PMT

C2 ALGEBRA Worksheet A

1 Find the quotient obtained in dividing

a (x3 + 2x2 − x − 2) by (x + 1) b (x3 + 2x2 − 9x + 2) by (x − 2)
c (20 + x + 3x2 + x3) by (x + 4) d (2x3 − x2 − 4x + 3) by (x − 1)
e (6x3 − 19x2 − 73x + 90) by (x − 5) f (−x3 + 5x2 + 10x − 8) by (x + 2)
g (x3 − 2x + 21) by (x + 3) h (3x3 + 16x2 + 72) by (x + 6)

2 Find the quotient and remainder obtained in dividing

a (x3 + 8x2 + 17x + 16) by (x + 5) b (x3 − 15x2 + 61x − 48) by (x − 7)
c (3x3 + 4x2 + 7) by (2 + x) d (−x3 − 5x2 + 15x − 50) by (x + 8)
e (4x3 + 2x2 − 16x + 3) by (x − 3) f (1 − 22x2 − 6x3) by (x + 2)

3 Use the factor theorem to determine whether or not

a (x − 1) is a factor of (x3 + 2x2 − 2x − 1) b (x + 2) is a factor of (x3 − 5x2 − 9x + 2)
c (x − 3) is a factor of (x3 − x2 − 14x + 27) d (x + 6) is a factor of (2x3 + 13x2 + 2x − 24)
e (2x + 1) is a factor of (2x3 − 5x2 + 7x − 14) f (3x − 2) is a factor of (2 − 17x + 25x2 − 6x3)

4 f(x) ≡ x3 − 2x2 − 11x + 12.

a Show that (x − 1) is a factor of f(x).
b Hence, express f(x) as the product of three linear factors.

5 g(x) ≡ 2x3 + x2 − 13x + 6.

Show that (x + 3) is a factor of g(x) and solve the equation g(x) = 0.

6 f(x) ≡ 6x3 − 7x2 − 71x + 12.

Given that f(4) = 0, find all solutions to the equation f(x) = 0.

7 g(x) ≡ x3 + 7x2 + 7x − 6.
Given that x = −2 is a solution to the equation g(x) = 0,
a express g(x) as the product of a linear factor and a quadratic factor,
b find, to 2 decimal places, the other two solutions to the equation g(x) = 0.

8 f(x) ≡ x3 + 2x2 − 11x − 12.

a Evaluate f(1), f(2), f(−1) and f(−2).
b Hence, state a linear factor of f(x) and fully factorise f(x).

9 By first finding a linear factor, fully factorise

a x3 − 2x2 − 5x + 6 b x3 + x2 − 5x − 2 c 20 + 11x − 8x2 + x3
d 3x3 − 4x2 − 35x + 12 e x3 + 8 f 12 + 29x + 8x2 − 4x3

10 Solve each equation, giving your answers in exact form.

a x3 − x2 − 10x − 8 = 0 b x3 + 2x2 − 9x − 18 = 0 c 4x3 − 12x2 + 9x = 2
d x3 − 5x2 + 3x + 1 = 0 e x2(x + 4) = 3(3x + 2) f x3 − 14x + 15 = 0

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C2 ALGEBRA Worksheet A continued

11 f(x) ≡ 2x3 − x2 − 15x + c.

Given that (x − 2) is a factor of f(x),
a find the value of the constant c,
b fully factorise f(x).

12 g(x) ≡ x3 + px2 − 13x + q.

Given that (x + 1) and (x − 3) are factors of g(x),
a show that p = 3 and find the value of q,
b solve the equation g(x) = 0.

13 Use the remainder theorem to find the remainder obtained in dividing

a (x3 + 4x2 − x + 6) by (x − 2) b (x3 − 2x2 + 7x + 1) by (x + 1)
c (2x3 + x2 − 9x + 17) by (x + 5) d (8x3 + 4x2 − 6x − 3) by (2x − 1)
e (2x3 − 3x2 − 20x − 7) by (2x + 1) f (3x3 − 6x2 + 2x − 7) by (3x − 2)

14 Given that when (x3 − 4x2 + 5x + c) is divided by (x − 2) the remainder is 5, find the value of the
constant c.

15 Given that when (2x3 − 9x2 + kx + 5) is divided by (2x − 1) the remainder is −2, find the value of
the constant k.

16 Given that when (2x3 + ax2 + 13) is divided by (x + 3) the remainder is 22,
a find the value of the constant a,
b find the remainder when (2x3 + ax2 + 13) is divided by (x − 4).

17 f(x) ≡ px3 + qx2 + qx + 3.

Given that (x + 1) is a factor of f(x),
a find the value of the constant p.
Given also that when f(x) is divided by (x − 2) the remainder is 15,
b find the value of the constant q.

18 p(x) ≡ x3 + ax2 + 9x + b.
Given that (x − 3) is a factor of p(x),
a find a linear relationship between the constants a and b.
Given also that when p(x) is divided by (x + 2) the remainder is −30,
b find the values of the constants a and b.

19 f(x) ≡ 4x3 − 6x2 + mx + n.

Given that when f(x) is divided by (x + 1) the remainder is 3 and that when f(x) is divided
by (2x − 1) the remainder is 15, find the values of the constants m and n.

20 g(x) ≡ x3 + cx + 3.
Given that when g(x) is divided by (x − 4) the remainder is 39,
a find the value of the constant c,
b find the quotient and remainder when g(x) is divided by (x + 2).

