Functions, Equations and Polynomials

Solutions
1. Subtract the first equation from the second, rearrange the resulting expression and then factor
to obtain

−8x + y + xy − 8 = 0
xy − 8x + y − 8 = 0
x(y − 8) + y − 8 = 0
(x + 1)(y − 8) = 0

Therefore, x = −1 or y = 8. If x = −1, then substituting into the first equation and solving we
√ y = −9. If y = 8, then substituting into the first √
obtain that equation and solving we obtain
x = 4 ± 2 2. Therefore, the solutions are (−1, −9) and (4 ± 2 2, 8).

2. Solution 1
We are asked for the x value of the midpoint of zeros, which is the x value of the vertex of the
parabola. The equation is written in vertex form already and so a = 1.

Solution 2
Find the x-intercepts:

(x − 1)2 − 4 = 0
(x − 1)2 = 4
x=1±2

−1 + 3
Thus, x = 3 or x = −1. Thus, a = = 1.
2
3. (a) Consider a = 0 and a = 1 and find the intersection point of the resulting equations,
y = x2 and y = x2 + 2x + 1. Subtracting the
 equations
 we obtain 0 = 2x + 1. Therefore,
1 1 1 1
x = − and so the intersection point is − , . Now substitute x = − into the
2 2 4 2
general equation. Therefore,

y = x2 + 2ax + a
 
1 −1
= + 2a · +a
4 2
1
=
4
 
1 1
Since − , satisfies the general equation, it is a point on all of the parabolas.
2 4
 (b) Now y = x2 +2ax+a = (x+a)2 +a−a2 and so the vertex is at (−a, a−a2 ). If we represent
the coordinates of the vertex by (p,q) we have p = −a and q = a − a2 or q = −p2 − p, the
required parabola. Completing the square we obtain
   2
2 1 1 1 1
q =− p +p+ + =− p+ +
4 4 2 4
 
1 1
and so we see that the vertex of this parabola is − , , the common point found in
2 4
part (a)
4. Factoring both equations we arrive at:
p(1 + r + r2 ) = 26 (1)
p2 r(1 + r + r2 ) = 156 (2)

From equation (1) we can see neither of the factors of its left-hand side are 0. Dividing (2) by
(1) gives pr = 6. Substituting this relation back into (1) we get
6
+ 6 + 6r = 26
r
6 − 20r + 6r2 = 0
3r2 − 10r + 3 = 0
(3r − 1)(r − 3) = 0
 
1 1
Therefore, r = or r = 3. Hence (p, r) = (2, 3) or 18, .
3 3
b c
5. We assume, on the contrary, that the coefficients are in geometric sequence. Then = which
a b
implies that b2 = ac. But now the discriminant b2 − 4ac = −3b2 < 0, so that the roots are not
real. Thus, we have a contradiction to the condition set out in the statement of the problem
and our assumption is false.
6. Let r and s be the integer roots. The equation can be written as
a(x − r)(x − s) = a(x2 − (r + s)x + rs)
= ax2 − a(r + s)x + ars
= ax2 + bx + c
with b = −a(r + s) and c = ars. Since a, b, c are in arithmetic sequence, we have
c−b=b−a
a + c − 2b = 0
a + ars + 2a(r + s) = 0
1 + rs + 2(r + s) = 0 (we can divide by a since a 6= 0)
rs + 2r + 2s + 4 = 3
(r + 2)(s + 2) = 3
 Ignoring the order of the factors, we can factor 3 as a product of two integers in two ways:
3 = 1(3) or 3 = (−1)(−3). Therefore, the two possibilities for the roots of quadratic are: (i)
−1 and 1 or (ii) −3 and −5.
7. Solution 1
Multiplying out and collecting terms results in x4 − 6x3 + 8x2 + 2x − 1 = 0. We look for a
factoring with integer coefficients, using the fact that the first and last coefficients are 1 and
−1, respectively. So
x4 − 6x3 + 8x2 + 2x − 1 = (x2 + ax + 1)(x2 + bx − 1)
where a and b are undetermined coefficients. However, expanding and comparing coefficients
gives a + b = −6 and −a + b = 2 and ab = 8. Since all three equations are satisfied by a = −4
and b = −2, we have factored the original expression as
x4 − 6x3 + 8x2 + 2x − 1 = (x2 − 4x + 1)(x2 − 2x − 1)
√ √
Factoring these two quadratics gives the roots x = 2 ± 3 and x = 1 ± 2.
Solution 2
We observe that the original equation is of the form f (f (x)) = x, where f (x) = x2 − 3x + 1.
Now if we can find x such that f (x) = x, then f (f (x)) = x. So we solve f (x) = x2 − 3x + 1 = x
which gives the first factor x2 − 4x + 1 above. With polynomial division, we can then determine
that
x4 − 6x3 + 8x2 + 2x − 1 = (x2 − 4x + 1)(x2 − 2x − 1)
and continue as in Solution 1.
8. The vertex has x = 2 and y = −16 and so A = (2, −16). When y = 0 we get 0 = x2 − 4x − 12
which factors to give us intercepts at −2 and 6. The larger value is 6, and so B = (6, 0).
Therefore, we want the line through (2, −16) and (6, 0). Finding the slope of the line and using
the second point, the equation of the line is
 
