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Functions and Equations

The document provides information about functions and equations including parabolas, polynomials, rational roots, and function transformations. It defines key concepts such as the discriminant and shows how to determine properties of quadratic functions like their intercepts and vertex. It also includes sample problems and solutions for working with various types of equations and inequalities involving polynomials, parabolas, and function transformations.

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73 views

Functions and Equations

The document provides information about functions and equations including parabolas, polynomials, rational roots, and function transformations. It defines key concepts such as the discriminant and shows how to determine properties of quadratic functions like their intercepts and vertex. It also includes sample problems and solutions for working with various types of equations and inequalities involving polynomials, parabolas, and function transformations.

Uploaded by

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Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Centre for Education

in Mathematics and Computing


Euclid eWorkshop # 2
Functions and Equations
c 2014 UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO
Euclid eWorkshop #2 FUNCTIONS AND EQUATIONS
TOOLKIT
Parabolas
The quadratic f(x) = ax
2
+ bx + c (with a,b,c real and a = 0) has two zeroes given by r
1,2
=
b

b
2
4ac
2a
.
These roots are :
real and distinct if the discriminant = b
2
4ac > 0
real and equal if the discriminant = b
2
4ac = 0
distinct and non-real if the discriminant = b
2
4ac < 0
The sum of these roots is r
1
+ r
2
=
b
a
and their product r
1
r
2
=
c
a
.
Since y = ax
2
+ bx + c = a

x +
b
2a

2
+
4ac b
2
4a
, the vertex of the graph is located at

b
2a
,
4ac b
2
4a

.
You should be able to sketch the six generic cases of the graph of the parabola that occurs when a > 0 or < 0 and
> 0, < 0, or = 0.
Polynomials
Remainder Theorem and Factor Theorem
The Remainder Theorem states that when a polynomial p(x) = a
0
x
n
+ a
1
x
n1
+ . . . . . . a
n
, of degree n, is divided
by (x k) the remainder is p(k). The factor theorem then follows: p(k) = 0 if and only if (x k) is a factor of p(x).
A polynomial equation of degree n has at most n real roots.
Rational Root Theorem
The rational root theorem states that all rational roots
p
q
have the property that p and q are factors of the last and rst
coefcient, a
n
and a
0
respectively.
Function Transformations
The graph of y = p(x) or y = f(x) can be used to graph its various transformed cousins:
y = p(x) + k is shifted up k units; (k > 0)
y = p(x k) is shifted right k units; (k > 0)
y = kp(x) is stretched vertically by a factor of k; (k > 0)
y = p(
x
k
) is stretched horizontally by a factor of k; (k > 0)
y = p(x) is reected in the x axis;
y = p(x) is reected in the y axis;
x = f(y) or y = f
1
(x) is reected across the line y = x.
CENTRE FOR EDUCATIONS IN MATHEMATICS COMPUTING 2
Euclid eWorkshop #2 FUNCTIONS AND EQUATIONS
SAMPLE PROBLEMS
1. If x
2
x 2 = 0, determine all possible values of 1
1
x

6
x
2
.
Solution
We have 1
1
x

6
x
2
=
x
2
x 6
x
2
=
x
2
x 2 4
x
2
=
4
x
2
Since x
2
x 2 = 0
(x 2)(x + 1) = 0
Thus x = 2 or 1
Therefore possible values are 1 and 4.
2. If the graph of the parabola y = x
2
is translated to a position such that its x intercepts are d and e and its y
intercept is f, (where d,e,f > 0), show that de = f.
Solution 1 (easy)
Since the x intercepts are d and e the parabola must be of the form y = a(x + d)(x e). Also since we have
only translated y = x
2
it follows that a = 1. Now setting x = 0 we have f = de and the results follows.
Solution 2 (harder)
Let the parabola be y = ax
2
+bx+c. Now, as in the rst solution, a = 1. Then solving for the x and y intercepts
we nd e =
b +

