ELITE MEDICS MATHEMATICS: YEAR 12 OCTOBER

Factor and Remainder Theorem

Polynomials - Past Edexcel Exam Questions

1. (Question 3 - C2 May 2018)

f (x) = 24x3 + Ax2 − 3x + B

where A and B are constants.
When f (x) is divided by (2x − 1) the remainder is 30.

(a) Show that A + 4B = 114. [2]

Given also that (x + 1) is a factor of f (x)

(b) find another equation in A and B. [2]
(c) Find the value of A and the value of B. [2]
(d) Hence find a quadratic factor of f (x). [2]

2. (Question 6 - C2 May 2017)

f (x) = −6x3 − 7x2 + 40x + 21

(a) Use factor theorem to show that (x + 3) is a factor of f (x). [2]

(b) Factorise f (x) completely. [4]
(c) Hence solve the equation

6 23y + 7 22y = 40 (2y ) + 21

giving your answer to 2 decimal places. [3]

3. (Question 4 - C2 May 2016)

f (x) = 6x3 + 13x2 − 4

(a) Use the remainder theorem to find the remainder when f (x) is divided
by (2x + 3). [2]

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 Factor and Remainder Theorem

(b) Use the factor theorem to show that (x + 2) is a factor of f (x). [2]
(c) Factorise f (x) completely. [4]

4. (Question 3 - C2 May 2015)

f (x) = 6x3 + 3x2 + Ax + B, where A and B are constants.

Given that when f (x) is divided by (x + 1) the remainder is 45,

(a) show that B − A = 48. [2]

Given also that (2x + 1) is a factor of f (x),

(b) find the value of A and the value of B. [4]
(c) Factorise f (x) fully. [3]

5. (Question 2 - C2 May 2014)

f (x) = 2x3 − 7x2 + 4x + 4

(a) Use the factor theorem to show that (x − 2) is a factor of f (x). [2]
(b) Factorise f (x) completely. [4]

6. (Question 3 - C2 May 2013)

f (x) = 2x3 − 5x2 + ax + 18

where a is a constant.
Given that (x − 3) is a factor of f (x),

(a) show that a = −9. [2]

(b) factorise f (x) completely. [4]

Given that
g(y) = 2 33y − 5 32y − 9 (3y ) + 18

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 Factor and Remainder Theorem

(c) find the values of y that satisfy g(y) = 0, giving your answers to 2 decimal places
where appropriate. [3]

7. (Question 2 - C2 Jan 2013)

f (x) = ax3 + bx2 − 4x − 3, where a and b are constants.
Given that (x − 1) is a factor of f (x),

(a) show that

a+b=7
[2]

Given also that, when f (x) is divided by (x + 2), the remainder is 9.

(b) find the value of a and the value of b, showing each step of your working. [4]

8. (Question 4 - C2 May 2012)

f (x) = 2x3 − 7x2 − 10x + 24

(a) Use the factor theorem to show that (x + 2) is a factor of f (x). [2]
(b) Factorise f (x) completely. [4]

9. (Question 5 - C2 Jan 2012)

f (x) = x3 + ax2 + bx + 3, where a and b are constants.

Given that when f (x) is divided by (x + 2) the remainder is 7,

(a) show that 2a − b = 6. [2]

Given also that when f (x) is divided by (x − 1) the remainder is 4,

(b) find the value of a and the value of b. [4]

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 Factor and Remainder Theorem

10. (Question 1 - C2 May 2011)

f (x) = 2x3 − 7x2 − 5x + 4

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

(b) Use the factor theorem to show that (x + 1) is a factor of f (x). [2]
(c) Factorise f (x) completely. [4]

11. (Question 1 - C2 Jan 2011)

f (x) = x4 + x3 + 2x2 + ax + b,
where a and b are constants.
When f (x) is divided by (x − 1) the remainder is 7.

(a) Show that a + b = 3. [2]

When f (x) is divided by (x + 2) the remainder is −8.

(b) Find the value of a and the value of b. [5]

12. (Question 2 - C2 Jun 2010)

f (x) = 3x3 − 5x2 − 58x + 40

(a) Find the remainder when f (x) is divided by (x − 3). [2]

Given that (x − 5) is a factor of f (x),

(b) find all the solutions of f (x) = 0. [5]

13. (Question 3 - C2 Jan 2010)

f (x) = 2x3 + ax2 + bx − 6,

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 Factor and Remainder Theorem

where a and b are constants.