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 PMT

C2 ALGEBRA Worksheet B

1 f(x) ≡ x3 − 5x2 + ax + b.
Given that (x + 2) and (x − 3) are factors of f(x),
a show that a = −2 and find the value of b.
b Hence, express f(x) as the product of three linear factors.

2 f(x) ≡ 8x3 − x2 + 7.
The remainder when f(x) is divided by (x − k) is eight times the remainder when f(x) is
divided by (2x − k).
Find the two possible values of the constant k.

3 f(x) ≡ 3x3 − x2 − 12x + 4.

a Show that (x − 2) is a factor of f(x).
b Solve the equation f(x) = 0.

4 y

y = 6 + 7x − x3

O x

The diagram shows the curve with the equation y = 6 + 7x − x3.

Find the coordinates of the points where the curve crosses the x-axis.

5 f(x) ≡ 3x3 + px2 + 8x + q.

When f(x) is divided by (x + 1) there is a remainder of −4.
When f(x) is divided by (x − 2) there is a remainder of 80.
a Find the values of the constants p and q.
b Show that (x + 2) is a factor of f(x).
c Solve the equation f(x) = 0.

6 a Solve the equation

x3 − 4x2 − 7x + 10 = 0.
b Hence, solve the equation
y6 − 4y4 − 7y2 + 10 = 0.

7 f(n) ≡ n3 + 7n2 + 14n + 3.

a Find the remainder when f(n) is divided by (n + 1).
b Express f(n) in the form
f(n) ≡ (n + 1)(n + a)(n + b) + c,
where a, b and c are integers.
c Hence, show that f(n) is odd for all positive integer values of n.

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C2 ALGEBRA Worksheet C

1 f(x) ≡ x3 + x2 − 22x − 40.

a Show that (x + 2) is a factor of f(x). (2)
b Express f(x) as the product of three linear factors. (4)
c Solve the equation f(x) = 0. (1)

2 f(x) ≡ x3 − 2x2 + kx + 1.
Given that the remainder when f(x) is divided by (x − 2) and the remainder when f(x) is
divided by (x + 3) are equal,
a find the value of the constant k, (4)
b find the remainder when f(x) is divided by (x + 2). (2)

3 The polynomial p(x) is defined by

p(x) ≡ 2x3 − 9x2 − 2x + 11.
a Find the remainder when p(x) is divided by (x + 2). (2)
b Find the quotient and remainder when p(x) is divided by (x − 4). (3)

4 y
y = x3 − 5x2 − 8x + 12
A
B O C D x

The diagram shows the curve with the equation y = x3 − 5x2 − 8x + 12.
a State the coordinates of the point A where the curve crosses the y-axis. (1)
The curve crosses the x-axis at the points B, C and D. Given that C has coordinates (1, 0),
b find the coordinates of the points B and D. (6)

5 f(x) ≡ x3 − 3x2 + kx + 8.
Given that (x − 1) is a factor of f(x),
a find the value of k, (2)
b solve the equation f(x) = 0. (5)

6 Solve the equation

2x3 + x2 − 13x + 6 = 0. (7)

7 The polynomial p(x) is defined by

p(x) ≡ bx3 + ax2 − 10x + b,
where a and b are constants.
Given that when p(x) is divided by (x + 1) the remainder is 3,
a find the value of a. (2)
Given also that when p(x) is divided by (3x − 1) the remainder is −1,
b find the value of b. (3)

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C2 ALGEBRA Worksheet C continued

8 f(x) ≡ x3 − 7x2 + x + 10.

a Find the remainder when f(x) is divided by (x + 1). (2)
b Hence, or otherwise, solve the equation f(x) = 1, giving your answers in exact form. (6)

9 f(x) ≡ 3x3 + kx2 − 7x + 2k.

When f(x) is divided by (3x − 2) the remainder is 6.
Find the value of the constant k. (3)

10 f(x) ≡ 2x3 − 7x2 + 4x − 3.

a Show that (x − 3) is a factor of f(x). (2)
b Hence, express f(x) as the product of a linear factor and a quadratic factor. (3)
c Show that there is only one real solution to the equation f(x) = 0. (3)

11 The polynomial f(x) is defined by

f(x) ≡ x3 + px + q,
where p and q are constants.
Given that (x − 2) is a factor of f(x),
a find an expression for q in terms of p. (2)
Given also that when f(x) is divided by (x + 1) the remainder is −15,
b find the values of p and q. (4)

12 f(x) ≡ x3 + 4x2 − 9.
Given that x = −3 is a solution to the equation f(x) = 0, find the other two solutions
correct to 2 decimal places. (6)

13 f(x) ≡ (x + k)3 − 8.
Given that when f(x) is divided by (x + 2) the remainder is −7,
a find the value of the constant k, (3)
b show that (x + 1) is a factor of f(x). (2)

14 f(x) ≡ x3 − 4x2 − 7x + 8.
a Find the remainder when f(x) is divided by (x + 2). (2)
Given that
g(x) ≡ f(x) + c,
and that (x + 2) is a factor of g(x),
b state the value of the constant c, (1)
c solve the equation g(x) = 0. (4)

15 f(x) ≡ x3 − 4x + 1.
Given that when f(x) is divded by (2x − k), where k is a constant, the remainder is 4,
a show that k3 − 16k − 24 = 0. (3)
Given also that when f(x) is divided by (x + k) the remainder is 1,
b find the value of k. (3)

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