Cambridge Senior Mathematical Methods AC/VCE Units 1 & 2

Onilne Teaching Suite Chapter 6 Polynomials: Chapter test 2

Multiple-choice questions
1 If ax3 + 2x2 + 5 is exactly divisible by x + 1, the value of a is
A 1
B 7
C –1
D 3
E –7

2 A possible equation for the curve shown is

A y = (x + 7)(x + 2)(x – 5) y
B y = (x – 7)(x – 2)(x + 5)
1
C y= (x + 7)(x + 2)(x – 5)
14
1 –7 –2 0 5 x
D y= (x – 7)(x – 2)(x + 5)
14
1
E y=– (x + 7)(x + 2)(x – 5)
14 –5

3 The remainder when P(x) = 2x3 – 2x2 + 10x – 5 is divided by 2x – 1 is

A 1
1
B
2
1
C
2
D –4
1
E
4

4 The remainder when 2x3 + 3x2 – 3x – 2 is divided by x – 1 is

A 1
B –1
C 2
D –2
E 0

© Evans, Wallace, Lipson, Greenwood 2016 1

Cambridge Senior Mathematical Methods AC/VCE Units 1 & 2
Onilne Teaching Suite Chapter 6 Polynomials: Chapter test 2

5 If (x + 1)(2x + 1)(x – 3) = 0 then

1
A x= or 1 or 3
2
1
B x= or –1 or –3
2
1
C x= or 1 or –3
2
1
D x= or –1 or 3
2
1
E x=  or –1 or 3
2

6 The graph shown is the graph of a cubic function with stationary point at (–1, 2). Its
equation is
A y = 2(x + 1)3 + 2 y
3
B y = (x + 1) + 4
4
C y = (x – 1)3 + 4
D y = (x – 1)3 – 2 (–1, 2)
E y = 2(x – 1) + 2 3

–2 0 x
7 The diagram below shows part of the graph of a polynomial function.

b 0 a x

A possible equation for the rule of the function is

A y = (x – b)2(x – a)
B y = (x – a)2(x – b)
C y = –(x + b)2(x – a)
D y = (x – b)2(a – x)

© Evans, Wallace, Lipson, Greenwood 2016 2

Cambridge Senior Mathematical Methods AC/VCE Units 1 & 2
Onilne Teaching Suite Chapter 6 Polynomials: Chapter test 2
E y = (x + b)2(a – x)

8 P(x) = x3 + ax2 + bx – 9 equals zero at x = 1 and x = –3. The values of a and b are
A a = 1, b = –3
B a = –1, b = 3
C a = 5, b = 3
D a = –5, b = –3
E a = 0, b = 0

9 The graph of the equation y = x3 + 2x2 + 2 is

A B

y y

2 2
x
C D 0
x y
0y

x
2 0

E x
0
y

x
0

© Evans, Wallace, Lipson, Greenwood 2016 3

Cambridge Senior Mathematical Methods AC/VCE Units 1 & 2
Onilne Teaching Suite Chapter 6 Polynomials: Chapter test 2

10 The diagram below shows part of the graph of a polynomial function.

– –3 0 3 x

A possible equation for the rule of the function is

A y = (x + 6)(x + 3)(x – 3)
B y = (x + 6)(x + 3)2(x – 3)
C y = (x – 6)(x – 3)(x + 3)
D y = (x – 6)(x – 3)2(x + 3)
E y = –(x – 6)(x – 3)2(x + 3)

11 The linear factors of x4 + x3 – 5x2 – 5x over R are

A x, x + 1, x2 – 5
B x, x + 1, x + 5, x– 5
C x, x + 1
D x + 1, x + 5, x– 5
E x + 1, x3 – 3x

12 P(x) = x4 + ax2 – 4 equals zero at x = 2 and x = – 2 . The value of a is

A 0
B 2
C –2
D –3
E 3

© Evans, Wallace, Lipson, Greenwood 2016 4

Cambridge Senior Mathematical Methods AC/VCE Units 1 & 2
Onilne Teaching Suite Chapter 6 Polynomials: Chapter test 2

13 x – 2 is a factor of x3 – 3x2 + 2ax – 1. The value of a is

A 2
B 5
4
C
5
4
D 
5
5
E
4

14 The graph of the equation y = x3 is reflected in the x-axis and then translated 2 units to
the right and 1 unit down. The equation of the new graph is
A y = –(x – 2)3 – 1
B y = –(x – 2)3 + 1
C y = (–x)3 – 3
D y = –(x)3 – 1
E y = –(x)3 – 2 – 1

