3 Functions and Graphs

3 Functions and Graphs 6. 80 3(2) 2  4(2)(b)

80 12  8b
Basic Knowledge Review 68 8b
b 8.5
Let’s Try 1 (p. 3.3)
(a) y 72  (2)(7)  (2) 7.
33

(b) 5 32  (a)(3)  a
4 4a
a 1

Let’s Try 2 (p. 3.3)

2.

8.

Let’s Try 3 (p. 3.4)

3. ɻ The graph of y kx 2  4 x  2 has two x-intercepts.
ɺ '!0
i.e. (4)  4( k )(2) ! 0
2

16  8k ! 0
9. Consider the quadratic equation 3x 2  7 x  20 0 .
k2 (3x  5)( x  4) 0
ɺ The range of values of k is k  2 except k 0.
3x  5 0 or x  4 0
Review Exercise 3 (p. 3.4) 5
x or x 4
3
1. y 3(2)  1 ġ ɺġ The x-intercepts of the graph of y 3x 2  7 x  20
7 5
are and –4.
3
2. x 3(1)  2( 3)
9 10. Consider the quadratic equation 16 x 2  8 x  1 0 .
(4 x  1)(4 x  1) 0
4x  1 0
3. A 2(6)(6  8)
1
168 x (repeated)
4
ɺġ The x-intercepts of the graph of y 16 x 2  8 x  1 is
(10  20)(5)
4. d 1
2 .
75 4

11. Consider the quadratic equation 2 x 2  5 x  4 0 .

5
5. 25 ( F  32) ' (5) 2  4(2)(4)
9
7
45 F  32
0
F 77
ɺġ There are no x-intercepts for the graph of
y 2 x 2  5 x  4 .

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 4A Full Solutions

12. Consider the quadratic equation x 2  8 x  11 0 . 2. (a), (b) All the graphs below have reflectional symmetry.
' (8) 2  4(1)(11)
20
!0
ɺġ The number of x-intercepts of the graph of
y x 2  8 x  11 is 2.

13. Consider the quadratic equation 2 x 2  9 x  16 0 .

' 92  4(2)(16)
47
0
ɺ The number of x-intercepts of the graph of
y 2 x 2  9 x  16 is 0.

14. ɻ The graph of y 2 x 2  12 x  k has two x-intercepts.

ɺ '!0
i.e. (12)2  4(2)( k ) ! 0
144  8k ! 0
k  18 3. Case 1: a > 0 Case 2: a < 0
ɺ The range of values of k is k < 18. The graph has The graph has
reflectional symmetry. reflectional symmetry.
15. (a) ɻ The graph of y x 2  12 x  c touches the The graph opens The graph opens
x-axis at only one point. upwards and it has the downwards and it has
ɺ ' 0 lowest point. the highest point.
i.e. (12)  4(1)(c) 0
2
Activity 3.2 (p. 3.40)
144  4c 0 1. The minimum value of y is 0 when x = 0.
c 36
2
2. (a) The minimum value of (x – 1) is 0 when x 1.
(b) ɻ The graph of y cx 2  3cx  c  5 touches the (b) (i) 2 x 2  4 x  5
(ii) open upwards
x-axis at only one point.
(c) The minimum value of y, i.e. 2(x – 1)2 + 3, is 3 when
ɺ ' 0
x 1.
i.e. ( 3c) 2  4(c)(c  5) 0 ɺ For the graph of y = 2(x – 1)2 + 3, the coordinates
9c  4c  20c
2 2
0 of its vertex are (1, 3) and the axis of symmetry is
x = 1.
5c 2  20c 0
c  4c
2
0 3.
2
(a) The minimum value of (x + 2) is 0 when x –2.
c(c  4) 0 (b) (i)  x 2  4 x  8
c 0 (rejected) or c 4 (ii) open downwards
2
(c) The maximum value of y, i.e. –(x + 2) – 4, is –4 when
Activity x = –2.
2
ɺ For the graph of y = –(x + 2) – 4, the coordinates
Activity 3.1 (p. 3.28) of its vertex are (–2, –4) and the axis of
1. symmetry is x –2.
Graph of
y = x2 y = –x2 + 2x + 1 Classwork
Coefficient of x2 a>0 a<0
Classwork (p. 3.8)
Direction of upwards downwards 1. (a) As each value of x gives exactly one value of y, y is a
opening function of x.

(b) As each value of x gives exactly one value of y, y is a

Graph of function of x.
y = 2x – 4x + 3 y = –2x2 – 4x – 2
2

(c) As the value of x b gives two values of y (1 and 4), y

Coefficient of x2 a>0 a<0 is not a function of x.
Direction of upwards downwards
Opening

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 3 Functions and Graphs

2. (i) A is a function of x. Each of the values of x determines Classwork (p. 3.42)

exactly one value of A. (a) (i) a ! 0
(ii) h  0
(ii) P is not a function of n because when n = 3, P can be (iii) k  0
either 11 or 12.
(b) (i) a  0
Classwork (p. 3.10) (ii) h ! 0
(a) d 6t (iii) k  0
(b) t (s) 1 2 3 4 5 6 (c) (i) a  0
d (m) 6 12 18 24 30 36 (ii) h  0
(iii) k ! 0
(c)
Classwork (p. 3.45)
2
§ 12 ·
(a) x 2  12 x  ¨ ¸ ( x  6)2
©2¹

2
§8·
(b) x2  8x  ¨ ¸ ( x  4)2
©2¹

2
§ 14 ·
(c) x 2  14 x  ¨ ¸ ( x  7)2
Classwork (p. 3.30) ©2¹
(a) (i) p ! 0
(ii) r  0 2
(iii) Δ ! 0 §6·
(d) x2  6x  ¨ ¸ ( x  3)2
©2¹
(b) (i) p ! 0
(ii) r 0 2 2
§9· § 9·
(iii) Δ ! 0 (e) x2  9x  ¨ ¸ ¨x ¸
©2¹ © 2¹
(c) (i) p ! 0
(ii) r ! 0 §5·
2
§ 5·
2

(iii) Δ < 0 (f) x2  5x  ¨ ¸ ¨x ¸

©2¹ © 2¹
(d) (i) p  0
2 2
(ii) r 0 2 §1· § 1·
(g) x2  x¨ ¸ ¨x ¸
(iii) Δ 0 5 ©5¹ © 5¹

(e) (i) p  0 2 2
(ii) r ! 0 1 §1· § 1·
(h) x2  x  ¨ ¸ ¨x ¸
(iii) Δ ! 0 3 ©6¹ © 6¹

(f) (i) p  0
(i) x 2  2kx  k 2 ( x  k )2
(ii) r  0
(iii) Δ  0
2 2
§ c 1· § c 1·
2. Maximum
(j) x 2  (c  1) x  ¨ ¸ ¨x ¸
Direction Axis of © 2 ¹ © 2 ¹
Vertex value/
of opening symmetry
Minimum value
Quick Practice
(b) downwards (–2, 6) x –2 max. value 6
(c) upwards (–5, 3) x –5 min. value 3 Quick Practice 3.1 (p. 3.9)
1
(d) downwards (–4, –2) x –4 max. value –2 (a) When x = 1, y 1;
1
(e) upwards (1, –4) x 1 min. value –4 1
when x = 2, y ;
2
§ 3 3· 3 3
(f) downwards ¨  ,  ¸ x  max. value  1
© 2 2¹ 2 2 when x = 3, y , etc.
3
Each value of x gives exactly one value of y.
ɺ y is a function of x.

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 4A Full Solutions

(b) When x = 2, y 2 (2)  1 Quick Practice 3.4 (p. 3.17)

y2 1 (a) f (4) (4) 2  4(4)  3
y 1 or  1 16  16  3
ɻ Not every value of x gives exactly one value of y. 29
ɺ y is not a function of x.
(b) f (2) (2) 2  4(2)  3
(c) When x = 0, y 0 0; 483
when x = 1, y 1 1; 7
when x = 2, y 2 , etc.
Each value of x gives exactly one value of y. 2
§1· §1· §1·
ɺ y is a function of x. (c) f¨ ¸ ¨ ¸  4¨ ¸  3
©2¹ 2
© ¹ ©2¹
Quick Practice 3.2 (p. 3.11) 1
23
(a) 4
3

4

Quick Practice 3.5 (p. 3.18)

(a) h §¨ ·¸ 6 §¨ ·¸ 
1 1 1
© ¹
2 © ¹
2 § 1·
ɻ The vertical line above intersects the graph at three ¨ ¸
©2¹
points.
3 2
i.e. For a certain value of x where –2 ≤ x ≤ 3, there are
more than one corresponding value of y. 5
ɺ y is not a function of x.
§1· §1· 1
h ¨ ¸ 6¨ ¸ 
(b) © 3¹ © 3¹ §1·
¨ ¸
©3¹
23
5
§1· §1· 1
h¨ ¸ 6¨ ¸ 
©6¹ ©6¹ §1·
¨ ¸
©6¹
ɻ Any vertical line intersects the graph at only one point. 1 6
i.e. For any value of x where –2 ≤ x ≤ 3, there is only one 7
corresponding value of y.
ɺ y is a function of x.
§1· §1·
(b) h ¨ ¸ ˜ h ¨ ¸ 5 ˜ 5 25
Quick Practice 3.3 (p. 3.13) © 2¹ © 3¹
(a) (i) From the graph, we have §1·
h¨ ¸ 7
n 0 2 4 5 9 10 ©6¹
ɻ 25 z 7
P (%) 20 36 52 60 78 80
§1· §1· §1·
(ii) From the graph, when n = 0, P = 20 and when n = 8, ɺ h ¨ ¸ ˜ h ¨ ¸ h ¨ ¸ m is not true.
P = 76. © 2¹ ©3¹ ©6¹
ɺ The increase in the percentage of citizens who
are using 5G plan from 2020 to 2028 Quick Practice 3.6 (p. 3.18)
(76  20)% (a) ɻ F (1) 2
56% ɺ 2(1) 2  k (1)  3 2
2  k  3 2
(b) From the graph, the dependent variable P can take any real k 7
number from 20 to 82 inclusively.
ɺ The researcher’s claim is not correct since the
suggested co-domain does not include all possible
values of the dependent variable, i.e. the collection of
the real number P, where 20 ≤ P ≤ 82.

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 3 Functions and Graphs

(b) From (a), we have F ( x) 2x2  7 x  3 . t 1

(b) Let t = 2x + 1, then x .
ɻ F ( x) 0 2
2x2  7 x  3 0 t 1
ɺ By substituting x into f (2 x  1) 2 x 2  x  1 , we
(2 x  1)( x  3) 0 2
have
1 2
x or x 3 § t 1· § t 1·
2 f (t ) 2¨ ¸ ¨ ¸ 1
© 2 ¹ © 2 ¹
Quick Practice 3.7 (p. 3.19) t 2  2t  1 t  1 2
 
1  (k  1) 2 2 2
(a) f (k  1)
(k  1) t t 2
2

1 k 1 2
k 1 x2  x  2
ɺ f ( x)
k 2

k 1
Quick Practice 3.9 (p. 3.21)
(a) H(t) = 10 – 2t
§1·
1 ¨ ¸
(b) §1· ©k¹ 90
f¨ ¸ (b) When t 1.5 ,
©k¹ §1· 60
¨ ¸
©k¹ H (1.5) 10  2(1.5)
k 1 7
k ɺ The height of the candle is 7 cm if it has burnt for
1 90 minutes.
k
k 1 (c) ɻ The height of the candle is at most half of its original
value after burning.
ɺ H (t ) d 5
1  (1  x)
(c) f (1  x) 10  2t d 5
(1  x)
2t d 5
11 x
t t 2.5
1 x
ɺ The candle has burnt for at least 2.5 hours.
x
1 x Quick Practice 3.10 (p. 3.27)
1  (  x) (a) ɻ The graph cuts the x-axis and the y-axis at (–2, 0) and
f (  x)
(  x) (0, –4) respectively.
1 x ɺ x-intercept 2 and y-intercept 4

x
x § 1 x · (b) ɻ y-intercept = –4
ɺ f (1  x) ˜ f ( x) ˜¨ ¸
1 x © x ¹ ɺ By substituting (0, –4) into y = ax + b, we have
1 x 4 a(0)  b

1 x b 4
1 x ɻ x-intercept = –2
x 1 ɺ By substituting (–2, 0) and b = –4 into y = ax + b,
we have
0 a(2)  (4)
Quick Practice 3.8 (p. 3.20) a 2
x ɺ a 2 and b 4
(a) Let t , then x = 3t.
3
§ x·
By substituting x = 3t into f ¨ ¸ 3 x  1 , we have Quick Practice 3.11 (p. 3.31)
©3¹ (a) y ( x  2)( x  2)
f (t ) 3(3t )  1
x2  4
9t  1
ɻ Coefficient of x2 = 1 > 0
ɺ f ( x) 9 x  1
ɺ The graph opens upwards.
Also, the y-intercept of the graph is –4.

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 4A Full Solutions

(b) y ( x  3)(3x  1) Quick Practice 3.14 (p. 3.43)

3x  9 x  x  3
2 (a) Consider the function y 2 x 2  1 .
ɺ y 3x 2  10 x  3 (i) ɻ Coefficient of x2 = 2 > 0
ɻ Coefficient of x2 = 3 > 0 ɺ The minimum value of y 2 x 2  1 is 1.
ɺ The graph opens upwards. (ii) For the graph of y 2 x  1 , 2

Also, the y-intercept of the graph is 3. the coordinates of the vertex are (0, 1), and the axis of
symmetry is x 0.
(c) y ( x  1) 2  2
( x 2  2 x  1)  2 (b) y 3  2( x  1) 2
ɺ y  x2  2x  1 2( x  1) 2  3
ɻ Coefficient of x2 = –1 < 0 (i) ɻ Coefficient of x2 = –2 < 0
ɺ The graph opens downwards. ɺ The maximum value of y 3  2( x  1) 2 is 3.
Also, the y-intercept of the graph is 1. (ii) For the graph of y 3  2( x  1) 2 ,
the coordinates of the vertex are (1, 3), and the axis of
Quick Practice 3.12 (p. 3.33)
symmetry is x 1.
3
(a) Consider y  x2  4 x  .
2
Quick Practice 3.15 (p. 3.43)
x –4 –3 –2 –1 0
(a) h 1 , k 18
y –1.5 1.5 2.5 1.5 –1.5

(b) (i) ɻ The y-intercept of the graph of the quadratic

function is –16.
ɺ By substituting (0, –16) into y a( x  1) 2  18 ,
16 a(0  1)2  18
a 2
(ii) By substituting y = 0 into y 2( x  1) 2  18 , we have
0 2( x  1)2  18
( x  1) 2 9
(b) (i) The graph opens downwards. x  1 3 or x  1 3
(ii) The axis of symmetry is x –2. x 2 or x 4
(iii) The coordinates of the vertex are (–2, 2.5). ɺ Area of UPQR
(iv) The y-intercept of the graph is –1.5.
­1 ½
(v) The x-intercepts of the graph are –3.5 and –0.5. ® u [2  (4)] u 18¾ sq.units
¯2 ¿
(c) ɻ The y-coordinate of the maximum point (i.e. the 54 sq.units
vertex) is 2.5.
ɺ The maximum value of the quadratic function is 2.5. Quick Practice 3.16 (p. 3.47)
(a) y x 2  10 x  2
Quick Practice 3.13 (p. 3.34)
x 2  10 x  52  52  2
(a) When y = 0,
2( x  b)( x  1) 0 ( x 2  10 x  52 )  25  2
( x  b)( x  1) 0 ( x  5) 2  23
xb 0 or x  1 0 ɻ Coefficient of x2 = 1 > 0
x b or x 1 ɺ The minimum value of y x 2  10 x  2 is –23 when
x 5.
ɺ The x-intercepts of the graph are –b and 1.
ɻ The axis of symmetry x = –2 passes through N.
(b) y 2 x 2  16 x  3
ɺ N is the mid-point of PQ.
1  (b) 2( x 2  8 x)  3
2
2 2( x 2  8 x  42  42 )  3
1  b 4 2( x 2  8 x  42 )  32  3
b 5 2( x  4) 2  35
ɺ The x-intercepts of the graph are –5 and 1.
ɻ Coefficient of x2 = 2 > 0
ɺ The minimum value of y 2 x 2  16 x  3 is –35
(b) By substituting x –2 into y –2(x  5)(x – 1), we have
when x –4.
y –2(–2  5)(–2 – 1) 18
ɺ The coordinates of the vertex are (–2, 18).

