Add Maths

(O Level/IGCSE)

QUADRATICS

Past Paper Questions

1. Sketching a Quadratic Curve/Completing square
2. Discriminant applied to a quadratic curve to find the nature of roots
3. Quadratic Inequalities
4. Discriminant applied to a quadratic curve and a straight line
5. Disguised Quadratics
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1 The curve y = 2x 2 + k + 4 intersects the straight line y = (k + 4) x at two distinct points. Find the
possible values of k. [4]

2
y

-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 x

The diagram shows the graph of y = f (x) , where f (x) is a cubic polynomial.

(a) Find f (x) . [3]

(b) Write down the values of x such that f (x) 1 0 . [2]

© UCLES 2020 4037/12/O/N/20 [Turn over

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2 Find the values of k for which the line y = 1 - 2kx does not meet the curve y = 9x 2 - (3k + 1) x + 5.
[5]

© UCLES 2018 4037/12/M/J/18

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3 Find the set of values of k for which the equation kx 2 + 3x - 4 + k = 0 has no real roots. [4]

r
4 The graph of y = a cos (bx) + c has an amplitude of 3, a period of and passes through the point
4
c , m. Find the value of each of the constants a, b and c.
r 5
[4]
12 2

© UCLES 2017 4037/13/O/N/17

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1 The line y = kx - 5, where k is a positive constant, is a tangent to the curve y = x 2 + 4x at the point A.

(i) Find the exact value of k. [3]

(ii) Find the gradient of the normal to the curve at the point A, giving your answer in the form a + b 5 ,
where a and b are constants. [2]

© UCLES 2017 4037/11/M/J/17 [Turn over

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1 Given that the graph of y = (2k + 5) x 2 + kx + 1 does not meet the x-axis, find the possible values
of k. [4]

tan i + cot i
2 Show that = sec i . [4]
cosec i

© UCLES 2015 4037/12/M/J/15 [Turn over

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4 Find the set of values of k for which the line y = k ^4 x - 3h does not intersect the curve
y = 4x 2 + 8x - 8. [5]

© UCLES 2014 4037/11/M/J/14

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1 Thediagramshowsthegraphof y = a sin (bx) + c for0 G x G 2r ,wherea,bandcarepositive For

integers. Examiner’s
Use
y

4
3
2
1
O x
� 2�
–1
–2
–3

Statethevalueofa,ofbandofc. [3]

a= b= c=

2 Findthesetofvaluesofkforwhichthecurve y = (k + 1) x 2 - 3x + (k + 1) liesbelowthe
x-axis. [4]

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3 Find the values of the constant k for which (2k - 1) x 2 + 6x + k + 1 = 0 has real roots. [5]

© UCLES 2021 4037/22/M/J/21

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1 (a) Write the expression x 2 - 6x + 1 in the form (x + a) 2 + b , where a and b are constants. [2]

(b) Hence write down the coordinates of the minimum point on the curve y = x 2 - 6x + 1. [1]

2 Variables x and y are such that, when ln y is plotted against ln x, a straight line graph passing through
the points (6, 5) and (8, 9) is obtained. Show that y = e p x q where p and q are integers. [4]

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7 (a) Write the expression 4x 2 - 4x + 7 in the form p (x + q) 2 + r , where p, q and r are constants. [3]

1
(b) Hence find the greatest value of 2 and state the value of x at which this occurs. [2]
4x - 4x + 7

© UCLES 2021 4037/24/M/J/21

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1 Solve the inequality (x - 8) (x - 10) 2 35. [4]

4x+1 x 1
2 Find the value of x such that = 32 3 # 83 . [4]
2x-1

© UCLES 2020 4037/22/O/N/20 [Turn over

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3 Find the values of k for which the equation x 2 + (k + 9) x + 9 = 0 has two distinct real roots. [4]

4 It is given that y = ln (1 + sin x) for 0 1 x 1 r .

dy
(a) Find . [2]
dx

© UCLES 2020 4037/23/O/N/20

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3 Find the values of k for which the line y = x-3 intersects the curve y = k 2 x 2 + 5kx + 1 at two
distinct points. [6]

1
4 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]

© UCLES 2020 4037/22/M/J/20

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4 1
1 Variables x and y are such that, when y is plotted against , a straight line graph passing through the
x
points (0.5, 9) and (3, 34) is obtained. Find y as a function of x. [4]

2 (a) Write 9x 2 - 12x + 5 in the form p (x - q) 2 + r, where p, q and r are constants. [3]

(b) Hence write down the coordinates of the minimum point of the curve y = 9x 2 - 12x + 5. [1]

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4 (i) Given that y = 2x 2 - 4x - 7 , write y in the form a (x - b) 2 + c , where a, b and c are constants. [3]

(ii) Hence write down the minimum value of y and the value of x at which it occurs. [2]

(iii) Using your answer to part (i), solve the equation 2p - 4 p - 7 = 0 , giving your answer correct to
2 decimal places. [3]

© UCLES 2019 4037/23/O/N/19 [Turn over

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5x 2 - 15x + 1 in the form p `x + qj + r , where p, q and r are constants.

2
5 (i) Express [3]

(ii) Hence state the least value of x 2 - 3x + 0.2 and the value of x at which this occurs. [2]

© UCLES 2019 4037/22/M/J/19

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1 Find the values of x for which x(6x + 7) H 20. [3]

ln x
2 Two variables x and y are such that y= for x 2 0.
x3
dy 1 - 3 ln x
(i) Show that = . [3]
dx x4

(ii) Hence find the approximate change in y as x increases from e to e + h, where h is small. [2]

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1 Solve the inequality (x - 3) (x + 4) 2 x + 13. [3]

2


F C

There are 105 boys in a year group at a school. Some boys play football (F ) and some play cricket (C ).

• x boys play both football and cricket.

• The number of boys that play neither game is the same as the number of boys that play both.

• 40 boys play cricket.

• The number of boys that only play football is twice the number of boys that only play cricket.

Complete the Venn diagram and find the value of x. [5]

© UCLES 2018 4037/22/O/N/18 [Turn over

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3 (i) Write 8 + 7x - x 2 in the form a - (x - b) 2 , where a and b are constants. [3]

(ii) Hence state the maximum value of 8 + 7x - x 2 and the value of x at which it occurs. [2]

(iii) Using your answer to part (i), or otherwise, solve the equation 8 + 7z 2 - z 4 = 0 . [3]

© UCLES 2018 4037/23/O/N/18

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9 Given that f (x) = 3x 2 + 12x + 2 ,

(i) find values of a, b and c such that f (x) = a (x + b) 2 + c , [3]

(ii) state the minimum value of f(x) and the value of x at which it occurs, [2]

(iii) solve f c m = 0 , giving each answer for y correct to 2 decimal places.

1
[3]
y

© UCLES 2015 4037/23/O/N/15 [Turn over

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9 (a) Find the set of values of x for which 4x 2 + 19x - 5 G 0 . [3]

(b) (i) Express x 2 + 8x - 9 in the form ^x + ah2 + b , where a and b are integers. [2]

(ii) Use your answer to part (i) to find the greatest value of 9 - 8x - x 2 and the value of x at
which this occurs. [2]

© UCLES 2015 4037/21/M/J/15

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10 (a) (i) Express 18 + 16x – 2x2 in the form a + b(x + c)2, where a, b and c are integers. [3] For
Examiner’s
Use

A function f is defined by f : x → 18 + 16x – 2x2 for x ⺢.

(ii) Write down the coordinates of the stationary point on the graph of y = f(x). [1]

(iii) Sketch the graph of y = f(x). [2]

© UCLES 2011 4037/22/M/J/11