When f (x) is divided by (2x − 1) the remainder is −5.
When f (x) is divided by (x + 2) there is no remainder.

(a) Find the value of a and the value of b. [6]

(b) Factorise f (x) completely. [3]

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 Binomial Expansion

Binomial Expansion - Past Edexcel Exam Questions

1. (Question 2 - C2 May 2018)

(a) Find the first 4 terms, in ascending powers of x, of the binomial expansion of

(2 + kx)7

where k is a non-zero constant. Give each term in its simplest form. [4]

Given that the coefficient of x3 in this expansion is 1890,

(b) find the value of k. [3]

2. (Question 1 - C2 May 2017)

Find the first 4 terms, in ascending powers of x, of the binomial expansion of
 5
1
3− x
3

giving each term in its simplest form. [4]

3. (Question 5 - C2 May 2016)

(a) Find the first 3 terms, in ascending powers of x, of the binomial expansion of

(2 − 9x)4

giving each term in its simplest form. [4]

f (x) = (1 + kx)(2 − 9x)4 , where k is a constant

The expansion, in ascending powers of x, of f (x) up to and including the term in

x2 is
A − 232x + Bx2
where A and B are constants.

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 Binomial Expansion

(b) Write down the value of A. [1]

(c) Find the value of k. [2]
(d) Hence find the value of B. [2]

4. (Question 1 - C2 May 2015)

Find the first 3 terms, in ascending powers of x, of the binomial expansion of
 x 10
2−
4
giving each term in its simplest form. [4]

5. (Question 3 - C2 May 2014)

(a) Find the first 3 terms, in ascending powers of x, of the binomial expansion of

(2 − 3x)6

giving each term in its simplest form. [4]

(b) Hence, or otherwise, find the first 3 terms, in ascending powers of x, of the ex-
pansion of  x
1+ (2 − 3x)6
2
[3]

6. (Question 2 - C2 May 2013)

(a) Use the binomial theorem to find all the terms of the expansion of

(2 + 3x)4

Give each term in its simplest form. [4]

(b) Write down the expansion of
(2 − 3x)4
in ascending powers of x, giving each term in its simplest form. [1]

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 Binomial Expansion

7. (Question 1 - C2 Jan 2013)

Find the first 3 terms, in ascending powers of x, in the binomial expansion of

(2 − 5x)6

Give each term in its simplest form. [4]

8. (Question 1 - C2 May 2012)

Find the first 3 terms, in ascending powers of x, of the binomial expansion of

(2 − 3x)5

giving each term in its simplest form. [4]

9. (Question 3 - C2 Jan 2012)

(a) Find the first 4 terms of the binomial expansion, in ascending powers of x, of
 x 8
1+
4
giving each term in its simplest form. [4]
(b) Use your expansion to estimate the value of (1.025)8 , giving your answer to 4
decimal places. [3]

10. (Question 2 - C2 May 2011)

(a) Find the first 3 terms, in ascending powers of x, of the binomial expansion of

(3 + bx)5

where b is a non-zero constant. Give each term in its simplest form. [4]

Given that, in this expansion, the coefficient of x2 is twice the coefficient of x,

(b) find the value of b. [2]

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 Binomial Expansion

11. (Question 5 - C2 Jan 2011)

 
40 40!
Given that = 4!b!
,
4

(a) write down the value of b. [1]

In the binomial expansion of (1 + x)40 , the coefficients of x4 and x5 are p and q

respectively.
(b) Find the value of pq . [3]

12. (Question 4 - C2 June 2010)

(a) Find the first 4 terms, in ascending powers of x, of the binomial expansion of

(1 + ax)7

where a is a constant. Give each term in its simplest form. [4]

Given that the coefficient of x2 in this expansion is 525,

(b) find the possible values of a. [2]

13. (Question 1 - C2 Jan 2010)

Find the first 3 terms, in ascending powers of x, of the binomial expansion of

(3 − x)6

and simplify each term. [4]

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 AS-Level Quadratics Questions

Quadratics - Past Edexcel Exam Questions

1. (Question 3 - May 2018)

f (x) = x2 − 10x + 23

(a) Express f (x) in the form (x + a)2 + b where a and b are constants to be found. [2]
(b) Hence, or otherwise, find the exact solutions to the equation [2]

x2 − 10x + 23 = 0.