0 + 16
y= (x − 6)
6−2
which simplifies to y = 4x − 24.
9. Solution 1
Multiplying gives
x2 − (b + c)x + bc = a2 − (b + c)a + bc
x2 − (b + c)x + a(−a + b + c) = 0
The roots are
p
b+c± (b + c)2 − 4a(−a + b + c)
x=
p 2
b + c ± (b + c) + 4a2 − 4a(b + c)
2
=
p 2
b + c ± (b + c − 2a)2
=
2
 Thus, x = −a + b + c or x = a.
Solution 2
Observe that x = a is one solution. Rearranging as in the first solution we get
x2 − (b + c)x + a(−a + b + c) = 0
Using the sum (or the product) of the roots, we determine that other root is x = −a + b + c.
10. Since x = −2 is a solution of x3 − 7x − 6 = 0, we know that x + 2 is a factor of x3 − 7x − 6.
Factoring (or using long division) we obtain
x3 − 7x − 6 = (x + 2)(x2 − 2x − 3)
= (x + 2)(x + 1)(x − 3)
Thus, the roots are −2, −1 and 3.
11. Let the roots be r and s. Using the sum of the roots and the product of the roots we obtain
−4(a − 2)
r+s=
4
=2−a
and
−8a2 + 14a + 31
rs =
4
7 31
= −2a2 + a +
2 4
Then
r2 + s2 = (r + s)2 − 2rs
 
2 2 7 31
= (2 − a) − 2 −2a + a +
2 4
31
= 4 − 4a + a2 + 4a2 − 7a −
2
2 23
= 5a − 11a − .
2
23
It appears that the minimum value should be at the vertex of the parabola f (a) = 5a2 −11a− ,
2
11
that is, at a = (found by completing the square). But we have ignored the condition that
10
the roots are real. The discriminant of the original equation is
B 2 − 4AC = [4(a − 2)]2 − 4(4)(−8a2 + 14a + 31)
= 16(a2 − 4a + 4) + 128a2 − 224a − 496
= 144a2 − 288a − 432
= 144(a2 − 2a − 3)
= 144(a − 3)(a + 1).
 11
Thus, we have real roots only when a ≥ 3 or a ≤ −1. Therefore, a = cannot be our final
10
23
answer, since the roots are not real for this value. However f (a) = 5a2 − 11a − is a parabola
2
11
opening up and is symmetrical about its axis of symmetry a = . So we move to the nearest
10
value of a to the axis of symmetry that gives real roots, which is a = 3.
12. Let g(2) = k. Since f and g are inverse functions, we know that f (k) = 2. We need to solve
3k − 7
=2
k+1
3k − 7 = 2(k + 1)
k=9
Thus, g(2) = 9.
13. Complete the square to obtain
y = −2x2 − 4ax + k
= −2(x2 + 2ax + a2 ) + k + 2a2
= −2(x + a)2 + k + 2a2
The vertex is at (−a, k + 2a2 ) which we know is (−2, 7). Therefore, solving we obtain a = 2
and k = −1.
14. Using the sum and the product of the roots we have the four equations:
a + b = −c
ab = d
c + d = −a
cd = b

Therefore,
−(c + d) + cd = −c
cd − d = 0
d(c − 1) = 0
But none of a, b, c or d are zero, so c = 1. Then we get d = b. Substituting d = b into ab = d
we get a = 1. Then d = b = −2. Thus, a + b + c + d = −2.
15. The most common way to do this problem uses calculus. However, we make the substitution
z = x − 4. To get y in terms of z, try
y = x2 − 2x − 3
= (x − 4)2 + 6x − 19
= (x − 4)2 + 6(x − 4) + 5
= z 2 + 6z + 5
 y−4 z 2 + 6z + 1 6 1
Therefore, the value we want to minimize is 2
= 2
= 1 + + 2 . If we now let
(x − 4) z z z
1
u = , we have the parabola 1 + 6u + u2 which opens up and has its minimum at u = −3 with
z
minimum value of −8. Note that since x can assume any real value except 4, we know that z
and u will assume all real values except zero. Thus, the minimum value of this expression is
−8.

16. Solution 1
Since the function g is linear and has positive slope, it is one-to-one and so it is invertible.
This means that g −1 (g(a)) = a for every real number a and g(g −1 (b)) = b for every real number
b.
Therefore, g(f (g −1 (g(a)))) = g(f (a)) for every real number a.
This means that

g(f (a)) = g(f (g −1 (g(a))))

= 2(g(a))2 + 16g(a) + 26
= 2(2a − 4)2 + 16(2a − 4) + 26
= 2(4a2 − 16a + 16) + 32a − 64 + 26
= 8a2 − 6

Furthermore, if b = f (a), then g −1 (g(f (a))) = g −1 (g(b)) = b = f (a). Therefore,

f (a) = g −1 (g(f (a))) = g −1 (8a2 − 6)

1
Since g(x) = 2x − 4, we have y = 2g −1 (y) − 4 and so g −1 (y) = y + 2. Therefore,
2
f (a) = 12 (8a2 − 6) + 2 = 4a2 − 1

and so f (π) = 4π 2 − 1.
Solution 2
Since the function g is linear and has positive slope, it is one-to-one and so it is invertible.
To find a formula for g −1 (y), we start with the equation g(x) = 2x−4, convert to y = 2g −1 (y)−4
y+4
and then solve for g −1 (y) to obtain 2g −1 (y) = y + 4 and so g −1 (y) = .
2
We are given that g(f (g −1 (x))) = 2x2 + 16x + 26.
We can apply the function g −1 to both sides successively to obtain

f (g −1 (x)) = g −1 (2x2 + 16x + 26)

−1 (2x2 + 16x + 26) + 4
f (g (x)) = (knowing a formula for g −1 )
2
f (g −1 (x)) = x2 + 8x + 15
 
x+4
f = x2 + 8x + 15 (knowing a formula for g −1 )
2
 
x+4
f = x2 + 8x + 16 − 1
2
 
x+4
f = (x + 4)2 − 1
2

We want to determine the value of f (π).

x+4
Thus, we can replace with π, which is equivalent to replacing x + 4 with 2π.
2
Thus, f (π) = (2π)2 − 1 = 4π 2 − 1.