Form 4: Chapter 3 (Quadratic Functions)

SPM Practice
Fully-Worked Solutions

Paper 1

1 x(x + 2) = 3px – 4 (a) The curve passes through the point (0, –4).
x 2 + 2x = 3px – 4 y = –(x – k)2 – 3
2
x + 2x – 3px + 4 = 0 – 4 = –(0 – k)2 – 3
x 2 + (2 – 3p)x + 4 = 0 – 1 = –k 2
k 2 = 1
a = 1, b = 2 – 3p, c = 4
k = 1
For the case of two distinct roots,
b2 – 4ac > 0 is applied. (b) The equation of the curve is
(2 – 3p)2 – 4(1)(4) > 0 y = –(x – 1)2 – 3.
4 – 12p + 9p2 – 16 > 0
9p2 – 12p – 12 > 0 Hence, the equation of the axis of
3p2 – 4p – 4 > 0 symmetry is x – 1 = 0 ⇒ x = 1.
(3p + 2)(p – 2) > 0
(c) The coordinates of the maximum point are
(1, –3).

p
2 2
–
3
4 f(x) = –2(x + p)2 – 2
Hence, the ranges of values of p are The maximum point of the graph of f(x) is
2 (–p, –2).
p < – or p > 2.
3
But it is given that the maximum point of the
2 x(x – 1) > 12 graph of f(x) is (–3, q).
x 2 – x > 12
2
x – x – 12 > 0 Hence, by comparison,
(x + 3)(x – 4) > 0 (a) –p = –3 ⇒ p = 3
(b) q = –2
(c) the equation of the axis of symmetry of the
curve is x = –3.
x
–3 4

The ranges of values of x are

x < –3 or x > 4. 5 (a) The equation of the axis of symmetry is
–6 + (–2)
x =
3 y 2
x = –4
x
O (b) The minimum point is (–4, –5). Hence,
f(x) = (x + 4)2 – 5.
(0, –4) (2, –4)

7
 6 (1 – 2x)(3 + x) > x + 3 10 (x – 5)2 < 17 – x
3 + x – 6x – 2x 2 > x + 3 x 2 – 10x + 25 < 17 – x
–2x2 – 6x > 0 x 2 – 9x + 8 < 0
2x2 + 6x < 0 (x – 1)(x – 8) < 0
2x(x + 3) < 0

x
1 8
x
–3 0
The required range of values of x is 1 < x < 8.
Hence, the required range of values of x is
–3 < x < 0.
11 f(x) 3
–3x2 – x + 7  3
–3x2 – x + 4  0
7 3x 2 < 8 – 10x
3x2 + x – 4  0
3x 2 + 10x – 8 < 0
(3x + 4)(x – 1)  0
(3x – 2)(x + 4) < 0

x
–4 2
3
–4 1 x
3

The required range of values of x is

The required range of values of x is
2
–4 < x < .
3 x  – 4 or x  1.
3

12 (a) The coordinates of the minimum point are

8 h(x) = x 2 + 8x – 6
(3, –16).
8 8
2 – 2 – 6
2 2
= x 2 + 8x +
(b) The equation of the axis of symmetry is x = 3.
2 2 2
= x + 8x + 4 – 4 – 6 (c) The range of values of x when f(x) < 0 is
= (x + 4)2 – 22 –1 < x < 7. The part of the graph
∴ p = 4, q = –22
below the x-axis.

9 (a) Since f(x) has a minimum value, the shape of

its graph is as follows.

a is positive, i.e. a > 0.

(b) Since the minimum value of f(x) is –2 and its
axis of symmetry is x = 4, then its minimum
point is (4, –2).
∴ f(x) = a(x – 4)2 – 2
It is given that f(x) = a(x + p)2 + q.
Hence,
(i) p = –4
(ii) q = –2

8
 Paper 2

f (x) = –x 2 + 4kx – 5k 2 – 1
1 (a) 2 (a) At P (on the y-axis), x = 0.
= –(x 2 – 4kx + 5k 2 + 1) y = –02 + m(0) – 6
= –(x 2 – 4kx + 4k 2 – 4k 2 + 5k 2 + 1) y = –6
∴ P(0, –6)
f (x) = –x 2 + mx – 6
(b)

1

2
Add and subtract × (– 4k) = 4k 2 = –(x 2 – mx + 6)
2
  2  – – 2  + 6
m 2
m 2
= – x 2 – mx + –

= –[(x – 2k)2 + k 2 + 1] 2
= – x –  – + 6
m m 2

= –(x – 2k)2 – k 2 – 1 2 4
2
= – x –  +
Maximum value = –k 2 – 1 m 2
m
–6
2 4
But it is given that the maximum value
= –r 2 – 2k. m m2
By comparison,
Maximum point is  ,
2 4
–6 . 
–r 2 – 2k = –k 2 – 1 The given maximum point is (2, k).
r 2 = k 2 – 2k + 1
r 2 = (k – 1)2 By comparison,
r = k – 1 (shown) m m2
= 2  and  –6=k
2 4
(b) From f(x) = –(x – 2k)2 – k 2 – 1, the axis of 4 2
symmetry is x = 2k. m = 4 –6=k
4
But it is given that the axis of symmetry is k = –2
x = r 2 – 1. (c) f(x)  –6
By comparison, r 2 – 1 = 2k –x 2 + 4x – 6  –6
–x 2 + 4x  0
Solve the following simultaneous equations: x 2 – 4x  0
r = k – 1 … 1 x(x – 4)  0
r 2 – 1 = 2k … 2

Substitute 1 into 2 : x
0 4
(k – 1)2 – 1 = 2k
k 2 – 2k + 1 – 1 – 2k = 0
The required range of values of x is 0  x  4.
k 2 – 4k = 0
k(k – 4) = 0
k = 0 or k = 4
k = 0 is not accepted.
∴k=4
When k = 4, r = 4 – 1
r=3