Created by T.

Madas

CUBICS
EXAM
QUESTIONS

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 1 (**)

y
y = ( x + a ) ( x + b) 2

−2 O
1
x

The diagram above shows the graph of the curve with equation

y = ( x + a ) ( x + b) 2 ,

where a and b are constants.

The curve crosses the x axis at (1,0 ) and touches the x axis at ( −2,0 ) .

Determine, showing full workings the coordinates of the point A , where A is the point
where the curve crosses the y axis.

A ( 0, −4 )

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 2 (**)
A cubic graph is defined in terms of a constant k as

f ( x ) ≡ x3 − 19 x + k , x ∈
.

Find the value k , if the graph of f ( x ) …

a) … passes through the origin.

b) … meets the y axis at y = 5 .

c) … meets the x axis at x = 2 .

d) … passes through the point ( −1, −7 ) .

MP1-G , k = 0 , k = 5 , k = 30 , k = 25

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 3 (***)
A cubic graph is defined as

f ( x ) ≡ x3 + x 2 − 10 x + 8 , x ∈
.

a) By considering the factors of 8 , or otherwise, express f ( x ) as the product of

three linear factors.

b) Sketch the graph of f ( x ) .

The sketch must include the coordinates of any points where the graph of f ( x )
meets the coordinate axes.

MP1-K , f ( x ) = ( x − 2 )( x − 1)( x + 4 )

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 4 (***)
The curve C has equation

y = x3 − 9 x .

a) Sketch the graph of C .

b) Hence sketch on a separate diagram the graph of

3
y = ( x + 2) − 9 ( x + 2) .

Each of the two sketches must include the coordinates of all the points where the
curve meets the coordinate axes.

C1H , graph

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 5 (***)
A cubic polynomial is defined as

p ( x ) ≡ x3 − 4 x 2 + x + 6 , x ∈
.

a) By considering the factors of 6 , or otherwise, express p ( x ) as the product of

three linear factors.

b) Sketch the graph of p ( x ) .

The sketch must include the coordinates of any points where the graph of p ( x )
meets the coordinate axes.

p ( x ) = ( x − 3)( x − 2 )( x + 1)

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 6 (***)

y
y = f ( x)

16

O x
−4 2 4

The figure above shows the graph of the curve with equation y = f ( x ) .

The curve crosses the x axis at the points ( −4,0 ) , ( 2,0 ) and ( 4,0 ) , and the y axis at
the point ( 0,16 ) .

Determine the equation of f ( x ) in the form

f ( x ) ≡ ax3 + bx 2 + cx + d ,

where a , b , c and d are constants.

C1J , f ( x ) = 1 x3 − x 2 − 8 x + 16
2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 7 (***)
A cubic curve C1 has equation

(
y = ( x − 8) x2 − 4 x + 3 . )
A quadratic curve C2 has equation

y = ( 2 x − 3)( 8 − x ) .

a) Sketch on separate set of axes the graphs of C1 and C2 .

The sketches must contain the coordinates of the points where each of the curves
meet the coordinate axes.

b) Hence find the solutions of the following equation.

( x − 8) ( x 2 − 4 x + 3) = ( 2 x − 3)(8 − x ) .

MP1-Q , x = 0, x = 2, x = 8

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 8 (***+)
The curve C has equation

y = 5 x − 4 x 2 − x3 .

a) Express y as a product of linear factors.

b) Sketch the graph of C .

The sketch must include the coordinates of all the points where the curve meets
the coordinate axes.

c) Hence sketch the curve with equation

2 3
y = 5( x − 2) − 4 ( x − 2) − ( x − 2) ,

clearly showing the coordinates of all the points where the curve meets the
coordinate axes.

MP1-J , y = x ( x + 5 )(1 − x )

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 9 (***+)
The curve C has equation

y = 6 x − 2 x 2 − x3 .

a) Sketch the graph of C .

The sketch must include the exact coordinates of all the points where the curve
meets the coordinate axes.

b) Determine, as an exact surd, the greatest distance between the x intercepts of C .

C1F , 2 7

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 10 (***+)
f ( x ) ≡ 2 x3 − 9 x 2 − 11x + 30 .

a) Show that x = 5 is a solution of the equation f ( x ) = 0 .

b) Factorize f ( x ) as a product of three linear factors.

c) Sketch the graph of f ( x ) .

The sketch must include the coordinates of all the points where the graph meets
the coordinate axes.

d) Find the x coordinates of the points where the line with equation y = 7 x + 30
meets the graph of f ( x ) .

f ( x ) ≡ ( x − 5 )( 2 x − 3)( x + 2 ) , x = − 3 ,0,6
2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 11 (***+)
Sketch on separate diagrams the curve with equation …

a) … y = x 2 ( x + 3) .

2
b) … y = ( x − k ) ( x − k + 3) ,
where k is a constant such that k > 3 .

Both sketches must include the coordinates, in terms of k where appropriate, of any
points where each of the curves meets the coordinate axes.