(c) Use your answer to part (b) to find the larger solution to the equation

y − 10y 0.5 + 23 = 0.
√
Write your solution in the form p + q r, where p, q and r are integers. [2]

2. (Question 5 - May 2017)

f (x) = x2 − 8x + 19

(a) Express f (x) in the form (x + a)2 + b where a and b are constants. [2]

The curve C with equation y = f (x) crosses the y-axis at the point P and has a
minimum point at the point Q.
(b) Sketch the graph of C showing the coordinates of point P and the coordinates of
point Q. [3]
(c) Find the distance P Q, writing your answer as a simplified surd. [3]

3. (Question 11 - May 2014)

Given that
f (x) = 2x2 + 8x + 3

(a) find the value of the discriminant of f (x). [2]

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 AS-Level Quadratics Questions

(b) Express f (x) in the form p(x + q)2 + r, where p, q and r are integers to be
found. [3]
The line y = 4x + c, where c is a constant, is a tangent to the curve with equation
y = f (x).
(c) Calculate the value of c. [5]

4. (Question 10 - Jan 2013)

4x2 + 8x + 3 ≡ a(x + b)2 + c

(a) Find the values of the constants a, b and c. [3]

(b) Sketch the curve with equation y = 4x2 + 8x + 3, showing clearly the coordinates
of any points where the curve crosses the coordinate axes. [4]

5. (Question 8 - May 2012)

4x − 5 − x2 = q − (x + p)2 ,

where p and q are integers.

(a) Find the value of p and the value of q. [3]

(b) Calculate the discriminant of 4x − 5 − x2 . [2]
(c) Sketch the curve with equation y = 4x − 5 − x2 , showing clearly the coordinates
of any points where the curve crosses the coordinate axes. [3]

6. (Question 5 - Jan 2012)

The curve C has equation y = x(5 − x) and the line L has equation 2y = 5x + 4.

(a) Use algebra to show that C and L do not intersect. [4]

(b) Sketch C and L on the same diagram, showing the coordinates of the points at
which C and L meet the axes. [4]

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 AS-Level Quadratics Questions

7. (Question 4 - May 2010)

(a) Show that x2 + 6x + 11 can be written as

(x + p)2 + q

where p and q are integers to be found. [2]

(b) Sketch the curve with equation y = x2 + 6x + 11, showing clearly any intersections
with the coordinate axes. [2]
(c) Find the value of the discriminant of x2 + 6x + 11. [2]

8. (Question 10 - Jan 2010)

f (x) = x2 + 4kx + (3 + 11k), where k is a constant.

(a) Express f (x) in the form (x + p)2 + q, where p and q are constants to be found in
terms of k. [3]

Given that the equation f (x) = 0 has no real roots,

(b) find the set of possible values of k. [4]

Given that k = 1,
(c) sketch the graph of y = f (x), showing the coordinates of any point at which the
graph crosses a coordinate axis. [3]

9. (Question 3 - May 2006)

On separate diagrams, sketch the graphs of

(a) y = (x + 3)2 , [3]

(b) y = (x + 3)3 + k, where k is a positive constant. [2]

Show on each sketch the coordinates of each point at which the graph meets the axes.

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 AS-Level Quadratics Questions

10. (Question 10 - Jan 2006)

x2 + 2x + 3 ≡ (x + a)2 + b.

(a) Find the value of the constants a and b. [2]

(b) Sketch the graph of y = x2 + 2x + 3, indicating clearly the coordinates of any
intersections with the coordinate axes. [3]
(c) Find the value of the discriminant of x2 + 2x + 3. Explain how the sign of the
discriminant relates to your sketch in part (b). [2]

The equation x2 + kx + 3 = 0, where k is a constant, has no real roots.

(d) Find the set of possible values of k, giving your answer in surd form. [4]

11. (Question 3 - May 2005)

x2 − 8x − 29 ≡ (x + a)2 + b,

where a and b are constants.

(a) Find the value of a and the value of b. [3]

(b) Hence, or otherwise, show that the roots of

x2 − 8x − 29 = 0
√
are c ± d 5, where c and d are integers to be found. [3]

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