Edexcel Roots of polynomials

Topic assessment

1. The quadratic equation 2 z 2 − 4 z + 5 = 0 has roots α and β.

Without solving the equation,
(a) write down the values of α + β and αβ, [2]
(b) find the quadratic equation with roots 3α – 1, 3β – 1, [3]
(c) find the cubic equation which has roots α, β and α + β. [3]

2. The equation z 3 + kz 2 − 4z −12 = 0 has roots α, β and γ.

(a) Write down the values of αβ + βγ + γα and of αβγ, and express k in terms
of α, β and γ. [3]
(b) For the case where γ = –α, solve the equation and find the value of k. [4]
(c) For the case k = 5, find a cubic equation with roots 2 – α, 2 – β, 2 – γ. [4]

3. The complex number 3 + 2i is a root of the equation 2 x3 + px 2 + 20 x + q = 0 ,

where p and q are real numbers.
(a) Write down the other complex root of the equation and explain why the
equation must have one real root. [2]
(b) Find the values of p and q. [5]


4. The cubic equation 2 z 3 + pz 2 + qz + r = 0 has roots ,  and k .
k
(a) Express p, q and r in terms of k and α. [3]
(b) Show that 2q 3 = p 3r . [3]
(c) Solve the equation for the case where p q 3. [4]

5. In this question you must show detailed reasoning.

The cubic equation 2 x3 + 3x2 − 8x + 3 = 0 has roots α, β and γ .
Without solving the equation, find the value of
1 1 1
(a) + + , [3]
  
(b)  2 +  2 +  2 . [3]

6. In this question you must show detailed reasoning.

One root of the quartic equation
3z 4 14 z3 48z 2 30 z 13 0
is the complex number 2 + 3i.
Show that, when plotted on an Argand diagram, the roots of the quartic equation form the
vertices of a trapezium and calculate the exact area of the trapezium. [8]

Total 50 marks

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Solutions to topic assessment

1. (a) 2 z 2 − 4 z + 5 = 0
b −4
 + =− =− =2
a 2
c 5
 = =
a 2
[2]
w +1
(b) Let w = 3z − 1, so z =
3
Substituting into quadratic equation:
2
 w + 1  w + 1
2  − 4  +5 = 0
 3   3 
2(w + 1)2 − 12(w + 1) + 45 = 0
2w 2 + 4w + 2 − 12w − 12 + 45 = 0
2w 2 − 8w + 35 = 0
[3]
(c) The original quadratic equation has roots  and .
The value of  +  = 2
The cubic equation is therefore (2 z 2 − 4 z + 5) ( z − 2 ) = 0
2 z 3 − 4 z 2 + 5z − 4 z 2 + 8 z − 10 = 0
2 z 3 − 8 z 2 + 13z − 10 = 0
[3]

2. (a) z 3 + kz 2 − 4 z − 12 = 0
c
 +  +  = = −4
a
d
 = − = 12
a
b
 +  +  = − = −k
a
k = − −  − 
[3]
(b) If  = − :  −  −  = −4
2

2 = 4
 = 2

− 2  = 12
−4  = 12
 = −3

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The roots are 2, -2 and -3

k = −2 + 2 + 3 = 3
[4]
(c) z + 5z − 4 z − 12 = 0
3 2

w = 2 − z so z = 2 − w
Substituting into cubic equation:
(2 − w ) + 5 ( 2 − w ) − 4 ( 2 − w ) − 12 = 0
3 2

8 − 12w + 6w 2 − w 3 + 20 − 20w + 5w 2 − 8 + 4w − 12 = 0
w 3 − 11w 2 + 28w − 8 = 0
[4]

3. (a) 3 + 2i is a root, so 3 – 2i is also a root.

Complex roots for equations with real coefficients come in conjugate pairs,
so it is
not possible to have an odd number of complex roots. Any cubic equation
has 3 roots and we know this equation has 2 complex roots. Hence the cubic
equation has 2 complex roots and 1 real root.
[2]
(b) First calculate the real root.
c
 = a
20
(3 + 2i) + (3 − 2i) + (3 + 2i)(3 − 2i) =
2
6 + 13 = 10
6 = −3
 = − 21
The other roots are 3 + 2i, 3 – 2i and − 21 .

b
 = − a
p
3 + 2i + 3 − 2i − 21 = −
2
p
5.5 = −
2
p = −11
d
 = −
a
q
− 21 (3 + 2i)(3 − 2i) = −
2
q = 13 [5]

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4. (a) 2z 3 + pz 2 + qz + r = 0

b
 = − a
 p
+  + k = −
k 2
1 
p = −2  + 1 + k 
k 

c
 = a
    q
    + (  k ) +  k   =
k   k 2
1 
q = 2 2  + k + 1
k 

d
 = −
a
 r
   k = −
k 2
r = −2 3
[3]
p −2
(b) Dividing the first two equations: =
q 2 2
q
 =−
p
3
 q
Substituting into third equation: r = −2  − 
 p
p r = 2q3
3

[3]
(c) p = q = −3  r = 2
r = −2 3  2 = −2 3   = −1
1 
p = −2  + 1 + k 
k 
1 
−3 = 2  + 1 + k 
k 
−3k = 2 + 2k + 2k 2
2k 2 + 5k + 2 = 0
(2k + 1)(k + 2) = 0
k = − 21 or − 2

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The roots are 1

2
, -1 and 2.
[4]
5. (a) 2 x + 3x − 8 x + 3 = 0
3 2

1 1 1  +  + 
+ + =
   
 +  +  =  
c
=
a
−8
=
2
= −4
d
 = −
a
3
=−
2
1 1 1 
So + + =
   
−4
=
− 32
8
=
3
[3]
(b) 2 x + 3x − 8 x + 3 = 0
3 2

( +  +  )2 =  2 +  2 +  2 + 2 + 2 + 2

 2 +  2 +  2 = ( +  +  )2 − 2( +  +  )
= (   ) − 2 
2

2
 b c
= −  − 2
 a a
2
 3 ( −8)
= −  − 2
 2 2
41
=
4
[3]

6. 2 + 3i is a root so 2 − 3i is also a root

For the quadratic with roots  = 2 + 3i and  = 2 − 3i ,
 +  = 4 and  = 13

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so the quadratic factor is z 2 − 4 z + 13

3z 4 − 14 z 3 + 48 z 2 − 30 z + 13 = 0
( z 2 − 4 z + 13)(3z 2 − 2 z + 1) = 0
The roots of 3z 2 − 2 z + 1 = 0 are
2  4 − 12 1  2i
z= =
6 3
Complex roots come in conjugate pairs which are reflections of each other in the
real axis on an Argand diagram. So the four roots form a quadrilateral with one
pair of parallel sides. Hence the roots form a trapezium with the real axis as a line
of symmetry.
1 2 1 2
The roots are + i, − i, 2+3i, 2-3i
3 3 3 3

1  1  2 2  45 + 5 2
The area of the trapezium is 2 −  6 + = square units.
2  3   3  9

[8]

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