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 3 Functions and Graphs

(c) y  x2  5x  4 Quick Practice 3.19 (p. 3.50)

(a) Let x m be the length of the duck farm, then the width of
( x 2  5 x )  4
§ 100  x ·
ª the duck farm is ¨ ¸ m.
§5· §5· º
2 2

 « x2  5x  ¨ ¸  ¨ ¸ »  4 © 2 ¹
¬« © 2 ¹ © 2 ¹ ¼» Let y m2 be the area of the duck farm.
ª § 100  x ·
§ 5 · º 25
2

 « x2  5x  ¨ ¸ »  4 ɺ y x¨ ¸
© 2 ¹
¬« © 2 ¹ ¼» 4
1
2  x 2  50 x
§ 5 · 41 2
¨ x  ¸ 
© 2¹ 4 By completing the square,
ɻ Coefficient of x2 = –1 < 0 1
y  x 2  50 x
41 2
ɺ The maximum value of y  x 2  5 x  4 is
4 1 2
 ( x  100 x)
5 2
when x = . 1 2
2  ( x  100 x  502  502 )
2
Quick Practice 3.17 (p. 3.48) 1 2
 ( x  100 x  502 )  1250
(a) y x 2  4kx  1  5k 2
x 2  4kx  (2k ) 2  (2k ) 2  1  5k 1
 ( x  50) 2  1250
2
( x 2  4kx  4k 2 )  4k 2  1  5k
ɺ The maximum value of y is 1250.
( x  2 k ) 2  4 k 2  5k  1 ɺ The maximum area of the duck farm is 1250 m2.
ɻ Minimum value of y –7
ɺ 4k 2  5k  1 7 (b) From (a), the maximum value of y is attained when x = 50.
100  x 100  50
4 k  5k  6
2
0 When x = 50, 25 .
2 2
(k  2)(4k  3) 0
ɺ The dimensions of the duck farm are 50 m × 25 m
3
k 2 or k (rejected) (or 25 m × 50 m).
4
Further Practice
(b) From (a), y ( x  4) 2  7
ɺ The coordinates of the vertex of the graph are (–4, –7), Further Practice (p. 3.13)
and the axis of symmetry is x –4. 1. (a) When x = 2, y = 10;
when x = 4, y = 12;
Quick Practice 3.18 (p. 3.49) when x = 6, y = 14;
1 2 when x = 8, y = 12;
(a) C t  21t  3000 when x = 10, y = 10.
8
Each value of x gives exactly one value of y.
1 2
(t  168t )  3000 ɺ y is a function of x.
8
1 2 (b) When x 10, y 28 or 35.
(t  168t  842  842 )  3000
8 ɻ Not every value of x gives exactly one value of y.
1 2 ɺ y is not a function of x.
(t  168t  842 )  882  3000
8
1 2. (a) ɻġ x > 0
(t  84) 2  2118
8 ɺ 2x  3 ! 3
The minimum value of C is attained when t 84. y!3
ɺ John should drive 84 hours in a month so that the ɺ The collection of the real number y, where y ≥ 1
monthly operation cost of his taxi is a minimum. includes all possible values of the dependent
variable, i.e. the collection of the real number y,
(b) From (a), the minimum value of C is 2118 when t 84. where y > 3.
ɺ The minimum monthly operation cost of his taxi is ɺ It may be the co-domain of the function.
$2118.
(b) ɻġ The collection of the real number y, where y ≥ 5
does not include all possible values of the
dependent variable, i.e. the collection of the real
number y, where y > 3.
ɺ It is not the co-domain of the function.

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 4A Full Solutions

Further Practice (p. 3.21)ġ 3. (a) ɻ g (3) 10

1. (a) f (0) (0)  2(0)
2
ɺ a (3) 2  6(3)  8 10
0 9a  18  8 10
g (3) 3(3)  1 9a 36
10 a 4
ɺ f (0)  g (3) 0  10
10
(b) From (a), we have g ( x) 4 x 2  6 x  8 .
ɻ f (2 x) g ( x)
(b) f (1) (1) 2  2(1)
4 x 2  6 x  8
3
(2 x) 2  3(2 x)  8
g (2) 3(2)  1
7 ɺ f ( x)  x 2  3x  8
ɺ f (1)  3 g (2) 3  3(7)
18 Further Practice (p. 3.34)
1. (a) When y = 0,
(c) f (1) (1)  2(1)
2
a( x  D )( x  E ) 0
1 ( x  D )( x  E ) 0
g (2) 3(2)  1 x D 0 or x  E 0
5 x D or x E
ɺ f (1) ˜ g (2) (1) ˜ (5)
5 ɻ The x-intercepts of the graph are –3 and 2 and
DE .
(d) g (5) 3(5)  1 ɺ D 3 and E 2
16
By substituting x = 0, y = 12, D = –3 and E = 2 into
f (4) (4) 2  2(4)
y a( x  D )( x  E ) , we have
8 12 a[0  (3)](0  2)
g (5) 16
ɺ 12 6a
2 f (4) 2(8)
a 2
1

(b) The x-coordinate of the maximum point

2. ɻ f (k  1) 3 3  2
ɺ 4(k  1) 2  5( k  1)  3 3 2
4(k 2  2k  1)  5k  5  6 0 1

4k 2  8k  4  5k  11 0 2
1
4k 2  3k  7 0 When x  ,
2
(k  1)(4k  7) 0
ª§ 1 · º§ 1 ·
7 y 2 «¨  ¸  (3) » ¨   2 ¸
k 1 or k ¬© 2 ¹ ¼© 2 ¹
4
25
Alternative Solution
2
ɻ f (k  1) 3
ɻ The y-coordinate of the maximum point (i.e. the
ɺ 4(k  1) 2  5(k  1)  3 3 25
vertex) is .
4(k  1) 2  5( k  1)  6 0 2
[4(k  1)  3][( k  1)  2] 0 25
ɺ The maximum value of the function is .
4(k  1)  3 0 or k  1  2 0 2
7
k or k 1
4

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 3 Functions and Graphs

2. (a) ɻ The graph touches the x-axis at one point. 2. (a) ɻ The axis of symmetry of the graph is x 1.
ɺ h 1
ɺ ' 0
3  b
i.e. (4)  4(3)( p)
2
0 1
2
16  12 p 0 b 5
4 By substituting (–3, 0) and h 1 into
p
3 y ( x  h) 2  k , we have
0 (3  1) 2  k
4
(b) From (a), we have y 3x 2  4 x  . k 16
3
When y = 0,
(b) When x 0, y (0  1) 2  16
4 15
3x 2  4 x  0 ɺ The y-intercept is 15.
3
The coordinates of the maximum point are (1, 16).
9 x 2  12 x  4 0
(3 x  2) 2 0 Further Practice (p. 3.48)
2 1. y  x 2  12 x  c
x (repeated)
3 ( x 2  12 x)  c
( x 2  12 x  62  62 )  c
§2 ·
ɺ The coordinates of V are ¨ , 0 ¸ . ( x 2  12 x  62 )  36  c
©3 ¹
( x  6) 2  36  c
2 ɻ The coordinates of the vertex are (2k, k).
(c) (i) The axis of symmetry is x . ɺ 6 2k
3
4 k 3
(ii) The y-intercept of the graph is .
3 and 36  c k
36  c 3
3. ɻ It has y-intercept –8 and passes through the point c 33
P(–6, –8).
ɺ 8 2(0  h) 2  k
2. (a) y x 2  2kx  k
8 2h 2  k
x 2  2kx  k 2  k 2  k
k 2h 2  8 (1)
2 ( x 2  2kx  k 2 )  k 2  k
By substituting x –6, y –8 into y –2(x – h)  k, we
have ( x  k )2  k 2  k
8 2(6  h) 2  k ɻ The axis of symmetry is x 5.
8 2(36  12h  h )  k 2 ɺ k 5
8 72  24h  2h 2  k (2) k 5
By substituting (1) into (2), we have
8 72  24h  2h 2  2h 2  8 (b) From (a), y ( x  5) 2  20
24h 72 ɺ The optimum value of y is –20.
h 3
By substituting h –3 into (1), we have
k 2(3)2  8 10

Further Practice (p. 3.44)

1. (a) (i) ɻ The y-intercept of the graph of
2
y (x  2)  k is 5.
2
ɺ By substituting (0, 5) into y (x  2)  k,
we have
5 (0  2) 2  k
k 1
2
(ii) The minimum value of y (x  2)  1 is 1.
2
(b) For the graph of y = (x + 2) + 1, the coordinates of the
vertex are (2, 1).

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 4A Full Solutions

Exercise 6. When x = 0, y = 4 or 5.
ɻ Not every value of x gives exactly one value of y.
Exercise 3A (p. 3.14) ɺ y is not a function of x.
Level 1
1. 7. When x = –4, y = 0;
when x = –2, y = 0;
when x = 2, y = 0;
when x = 4, y = 0.
Each value of x gives exactly one value of y.
ɺ y is a function of x.

8. When x 3, y –1 or 1;
ɻ Any vertical line intersects the graph at only one point. when x 6, y = 2 or –2 .
ɻ Not every value of x gives exactly one value of y.
i.e. For any value of x where –6 ≤ x ≤ 6, there is only one
corresponding value of y. ɺ y is not a function of x.
ɺ y is a function of x.
9. When x = 1, y = –3;
when x = 2, y = –3;
2.
when x = 3, y = –3, etc.
Each value of x gives exactly one value of y.
ɺ y is a function of x.

10. When x = 1, y = –2(1) + 1 = –1;

when x = 2, y = –2(2) + 1 = –3;
when x = 3, y = –2(3) + 1 = –5, etc.
Each value of x gives exactly one value of y.
ɻ Any vertical line intersects the graph at only one point. ɺ y is a function of x.
i.e. For any value of x where –6 ≤ x ≤ 6, there is only one
corresponding value of y. 12
ɺ y is a function of x. 11. When x = 1, y 12 ;
1
12
3. when x = 2, y 6;
2
12
when x = 3, y 4 , etc.
3
Each value of x gives exactly one value of y.
ɺ y is a function of x.

12. When x 2, y 2 2(2)

ɻ The vertical line above intersects the graph at two y2 4
points.
y 2 or y 2
i.e. For a certain value of x where –6 ≤ x ≤ 6, there are
more than one corresponding value of y. ɻ Not every value of x gives exactly one value of y.
ɺ y is not a function of x. ɺ y is not a function of x.

4. 13. Number of $5-coins = 6 – n

A 2n  5(6  n)
30  3n

14. The width of the rectangle

1
(20  2 x) cm
2
(10  x) cm
ɻ Any vertical line intersects the graph at only one point.
i.e. For any value of x where –6 ≤ x ≤ 6, there is only one A x(10  x)
corresponding value of y. 10 x  x 2
ɺ y is a function of x.

5. When x = 1, y = 2;
when x = 2, y = 2;
when x = 3, y = 4;
when x = 4, y = 5.
Each value of x gives exactly one value of y.
ɺ y is a function of x.

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 3 Functions and Graphs

Level 2 21. (a) (i) From the graph,

15. When x = –2, y 2  (2) 0; when t = 5, h = 4.4.
ɺ The depth of the liquid in the cup after 5 s is
when x = –1, y 2  (1) 1 ; 4.4 cm.
when x = 0, y 2  (0) 2 , etc. (ii) From the graph,
when h 8, t 10.5.
Each value of x gives exactly one value of y. ɺ It takes 10.5 s for the depth of the liquid to
ɺ y is a function of x.
ġ ġ ġ ġ rise to 8 cm.

16. When x = 0, y
3
[(0)  1]2 (b) From the graph, the dependent variable h can take any
y3 1 real number from 0 to 14 inclusively.
ɺ Angel’s claim is not correct since the suggested
y = 1;
co-domain does not include all possible values of
when x = 1, y [(1)  1]
3 2
the dependent variable, i.e. the collection of the
y3 0 real number h, where 0 d h d 14.
y = 0;
22. (a)
when x = 2, y [(2)  1]
3 2

y3 1 t (year) 0 2 4 8 10
y = 1, etc. A ($) 25 000 15 000 10 000 7000 5000
Each value of x gives exactly one value of y.
ɺ y is a function of x.
(b) From the table in (a), we can see that for any value of
t, there is only one corresponding value of A.
17. When x = 0, y
4
16(0  1) ɺ A is a function of t.
4
y 16
y = 2 or y = –2; (c)
ɻ Not every value of x gives exactly one value of y.
ɺ y is not a function of x.

1, ( y  2)
2
18. When x 4(1)
( y  2) 2
4
y2 2 or y  2 2
y 4 or y 0
ɻ Not every value of x gives exactly one value of y.
ɺ y is not a function of x.

19. ɻ y 3  5x
3 y
ɺ x From the graph,
5
when A = 12 500, t = 3.
30
When y 0, x ɺ The value of the watch will drop to half of its
5 original value after at least 3 years.
3
x
5 Exercise 3B (p. 3.21)
3 1 Level 1
When y 1, x
5 1. (a) f (0) 3(0)  2
2 2
x
5
32 (b) f (4) 3(4)  2
When y 2, x
5 10
1
x , etc.
5 (c) f (2) 3(2)  2
Each value of y gives exactly one value of x.
ɺ x is a function of y. 8

20. When y = 1, (1)

3
( x  1) 2 2. (a) g (3) 2(3)3  1
( x  1) 2 1 54  1
x  1 1 or x  1 1 53
x 2 or x 0
ɻ Not every value of y gives exactly one value of x.
ɺ x is not a function of y.

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 4A Full Solutions

(b) g (0) 2(0)3  1 §1· §1·

2

0 1
(b) f¨ ¸ 6¨ ¸  1
©2¹ © 2¹
1
§1·
6¨ ¸  1
©4¹
(c) g (2) 2(2)3  1
3
16  1 1
2
17
5
2
3. (a) h(1) 3(1)  1
3 1
(c) f ( 2) 6( 2) 2  1
4
6(2)  1
(b) h(0) 3 1
(0)
12  1
11 13
2
6. (a) f (3) 1  3(3)
(c) h(2) 3( 2)  1 8
1 f (9) 1  3(9)
1
9 26
10
9
(b) [ f (3)]
2
(8) 2
64
1
4. (a) F (5) f (32 ) f (9)
2(5)  1
1 26
ɻ 64 z 26
9
ɺ [ f (3)]2 f (32 ) is not true.