b
2
4c
2
, d =
b

b
2
4c
2
andf = c. Now straight forward multiplication gives
de =
b

b
2
4c
2

b +

b
2
4c
2
=
b
2
b
2
+ 4c
4
= c = f as required!
3. Find all values of x such that x +
36
x
13.
Solution
First we note that x = 0. If x > 0, we can multiply the equation by this positive quantity and arrive at
x
2
13x + 36 0 or (x 4)(x 9) 0. Since x > 0 this gives 4 x > 0 or x 9. If x < 0 the left side of
the inequality is negative, which means it is not greater than 13. Therefore 0 < x 4 or x 9.
CENTRE FOR EDUCATIONS IN MATHEMATICS COMPUTING 3
Euclid eWorkshop #2 FUNCTIONS AND EQUATIONS
4. If a polynomial leaves a remainder of 5 when divided by x 3 and a remainder of 7 when divided by x + 1,
what is the remainder when the polynomial is divided by x
2
2x 3?
Solution
We observe that when we divide by a second degree polynomial the remainder will generally be linear. Thus
the division statement becomes
p(x) = (x
2
2x 3)q(x) + ax + b (*)
where p(x) is the polynomial, q(x) is the quotient polynomial and ax+b is the remainder. Now we observe that
the remainder theorem states p(3) = 5 and p(1) = 7. Also we notice that x
2
2x 3 = (x 3)(x + 1).
Thus substituting x = 3 and 1 into (*) we have:
p(3) = 5 = 3a + b
p(1) = 7 = a + b
Solving these equations a = 3 and b = 4; the remainder is 3x 4.
CENTRE FOR EDUCATIONS IN MATHEMATICS COMPUTING 4
Euclid eWorkshop #2 FUNCTIONS AND EQUATIONS
PROBLEM SET
1. If x and y are real numbers, determine all solutions (x, y) of the system of equations
x
2
xy + 8 = 0
x
2
8x + y = 0
2. The parabola dened by the equation y = (x 1)
2
4 intersects the x-axis at points P and Q. If (a,b) is the
midpoint of PQ, what is the value of a?
3. (a) The equation y = x
2
+ 2ax + a represents a parabola for all real values of a. Prove that there exists a
common point through which all of these parabolas pass, and determine the coordinates of this point.
(b) The vertices of these parabolas lie on a curve. Prove that this curve is itself a parabola whose vertex is the
common point found in part (a).
4. (a) Sketch the graph of the equation y = x(x 4)
2
. Label all intercepts.
(b) Solve the inequality x(x 4)
2
0.
5. Determine all real values of p and r that satisfy the following system of equations:
p + pr + pr
2
= 26
p
2
r + p
2
r
2
+ p
2
r
3
= 156
6. A quadratic equation ax
2
+ bx + c = 0 (where a, b, and c are not zero), has real roots. Prove that a, b, and c
cannot be consecutive terms in a geometric sequence.
7. A quadratic equation ax
2
+ bx + c = 0 (where x, a, b, and c are integers and a = 0), has integer roots. If a, b,
and c are consecutive terms in an arithmetic sequence, solve for the roots of the equation.
8. Solve this equation for x:
(x
2
3x + 1)
2
3(x
2
3x + 1) + 1 = x.
9. The parabola y = (x 2)
2
16 has its vertex at point A and its larger x intercept at point B. Find the equation
of the line through A and B.
10. Solve the equation (x b)(x c) = (a b)(a c) for x.
11. Given that x = 2 is a solution of x
3
7x 6 = 0, nd the other solutions.
12. Find the value of a such that the equation below in x has real roots, the sum of whose squares is a minimum.
4x
2
+ 4(a 2)x 8a
2
+ 14a + 31 = 0.
13. If f(x) =
3x 7
x + 1
and g(x) is the inverse of f(x), then determine the value of g(2).
14. If (2,7) is the maximum point for the function y = 2x
2
4ax + k, determine k.
15. The roots of x
2
+ cx + d = 0 are a and b and the roots of x
2
+ ax + b = 0 are c and d. If a, b, c and d are
nonzero, calculate a + b + c + d.
16. If y = x
2
2x 3 then determine the minimum value of
y 4
(x 4)
2
.
CENTRE FOR EDUCATIONS IN MATHEMATICS COMPUTING 5

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