Completing square
1. 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 9
(a) Show that 𝑓(𝑥) can be written in the form 𝐴(𝑥 + 𝐵)2 + 𝐶, stating the values of 𝐴, 𝐵 and 𝐶.
(b) Write down the minimum value of 𝑓(𝑥)and the value of 𝑥 for which this minimum occurs.
3 81 81 3
Ans.: (a) 2(𝑥 − )2 − (b) minimum = − ,𝑥 =
4 8 8 4
2. 𝑓(𝑥) = 5𝑥 2 − 25𝑥 + 3
(a) Express 𝑓(𝑥) in the form 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐴(𝑥 + 𝐵)2 + 𝐶, giving the values of the constants 𝐴, 𝐵
and 𝐶.
(b) Write down the minimum value of 𝑓(𝑥) and the value of 𝑥 for which it occurs.
5 113 133 5
Ans.: (a) 5(𝑥 − 2)2 − (b) minimum value = − ,𝑥 = 2
4 4
3. (a) Given that 5𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 − 3 ≡ 𝑙(𝑥 + 𝑚)2 − 𝑛, find the values of 𝑙, 𝑚 and 𝑛.
(b) Write down the minimum value of 5𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 − 3.
7 109 109
Ans.: (a) 𝑙 = 5, 𝑚 = 10 , 𝑛 = (b) −
20 20
4. 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 + 7
Giving that 𝑓(𝑥) can be written in the from𝐴(𝑥 + 𝐵)2 + 𝐶 where A, B and C are rational
numbers.
(a) Find the value of A, the value of B and the value of 𝐶.
1
(b) Hence, or otherwise, find (i) the value of 𝑥 for which 𝑓(𝑥) is a maximum,
1
(ii) The maximum value of 𝑓(𝑥).
1
Ans.: (a) 𝐴 = 3, 𝐵 = 1, 𝐶 = 4 (b) (i) 𝑥 = −1 (ii) 𝑃𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 4
5. 𝑓(𝑥) = 6 + 5𝑥 − 2𝑥 2
Given that 𝑓(𝑥) can be written in the form 𝑝(𝑥 + 𝑞)2 + 𝑟, where 𝑝, 𝑞 and 𝑟 are rational
numbers,
a) find the value of 𝑝, the value of 𝑞 and the value of 𝑟.
b) Hence, or otherwise, find
i) the maximum value of 𝑓(𝑥),
ii) the value of 𝑥 for which this maximum occurs.
𝑔(𝑥) = 6 + 5𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 6
c) Write down
i) the maximum value of 𝑔(𝑥),
ii) the exact value of 𝑥 for which this maximum occurs.
Ans.:
6. 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 − 4
Given that 𝑓(𝑥) can be written in the form 𝐴(𝑥 + 𝐵)2 + 𝐶
a) find the value of 𝐴, the value of 𝐵 and the value of 𝐶.
b) Write down
i) the minimum value of 𝑓(𝑥),
ii) the value of 𝑥 at which this minimum occurs.
The equation 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑝𝑥 − 6 has unequal real roots.
c) Find the set of possible value of 𝑝.
7. 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 2 − 9𝑥 + 5
Given that 𝑓(𝑥) can be written in the form 𝑎(𝑥 − 𝑏)2 + 𝑐, where 𝑎, 𝑏 and 𝑐 are constants,
a) the value of 𝑎, the value of 𝑏 and the value of 𝑐.
b) Hence write down
i) the minimum value of 𝑓(𝑥),
ii) the value of 𝑥 at which this minimum occurs.
3 7 7 3
Ans.: a) 𝑎 = 3, 𝑏 = 2 and 𝑐 = − 4 b) i) − 4 ii) 2
[𝛼, 𝛽]
1. The equation 3𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 6 = 0 has roots 𝛼 and 𝛽.
a) Without solving the equation, write down
i. the value of 𝛼 + 𝛽
ii. the value of 𝛼𝛽
152
b) Without solving the equation, show that 𝛼 3 + 𝛽 3 = − 27
𝛼 𝛽
c) Form a quadratic equation, with integer coefficients, that has roots 𝛽2 and 𝛼2
2. The equation 3𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 4 = 0 has roots 𝛼 and 𝛽.
Without solving this equation, form a quadratic equation with integer coefficients that has
1 1
roots 𝛼 + 2𝛽 and 𝛽 + 2𝛼
5
3. It is given that 𝛼 and 𝛽 are such that 𝛼 + 𝛽 = − 2 and 𝛼𝛽 = −5
a) Form a quadratic equation with integer coefficients that has roots 𝛼 and 𝛽
Without solving the equation found in part (a)
b) find the value of
i) 𝛼 2 + 𝛽2
ii) 𝛼 3 + 𝛽3
1
c) Hence from a quadratic equation with integer coefficients that has roots (𝛼 − 𝛼2 ) and
1
(𝛽 − 𝛽2)
4. The roots of the equation 3𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 1 = 0 are 𝛼 and 𝛽, where 𝛼 > 𝛽
Without solving the equation,
a) find the value of 𝛼 2 + 𝛽 2 (3)
4
b) show that 𝛼 − 𝛽 = 3
𝛼+𝛽 𝛼−𝛽
c) from a quadratic equation, with integer coefficients, that has roots and
𝛼 𝛽
7
5. Given that 𝛼 and 𝛽 are such that 𝛼 + 𝛽 = 2 and 𝛼𝛽 = 2
a) form a quadratic equation with integer coefficients that has roots 𝛼 and 𝛽
𝛼 𝛽
b) form a quadratic equation with integer coefficients that has roots 𝛽 and 𝛼.
8. (a) Prove that 𝛼 3 + 𝛽 3 ≡ (𝛼 + 𝛽)(𝛼 2 − 𝛼𝛽 + 𝛽 2 ).
The roots of the equation 𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 + 3 = 0 are 𝛼 and 𝛽where 𝛼 > 𝛽. Without solving the
equation, find
(b) The value of 𝛼 3 + 𝛽 3 .
(c) The exact value (𝛼 − 𝛽).
(d) The exact value of (𝛼 3 − 𝛽 3 ).
9. The equation 3𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 2 = 0 has roots 𝛼and 𝛽. Without solving the equation,
(a) Find the value of 𝛼 2 + 𝛽 2 .
2
(b) Hence show that 𝛼 4 + 𝛽 4 = 6 9.
(c) Hence, or otherwise, form a quadratic equation with integer coefficients which has roots
1 1
(𝛼 2 + 𝛼2 )and (𝛽 2 + 𝛽2 ).