§3· 1 7. (a) G (2) 2[2(2)  1]

(b) F¨ ¸
©4¹ §3·
2¨ ¸ 1 2(3)
©4¹
6
1
1 §1· 1ª §1· º
G¨ ¸ 2¨ ¸ 1
2 ©2¹ 2 «¬ © 2 ¹ »¼
2 1
(0)
2
§ 1· 1 0
(c) F ¨ ¸
© 2¹ § 1·
2¨  ¸ 1
© 2¹ §1·
(b) G ¨ ¸ 0
1 ©2¹
1  1 1 1
1 G (2) 6

2 1
ɻ 0z
6
5. (a) f (2) 6(2)2  1 §1· 1
ɺ G¨ ¸ is not true.
6(4)  1 ©2¹ G(2)

24  1
8. (a) f (2) (2) 2  3(2)  1
5
4  6 1
1
ɺ 3 f (2) 3(1)
3

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 3 Functions and Graphs

(b) f (1) (1) 2  3(1)  1 (c) f (90) sin(90)q

1 3 1 1
5 f (60) sin(60)q
f (0) (0) 2  3(0)  1 3
0  0 1 2
1 f (90) 1
ɺ
ɺ f (1)  f (0) 5  1 f (60) 3
4 2
2 3
(c) f (4) (4) 2  3(4)  1 3
16  12  1
5 11. (a) g (4) 2(4)
ɺ 2
[ f (4)] (5) 2 8
f (0) (0) 2  1
25
1
ɺ g (4)  f (0) 8  1
9. (a) f ((2) 2 ) f (4)
9
(4) 2  5(4)  2
16  20  2
(b) f (3) (3) 2  1
34
10
g (3) 2(3)
(b) f (2)(2) 2  5(2)  2 6
4  10  2 ɺ f (3) ˜ g (3) 10 ˜ 6
12 60
f (5) (5) 2  5(5)  2
25  25  2 (c) g (5) 2(5)
48 10
ɺ 2 f (2)  f (5) 24  48 f (7) (7) 2  1
72 50
g (5) 10
ɺ
(c) f (1) (1) 2  5(1)  2 f (7) 50
1 5  2 1

6 5
f (0) (0) 2  5(0)  2
002 §1· 2
12. (a) f¨ ¸
2 ©4¹ §1·
¨ ¸
ɺ f ( 1) u f (0) (6) u (2) ©4¹
12 8
g (4) (4) 2  3(4)
10. (a) f (30) sin(30)q 4
1 §1·
ɺ 4 f ¨ ¸  g (4) 4(8)  4
2 ©4¹
36
(b) f (45) sin(45)q
1 2
(b) f (6)
6
2
1
1
ɺ 2 f (45) 2u 3
2
g (1) (1) 2  3(1)
2
4
1
ɺ f (6) ˜ 9 g (1) (9)(4)
3
12

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 4A Full Solutions

2 15. ɻ f (2) 5
(c) f (4)
4 ɺ k (2) 2  3 5
1 4k 8
2 k 2
g (2) (2) 2  3(2) ɺ f ( x) 2 x 2  3
2
f (3) 2(3)2  3
g (2) (2) 2  3(2)
15
10
§1· g (1) 1
 (2) 16. (a) ɻ
f (4)  g (2) ¨© 2 ¸¹
ɺ ɺ (1  k )(1  2) 1
g (2) 10
(1  k )(3) 1
5
3  3k 1
2
4
10 k
1 3
4
§ 4·
(b) From (a), we have g ( x) ¨ x  ¸ ( x  2) .
13. (a) f (30q) tan(30q) © 3¹
1 ɻ g ( x) 0
3 § 4·
ɺ ¨ x  ¸ ( x  2) 0
g (30q) cos(30q) © 3¹
4
3 x  or x 2
2 3

1 3 17. (a) ɻ f (3) 20

ɺ f (30q) g (30q) u
3 2
ɺ (3)  a (3)  2 20
2
1
3a  11 20
2
a 3

(b) f (0q) tan(0q)

(b) From (a), we have f ( x) x 2  3x  2 .
0
ɻ f ( x) 6
g (45q) cos(45q)
ɺ x 2  3x  2 6
1
x  3x  4
2
0
2
( x  4)( x  1) 0
1 x 4 or x 1
ɺ 4 g (45q)  3 f (0q) 4u 0
2
2 2 Level 2
2
18. (a) § p· § p· § p·
H¨ ¸ 4¨ ¸  8¨ ¸  1
(c) f (60q) tan(60q) ©2¹ 2
© ¹ ©2¹
3 §p ·2
4¨ ¸  4 p  1
g (60q) cos(60q) © 4 ¹
1 p2  4 p  1
2
1 1 (b) H (2 p) 4(2 p) 2  8(2 p)  1
ɺ [ f (60q)]  ( 3) 2 
2

[ g (60q)]2 §1·
2
4(4 p 2 )  16 p  1
¨ ¸
©2¹ 16 p 2  16 p  1
1
(c) H (q  2) 4(q  2) 2  8(q  2)  1
14. ɻ h(3) 1
4(q 2  4q  4)  8q  16  1
ɺ 3(3) 2  n 1
4q 2  16q  16  8q  16  1
27  n 1
4 q 2  8q  1
n 26

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 3 Functions and Graphs

19. (a) f (k ) [(k )  1][( k )  3] 1

22. ɻ f ( x) x
(k  1)(k  3) x
2
k 2  k  3k  3 § 1·
ɺ [ f ( x)]2 ¨x ¸
k 2  2k  3 © x¹
1
x  2 2
2

(b) f (k  3) [(k  3)  1][(k  3)  3] x

(k  4)( k ) 1
ɺ f ( x2 ) x2  2
x
k 2  4k
ɺ [ f ( x)]2  f ( x 2 )

(c) f (k  4) [(k  4)  1][(k  4)  3] 1 § 1 ·

x2   2  ¨ x2  2 ¸
(k  3)(k  7) x2 © x ¹
1 1
k 2  10k  21 x  2 2 x  2
2 2

f (k ) (k  1)(k  3) x x
2
k 2  2k  3
ɺ [ f ( x)]2  f ( x 2 ) is a constant.
ɺ f (k  4)  f (k ) (k 2  10k  21)  (k 2  2k  3)
k 2  10k  21  k 2  2k  3 23. ɻ f (2k  1) f (1)
8k  24 ɺ (2k  1)  k (2k  1)  6 (1) 2  k (1)  6
2

4k 2  4k  1  2k 2  k  6 1  k  6
20. ɻ f (k ) k
2k 2  4k 0
ɺ (k ) 2  2[(k )  1] k
2k (k  2) 0
k 2  2k  2 k k 0 or k 2
k2  k  2 0
(k  2)(k  1) 0 24. (a) f ( x2 ) 2( x 2 )  1
k 2 or k 1
2x2  1
f ( x  1) 2( x  1)  1
(3) 3
21. (a) H (3) 2x  2  1
(3)  1 4
2x  1
§1·
¨ ¸
§1· © 3¹ 1
H¨ ¸ (b) ɻ f ( x2 ) f ( x  1)  10
©3¹ § ·
1 4
¨ ¸ 1 ɺ 2 x 2  1 (2 x  1)  10 (by (a))
© 3¹
2 x 2  1 2 x  11
§1· 2 x 2  2 x  12 0
¨ ¸
(b) H § 1 · © x¹ x2  x  6 0
¨ ¸
© x ¹ § 1 · 1 ( x  2)( x  3) 0
¨ ¸
©x¹ x 2 or x 3
1
x
1 x 25. ɻ g (a) a
x ɺ a 2  2a ( a )  4 a
1 3a 2  a  4 0
1 x (3a  4)(a  1) 0
§1· x 1 4
ɺ H ( x)  H ¨ ¸  a or a 1
© x¹ x 1 1 x 3
x 1
x 1 26. (a) ɻ f (8) 6 g (7)
1
ɺ 3(8  k ) 6(7  k )
ɺ Charles’ claim is agreed.
24  3k 42  6k
9k 18
k 2

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 4A Full Solutions

(b) From (a), we have f (x) = 3(x + 2) and g(x) = x – 2. § 2u ·

ɻ f ( x) ˜ g ( x) 36
(b) f (u ) f¨ ¸
© 2 ¹
ɺ 3( x  2)( x  2) 36 3(2u )
5
3( x 2  4) 36 2
x 2  4 12 3u  5
x 2  16 0
( x  4)( x  4) 0 30. (a) Let t = x – 2, then x = t + 2.
By substituting x = t + 2 into f ( x  2) 4 x2  6 x  4 ,
x 4 or x 4
we have
f (t ) 4(t  2) 2  6(t  2)  4
27. (a) ɻġ f (2 x) g (3x)
ɺ 3(2 x)  1 3 x  2 4(t 2  4t  4)  6t  12  4
6 x  1 3x  2 4t 2  16t  16  6t  8
3 x 1 4t 2  22t  24
1 ɺ f ( x) 4 x 2  22 x  24
x 
3
t 3
(b) Let t = 2x + 3, then x .
(b) H ( x) 3 f ( x)  2 g ( x ) 2
ɻ H (a) 5 t 3
By substituting x into
ɺ 3 f (a )  2 g (a) 5 2
3(3a  1)  2( a  2) 5 f (2 x  3) 4 x 2  6 x  4 , we have
2
9a  3  2a  4 5 § t 3· § t 3·
f (t ) 4¨ ¸  6¨ ¸4
11a 12 © 2 ¹ © 2 ¹
12 (t  3) 2  3(t  3)  4
a
11 (t 2  6t  9)  3t  9  4
t 2  3t  4
28. f (2) 2 ɺ f ( x) x 2  3 x  4
(2  2)(2  2)  a(2)  b 2
2a  b 2 ......(1) 1 t
ġ 31. (a) Let t = 1 – 3x, then x .
f (2) 4 3
(2  2)(2  2)  a(2)  b 4 1 t
By substituting x into
2a  b 4 ......(2) 3
ġ (1)  (2): p(1  3x) 9 x 2  3x  6 , we have
2b 6 2
§1 t · §1 t ·
b 3 p(t ) 9 ¨ ¸  3¨ ¸6
© 3 ¹ © 3 ¹
By substituting b 3 into (1), we have (1  t ) 2  (1  t )  6
2a  3 2
1  2t  t 2  1  t  6
1
a  t2  t  6
2
ɺ p( x) x 2  x  6

29. (a) §2·

f (1) f¨ ¸ (b) ɺ p(0)  p(2)
©2¹
(02  0  6)  (22  2  6)
3(2)
5 68
2
8 14

§4·
f (2) f¨ ¸
©2¹
3(4)
5
2
11

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 3 Functions and Graphs

32. (a) Consider UADE and UABC. § 1·

‘DAE ‘BAC (common ɳ) 34. (a) S ( x) (1)( x)  ¨  ¸ (50  6  x)  0(6)
© 4¹
‘ADE ‘ABC (given)
x
‘DEA ‘BCA (ɳ sum of ː) x  11 
4
ɺ UADE a UABC (AAA)
5x
AD DE  11
(corr. sides, ~ːs) 4
AB BC
x cm DE
5(28)
12 cm 8 cm (b) S (28)  11
2x 4
DE cm 24
3
ɺ The score of John is 24 if he gets 28 correct
The area of ːBDE
answers.
1
( AD )( AE )
2 (c) ɻ S ( x) t 34
1 § 2x · 5x
(12  x) ¨ ¸ cm 2 ɺ  11 t 34
2 © 3 ¹ 4
x(12  x) 5x
cm 2 t 45
3 4
x t 36
(b) ɻ The area of UBDE is 9 cm .
2 John does not attempt 6 questions and answers
at least 36 questions correctly.
12 x  x 2 ɺ John answers at most (50 – 6 – 36),
ɺ 9
3 i.e. 8 questions wrongly.
x 2  12 x  27 0
( x  3)( x  9) 0 35. (a) (i) ɻ The cost for holding a party is $7300.
ɺ F (n) 7300
x 3 or x 9
500  80n 7300
ɺ The length of AD is 3 cm or 9 cm.
80n 6800
33. (a)ġġ Let r cm be the radius of the circle. n 85
x 2S r ɺ The number of guests is 85.
x (ii) ɻ The budget to hold the party is $4000.
r
2S ɺ F (n) d 4000
§ x ·
2
500  80n d 4000
A( x) S ¨ ¸
© 2S ¹ n d 43.75
ɺ At most 43 guests can be invited.
§ x2 ·
S¨ 2¸
© 4S ¹ (b) (i) H (n) 100n  F (n)
x2 100n  (500  80n)
4S 100n  500  80n
20n  500
(b) (i) When x = 6,
(ii) When n = 150,
(6) 2
A(6) H (150) 20(150)  500
4S
2500
9
ɺ The profit is $2500 when there are
S 150 guests.
9
ɺ The area of the circle is cm 2 .
S
(ii) A( x) 25S
x2
25S
4S
x 2 100S 2
x 10S or  10S (rejected)
ɺ The length of the wire is 10π cm.

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 4A Full Solutions

Exercise 3C (p. 3.35) 0 a(3)  4

Level 1 4
1. (a) ɻ y = –2is a constant function. a
3
ɺ Its graph is a straight line.
4
ɺ a and b 4
(b) ɻ y = 2x – 4 + x2 is a quadratic function of x. 3
ɺ Its graph is a parabola.
6. (a) ɻ The graph cuts the x-axis and the y-axis at (4, 0)
x2 and (0, 4) respectively.
(c) ɻ y is neither a linear function nor a
x2 ɺ x-intercept = 4 and y-intercept = 4
quadratic function of x.
ġ ġ ɺ Its graph is neither a straight line nor a parabola. (b) ɻ The graph passes through (0, 4).
ɺ By substituting (0, 4) into y = ax + b, we have
4x
(d) ɻ y 5is a linear function of x. 4 a(0)  b
3
b 4
ɺ Its graph is a straight line.
ɻ The graph passes through (4, 0).
ɺ By substituting (4, 0) and b = 4 into y = ax + b,
2. we have
0 a(4)  4
a 1
ɺ a 1 and b 4

7. (a) The graph opens upwards.

(b) The axis of symmetry is x –1.
(c) The coordinates of the vertex are (–1, –1).
(d) The y-intercept of the graph is –0.5.
(e) The x-intercepts of the graph are –2.5 and 0.5.

8. (a) The graph opens downwards.

(b) The axis of symmetry is x –1.
3. f (x) = 4 and g(x) = –1
(c) The coordinates of the vertex are (–1, 4).
(d) The y-intercept of the graph is 3.
4. (a) The function is not a quadratic function.
(e) The x-intercepts of the graph are –3 and 1.
(b) F ( x) x(2 x  1)
9. (a) The axis of symmetry is x 1.5.
2x2  x
ɺ The function is a quadratic function.

(c) g ( x) (2 x  3) 2  1
4 x 2  12 x  9  1
4 x 2  12 x  10
ɺ The function is a quadratic function.

(d) G ( x) ( x  1)( x  1)  x 2
x2  1  x2
1
ɻ The function is a constant function.
ɺ The function is not a quadratic function.

5. (a) ɻ The graph cuts the x-axis and the y-axis at(–3, 0)
and (0, 4) respectively. (b) The coordinates of the intersection of the graph and its
ɺ x-intercept 3 and y-intercept 4 axis of symmetry are (1.5, –1.5).

(c) ɻ The y-coordinate of the minimum point (i.e. the

(b) ɻ The graph passes through (0, 4). vertex) is –1.5.
ɺ By substituting (0, 4) into y = ax + b, we have ɺ The minimum value of the corresponding
4 a(0)  b function is –1.5.
b 4
ɻ The graph passes through (–3, 0).
ɺ By substituting (–3, 0) and b = 4 into y = ax + b,
we have

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 3 Functions and Graphs

10. (a) The axis of symmetry is x 1. 14. (a) y 9  (2  x) 2

9  (4  4 x  x 2 )
ɺ y  x2  4 x  5
2
ɻ Coefficient of x –1 < 0
ɺ The graph opens downwards.

(b) When y 0,
9  (2  x) 2 0
(2  x) 2 9
2  x r3
2  x 3 or 2  x 3
(b) The coordinates of the intersection of the graph and its x 1 or x 5
axis of symmetry are (1, 1.5). ɺ The x-intercepts of the graph are –1 and 5.
Also, the y-intercept of the graph is 5.
(c) ɻ The y-coordinate of the maximum point (i.e. the
vertex) is 1.5. 1
ɺ The maximum value of the corresponding 15.ġ (a)ġ ɻ The graph of y ( x  h)2 passes through
2
function is 1.5. P(4, 0).
1
2
11. (a) For y –2x  6x – 4, ɺ By substituting (4, 0) into y ( x  h) 2 ,
2 2
ɻ Coefficient of x –2  0
we have
ɺ The graph opens downwards.
1
0 (4  h) 2
2
(b) When y 0,
0 (4  h) 2
2 x 2  6 x  4 0
h 4 (repeated)
x 2  3x  2 0
ɺ The value of h is 4.
( x  1)( x  2) 0
x  1 0 or x  2 0 1
(b) From (a), we have y ( x  4) 2 .
x 1 or x 2 2
ɺ The x-intercepts of the graph are 1 and 2. When x 0,
Also, the y-intercept of the graph is –4. 1
y (0  4) 2
2
12. (a) y 9 x  2 x 2  5 8
2x2  9x  5 ɺ The y-intercept of the graph is 8.
2
ɻ Coefficient of x = 2 > 0
ɺ The graph opens upwards. 16. (a) When y 0,
 x2  4x  3 0
(b) When y 0, x2  4x  3 0
2x  9x  5
2
0 ( x  1)( x  3) 0
(2 x  1)( x  5) 0 x 1 or x 3
1 ɺ The x-intercepts of the graph are 1 and 3.
x  or x 5
2 ɺ Coordinates of A and B are (1, 0) and (3, 0)
1 respectively.
ɺ The x-intercepts of the graph are  and 5.
2
Also, the y-intercept of the graph is –5. (b) Coordinates of the mid-point of AB
§1 3 ·
¨ , 0¸
13. (a) y ( x  1)(4  x) © 2 ¹
4x  4  x2  x (2, 0)
ɺ y  x 2  3x  4 ɺ The axis of symmetry is x 2.
ɻ Coefficient of x2 = –1 < 0
2
ɺ The graph opens downwards. 17. ɻ Q(5, k) is the vertex of the graph of y = –x + 10x – 17.
2
ɺ By substituting (5, k) into y = –x + 10x – 17, we have
(b) When y 0, k 52  10(5)  17
( x  1)(4  x) 0 8
x 1 or x 4 ɺ The maximum value of the function is 8.
ɺ The x-intercepts of the graph are –1 and 4.
Also, the y-intercept of the graph is 4.