C1K , graph

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 12 (***+)
A cubic graph is defined by

f ( x ) ≡ x3 − 3 x 2 − 4 x + 12 , x ∈
.

a) Show that ( x − 3) is a factor of f ( x ) .

b) Hence factorize f ( x ) as the product of three linear factors.

c) Sketch the graph of f ( x ) .

The sketch must include the coordinates of any points where the graph of f ( x )
meets the coordinate axes.

Another cubic graph is defined as

2
g ( x ) ≡ ( x − 2 )( x − 4 ) , x ∈
.

The two graphs meet at the points P and Q .

d) Determine the x coordinates of P and Q .

f ( x ) = ( x − 2 )( x + 2 )( x − 3) , x = 2, 22
7

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 13 (***+)

O x
A B C
D

The figure above shows the graph of a cubic polynomial f ( x ) given by

f ( x ) = − x3 + 5 x 2 + 17 x − 21 , x ∈
.

The graph meets the coordinate axes at four distinct points, labelled A , B , C and D .

Given that the coordinates of the point A are ( −3,0 ) , determine the coordinates of the
points B , C and D .

B (1, 0 ) , C ( 7, 0 ) , D ( 0, −21)

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 14 (***+)

y y = f ( x)

( −3,0 )
x
O (1,0 )

The figure above shows the graph of the curve C with equation

f ( x ) = x3 + ax 2 + bx + c ,

where a , b and c are constants.

The curve crosses the x axis at ( −3,0 ) and touches the x axis at (1,0 ) .

a) Find the value of a , b and c .

( )
b) Sketch the graph of y = f 1 x , clearly marking the coordinates of any points of
3
intersection with the coordinate axes.

 −1
The graph of C is translated by the vector   to give the graph of g ( x ) .
 1

c) Show clearly that

g ( x ) = x3 + 4 x + 1 .

C1P , a = 1 , b = −5 , c = 3

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 15 (***+)

f ( x ) ≡ x3 − 3 x 2 − 6 x + 8 , x ∈
.

a) Show that ( x − 1) is a factor of f ( x ) .

b) Hence factorize f ( x ) into three linear factors.

c) Sketch the graph of f ( x ) .

The sketch must include the coordinates of any points where the graph of f ( x )
meets the coordinate axes.

The figure below shows the graphs of the curves with equations

y1 = x 4 + x3 − 4 x 2 − 10 and y2 = x 4 − x3 + 2 x 2 + 12 x − 26 .

y1 y
y2 R

O
x
P Q

The two graphs meet at the points P , Q and R .

d) Determine the coordinates of P , Q and R .

MP1-L , f ( x ) = ( x − 1)( x + 2 )( x − 4 ) , P ( −2, −18 ) , Q (1, −12 ) , R ( 4, 246 )

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 16 (***+)
The curve C has equation

y = x3 − 6 x 2 + 9 x .

a) Express y as a product of linear factors.

b) Sketch the graph of C .

The sketch must include the coordinates of all the points where the curve meets
the coordinate axes.

The graph of C is rotated by 180° about the origin onto another curve C ′ .

c) Determine the equation of C ′ .

2
C1R , y = x ( x − 3) , y = x3 + 6 x 2 + 9 x

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 17 (***+)

f ( x ) = x2 ( x − 4) , x ∈
.

g ( x ) = x (10 − x ) , x ∈
.

a) Determine the coordinates of the points of intersection between the graph

of f ( x ) and the graph of g ( x ) .

b) Sketch the graph of f ( x ) and the graph of g ( x ) in the same diagram.

The sketch must include …

… the coordinates of any points where either of the two graphs meet the
coordinate axes.
… the coordinates of the points of intersection between the graph of
f ( x ) and the graph of g ( x ) .

C1N , ( 0, 0 ) , ( −2, −24 ) , ( 5, 25 )

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 18 (***+)
A cubic curve C1 has equation

(
y = ( x − 7 ) x2 + 2 x − 3 . )
A quadratic curve C2 has equation

y = ( 2 x + 5)( 7 − x ) .

a) Sketch on separate set of axes the graphs of C1 and C2 .

The sketches must contain the coordinates of the points where each of the curves
meet the coordinate axes.

b) Hence, find in exact form where appropriate, the three solutions of the following
equation.

( x − 7 ) ( x 2 + 2 x − 3) = ( 2 x + 5)( 7 − x ) .

SYN-C , x = 7, x = −2 + 2, x = −2 − 2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 19 (****)

f ( x ) = x3 − 9 x 2 + 13 x + 2 , x ∈
.

a) Show that ( x − 2 ) is a factor of f ( x ) , and hence express f ( x ) as a product of a

linear and a quadratic factor.

g ( x ) = x ( x − 2 )( x − 4 ) , x ∈
.

b) Sketch the graph of g ( x ) , indicating clearly the coordinates of any points where
the graph of g ( x ) meets the coordinate axes.

c) Determine the exact coordinates, where appropriate, of the points of intersection

between the graphs of f ( x ) and g ( x ) .