15 The linear factors of x4 – 2x3 – 6x2 + 14x –7 over R are

A x – 1, x – 1, x2 – 7
B x – 1, x – 1, x + 7,x– 7
C x – 1, x – 1
D x + 1, x + 7,x– 7
E (x – 1)2, x2 – 7

Short-answer questions (technology-free)

1 Sketch the graph of f : ℝ  ℝ, f(x) = 2(x – 1)3 + 4.

2 Give the sequence of transformations which transforms the graph of y = x3 to the graph
of y = –4(x + 1)3 + 2.

3 Consider the polynomial with rule P(x) = (x – 1)4 – 1.

a Find the x-axis intercepts.
b Find the minimum value.
c Sketch the graph of y = P(x).

© Evans, Wallace, Lipson, Greenwood 2016 5

Cambridge Senior Mathematical Methods AC/VCE Units 1 & 2
Onilne Teaching Suite Chapter 6 Polynomials: Chapter test 2

4 a Find, in terms of p, the remainder when x3 – 4x2 + px – 8 is divided by x – 4.

b Find the value of p for which x3 – 4x2 + px – 8 is exactly divisible by x – 4.

5 The graph of y = f(x) has rule of the form f(x) = a(x + b)3 + 2.
Find the values of a and b.

y (3, 8)

(2, 2)

0 x

6 A cubic function has rule f(x) = ax3 + bx + 6. The points (1, 4)and (2, 11) lie on the
graph of y = f (x). Find the rule f(x).

7 a If f (x) = 2x3 + 3x2 – 8x + 3, show that 2x – 1 is a factor of f (x).

b Hence or otherwise, factorise f (x).
c Sketch the graph of y = f (x). (The coordinates of turning points are not required.)
d Find {x: f(x) > 0}

Extended-response question
An open box is constructed by cutting out square corners, with sides x cm, from a sheet of
cardboard 100 cm by 70 cm as shown below, and folding along the dotted line.

a Find an expression for V (cm3), the volume of the box, in terms of x.

b State the set of x values for which the expression for V in terms of x is valid.

© Evans, Wallace, Lipson, Greenwood 2016 6

Cambridge Senior Mathematical Methods AC/VCE Units 1 & 2
Onilne Teaching Suite Chapter 6 Polynomials: Chapter test 2
c Sketch the graph of V against x without any restriction on x. (Do not find coordinates of
turning points.)
d Sketch the graph of V against x with the restriction on x. (Do not find coordinates of
turning points.)
e For what value of x is V = 6664?

© Evans, Wallace, Lipson, Greenwood 2016 7

Cambridge Senior Mathematical Methods AC/VCE Units 1 & 2
Onilne Teaching Suite Chapter 6 Polynomials: Chapter test 2

Answers
Multiple-choice questions

1 B 2 C 3 E 4 E 5 E

6 A 7 D 8 C 9 B 10 B

11 B 12 A 13 E 14 A 15 B

Short-answer questions (technology-free)

y
y =2(x – 1)3 + 4

2
1 0 x
– 3 

2 A reflection in the x-axis

A dilation of factor 4 from the x-axis
A translation of 1 unit in the negative direction of the x-axis
A translation of 2 units in the positive direction of the y-axis

3 a 2 or 0 b –1
c
y

0 2 x

–

4 a 4p – 8 b 2

5 b = –2, a = 6

3 7
6 f(x) = 2x3 – 2x + 6

© Evans, Wallace, Lipson, Greenwood 2016 8

Cambridge Senior Mathematical Methods AC/VCE Units 1 & 2
Onilne Teaching Suite Chapter 6 Polynomials: Chapter test 2

7 b f(x) = (x – 1)(x + 3)(2x – 1)

c
y

– 0 1 1 x
2

1
d {x : 3  x  }  {x : x  1}
2

Extended-response question

1 a V = 4x(50 – x)(35 – x) b 0 < x < 35

c

y
y =V(x)

0 35 50 x

y
y =V(x)

0
35 x

e x = 1 or x = 42 – 7 2  32.1

© Evans, Wallace, Lipson, Greenwood 2016 9