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 4A Full Solutions

18. (a) ɻ P(h, 6) is the vertex of the graph of the function (b) ɻ The x-intercepts of the given quadratic graph are
y = x2 – 6x + 15. –9 and 9.
2
ɺ By substituting (h, 6) into y = x – 6x + 15, we ɺ The quadratic function is y = A(x + 9)(x – 9),
have where A is a negative real constant since the
6 h 2  6h  15 graph opens downwards.
Let A –1, we have y –(x  9)(x – 9).
h 2  6h  9 0
When x 0,
(h  3) 0 2
y (0  9)(0  9)
h 3 (repeated) 81
ɺ The value of h is 3. ɺ The maximum value of the corresponding
quadratic function is 81.
(b) The axis of symmetry of the graph is x 3. or let A –2, we have y –2(x + 9)(x – 9).
When x 0,
2
(c) ɻ Coefficient of x 1 ! 0 y 2(0  9)(0  9)
ɺ The minimum value of y is 6. 162
ɺ The maximum value of the corresponding
19. (a) ɻ The graph cuts the y-axis at A(0, 7). quadratic function is 162.
ɺ By substituting (0, 7) into y ( x  4) 2  m , (or any other reasonable answers)
we have
Level 2
7 (0  4) 2  m 22. (a) ɻ f (4) 5
7 16  m ɺ k (4) 3 5
m 9 4k  3 5
1
k
(b) From (a), we have y ( x  4) 2  9 . 2
When y = 0,
1
( x  4) 2  9 0 (b) From (a), we have y x 3.
2
( x  4) 2 9 When y 0,
x  4 r3 1
0 x3
x  4 3 or x  4 3 2
x 6
x 7 or x 1
ɺ The x-intercept of the graph is 6.
ɺ The x-intercepts of the graph are 1 and 7.
When x 0,
20. (a) The vertex is the intersection of the quadratic graph 1
y (0)  3
and its axis of symmetry. 2
3 3
When x , ɺ The y-intercept of the graph is 3.
2
2
§3· §3· 1 23. (a) ɻ f (2) k
 ¨ ¸  3¨ ¸ 
y
©2¹ ©2¹ 4 ɺ  k (2)  6 k
9 9 1
   2k  6 k
4 2 4
k 2
2
ɺ The coordinates of the vertex of the graph are
(b) From (a), we have y = –2x + 6.
§3 · When x = 0,
¨ , 2¸ .
©2 ¹ y 2(0)  6
6
(b) ɻ The y-coordinate of the maximum point (i.e. the
ɺ The y-intercept of y = –2x + 6 is 6.
vertex) is 2.
When y = 0,
ɺ The maximum value of y is 2.
0 2 x  6
21. (a) The x-intercepts are –9 and 9. x 3
The axis of symmetry of the given graph is ɺ The x-intercept of y = –2x + 6 is 3.
9  9 3u 6
x , i.e. x = 0. ɺ Area of ːOBA sq. units
2 2
9 sq. units

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 3 Functions and Graphs

24. (a) y  x2  4 26. (a) ɻ The graph of y = –x2 + 6x + k touches the x-axis at
x –3 –2 –1 0 1 2 3 one point.
ɺ '=0
y –5 0 3 4 3 0 –5
i.e. 62  4(1)(k ) 0
36  4k 0
k 9

(b) (i) From (a), we have y  x2  6 x  9 .

When y 0,
 x2  6x  9 0
x2  6x  9 0
( x  3) 0
2

x 3 (repeated)
ɺ The x-intercept of the graph is 3.
ɻ The graph touches the x-axis at one point,
i.e. that point is the vertex.
(b) (i) The graph opens downwards. ɺ The coordinates of the vertex are (3, 0).
(ii) The axis of symmetry is x 0. (ii) ɻ The axis of symmetry passes through the
(iii) The coordinates of the vertex are (0, 4). vertex.
(iv) The y-intercept of the graph is 4. ɺ The axis of symmetry is x 3.
(v) The x-intercepts of the graph are –2 and 2.
(iii) The y-intercept of the graph is –9.
(c) ɻ The y-coordinate of the maximum point (i.e. the
27. (a) Let the graph of y = x(x – k) cuts the x-axis at
vertex) is 4. O(0, 0) and A(x, 0), and let C be the mid-point of OA.
ɺ The maximum value of the function is 4. ɻ The axis of symmetry passes through C.
ɺ The coordinates of C are (3, 0).
1 2 3 By the mid-point formula,
25. (a) y x x
2 2 0 x
3
x –2 –1 0 1 2 3 4 2
y 2.5 0 –1.5 –2 –1.5 0 2.5 x 6
ɺ The x-intercepts of the graph are 0 and 6.

(b) By substituting (6, 0) into y = x(x – k), we have

0 (6)(6  k )
k 6
ɺ y = x(x – 6)
ɻ The axis of symmetry passes through the vertex
of the graph.
ɺ The x-coordinate of the vertex is 3.
When x 3,
y (3)(3  6)
9
ɺ The coordinates of the vertex of the graph are
(3, –9).
(b) (i) The graph opens upwards.
(ii) The axis of symmetry is x 1. 28. (a) ɻ The y-intercept of the graph is –5.
(iii) The coordinates of the vertex are (1, –2). ɺ c 5
(iv) The y-intercept of the graph is –1.5.
(v) The x-intercepts of the graph are –1 and 3. ɻ The coordinates of the vertex of the graph are
(–8, –9).
(c) ɻ The y-coordinate of the minimum point (i.e. the ɺ By substituting x –8, y –9 and c –5 into
vertex) is –2. y ax 2  x  c , we have
ɺ The minimum value of the function is –2.
(9) a(8)2  (8)  (5)
1
a
16

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 4A Full Solutions

1 2 (b) ɻ From the graph, there is no x-intercept.

(b) (i) From (a), we have y x  x5 .
16 ɺ '<0
2 1 i.e. (8) 2  4( a)(c)  0
ɻ Coefficient of x !0
16 64  4ac  0
ɺ The graph opens upwards. ac ! 16
(ii) When y 0, ɺ The statement is true.
1 2
x  x5 0
16 31. Let M be the mid-point of x-intercepts.
x 2  16 x  80 0 ɻ The x-intercept of the graph are –4 and 1 while the
( x  20)( x  4) 0 axis of symmetry passes through M.
4  1 3
x  20 0 or x  4 0 ɺ The x-coordinate of M 
2 2
x 20 or x 4
3
ɺ The x-intercepts of the graph are –20 and 4. ɺ The axis of symmetry is x  .
2
Let b be the x-coordinate of B.
29. (a) ɻ The y-intercept of the graph is 6.
ɻ The axis of symmetry passes through the mid-point of
ɺ c 6
AB.
By substituting (–1, 5) into y = ax2 + bx + 6, we have ɺ The x-coordinate of B is given by
5 a(1) 2  b(1)  6 8  b 3

a  b 1 (1) 2 2
By substituting (5, 5) into y = ax2 + bx + 6, we have 8  b  3
5 a(5)2  b(5)  6 b 5
25a  5b 1 (2) ɺ The x-coordinate of B is 5.
(1) u 5  (2): 5a  25a 5  1
Exercise 3D (p. 3.51)
30a 6 Level 1
2
1 1. (a) ɻ Coefficient of x 1 ! 0
a 
5 ɺ The graph opens upwards.
1
By substituting a  into (1), we have (b) The coordinates of the vertex are (0, –4).
5
1 (c) The axis of symmetry is x 0.
 b 1
5
2
4 2. (a) ɻ Coefficient of x 2 ! 0
b
5 ɺ The graph opens upwards.

(b) The coordinates of the vertex are (3, 0).

(b) The axis of symmetry of the graph is
1  5 (c) The axis of symmetry is x 3.
x
2
x 2 3.
2
(a) ɻ Coefficient of x –1  0
ɺ The graph opens downwards.
1 4
(c) From (a), we have y  x2  x  6 .
5 5 (b) The coordinates of the vertex are (1, –2).
When x = 2,
1 4 (c) The axis of symmetry is x 1.
y  (2) 2  (2)  6
5 5 2
34 4. (a) ɻ Coefficient of x –3  0
5 ɺ The graph opens downwards.
§ 34 ·
ɺ The coordinates of the vertex are ¨ 2, ¸. (b) The coordinates of the vertex are (–3, 1).
© 5 ¹
(c) The axis of symmetry is x –3.
30. (a) ɻġ ġ The graph is opening upwards.
ɺ a!0
2
5. (a) ɻ Coefficient of x 1 ! 0
ɻ The y-intercept of the graph is c and from the ɺ The minimum value of y is –1.
graph, the y-intercept is positive.
ɺ c!0 (b) y attains its minimum value when x 3.
ɺ ac!0
2
ɺ The statement is true. 6. (a) ɻ Coefficient of x 2 ! 0
ɺ The minimum value of y is 0.

(b) y attains its minimum value when x –5.

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 3 Functions and Graphs
2 2
7. (a) ɻ Coefficient of x –2  0 (b) ɻ Coefficient of x 1!0
5 9
ɺ The maximum value of y is  . ɺ The minimum value of y is  .
2 4

(b) y attains its maximum value when x –1. 13. (a) y  x2  4x

2 ( x 2  4 x )
8. (a) ɻ Coefficient of x –1 < 0
ɺ The maximum value of y is 3. ( x 2  4 x  2 2  2 2 )
( x 2  4 x  2 2 )  4
2 ( x  2) 2  4
(b) y attains its maximum value when x = .
3
2
9. (a) x 2  16 x (b) ɻ Coefficient of x –1  0
ɺ The maximum value of y is 4.
x 2  16 x  82  82
( x  8) 2  64 y  x2  5x  1
14. (a)
( x 2  5 x )  1
(b) x  18 x
2
ª §5· §5· º
2 2

x  18 x  9  9
2 2 2  « x2  5x  ¨ ¸  ¨ ¸ »  1
«¬ © 2 ¹ © 2 ¹ »¼
( x  9) 2  81
ª § 5 · º 25
2

 « x2  5x  ¨ ¸ »  1
«¬ © 2 ¹ »¼ 4
10. (a) x2  5x
2
2 2 § 5 · 29
§5· §5· ¨ x  ¸ 
x  5x  ¨ ¸  ¨ ¸
2
© 2¹ 4
©2¹ ©2¹
2
§ 5 · 25
x2  5x  ¨ ¸  (b) ɻ Coefficient of x
2
–1 < 0
©2¹ 4
29
2 ɺ The maximum value of y is .
§ 5 · 25 4
¨x ¸ 
© 2¹ 4
15. (a) y x2  8x  1
(b) x2  7 x x 2  8 x  42  42  1
§7· §7·
2 2
( x 2  8 x  42 )  16  1
x2  7 x  ¨ ¸  ¨ ¸
©2¹ ©2¹ ( x  4) 2  17
2 2
§ 7 · 49 ɻ Coefficient of x 1 > 0
x2  7 x  ¨ ¸  ɺ The minimum value of y is –17.
©2¹ 4
2
§ 7 · 49 (b) The coordinates of the vertex are (4, –17).
¨x ¸ 
© 2¹ 4 The axis of symmetry is x 4.

16. (a) y  x2  6x  3
11. (a) y x2  2x  3
( x 2  6 x )  3
x 2  2 x  12  12  3
( x 2  6 x  32  32 )  3
( x 2  2 x  12 )  1  3
( x 2  6 x  32 )  9  3
( x  1) 2  2
( x  3) 2  12
2
(b) ɻ Coefficient of x 1 ! 0
2 ġ ġ ɻ Coefficient of x –1 < 0ġ
ɺ The minimum value of y is 2. ġ ġ ɺ The maximum value of y is 12.

(b) The coordinates of the vertex are (3, 12).

12. (a) y x 2  3x
The axis of symmetry is x 3.
2 2
§3· §3·
x 2  3x  ¨ ¸  ¨ ¸
©2¹ ©2¹ 17. y x 2  10 x  k
§3· 9
2
x 2  10 x  52  52  k
x 2  3x  ¨ ¸ 
©2¹ 4 ( x 2  10 x  52 )  25  k
§ 3· 9
2
( x  5) 2  k  25
¨x ¸ 
© 2¹ 4

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 4A Full Solutions

ɻġ Minimum value of y = 8 ɺ The maximum value of y is 9.

ġ ġ ġ k  25 8
2
ɺġ ġ ġ ɺ The maximum area of the triangle is 9 cm when x 3.
k 33
21. ɻ The minimum value of the quadratic function is 5.
ɺ The quadratic function can be written as
18. y  x2  6x  k 2
f (x) a(x – h)  5, where a > 0.
( x 2  6 x )  k Let a = 1 and h = 0, we have
( x 2  6 x  32  32 )  k f ( x) ( x  0)2  5
( x 2  6 x  32 )  9  k x2  5
( x  3) 2  9  k or let a 1 and h 1, we have
2
f (x) (x – 1) + 5
ɻ Maximum value of y 12 (or any other reasonable answers)
ɺ 9  k 12
k 3 Level 2
22. (a) y 2x2  4x  7
19. (a) Let x be one of the numbers, then the other number is 2( x 2  2 x)  7
10 – x, and y be the product of these two numbers.
2( x 2  2 x  12  12 )  7
ɺġ y x(10  x)
2( x 2  2 x  12 )  2  7
 x 2  10 x
By completing the square, 2( x  1) 2  5
y  x 2  10 x
2
( x 2  10 x) (b) ɻ Coefficient of x 2 > 0
( x 2  10 x  52  52 ) ɺ The minimum value of y is 5 when x 1.

( x 2  10 x  52 )  25
23. (a) y 3x 2  18 x  5
( x  5) 2  25
3( x 2  6 x)  5
ɺ The maximum value of y is 25.
3( x 2  6 x  32  32 )  5
ɺ The maximum value of the product of these two
numbers is 25. 3( x 2  6 x  32 )  27  5
The maximum value of y is attained when x 5. 3( x  3) 2  32
ɺ The corresponding values of the two numbers are
5 and 5. 2
(b) ɻ Coefficient of x = –3 < 0
(b) Let x be one of the numbers, then the other number is ɺ The maximum value of y is 32 when x –3.
10 – x, and z be the sum of the square of the two
numbers. 24. (a) y 2 x2  5x  2
z x 2  (10  x) 2
ġ ġ § 5 ·
x 2  100  20 x  x 2 2 ¨ x2  x ¸  2
© 2 ¹
2 x 2  20 x  100 ª 2 5 §5· §5· º
2 2

By completing the square, 2 «x  x  ¨ ¸  ¨ ¸ »  2

¬« 2 © 4 ¹ © 4 ¹ ¼»
z 2 x 2  20 x  100
2( x 2  10 x)  100 ª 5 § 5 · º 25
2

2 « x2  x  ¨ ¸ »  2
2( x 2  10 x  52  52 )  100 ¬« 2 © 4 ¹ ¼» 8
2
2( x 2  10 x  52 )  50  100 § 5 · 41
2¨ x  ¸ 
2( x  5) 2  50 © 4¹ 8
ɺ The minimum value of z is 50.
ɺ The minimum value of the sum of the square of (b) ɻ Coefficient of x = 2 > 0
2

these two numbers is 50. 41 5

The minimum value of z is attained when x 5. ɺ The minimum value of y is  when x  .
8 4
ɺ The corresponding values of the two numbers are
5 and 5.
2
20. Let y cm be the area of the triangle.
1
y (2 x)(6  x)
2
 x2  6x
( x 2  6 x  32  32 )
( x 2  6 x  32 )  9
( x  3) 2  9

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 3 Functions and Graphs

25. (a) y 3x 2  4 x  2 28. (a) y x 2  (2c  2) x  1

§ 4 · [ x 2  (2c  2) x  (c  1) 2  (c  1) 2 ]  1
3 ¨ x 2  x ¸  2
© 3 ¹ [ x 2  (2c  2) x  (c  1) 2 ]  (c  1) 2  1
ª 2 4 §2· §2· º
2 2
[ x  (c  1)]2  c 2  2c  2
3 « x  x  ¨ ¸  ¨ ¸ »  2
¬« 3 © 3 ¹ © 3 ¹ ¼» ( x  c  1) 2  c 2  2c  2
ª 4 §2· º 4
2 ɻ Coefficient of x2 = 1 > 0
3 « x 2  x  ¨ ¸ »   2 ɺ The minimum value of y is c 2  2c  2 .
¬« 3 © 3 ¹ »¼ 3
2
§ 2· 2 2
3 ¨ x  ¸  (b) The coordinates of the vertex are (c + 1, –c – 2c – 2).
© 3¹ 3
The axis of symmetry is x c  1.
2
(b) ɻ Coefficient of x = –3 < 0 29. (a) y kx 2  4 x  3
2 2 § 4 ·
ɺ The maximum value of y is  when x . k ¨ x2  x ¸  3
3 3
© k ¹