( )
MP1-E , f ( x ) = ( x − 2 ) x 2 − 7 x − 1 , ( 2,0 ) , ( − 13 , − 27
91
)

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 20 (****)

f ( x ) ≡ x3 + 3 x 2 − 24 x + 20 , x ∈
.

a) Show that ( x − 1) is a factor of f ( x ) .

b) Hence factorize f ( x ) as the product of a linear and a quadratic factor.

c) Find, in exact form where appropriate, the solutions of the equation f ( x ) = 0 .

The straight line with equation y = −8 touches the graph of f ( x ) at the point Q ( 2, −8 )
and crosses the graph of f ( x ) at the point P , as shown in the figure below.

y f ( x) = 0

O x
P Q y = −8

d) Determine the coordinates of P .

( )
SYN-E , f ( x ) = ( x − 1) x 2 + 4 x − 20 , x = 1, − 2 ± 2 6 , P ( −7, −8 )

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 21 (****)

f ( x ) ≡ x3 − 3x + 2 , x ∈
.

a) Express f ( x ) as the product of three linear factors.

b) Sketch the graph of f ( x ) .

The sketch must include the coordinates of any points where the graph of f ( x )
meets the coordinate axes.

c) Solve the equation

2
f ( x ) = ( x − 1) .

2
MP1-C , f ( x ) = ( x + 2 )( x − 1) , x = ±1

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 22 (****)
A cubic curve C has equation

2
y = ( 3 − x )( 4 + x ) .

a) Sketch the graph of C .

The sketch must include any points where the graph meets the coordinate axes.

b) Sketch in separate diagrams the graph of …

2
i. … y = ( 3 − 2 x )( 4 + 2 x ) .

2
ii. … y = ( 3 + x )( 4 − x ) .

2
iii. … y = ( 2 − x )( 5 + x ) .

Each of the sketches must include any points where the graph meets the
coordinate axes.

C1Q , graph

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 23 (****)
The cubic curve with equation

y = ax3 + bx 2 + cx + d ,

where a , b , c are non zero constants and d is a constant, has one local maximum and
one local minimum.

Show clearly that

b 2 > 3ac

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 24 (****)
A polynomial f ( x ) is defined in terms of the constants a , b and c as

f ( x ) = 2 x3 + ax 2 + bx + c , x ∈
.

It is further given that

f ( 2 ) = f ( −1) = 0 and f (1) = −14 .

a) Find the value of a , b and c .

b) Sketch the graph of f ( x ) .

The sketch must include any points where the graph of f ( x ) meets the
coordinate axes.

MP1-A , a = 3, b = −9, c = −10

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 25 (****)
A cubic curve C1 has equation

3
y = ( 2 x − 3) .

A quadratic curve C2 has equation

2
y = ( 2 x − 1) − 4 .

a) Sketch on separate set of axes the graphs of C1 and C2 .

The sketches must contain the coordinates of the points where each of the curves
meet the coordinate axes.

b) Hence, find in exact form, the solutions of the following equation.

( 2 x − 1)2 + ( 3 − 2 x )3 = 4 .

( ) (
MP1-Z , x = 3 , x = 1 7 + 17 , x = 1 7 − 17
2 4 4 )

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 26 (****+)
The cubic equation

x3 + kx + 4 = 0 ,

where k is a constant has 2 distinct real roots.

Determine the exact value of k .

SP-H , k = −3 3 4

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 27 (*****)
The cubic equation

x3 + px + q = 0 ,

has 2 distinct real roots.

Show that 27q 2 + 4 p3 < 0 .

SPX-J , proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 28 (*****)
A function is defined as

f ( x ) ≡ x3 − 1 λ x + λ − 8 , x ∈
,
2

where λ is a non zero constant.

The equation f ( x ) = 0 has exactly two real distinct roots.

The equation f ( x ) = k , where k is a constant, has three distinct real roots.

By considering f ( 2 ) , or otherwise, determine the range of values of k .

SP-F , −4 < k < 0 ∪ 0 < k < 32

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 29 (*****)
A cubic curve has equation

f ( x ) ≡ x3 + x 2 (1 − 2a − 3b ) + x ( 6ab − 2a − b ) + 6ab , x ∈
,

where a and b are constants.

Given that the equation f ( x ) = 0 has 3 equal real roots, determine the value of a and
the value of b .

SP-L , a = − 1 , a = − 1
2 3

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 30 (*****)
Find an equation of a cubic function, with integer coefficients, whose graph crosses the
x axis at the point  3 + 2 3 + 2 3 , 0  .
2 5

 

SP-Q , f ( x ) = x3 − 9 x 2 + 3x − 3

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 31 (*****)
A cubic curve has equation

f ( x ) ≡ x3 − x 2 (1 + sin t + 2cos t ) + x ( 2sin t cos t + 2cos t + sin t ) − 2sin t cos t ,

where x ∈
and t is a constant such that 0 ≤ t < 2π .

Given that the equation f ( x ) = 0 has exactly 2 equal real roots, determine the possible
values of t .

SP-Q , t = 1 π , t = arctan 2, t = 1 π , t = π + arctan 2, t = 5 π

3 2 3

Created by T. Madas