 − x + 4 is given below in the figure below. Using the graph,
estimate the range of values of x, for 1 decimal place, for the inequality x 3 − 4x 2 − 3x + 12 ⩾ 0
Tangents and Gradients
11. For the following graphs, draw a tangent or tangents at the given value of x or y.

(a) y = x 2 − 3x + 2
x =2

x2 1 1
(b) y = + −
4 x 2
x =2
(c) y = x 2 − 3x + 2
y = 0 (Read carefully: it’s y, not x)

12. The displacement of a particle traveling along a straight line is given as s = 3t 2 − 20t + 35, where s is
the displacement in metres, and t is the time in seconds.
(a) By drawing a suitable tangent line, find the speed the particle, to 1 decimal place, at t = 1.5.
(b) Estimate, to 1 decimal place, the time at which the speed of the particle is zero.
Minimum and Maximum Points
13. For the following grid, find the turning point or points of the curve and state whether points are
minimum or maximum.

(a) y = 2x 2 + 3x − 2 (b) y = − x 2 + 4x + 3

(c) y = x 3 − 2x 2 − 3x + 2
14. The area of a polygon is given as A = l 2 − 3l + 5, where l is the length of one of its side.
The curve for A = l 2 − 3l + 5 is given below.
Find the value of l for which the area A is smallest.

Sample Old Questions

16
1. y = x 2 − 2x +
x
(a) Complete the table giving the values to one decimal place where necessary.

(3)
16
(b) On the grid opposite, draw the graph of y = x 2 − 2x + for values of x from 0.5 to 6 (3)
x
(c) By drawing a suitable tangent to the curve, find an estimate, to one decimal place,
16
for the gradient of y = x 2 − 2x + at x = 4 (2)
x
(d) Using the same grid, draw the straight line with equation y = 20 − 4x (2)
16
(e) Show that x 2 − 2x + = 20 − 4x simplifies to x 3 + 2x 2 − 20x + 16 = 0 (2)
x
(f) Use your graphs to find estimates, to one decimal place, of two roots of the equation
x 3 + 2x 2 − 20x + 16 = 0 (2)
2. (x + 3) is a factor of 3x 3 + k x 2 − 27x + 36
where k is a constant
(a) Show that k = − 4 (2)
(b) Show that 3x 3 − 4x 2 − 27x + 36 = 0 can be written in the form
27 36
− 2 = px + q
x x
where p and q are integers, giving the value of p and the value of q. (3)
27 36
y= − 2
x x
27 36
(c) Complete the table of values for y = − 2
x x
Give your values of y to 1 decimal place where necessary.

(3)
(d) On the grid, plot the points from your complete table and join them to form a smooth curve. (3)
(e) For your value of p and your value of q found in part (b), draw on the same grid the straight
line with equation y = px + q (2)
(f) Hence find the three solutions of 3x 3 − 4x 2 − 27x + 36 = 0 (3)
 x3 1
3. y =− + 2x − 2
10 x
x3 1
(a) Complete the table of values for y = − + 2x − 2 giving your values of y to
10 x
1 decimal place.

(3)

x3 1
(b) On the grid, draw the graph of y = − + 2x − 2 for 0.5 ⩽ x ⩽ 5 (3)
10 x
(c) Use your graph to find an estimate of the maximum value of y, to 1 decimal place,
for values of x in 0.5 ⩽ x ⩽ 5 (1)
x3 1
(d) Use your graph to find the range of values of x, for which − + 2x − 2 > 0
10 x
in 0.5 ⩽ x ⩽ 5
Give your values to 1 decimal place. (2)