1 ª 4 §2· §2· º
2 2

26. (a) y  x2  x k « x2  x  ¨ ¸  ¨ ¸ »  3
8 ¬« k © k ¹ © k ¹ ¼»
1 ª §2· º 4
2
 ( x 2  8 x) 4
8 k « x2  x  ¨ ¸ »   3
¬« k © k ¹ ¼» k
1
 ( x 2  8 x  42  42 ) 2
8 § 2· 4
k¨x  ¸ 3
1 © k¹ k
 ( x 2  8 x  42 )  2 2
8 ɻ Coefficient of x k  0
1 4
 ( x  4) 2  2 ɺ The maximum value of y is 3  .
8 k
1
ɻ Coefficient of x2 =   0
8
§ 2 4·
ɺ The maximum value of y is 2. (b) The coordinates of the vertex are ¨  , 3  ¸ .
© k k¹

(b) The coordinates of the vertex are (4, 2). 2

The axis of symmetry is x  .
The axis of symmetry is x 4. k

27. (a) y ( x  3) 2  ( x  6) 2 30. (a) y  x 2  2mx  5m  1

x 2  6 x  9  x 2  12 x  36 ( x 2  2mx)  5m  1
2 x 2  6 x  45 ( x 2  2mx  m 2  m 2 )  5m  1
2( x 2  3 x)  45 ( x  m) 2  m 2  5m  1
ɻ The maximum value of the function is 5.
ª §3· §3· º
2 2

2 « x 2  3 x  ¨ ¸  ¨ ¸ »  45 ɺ m2  5m  1 5
¬« © 2 ¹ © 2 ¹ ¼»
m2  5m  6 0
ª §3· º 9
2

2 « x 2  3 x  ¨ ¸ »   45 (m  6)(m  1) 0
¬« © 2 ¹ ¼» 2 m  6 0 or m  1 0
2
§ 3 · 81 m 6 or m 1 (rejected)
2¨ x  ¸ 
© 2¹ 2
ɻ Coefficient of x2 = 2 > 0 (b) The coordinates of the vertex are (6, 5).
81 The axis of symmetry is x 6.
ɺ The minimum value of y is .
2
31. (a) y 2 x 2  2hx  3h  1
§ 3 81 · 2( x 2  hx)  3h  1
(b) The coordinates of the vertex are ¨ , ¸.
©2 2 ¹ ª §h· §h· º
2 2

3 2 « x 2  hx  ¨ ¸  ¨ ¸ »  3h  1
The axis of symmetry is x . «¬ © 2 ¹ © 2 ¹ »¼
2
ª §h· º
2
§h·
2

2 « x 2  hx  ¨ ¸ »  2 ¨ ¸  3h  1
«¬ © 2 ¹ »¼ ©2¹
2 2
§ h· h
2 ¨ x  ¸   3h  1
© 2¹ 2

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 4A Full Solutions

ɻ The minimum value of the function is –9. ɻ The optimum value of y is 1.

h
2
ɺ 2k 1
ɺ   3h  1 9
2 k 1
h 2  6h  2 18
h 2  6h  16 0 (c) From (b), y 2 x 2  8 x  7 .
(h  2)( h  8) 0 ' 8  4(2)(7)
2

h  2 0 or h  8 0 8
h 2 or h 8 (rejected) !0
ɺ The number of x-intercepts of the graph of the
(b) From (a), we have y 2(x – 1) – 9.
2 function is 2.
ɺ The coordinates of the vertex are (1, –9), and the
35. (a)ġ y x 2  mx  15
axis of symmetry is x 1.
ª 2 §m· º §m·
2 2

32. (a) ɻ V(–4, 5) is the vertex of the graph of the « x  mx  ¨ ¸ »  ¨ ¸  15 ġ

«¬ © 2 ¹ »¼ © 2 ¹
quadratic function.
2
ɺ The quadratic function can be written as § m · m2
f ( x) a( x  4) 2  5 , where a is a constant. ¨x ¸   15
© 2¹ 4
ġ ġ ɻ The y-intercept of the graph is –27. ġ ġ ɻġ The axis of symmetry is x = 4.
ɺ By substituting (0, –27) into y = f (x), we have ġ m
ɺġ 4
a[(0)  4]2  5 27 ġ 2 ġ
16a 32 m 8
a 2 ġ
ɺ f ( x) 2( x  4) 2  5 (b) From (a),
the minimum value of f (x)
(8) 2
(b) ɻ Coefficient of x2 = –2 < 0   15
4
ɺ The graph opens downwards.
16  15
33. (a) ɻ y-intercept 4 1
ɺ By substituting (0, 4) into y (x  4)(x  k) – 2k,
we have 36. (a) y kx 2  6kx  k 2  3
4 (0  4)(0  k )  2k
k ( x 2  6 x)  k 2  3
4 2k
k ( x 2  6 x  32 )  9k  k 2  3
k 2
k ( x  3) 2  k 2  9k  3
(b) From (a), we have ɺ The axis of symmetry is x –3.
y ( x  4)( x  2)  2(2)
(b) From (a), the maximum value of y is k 2  9k  3 .
x2  6x  8  4
ɺ k 2  9k  3 7
x2  6x  4
k 2  9k  10 0
( x 2  6 x  32 )  32  4
(k  10)(k  1) 0
( x  3) 2  5
k  10 0 or k  1 0
The coordinates of the vertex are (–3, –5).
k 10 or k 1
The axis of symmetry is x 3.
ɻ The function has a maximum value.
2
34. (a) y ( x  2)(3  2 x)  x  k ɺ Coefficient of x < 0
3x  6  2 x 2  4 x  x  k ɺ k<0
2 x 2  8 x  6  k ɺ k 10
ɻ Coefficient of x2 = –2 < 0
ɺ The optimum value is a maximum. 37. (a) y 4  ( x  1) 2
( x  1) 2  4
(b) y 2 x  8 x  6  k
2
The area of ːABC is maximum when C is the vertex.
2( x 2  4 x)  6  k ɺ The coordinates of C are (1, 4).
2( x 2  4 x  22  22 )  6  k
2( x 2  4 x  22 )  8  6  k
2( x  2)2  2  k

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 3 Functions and Graphs

(b) When y 0, and k  9 25

4  ( x  1) 2 0 k 16
( x  1) 2 4
x  1 2 or x  1 2 (b) From (a), y x 2  6 x  16 .
x 1 or x 3 When y = 0,
ɺ The coordinates of A and B are (–1, 0) and (3, 0) x 2  6 x  16 0
respectively. ( x  2)( x  8) 0
1 x  2 0 or x  8 0
ɺ Area of ːABC [3  (1)] (4  0) sq. units
2 x 2 or x 8
8 sq. units
ɺ The coordinates of P and Q are (–2, 0) and (8, 0)
respectively.
38. (a) ɻ The graph passes through the origin.
ɺ By substituting (0, 0) into y 2 x 2  bx  c , we (c) Area of rectangle PQRS
[8  (2)] u [0  (25)] sq. units
have
10 u 25 sq. units
0 2(0) 2  b(0)  c
250 sq. units
c 0
y 2 x 2  bx
40. (a) ɻ The graph cuts the y-axis at C(0, 5).
§ b · ɺ By substituting (0, 5) into y ( x  3) 2  k ,
2 ¨ x 2  x ¸
© 2 ¹ we have
ª 2 b §b· §b· º
2 2
5 (0  3) 2  k
2 « x  x  ¨ ¸  ¨ ¸ »
«¬ 2 © 4 ¹ © 4 ¹ »¼ k 4
ª b §b· º b
2 2
2 « x 2  x  ¨ ¸ »  (b) From (a), we have y ( x  3) 2  4 .
«¬ 2 © 4 ¹ »¼ 8
When y = 0,
2
§ b · b2 ( x  3) 2  4 0
2 ¨ x  ¸ 
© 4¹ 8 ( x  3) 2 4
b2 x  3 2 or x  3 2
ɻ The maximum value of y is .
8 x 1 or x 5
b2 ɺ The coordinates of A and B are (1, 0) and (5, 0)
ɺ 8
8 respectively.
b 2 64
b 8 or  8 1
(c) (i) Area of ːABC (5  1)(5  0) sq. units
ɻġ The axis of symmetry of the graph cuts the 2
positive x-axis. 10 sq. units
b
ɺ !0 (ii) The area of ːABP is maximum when P is the
4 vertex.
b!0 Let the coordinates of P be (3, –4) such that P is
ɺ b = –8 should be rejected. the vertex of the graph.
ɺ b 8 1
Area of ːABP (5  1)(4) sq. units
2
(b) From (a), we have y 2 x 2  8 x . 8 sq. units
When y 0,  10 sq. units
2 x 2  8 x 0 ɺ It is impossible that the area of ːABP is
x2  4 x 0 greater than the area of ːABC.
x( x  4) 0
41. (a) h 30t  5t 2
x 0 or x 4
ɺ The coordinates of P are (4, 0). 5t 2  30t
5(t 2  6t )
39. (a) y x  6x  k
2
5(t 2  6t  32  32 )
x 2  6 x  32  32  k 5(t 2  6t  9)  45
( x  6 x  9)  9  k
2
5(t  3) 2  45
( x  3)  k  9
2
ɺ When t 3, h attains its maximum value.
ɻ Coordinates of the vertex (h, –25) ɺ The ball will attain its maximum height after
ɺ h 3 3 seconds.

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 4A Full Solutions
2
(b) From (a), h –5(t – 3)  45. (b) From (a), the minimum value of C is attained when
ɺ The maximum height reached is 45 m. x 5.
ɺ Half of the maximum height reached is 22.5 m. When x 5, 15 – x 15 – 5 10
2 2
By substituting h 22.5 into h 30t – 5t2, we have ɺ The area of the flowerbed 5 m 25 m 2
22.5 30t  5t 2 The area of the grassland
2
10 m
2
100 m 2
5t  30t  22.5 0
2

Using the quadratic formula, 44. (a) ɻ ːAFE ~ ːABC (AAA)

(30) r (30)2  4(5)(22.5) EF AF
t ɺ (corr. sides, ~ːs)
2(5) CB AB
30 r 450 AF
EF ˜ CB
10 AB
0.879 or 5.12 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) 8 x
˜ 12 cm
ɺ When t 0.879 or 5.12, the ball reaches half of its 8
maximum height. 3
(8  x) cm
2
42. (a) Let x cm be the height of the entrance, then the width
of the entrance is (48 – 2x) cm. (b) Area of rectangle BDEF DE ˜ EF
Let y cm2 be the area of the entrance.
ɺ y x(48  2 x) 3
x(8  x) cm 2
2 x 2  48 x 2
By completing the square,
y 2 x 2  48 x (c) Let y cm2 be the area of rectangle BDEF.
2( x 2  24 x) ġ ġ ɺ y 3 x(8  x)
2
2( x  24 x  12  12 )
2 2 2
3
 ( x 2  8 x)
2( x 2  24 x  122 )  288 2
2( x  12) 2  288 3
 ( x 2  8 x  42  42 )
ɺ The maximum value of y is 288. 2
ɺ
2
The maximum area of the entrance is 288 cm . 3
 ( x 2  8 x  42 )  24
2
(b) (i) From (a), the maximum value of y is attained 3
 ( x  4) 2  24
when x 12. 2
When x 12, 48 – 2x 48 – 2(12) 24. ɺ When x 4, y attains its maximum value of 24.
ɺ The width of the entrance is 24 cm when its 3 3
area is a maximum. When x 4, (8  x) (8  4) 6
2 2
(ii) The area of the entrance attains its maximum only ɺ The dimensions and the area of the largest
if the height of the entrance is 12 cm. rectangle that can be inscribed in ːABC are
Therefore, if the height of the entrance is greater 6 cm u 4 cm (or 4 cm u 6 cm) and 24 cm2
than the width, the area of the entrance cannot respectively.
attain its maximum in (a).

43. (a) Let x m be the side of the flowerbed, then the side
§ 60  4 x ·
of the grassland is ¨ ¸ m, i.e. (15 – x) m.
© 4 ¹
Let $C be the total cost of making the flowerbed and
the grassland.
ɺ C 200 x  100(15  x)
2 2

200 x 2  100(225  30 x  x 2 )
300 x 2  3000 x  22 500
By completing the square,
C 300 x 2  3000 x  22 500
300( x 2  10 x)  22 500
300( x 2  10 x  52  52 )  22 500
300( x 2  10 x  52 )  7500  22 500
300( x  5) 2  15 000
ɺ The minimum value of C is 15 000.
ɺ The minimum total cost of making the flowerbed
and the grassland is $15 000.

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 3 Functions and Graphs

45. (a) Let AB x cm, then DC 2x cm. Check Yourself (p. 3.58)
ɻġ AB  AD  DC 60 cm 1. (a) 8 (b) 8 (c) 9 (d) 8
ɺ AD (60 – x – 2x) cm (60 – 3x) cm
2. upwards, –6
ɺ The area of the trapezium
( AB  DC )( AD) 3. (0, 1)
2
( x  2 x)(60  3 x) 4. Graph (IV)
cm 2
2
(3 x)(60  3 x) 5. 4, 14
cm 2 y  x2  8x  2
2
180 x  9 x 2 ( x 2  8 x )  2
cm 2
2 ( x 2  8 x  4 2  4 2 )  2
§ 9 2 · ( x 2  8 x  42 )  16  2
¨  x  90 x ¸ cm
2

© 2 ¹ ( x  4) 2  14
9
 ( x 2  20 x) cm 2
2 6. x 2
9 2
 ( x  20 x  102  102 ) cm 2
2 7. (a) f (2) (2)2  (2)
ª 9 2 º 2
«  2 ( x  20 x  10 )  450 » cm
2 2

¬ ¼
ª 9 º (b) f (2) (2)2  (2)
«  2 ( x  10)  450 » cm
2 2

¬ ¼ 6
2
ɺ The maximum area of the trapezium is 450 cm .
8. f (a  1) 3(a  1) 2
(b) BC ( DC  AB) 2  AD 2 (Pyth. theorem)
3(a 2  2a  1)
x  (60  3x)
2 2
3a 2  6a  3
2
x  3600  360 x  9 x
2 2
f (a ) 3a
10 x 2  360 x  3600 ɺ f (a  1)  f (a) 3a 2  6a  3  3a 2
From (a), the maximum area of the trapezium is 6a  3
attained when x 10.
When x = 10,
the perimeter of the trapezium 9. y x2  6x  5
AB  AD  DC  BC x 2  6 x  32  32  5
[60  10(10) 2  360(10)  3600] cm ( x 2  6 x  32 )  9  5
(60  1000) cm ( x  3) 2  4
2
| 91.6228 cm ɺ The minimum value of y x – 6x  5 is –4
0.916 228 m when x 3.
1 m Revision Exercise 3 (p. 3.59)
ɺ The wire of length 1 m is long enough to form the Level 1
trapezium with its area the same as found in (a). 1. As each value of x gives exactly one value of y, y is a
function of x.
(c) BC 10 x 2  360 x  3600
2. As the value of x b gives more than one value of y (a and
10( x 2  36 x)  3600 b), y is not a function of x.
10( x 2  36 x  182  182 )  3600
3. As the value x d does not give any values of y, y is not a
10( x  18) 2  3240  3600 function of x.
10( x  18) 2  360 (1)  1
ɺ The minimum length of BC 4. When x 1, y 1;
2
360 cm (2)  1 3
when x 2, y ;
| 18.9737 cm 2 2
 19 cm (3)  1
when x 3, y 2 , etc.
ɺ The length of BC can be shorter than 19 cm. 2
ɺ John’s claim is disagreed. Each value of x gives exactly one value of y.
ɺ y is a function of x.

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 4A Full Solutions

5. When x –1, y (1  1)(1  1) 0 ; 11. (a) f (0) (0) 2  3(0)  4

when x 0, y (0  1)(0  1) 1 ; 4
when x 1, y (1  1)(1  1) 0 , etc.
Each value of x gives exactly one value of y.
ɺ y is a function of x. (b) f (2) (2) 2  3(2)  4
4  6  4
6. When x 0, y 2 (0) 2  1 14
2
y 1
y 1 or  1 (2)  2
12. (a) f (2)
ɻ Not every value of x gives exactly one value of y. (2) 2  1
ɺ y is not a function of x. 0

7. When x –1, y (1) 2  1 2; §1·

¨ ¸2
when x 0, y (0)  1 1 ;
2
(b) §1· ©2¹
f¨ ¸ 2
©2¹ §1·
(1)  1 ¨ ¸ 1
2
when x 1, y 2 , etc.
©2¹
Each value of x gives exactly one value of y.
ɺ y is a function of x. 5
2
5
8.
4
2

(2)  2
(c) f (2)
(2) 2  1
4
5
ɻ Any vertical line intersects the graph at only one point. 1 1
ɺ For any values of x, where –2 ≤ x ≤ 10, there is only ɺ
f (2) 4
one corresponding value of y. 5
ɺ y is a function of x. 5
4
9.
13. (a) f (60q) cos60q
1
2

(b) g (45q) tan 45q

1
ɻ The vertical line intersects the graph at two points.
ɺ For a certain value of x, where –5 ≤ x ≤ 5, there are 3
more than one corresponding value of y. (c) f (30q) cos30q
2
ɺ y is not a function of x.
1
g (30q) tan 30q
10. 3
3 1
ɺ f (30q) ˜ g (30q) ˜
2 3
ġ ġ
1
2

ɻ Any vertical line intersects the graph at only one point.

ɺ For any values of x, where –12 ≤ x ≤ 23, there is only
one corresponding value of y.
ɺ y is a function of x.

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 3 Functions and Graphs

1 18. (a) When y 0,

(d) f (45q) cos 45q
2 0 x  3
g (60q) tan 60q 3 x 3
2
ɺ The x-intercept of the graph is 3.
§ 1 · When x 0,
[ f (45q)]2 ¨ ¸
© 2¹ y (0)  3
ɺ
g (60q) 3 3
1 § 3· ɺ The y-intercept of the graph is 3.
¨ or ¸
2 3 ¨© 6 ¸¹
(b)

14. (a) ɻ f (0) 2

ɺ 2(0)  b 2
b 2

(b) From (a), we have f ( x) 2x  2 .

ɺ f (3) 2(3)  2 19. (a) Area of ːOAB 12 sq. units
6  2 1
u AO u OB 12 sq. units
4 2
1
u AO u (6 units) 12 sq. units
15. ɻġ ġ f (1) g (1) 2
ɺ 2(1)  3k k AO 4 units
2k 2 ɺ The coordinates of A are (4, 0).
k 1
(b) By substituting (0, 6) into y ax  b, we have
6 a(0)  b
16. (a) ɻ f (0) 3
b 6
ɺ 3(0)  a(0)  b
2
3
By substituting (4, 0) and b = 6 into y ax  b, we
b 3 have
ɺ f ( x) 3x 2  ax  3 0 a(4)  6
ɻ f (3) 0 3
a
2
ɺ 3(3) 2  a( 3)  3 0
27  3a  3 0
3
3a 24 (c) From (b), we have f ( x) x6.
2
a 8
f ( x) 3
3
(b) From (a), we have f ( x) 3x 2  8 x  3 . x6 3
2
f ( x) 0 3
x 3
3x 2  8 x  3 0 2
( x  3)(3 x  1) 0 x 2
x3 0 or 3x  1 0
1 20. (a) (i) The graph opens upwards.
x 3 or x (ii) The axis of symmetry is x 1.
3
(iii) The coordinates of the vertex are (1, –4).
(iv) The y-intercept of the graph is –3.
17. (a) f (a  1) (a  1) 2  3(a  1)  9 (v) The x-intercepts of the graph are –1 and 3.
(a 2  2a  1)  3a  3  9
(b) ɻ The y-coordinate of the minimum point (i.e. the
a 2  5a  5 vertex) is –4.
ɺ The minimum value of the quadratic function is
(b) ɻ f (a  1) a –4.
ɺ a  5a  5
2
a
(c) y ( x  1) 2  4
a  4a  5 0
2

(a  5)(a  1) 0
a5 0 or a  1 0
a 5 or a 1

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 4A Full Solutions

21. (a) (i) The graph opens downwards. (c) When y 0,

(ii) The axis of symmetry is x –1. (2  x)( x  6) 0
(iii) The coordinates of the vertex are (–1, 5). x 2 or x 6
(iv) The y-intercept of the graph is 3. ɺ The x-intercepts of the graph are –6 and 2.
(v) The x-intercepts of the graph are –2.6 and 0.6.
25. (a) y x( x  5)  10
(b) ɻ The y-coordinate of the maximum point (i.e. the
vertex) is 5. x 2  5 x  10
ɺ The maximum value of the quadratic function is ɻ Coefficient of x 2 1 ! 0
5. ɺ The graph opens upwards.

(c) y 2( x  1)2  5 (b) When x 0,

y (0)(0  5)  10
22. (a) For y x2  6x  7 , 10
ɻ Coefficient of x 2 1 ! 0 ɺ The y-intercept of the graph is 10.
ɺ The graph opens upwards.
(c) When y 0,
(b) When x 0, x( x  5)  10 0
(0) 2  6(0)  7
y x  5 x  10 0
2

7 ' (5) 2  4(1)(10)

ɺ The y-intercept of the graph is –7. 15
0
(c) When y 0, ɺ The graph of the function has no x-intercepts.
x2  6x  7 0
( x  1)( x  7) 0 26. (a) (i) y (6  x) 2
x 1 or x 7 ( x  6) 2
ɺ The x-intercepts of the graph are –1 and 7. ġ ġ ġ ɻ Coefficient of x2 = 1 > 0
ɺ The graph opens upwards.
23. (a) For y 2 x 2  20 x , (ii) The coordinates of the vertex are (6, 0).
ɻ Coefficient of x 2 2  0 (iii) The axis of symmetry is x 6.
ɺ The graph opens downwards.
(b) The minimum value of y (6  x) 2 is 0 when x 6.
(b) When x 0,
y 2(0) 2  20(0) 27. (a) (i) y 4( x  2) 2  1
0 4[ x  (2)]2  1
ɺ The y-intercept of the graph is 0. ɻ Coefficient of x 4 > 0
2

ɺ The graph opens upwards.

(c) When y 0, (ii) The coordinates of the vertex are (–2, 1).
2 x 2  20 x 0 (iii) The axis of symmetry is x –2.
2 x( x  10) 0
x 0 or x 10 (b) The minimum value of y 4( x  2) 2  1 is 1 when
ɺ The x-intercepts of the graph are –10 and 0. x –2.

24. (a) y (2  x)( x  6) 28. (a) (i) y 2(3  x) 2  4

2 x  x 2  12  6 x 2( x  3) 2  4
ɺ y  x 2  4 x  12 ɻ Coefficient of x 2 2  0
ġ ġ ɻ Coefficient of x 1  0 2
ɺ The graph opens downwards.
ɺ The graph opens downwards. (ii) The coordinates of the vertex are (3, –4).
(iii) The axis of symmetry is x 3.
(b) When x 0,
y (2  0)(0  6) (b) The maximum value of y 2(3  x) 2  4 is –4 when
12 x 3.
ɺ The y-intercept of the graph is 12.

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 3 Functions and Graphs

29. (a) y x 2  8 x  13 (b) From (a), we have

x 2  8 x  42  42  13 y 3x 2  24 x  48

( x 2  8 x  42 )  16  13 3( x 2  8 x)  48

( x  4)2  3 3( x 2  8 x  42  42 )  48

ɻ Coefficient of x 2 1 ! 0 3( x 2  8 x  42 )  48  48
ɺ The minimum value of y is 3. 3( x  4) 2
ɺ The coordinates of the vertex are (–4, 0).
(b) y attains its minimum value when x –4. Alternative Solution
ɻ The graph touches the x-axis at one point.
30. (a) y  x 2  6 x  25 ɺ The point is the vertex of the graph.
( x 2  6 x)  25 When y 0,
3x 2  24 x  48 0
( x 2  6 x  32  32 )  25
x 2  8 x  16 0
( x 2  6 x  9)  9  25
( x  4) 2 0
( x  3) 2  16
x 4 (repeated)
ɻ Coefficient of x 2 1  0
ɺ The coordinates of the vertex are (–4, 0).
ɺ The maximum value of y is 16.

(b) y attains its maximum value when x 3. 34. y x2  8x  k

x 2  8 x  42  42  k
31. (a) y 2x  6x  1
2
( x 2  8 x  42 )  16  k
2( x 2  3x)  1 ( x  4)2  (16  k )
ª 2
§3· § 3·
2
º ɻ Minimum value of y = –12
2 « x 2  3x  ¨ ¸  ¨ ¸ » 1
«¬ ©2¹ © 2¹ »¼ ɺ (16  k ) 12
§ 9· 9 k 4
2 ¨ x 2  3x  ¸   1
© 4¹ 2
2 35. y  x 2  kx
§ 3· 7
2¨ x  ¸  ( x 2  kx)
© 2¹ 2
ɻ Coefficient of x 2 2!0 ª §k· §k· º
2 2

 « x 2  kx  ¨ ¸  ¨ ¸ »
7 ¬« © 2 ¹ © 2 ¹ ¼»
ɺ The minimum value of y is  .
2
ª §k· º k
2 2
 « x 2  kx  ¨ ¸ » 
3 «¬ © 2 ¹ »¼ 4
(b) y attains its minimum value when x  .
2 § k · k2
2

¨ x  ¸ 
© 2¹ 4
32. ɻ y-intercept 9
ɻ Maximum value of y 
ɺ By substituting (0, 9) into y 2( x  h)2  9 ,
k2
we have ɺ 16
4
9 2(0  h) 2  9
k 2 64
2h 2 18
k 8 or k 8
h2 9
h 3 (rejected) or h 3 36. Let x be the larger number, then the smaller number
ɺ y 2( x  3) 2  9 is x – 18.
ɺ The axis of symmetry is x 3. The product of the two numbers
x( x  18)
33. (a) ɻ The graph touches the x-axis at one point. x 2  18 x
ɺ Δ 0 x 2  18 x  92  92
i.e. 24  4(a)(48) 0
2
( x  9) 2  81
576  192a 0 ɺġ ġ The minimum value of their product is –81.
a 3

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 4A Full Solutions

37. Let x cm be the length of the rectangle, then the width of x 1

1 42. f ( x  1)
the rectangle is (16  2 x) cm . x 1
2 ( x  1)  2
Let y cm2 be the area of the rectangle formed. ( x  1)
1
ɺ y x(16  2 x) x2
2 ɺ f ( x)
x
x(8  x)
 x2  8x
43. (a) h( x ) g (2 x  1)
( x 2  8 x ) 2(2 x  1)  1
( x 2  8 x  4 2  4 2 ) 4x  2  1
( x 2  8 x  42 )  16 4x  3
( x  4) 2  16
ɺ The maximum area of the rectangle formed is 16 cm2. (b) ɻ g ( p  2) h( p)
ɺ 2( p  2)  1 4p 3
Level 2
2p 5 4p 3
38. f ( x) 2 x 2  a( x  4)
2p 2
f (a) 3
p 1
2a 2  a(a  4) 3
2a  a  4a
2 2
3 44. (a) (i) f (1)
a 2  4a  3 0 2(1)  2 (1)
(a  3)(a  1) 0 3
a 3 0 or a  1 0 2
a 3 or a 1
f (1)
2( 1)  2 ( 1)
39. ɻ f (1) 3
3
ɺ a(1  2)(1  2)  b 3 
2
3a  b 3......(1)
ɻ f (3) 13
(ii) f (0)
ɺ a(3  2)(3  2)  b 13
2(0)  2 (0)
5a  b 13......(2)
0
(2) – (1):
f (1)  f (1)
8a 16
§3· § 3·
a 2 ¨ ¸  ¨ ¸
©2¹ © 2¹
By substituting a 2 into (1), we have
0
3(2)  b 3
f (0)
b 3
ɺ f (1)  f (–1) f (0) is true.

40. f ( x) 2( x  1) 2  1 (b) f ( x)  f (  x)
R.H.S. f (2  p)
(2 x  2 x )  (2  x  2 x )
2(2  p  1)  1 2
0
2(1  p) 2  1 f (0)
2( p  1) 2  1 ɺ f (x)  f (–x) f (0) is true for all integral values
f ( p) of x.
L.H.S.
ɺ f ( p) f (2  p)

41. Let t x  3, then x t – 3.

2
By substituting x t – 3 into f (x  3) x – 2x – 4, we have
f (t ) (t  3) 2  2(t  3)  4
t 2  6t  9  2t  6  4
t 2  8t  11
ɺ f ( x) x 2  8 x  11

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 3 Functions and Graphs

45. (a) y  x2  6 x  5 (b) When x 0,

x 0 1 2 3 4 5 y f (0)
y 5 0 3 4 3 0 3[(0)  2]2  5
17
ɺ The y-intercept of the graph is 17.

48. y k ( x  4)( x  2)  k  3
k ( x 2  2 x  8)  k  3
k ( x 2  2 x )  8k  k  3
k ( x 2  2 x  12  12 )  9k  3
k ( x  1) 2  k  9k  3
k ( x  1) 2  10k  3
ɻ The optimum value of the quadratic function is 13.
ɺ 10k  3 13
k 1
(b) (i) The axis of symmetry is x 3. 2
ɻ Coefficient of x k –1 < 0
(ii) The coordinates of the vertex are (3, 4).
(iii) The y-intercept of the graph is –5. ɺ The graph of the quadratic function opens downwards.
(iv) The x-intercepts of the graph are 1 and 5.
49. Let (a, 0) and (0, b) be the coordinates of A and B
(c) ɻġ The y-coordinate of the maximum point (i.e. the respectively.
vertex) is 4. By substituting (a, 0) into y (k – 1)x  2k, we have
ɺ The maximum value of the function is 4. 0 (k  1)(a)  2k
2k
a
46. (a) y ( x  1)( x  3)  5 k 1
x 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 By substituting (0, b) into y (k – 1)x  2k, we have
y 0 5 8 9 8 5 0 b (k  1)(0)  2k
b 2k
ɻ Area of ːAOB 9 sq. units
ɺ 1
ab 9
2
1 § 2k ·
¨ ¸ (2k ) 9
2 © k 1¹
2k 2  9k  9 0
(2k  3)(k  3) 0
3
k or k 3
2

50. ɻ The coordinates of the vertex of the graph are (2, –4).
(b) (i) The axis of symmetry is x 1. ɺ h 2 and k 4
(ii) The coordinates of the vertex are (1, 9). ɻ The y-intercept of the graph is 4.
(iii) The y-intercept of the graph is –8.
ɺ By substituting (0, 4) into y a( x  2)2  4 , we have
(iv) The x-intercepts of the graph are –4 and 2.
4 a(0  2) 2  4
(c) ɻġ The y-coordinate of the minimum point (i.e. the 4a 8
vertex) is –9. a 2
ɺ The minimum value of the function is 9.

47. (a) ɻ V(2, 5) is the vertex of the graph of the 51. ɻ The coordinates of the vertex of the graph are (–4, 6).
quadratic function. ɺ h 4 and k 6
ɺ The quadratic function can be written as ɻ The y-intercept of the graph is –2.
f ( x) a( x  2) 2  5 , where a ! 0. ɺ
2
By substituting (0, –2) into y a(x  4)  6, we
ġ ġ ɻ f (4) 17 have
ɺ a (4  2) 2  5 17 2 a (0  4) 2  6
4a 12 16a 8
a 3 1
a 
ɺ f ( x) 3( x  2)2  5 2

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 4A Full Solutions

52. (a) From the graph, y-intercept 8 54. (a) ɻ The axis of symmetry is x 3.
ɺ c 8 D E
ɺġ ġ 2 3

(b) From (a), we have y x2  6x  8 . D E 6

When y 0,
x2  6x  8 0 (b) (i) ɻ AB 8
( x  2)( x  4) 0 ɺ D–E 8
x 2 or x 4 ɺ (D  E )  (D  E ) 68
D 7
ɻ D<E
ɺ E 6 – D –1
ɺ D 4 and E 2
ɺ DE (7)(–1) 7

(c) The axis of symmetry of the graph is

4  2 (ii) ɻ The x-intercepts of the graph of the quadratic
x function are –1 and 7.
2
ɺ The quadratic function is in the form
x 3
y a(x  1)(x – 7), where a is a non-zero
When x = –3, y (3) 2  6(3)  8 constant.
1 When a –1,
ɺ The coordinates of the minimum point are the y-intercept of the graph
(3, 1). (0  1)(0  7)
7
53. (a) (i) By substituting (1, 0) into y x2  px  q, we or when a 2,
have the y-intercept of the graph
0 12  p(1)  q 2(0  1)(0  7)
0 1 p  q (1) 14
By substituting (6, 0) into y x2  px  q, we ɺ The y-intercept of the graph may not be –7.
have ɺ The claim is disagreed.
0 62  p(6)  q
(iii) From (b)(ii), the quadratic function is
0 36  6 p  q (2)
y a(x  1)(x – 7).
(2) – (1): ɻ y-intercept –7
0 35  5 p ɺ 7 a(0  1)(0  7)
p 7 a 1
By substituting p 7 into (1), we have When x 3,
0 1 7  q y (3  1)(3  7)
q 6 16
2
ɻ Coefficient of x 1 ! 0
§1 6 · §7 · ɺ The minimum value of the function is –16.
(ii) The mid-point of AB is ¨ , 0 ¸ , i.e. ¨ , 0 ¸ .
© 2 ¹ ©2 ¹
7 55. y 2 x 2  10 x  16
ɺ The axis of symmetry of the graph is x .
2 ª §5· §5· º
2 2

(b) From (a), we have y x 2  7 x  6 . 2 « x 2  5 x  ¨ ¸  ¨ ¸ »  16

¬« © 2 ¹ © 2 ¹ ¼»
7
When x ,
2 ª § 5 · º 25
2

2 « x2  5x  ¨ ¸ »   16
§7·
2
§7· ¬« © 2 ¹ ¼» 2
y ¨ ¸  7¨ ¸  6
2
© ¹ ©2¹ § 5· 7
2

2¨ x  ¸ 
49 49 © 2¹ 2
 6
4 2 §5 7·
25 ɺ The coordinates of the vertex Q are ¨ , ¸ .
 ©2 2¹
4
ɺ Area of OPQR
25
ɺ The minimum value of x 2  7 x  6 is  . OP u PQ
4
5 7
ɻ 2 x 2  14 x  12 2( x 2  7 x  6) u sq. units
2 2
ɺ The minimum value of 2 x 2  14 x  12 35
sq. units
§ 25 · 4
2¨  ¸
© 4 ¹
25

2

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 3 Functions and Graphs

56. (a) Let p be the x-coordinate of C. § 3 ·

ɺ Area of PQRS ¨ 3  x ¸ ( x) cm
2
ɻ The x-coordinates of A and B are 2 and 0 8 ¹
©
respectively and A is the mid-point of BC.
0 p § 3 2· 2
ɺ 2 ¨ 3x  x ¸ cm
2 © 8 ¹
p 4
(b) Let Y cm2 be the area of PQRS.
ɺ The x-coordinate of C is 4.
3
Let q be the y-coordinate of A, B and C. Y 3x  x 2
ɻ Area of ːBVC = 4 sq. units 8
( BC )( AV ) 3
ɺ 4 sq. units  ( x 2  8 x)
2 8
(4)( q  3) 3
4  ( x 2  8 x  42  42 )
2 8
q3 2 3
 ( x 2  8 x  16)  6
q 5 8
3
ɺ The coordinates of A, B and C are (2, 5), (0, 5)  ( x  4) 2  6
8
and (4, 5) respectively.
ɺ The maximum value of Y is 6.
(b) ɻ The coordinates of the vertex are (2, 3). ɺ The area of the largest rectangle is 6 cm2.
ɺ f ( x) a ( x  2) 2  3 , where a ≠ 0.
58. (a) AP DS CR BQ (10  x) cm
ɻ The y-intercept of the graph is 5.
ɺ By substituting (0, 5) into y f (x), we have §1·
ɺ S ( x) 10 u 10  4 ¨ ¸ ( x)(10  x)
a[(0)  2]2  3 5 ©2¹
4a 2 100  20 x  2 x 2
1 2 x 2  20 x  100
a
2
1 (b) S ( x) 2 x 2  20 x  100
ɺ f ( x) ( x  2)  3
2

2 2( x 2  10 x)  100
ɻ The graph of y g(x) is a horizontal line passing 2( x 2  10 x  52  52 )  100
through A, B and C. 2( x 2  10 x  25)  50  100
ɺ g(x) 5
2( x  5) 2  50
ɺ S(x) attains its minimum value when x 5.
57. (a)
i.e. The area of the remaining part attains its
minimum when P, Q, R and S are the mid-points
F
of the corresponding sides.
ɺ Jason’s claim is agreed.

Let E be a point on AB such that CEʄAB. Suppose CE 59. (a) The area of ːAEF
and SR intersect at the point F. ª 6( x) 4(6  x) x(4  x) º
ɻ ːAEC # ːBEC (RHS) «4 u 6  2  
2 »¼
cm 2
¬ 2
8 § x2 ·
ɺ AE BE cm 4 cm (corr. sides, #ːs)
¨ 24  3 x  12  2 x  2 x  ¸ cm
2
2 2¹
©
x
Similarly, SF cm . §1 2 ·
¨ x  3x  12 ¸ cm
2
2
©2 ¹
CE 52  42 cm 3 cm (Pyth. theorem)
ɻ ːASP ~ ːACE (AAA) The domain of the function is 0  x  4.

ɺ AP SP
(corr. sides, ~ːs)
AE CE
x
4
2 SP
4 3 cm
§ 3 ·
¨ 12  2 x ¸
SP ¨ ¸ cm
4 ¸
¨¨ ¸
© ¹
§ 3 ·
¨ 3  x ¸ cm
© 8 ¹

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 4A Full Solutions

(b) The minimum area of ːAEF (iii) P n 2  80n  300

§1 2 · (n 2  80n  402  402 )  300
¨ x  3 x  12 ¸ cm
2

©2 ¹
(n 2  80n  402 )  1600  300
ª1 2 º
« 2 ( x  6 x)  12 » cm
2
(n  40) 2  1300
¬ ¼
ɺ P attains its maximum value when n 40.
ª1 2 º
« 2 ( x  6 x  3  3 )  12 » cm ɺ The maximum daily profit is $1300.
2 2 2

¬ ¼ ɺ The staff’s claim is disagreed.

ª1 9 º
« 2 ( x  3)  2  12 » cm
2 2

¬ ¼ Challenging Questions (p.3.65)

1. (a) The area of the grassland
ª1 15 º
« 2 ( x  3)  2 » cm
2 2
(60  2 x)(40  2 x) m 2
¬ ¼
15 (2400  80 x  120 x  4 x 2 ) m2
ɺ The minimum area of ːAEF is cm2 .
2 (2400  200 x  4 x 2 ) m 2
The total area of the pebble footpath
(c) The area of ːCEF ª (60  2 x  60)( x) º 2
2« » m
x(4  x) ¬ 2 ¼
cm 2
2 x(120  2 x) m 2

§ x2 ·
¨ 2 x  ¸ cm
2 (120 x  2 x 2 ) m 2
© 2¹ The total area of the sandy footpath
ª 1 2 º ª (40  2 x  40)( x) º 2
«  2 ( x  4 x) » cm
2
2« » m
¬ ¼ ¬ 2 ¼
1 x(80  2 x) m 2
 [ x 2  4 x  (2) 2  (2) 2 ] cm 2
2
(80 x  2 x 2 ) m 2
ª 1 º
«  2 ( x  2)  2 » cm
2 2
ɺ C 125(120 x  2 x 2 )  25(80 x  2 x 2 )
¬ ¼
2 1  100(2400  200 x  4 x 2 )
ɻ Coefficient of x   0
2 15 000 x  250 x 2  2000 x  50 x 2  240 000
ɺ The area of ːCEF is the maximum when x = 2.  20 000 x  400 x 2
From (b), the area of ːAEF is the minimum when 100 x 2  3000 x  240 000
x 3.
ɺ The claim is disagreed.
(b) From (a), C 100 x 2  3000 x  240 000 .
C n 2  20n  300 By completing the square,
60. (a)
C 100 x 2  3000 x  240 000
(n 2  20n  102 )  102  300
100( x 2  30 x)  240 000
(n  10)2  200
100( x 2  30 x  152  152 )  240 000
ɺ C attains its minimum value when n 10.
ɺ 10 pizzas should be made each day to minimize 100( x 2  30 x  152 )  22 500  240 000
the cost. 100( x  15) 2  217 500
ɻ The minimum value of C is 217 500.
(b) (i) Let $P be the daily profit of the pizza shop.
i.e. The minimum total cost of building the garden is
P 60n  C
$217 500.
60n  (n 2  20n  300) ɺ The total cost of building the garden cannot be
n  80n  300
2 less than $210 000.
2
ɺ The daily profit is $(–n  80n – 300). ɺ The claim is disagreed.
(ii) The cost is minimum when n 10.
When n 10, 2. (a) 500[ x 2  (20  x) 2 ] 125 000
P (10) 2  80(10)  300 x 2  400  40 x  x 2 250
400 2 x  40 x  150 0
2

ɺġ The daily profit is $400 if the cost is the x 2  20 x  75 0

minimum.
( x  5)( x  15) 0
x5 0 or x  15 0
x 5 or x 15 (rejected)

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 3 Functions and Graphs

(b) The domain of C ( x) is all positive numbers less C.

than or equal to 10.
C ( x) 500[ x 2  (20  x) 2 ]  250[2( x)(20  x)]
500( x 2  400  40 x  x 2 )  250(40 x  2 x 2 )
500(2 x 2  40 x  400)  250(40 x  2 x 2 )
500 x 2  10 000 x  200 000
500( x 2  20 x  400)
ɻ The vertical line above intersects the graph at
three points.
(c) (i) From (b), we have
i.e. For a certain value of x where 2 d x d 2 , there
C ( x) 500( x 2  20 x  400) are more than one corresponding value of y.
500( x 2  20 x  102  102 )  200 000 ɺ The graph does not represent y as a function of x.
500( x 2  20 x  102 )  50 000  200 000
D.
500( x  10)2  150 000
ɺ C(x) attains its minimum value when x 10.
i.e. The total cost of furnishing the floor is
minimum when the four areas are all equal.
(ii) ɻ The minimum value of C(x) is 150 000.
ɺ The minimum total cost is $150 000.
(iii) Yes, since square is a special case of rectangle.
ɻ Any vertical line intersects the graph at only one
Multiple Choice Questions (p. 3.66) point.
1. Answer: C i.e. For any value of x where 5 d x d 5 , there is
only one corresponding value of y.
A. ɺ The graph represents y as a function of x.

2. Answer: A
§7· §7· §7·
p¨ ¸ 2¨ ¸  9  2¨ ¸  9
©2¹ ©2¹ ©2¹
79 79
ɻ Any vertical line intersects the graph at only one 16  4
point. 12
i.e. For any value of x where 5 d x d 1 , there is
only one corresponding value of y. 3. Answer: A
ɺ The graph represents y as a function of x.
1
f (2)
22  4
B.
1
8
§1· 1
f¨ ¸ 2
©2¹ §1·
¨ ¸ 4
©2¹
1
ɻ Any vertical line intersects the graph at only one 1
4
point. 4
i.e. For any value of x where 7 d x d 7 except 4
x = 0, there is only one corresponding value of y. 17
ɺ The graph represents y as a function of x. §1· 1 4
ɺ f (2) ˜ f ¨ ¸ ˜
© 2 ¹ 8 17
1
34

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 4A Full Solutions

4. Answer: D 9. Answer: D
f ( p )  f ( p  1) 9 The coordinates of the vertex are (–h, k).
(2 p 2  p  3)  [2( p  1) 2  ( p  1)  3] 9 ɺ From the graph, we have
–h > 0 and k < 0
(2 p 2  p  3)  (2 p 2  3 p  2) 9 i.e. h < 0 and k < 0
4 p 10
5 10. Answer: B
p By substituting (–1, –5) into y 2( x  4) 2  k , we have
2
5 2(1  4) 2  k
5. Answer: A 5 2(3) 2  k
3t
ġ Let t 3 – 2x, then x . 5 18  k
2
k 13
ª § 3  t ·º ª § 3  t · º 2
ɺ The equation of the parabola is y –2(x  4)  13.
ɺ f (t ) « 3  2 ¨ 2 ¸ » « 4 ¨ 2 ¸  3»
¬ © ¹¼ ¬ © ¹ ¼ For I:
2
[3  (3  t )][2(3  t )  3] By substituting x 9 and y = –5 into y –2(x  4)  13,
t (3  2t ) we have
ɺ f (x) x(3 – 2x) R.H.S. 2(9  4) 2  13
325
6. Answer: D z 5
For I: ɻ The graph opens upwards.
ɺ a>0 L.H.S. z R.H.S.
ɺ I is true. ɺ I is not true.

For II: ɻ The graph has no x-intercepts. For II:

2
By substituting x –7 and y = –5 into y –2(x  4)  13,
ɺ The quadratic equation ax2  bx  c 0 has
we have
no real roots.
ɺ '<0 R.H.S. 2(7  4) 2  13
i.e. b2  4ac < 0 5
ɺ II is true. L.H.S.
ɺ II is true.
For III:ɻ y-intercept > 0
ɺġ c > 0 For III:
ɺ III is true. By substituting x 0 and y = 13 into y
2
–2(x  4)  13,
The answer is D. we have
R.H.S. 2(0  4) 2  13
7. Answer: C
The graph of y = H(x) is a straight line. 19
Let y ax  b, where a and b are constants. z 13
ɻ The graph passes through (0, –3).
ġ ġ L.H.S. z R.H.S.
ɺ By substituting (0, –3) into y ax  b, we have ġ ɺ III is not true.ġ
3 a(0)  b
b 3 11. Answer: C
ɻ The graph passes through (3, 0). ɻ –7 is one of the x-intercepts,
ɺ By substituting (3, 0) and b –3 into y ax  b, we ɺ By substituting (–7, 0) into y
2
–(x  5)  k, we have
have
0 a(3)  3 0 (7  5) 2  k
a 1 k 4
ɺ H(x) x–3 ɺ The y-coordinate of the vertex is 4.

8. Answer: B
f ( p) f (q)
( p  3) 2  16 (q  3) 2  16
( p  3) 2 (q  3) 2
[( p  3)  (q  3)][( p  3)  (q  3)] 0
( p  q  6)( p  q) 0
pq6 0 or p  q 0
pq 6 or p q (rejected)

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 3 Functions and Graphs

12. Answer: D 15. Answer: C

y  x 2  ax  b x2
y   4 x  10
( x 2  ax)  b 2
1 2
ª §a· §a· º
2 2
 ( x  8 x)  10
 « x 2  ax  ¨ ¸  ¨ ¸ »  b 2
«¬ © 2 ¹ © 2 ¹ »¼ 1 2
 ( x  8 x  42  42 )  10
ª §a· º §a·
2 2
2
 « x 2  ax  ¨ ¸ »  ¨ ¸  b 1
«¬ © 2 ¹ »¼ © 2 ¹  ( x  4) 2  8  10
2
2
§ a · a2 1
¨ x  ¸  b  ( x  4) 2  18
© 2¹ 4 2
The axis of symmetry is x a. ɺ The coordinates of A are (4, 18).
2 x2
Also, the y-intercept of the graph is b. By substituting x 0 into y   4 x  10 , we have
From the graph, we have 2
a (0) 2
0 and b0 y   4(0)  10
2 2
a0 and b0 10
ɺ The coordinates of B are (0, 10).
13. Answer: D ɺ The area of the quadrilateral OCAB
For y x 2  4 x  6 , (OB  CA)(OC )
y ( x 2  4 x  22  22 )  6 2
(10  18)(4)
( x 2  4 x  22 )  4  6 sq. units
2
( x  2)2  2 56 sq. units
ɺ The axis of symmetry of y x 2  4 x  6 is x .
For y x  8x  6 ,
2
16. Answer: C
y ( x 2  8 x  42  42 )  6 ɻ The perimeter of the cardboard is 30 cm.
( x 2  8 x  42 )  16  6 ɺ 2( x  3)  2( y  1) 30
2x  6  2 y  2 30
( x  4)2  10
ɺ The axis of symmetry of y x 2  8 x  6 is x 4.
2( x  y ) 22
For y x  8x  6 ,
2 x y 11
y ( x 2  8 x  42  42 )  6 y 11  x
The area of the cardboard
( x 2  8 x  42 )  16  6
[ x( y  1)  3(1)] cm 2
( x  4)2  10
[ x(11  x  1)  3] cm 2
ɺ The axis of symmetry of y x 2  8 x  6 is x 4.
[ x(12  x)  3] cm 2
For y  x2  8x  3 ,
(12 x  x 2  3) cm 2
y ( x 2  8 x )  3
[( x 2  12 x)  3] cm 2
( x 2  8 x  4 2  4 2 )  3
[( x 2  12 x  62  62 )  3] cm 2
( x 2  8 x  42 )  16  3
[( x  6) 2  39] cm 2
( x  4) 2  19
ɺ The maximum area of the cardboard is 39 cm2.
ɺ The axis of symmetry of y  x 2  8 x  3 is x 4.
ɺ III and IV have graphs with x 4 as the axis of
symmetry.

14. Answer: A
y x 2  2 px  p 2  q
( x  p)2  q
The coordinates of the vertex of the graph are (p, q).
ɺ p 3 and q 4
ɺ p 3 and q 4

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 4A Full Solutions

HKMO (p. 3.68) 4. For x 2  (a  2) x  a  1 0 ,

1. ɻ x 2  y 2 1 D E a2
y2 1  x2 DE a  1
ɺ 2x  5 y2 2 x  5(1  x 2 ) D2  E2 (D  E ) 2  2DE
2x  5  5x 2
(a  2) 2  2( a  1)
5 x 2  2 x  5 a 2  4a  4  2a  2
§ 2 · a 2  2a  6
5 ¨ x 2  x ¸  5
© 5 ¹ (a 2  2a  12  12 )  6
ª 2 2 §1· §1· º
2 2
(a 2  2a  1)  1  6
5 « x  x  ¨ ¸  ¨ ¸ »  5
«¬ 5 © 5 ¹ © 5 ¹ »¼ (a  1) 2  5
ª D 2  E 2 will be the least when a 1.
§1· º 1
2
2
5 « x 2  x  ¨ ¸ »   5
¬« 5 © 5 ¹ ¼» 5
2
Investigation Corner (p. 3.76)
§ 1 · 26
5 ¨ x  ¸ 
© 5¹ 5 1. (a) (i) By substituting y 0 into y x(k – x), we have
ɻ Coefficient of x2 = –5 < 0 x(k  x) 0
ɺ The maximum value of 2 x  5 y 2 is 26 . x 0 or k  x 0
5
x 0 or x k
ɺ Coordinates of A are (k, 0).
2. ɻ f (3x) 21
(ii) The axis of symmetry of the graph passes through
§ 9x · the mid-point of OA.
ɺ f ¨ ¸ 21
© 3 ¹ ɺ The axis of symmetry of the graph is
(9 x)2  (9 x)  1 21 0k
x
2
81x 2  9 x  20 0
k
Sum of roots 9 x
 2
81
1
 (b) y x(k  x)
9
 x 2  kx
3. S ( x  10)2  ( x  5) 2 ª §k· §k· º
2 2

 « x 2  kx  ¨ ¸  ¨ ¸ »
x 2  20 x  100  x 2  10 x  25 «¬ © 2 ¹ © 2 ¹ »¼
2 x 2  10 x  125 § k· k
2 2
¨ x  ¸ 
ª §5· §5· º
2 2
© 2¹ 4
2 « x 2  5 x  ¨ ¸  ¨ ¸ »  125 ɺ The coordinates of the vertex of the graph are
¬« © 2 ¹ © 2 ¹ ¼»
§ k k2 ·
ª § 5 · º 25
2
¨ , ¸.
2 « x 2  5 x  ¨ ¸ »   125 ©2 4 ¹
¬« © 2 ¹ ¼» 2

(a) The width of the region 12  2 x cm

2
§ 5 · 225 2.
2¨ x  ¸  2
© 2¹ 2
(6  x) cm
ɻġ Coefficient of x2 = 2 > 0
ɺġ y x(6 – x)
ɺ The minimum value of S is 225 , i.e. 112.5.
2
§ 6 62 ·
(b) The coordinates of the vertex are ¨ , ¸ , i.e. (3, 9).
©2 4 ¹
2
ɺ The maximum area of the region is 9 m when
x 3.

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 3 Functions and Graphs

Exam Focus

Suggested Solutions Marks Remarks

Try a Similar Question (p. 3.70)
(a) f ( x) x 2  10 x
2 2
§ 10 · § 10 ·
x 2  10 x  ¨ ¸  ¨ ¸ 1M
©2¹ ©2¹
( x  5)  25
2

ɺ The coordinates of the vertex of the graph of y = f (x) are (5, –25). 1A
(2)
(b) (i) Consider UAEF and UABC.
UAEF a UABC (AAA)
AE EF
ɺ (corr. sides, ~ːs)
AB BC
( AE )( BC )
EF
AB
(10  x)(8)
cm
10
4(10  x)
cm 1
5
(ii) Consider UABC.
AC 2  BC 2 AB 2 (Pyth. theorem)
AC AB 2  BC 2
102  82 cm
6 cm
The area of quadrilateral BCDE
= the area of UABC – the area of UADE
( AC )( BC ) ( AD)( EF )
 1M
2 2
­ (6)(8) 1 ª 4(10  x) º ½
®  x« » ¾ cm
2

¯ 2 2 ¬ 5 ¼¿
ª 2 º
« 24  5 x(10  x) » cm
2

¬ ¼
ª2 2 º
« 5 ( x  10 x)  24 » cm
2

¬ ¼
ª2 º
« 5 f ( x)  24 » cm
2

¬ ¼
By (a), the minimum value of f (x) is –25.
ɺ Minimum area of quadrilateral BCDE
ª2 º
«¬ 5 (25)  24 »¼ cm
2
1M

14 cm 2
t 13 cm 2
ɺ Alvin’s claim is agreed. 1A follow through
(4)

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 4A Full Solutions

Suggested Solutions Marks Remarks

Exam-type Questions (p. 3.70)
1. (a) ɻ The graph touches the x-axis.
ɺ ' 0
82  4(2)(k ) 0 1M+1A
64  8k 0
k 8 1A

(b) By substituting y = 0 and k = –8 into y = f (x) + 50, we have

0 f ( x)  50
0 (8 x  2 x 2  8)  50
2 x 2  8 x  42 0
x 2  4 x  21 0
( x  3)( x  7) 0 1M
x 3 or x 7
ɺ The x-intercepts of the graph of y = f (x) + 50 are
–3 and 7. 1A
(5)
2. (a) f ( x) 2 x 2  12 x  27
2( x 2  6 x)  27
2[ x 2  2(3) x  32  32 ]  27 1M
2( x  3)  18  27
2

2( x  3) 2  9 1M
ɺ The coordinates of P are (3, 9). 1A
(3)
(b) 20  f ( x) 20  [2( x  3) 2  9]
2( x  3)2  11 1M
ɺ The coordinates of Q are (3, 11). 1A
(2)
( x- coordinate of P)( PQ)
(c) Area of ːOPQ
2
1
(3)(11  9) sq. units
2
3 sq. units 1A
(1)

3. (a) f (1) 4
k[(1)  5][(1)  1] 4 1M
8k 4
1
k 
2 1A
(2)
(b) f ( x) 0
1
 ( x  5)( x  1) 0
2
x 5 or x 1
ġ ġ ɻ a and b are the x-intercepts of the graph of y = f (x) and a < b.
ġ ġ ɺ a = –5 and b = 1 1A

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 3 Functions and Graphs

Suggested Solutions Marks Remarks

x-coordinate of C
ab
2
(5)  1
2
2
y-coordinate of C
f (2)
1
 [(2)  5][(2)  1] 1M
2
9
2
§ 9·
ɺ The coordinates of C are ¨ 2, ¸ .
© 2¹
ɺ Area of ːABC
­1 §9 ·½
® [1  (5)] ¨  0 ¸ ¾ sq. units
¯ 2 © 2 ¹¿
27
sq. units
2 1A
(3)

4. (a) Coordinates of B = (3,  2) 1A

Coordinates of C = (2, 3) 1A

(b) Let y a( x  h)2  k be the equation of the function y = g(x). 1M

ɻ C is the vertex of the graph of y = g(x).
ɺ h = –2 and k = 3 1M
ɻ The graph y = g(x) passes through B.
ɺ By substituting (3, –2), h = –2 and k = 3 into y a( x  h)2  k ,
we have
2 a[3  (2)]2  3
25a 5
1
a 
5
1
ɺ The equation of the function y = g(x) is y  ( x  2) 2  3 . 1A
5
(5)

5. (a) The coordinates of the vertex of the graph of

y 2( x  k )2  2 are (–k, 2). 1M
ɻ The two graphs have the same vertex.
1
i.e. The graph of y 2 x  x 2 passes through (–k, 2).
2
1
ɺ By substituting (–k, 2) into y 2 x  x 2 , we have
2
1
2 2(k )  (k ) 2

2
1 2
2 2k  k
2

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 4A Full Solutions

Suggested Solutions Marks Remarks

k  4k  4
2
0
(k  2) 0 2

k 2 (repeated)
ɺ The value of k is –2. 1A
(2)
(b) The coordinates of the vertex of the graph of y 2( x  2)2  2 are
(2, 2).
ɻ AB = 2 and the axis of symmetry of the graph of
y 2( x  2)2  2 is x = 2.
ɺ x-coordinate of A
2
2
2
1 1M
x-coordinate of B
2 for either one
2
2
3
By substituting x = 1 into y 2( x  2)2  2 , we have
2(1  2) 2  2
y
4
ɺ Coordinates of A = (1, 4)
1 2
ɻ O and C are the x-intercepts of y 2x  x .
2
1 2
ɺ By substituting y = 0 into y 2x  x , we have
2
1
2x  x2 0
2
4x  x2 0
x(4  x) 0
x 0 or 4
ɺ Coordinates of C = (4, 0) 1M
1
Area of trapezium OABC u (2  4) u 4 sq. units
2
12 sq. units 1A
(3)

6. (a) f ( x) 3x 2  6kx  6k 2  2

3( x 2  2kx  k 2  k 2 )  6k 2  2 1M
3( x  k )  3k  2
2 2
1M
ɺ The coordinates of the vertex are (k , 3k  2) . 2
1A
(3)
(b) y-coordinate of the vertex
3k 2  2
0
ɺ The vertex lies below the x-axis. 1M
ɻ The coefficient of x2 = –3 < 0.
ɺ The graph of y = f (x) opens downwards. 1M
ɺ The entire graph of y = f (x) lies below the x-axis.
ɺ The graph of y = f (x) does not intersect the x-axis. 1A follow through
(3)

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 3 Functions and Graphs

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1
7. (a) f (3) [(3) 2  (4k  2)(3)  (3  3k )] 1M
k 2
1
(9  12k  6  3  3k )
k 2
1
(9k  18)
k 2
9
ɺ Γ passes through (–3, 9). 1
(2)
1
(b) f ( x) [ x 2  (4k  2) x  (3  3k )]
k 2
x 2  (4k  2) x  (2k  1) 2  (2k  1) 2  (3  3k )
1M
k 2
[ x  (2k  1)]  4k  4k  1  3  3k
2 2

k 2
[ x  (2k  1)]  (k  2)(4k  1)
2

k 2
1
[ x  (2k  1)]2  (1  4k ) 1M
k 2
ɺ The coordinates of the vertex are (2k + 1, 1 – 4k). 1A
(3)

8. (a) f ( x) x 2  16x  128

x 2  2(8) x  82  82  128 1M
( x  8)2  64 1M
ɺ The coordinates of the vertex are (8, 64). 1A
(3)
(b) (i) The side length of another square
64  4 y
cm
4
(16  y ) cm 1M
ɺ A (16  y )  y
2 2

2 y 2  32 y  256 1A
(ii) Note that A = 2f (y).
ɺ The least value of A = 2(64) 1M
= 128
ɺ The total area of the squares must be at least 128 cm 2.
ɺ Susan’s claim is agreed. 1A follow through
(4)

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 4A Full Solutions

Suggested Solutions Marks Remarks

9. (a) By substituting y = 0 into y 2 x 2  2kx  x  3k  5 ,
we have 2x2 + 2kx + x + 3k – 5 = 0.
' (2k  1) 2  4(2)(3k  5) 1M
4k  4k  1  24k  40
2

4k 2  20k  41
ª §5· §5· º
2 2

4 « k 2  5k  ¨ ¸  ¨ ¸ »  41 1M
¬« © 2 ¹ © 2 ¹ ¼»
2
§ 5·
4 ¨ k  ¸  16
© 2¹
!0
ɺ The graph of y = f (x) and the x-axis intersect at two
distinct points. 1
(3)
(b) (i) ɻ a and b are the roots of the quadratic equation
2 x 2  (2k  1) x  (3k  5) 0 .
2k  1 3k  5
ɺ ab  and ab 1M
2 2
ɻ a<b
ɺ Length of a side of the square ABCD = b – a
ɺ The area of ABCD
(b  a ) 2
b 2  2ab  a 2
a 2  2ab  b 2  4ab
(a  b) 2  4ab
2
§ 2k  1 · § 3k  5 · 1M
¨ ¸  4¨ ¸
© 2 ¹ © 2 ¹
1
k 2  k   6k  10
4
41
k 2  5k  1
4
(ii) The perimeter of square ABCD
4 (b  a) 2
41
4 k 2  5k  (by (b)(i)) 1M
4
§1·
4 ¨ ¸ 4k 2  20k  41
©2¹
2
§ 5·
2 4 ¨ k  ¸  16 (by (a))
© 2¹
t 2 16
8
ɺ The perimeter of square ABCD cannot be less than 8.
ɺ Fred’s claim is disagreed. 1A follow through
(5)

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 3 Functions and Graphs

Suggested Solutions Marks Remarks

8
10. (a) g ( x) x  x2
3
ª 8 §4· º §4·
2 2

 « x2  x  ¨ ¸ »  ¨ ¸ 1M
«¬ 3 © 3 ¹ »¼ © 3 ¹
2
§ 4 · 16
¨ x  ¸ 
© 3¹ 9
ɺ The coordinates of the vertex of the graph of y = g(x)
§ 4 16 ·
are ¨ , ¸.
©3 9 ¹ 1A
(2)

(b) (i) V [(14  3 y)  2(3)][( y  6)  2(3)](3) 1M

3 y(8  3 y) 1A
(ii) Note that V = 9g(y).
16
ɺ The greatest value of V 9 u 9 1M
16
! 15
ɺ The volume of the can be greater than or equal to 15 cm 2.
ɺ Theresa’s claim is disagreed. 1A follow through
(4)

11. Answer: D
f (3a  1) 4(3a  1) 2  (3a  1)  2
4(9a 2  6a  1)  3a  1  2
36a 2  24a  4  3a  1
36a 2  21a  5

12. Answer: D
f ( p)  f ( p)
[ p 3  p( p) 2  p( p)  p 2 ]  [( p)3  p( p) 2  p( p)  p 2 ]
p3  p3  p 2  p 2  p3  p3  p 2  p 2
2 p 3  2 p 2

13. Answer: C
ɻ f (a) 3a
ɺ a  3a  16
2
3a
a  6a  16
2
0
(a  2)(a  8) 0
a 2 or a 8

14. Answer: C
For option A:
The x-coordinate of the vertex of the graph is –3.
ɺ Option A is not true.
For option B:
ɻ The coefficient of x2 = 1 > 0
ɺ The graph opens upwards.
ɺ Option B is not true.

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HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 4A Full Solutions

Suggested Solutions Marks Remarks

For option C:
ɻ The minimum value of y is 6 and the graph opens upwards.
ɺ The graph has no x-intercepts.
ɺ Option C is true.
For option D:
ɻ The graph opens upwards.
ɺ The graph does not have a maximum value.
ɺ Option D is not true.

15. Answer: A
y ( x  a) 2  b
[ x  (a)]2  b
ɻ The x-coordinate of the vertex is positive.
ɺ a ! 0
a0
ɻ The minimum value of y is negative.
ɺ b<0
ɺ The answer is A.

16. Answer: C
y k ( x  k )2
ɻ Coefficient of x2 = k < 0
ɺ The graph opens downwards.
ɺ The answer may be A or C.
ɻ The axis of symmetry of the graph is x = –k.
ɻ k < –1
ɺ The x-coordinate of the vertex of the graph is positive.
ɺ The answer is C.

17. Answer: D
ɻ The y-intercept of the graph of y = –ax2 + 2x + b is b.
ɺ Coordinates of P = (0, b)
ɻ y-coordinate of Q = y-coordinate of P = b
ɺ By substituting y = b into y = –ax2 + 2x + b, we have
b ax 2  2 x  b
ax 2  2 x 0
x(ax  2) 0
2
x 0 or
a
§2 ·
Coordinates of Q = ¨ , b ¸
©a ¹
Area of rectangle OPQR OP u PQ
2
bu
a
2b
a

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 3 Functions and Graphs

Suggested Solutions Marks Remarks

18. Answer: B
f ( x) k  2 x  x 2
( x 2  2 x )  k
( x  1) 2  k  1
ɻ Maximum value of f ( x) 1
ɺ k 1 1
k 0

19. Answer: B
y ( x  1)(2  x)  12
2 x  x 2  2  x  12
 x 2  3x  10
( x  2)( x  5)
For I:
ɻ Coefficient of x2 = –1 < 0
ɺ The graph opens downwards.
ɺ I is true.
For II:
ɻ The x-intercepts of the graph are –2 and 5.
ɺ II is false.
For III:
ɻ The y-intercept of the graph is 10 > 0.
ɺ III is true.
ɺ The answer is B.

20. Answer: A
ɻ y = x2 + kx + 5 passes through the point (1, –2).
ɺ By substituting (1, –2) into y = x2 + kx + 5, we have
2 12  k (1)  5
2 6  k
k 8
y x2  8x  5
x 2  8 x  42  42  5
( x 2  8 x  42 )  16  5
( x  4) 2  11
ɺ The coordinates of the vertex of the graph are (4, –11).

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