5 Algebra 2

In this unit you will: Links

l learn how to change the subject of a formula
If you have an idea
of the shape of a
l learn how to solve inequalities and represent them as
graph then you
regions on a graph can model a
l solve problems in direct and indirect proportion situation to find
l identify and plot curved graphs out the exact
l use graphs to solve equations. equation, for
example, how fast
Functional skills coverage and range: a radioactive
l Understand, use, and calculate ratio and proportion, isotope is
including problems involving scale decaying. This
l Understand and use simple equations and simple formulae could tell you
involving one- or two-step operations. exactly what the
isotope is.

5.1 Changing the subject of a formula

The operations that you use in solving ordinary linear equations are
exactly the same as the operations you need to change the subject
of a formula.

5.1.1 Simple formulae

EXAMPLE

Make x the subject in these formulae.

a ax  p = t b y(x + y) = v2
...........................................................................
a ax  p = t b y(x + y) = v2
ax = t + p yx + y2 = v2
t+p yx = v2  y2
x = a
v 2  y2
x = y


Exercise 1 M
Make x the subject.
1 x+b=e 2 xt = m 3 xf = a + b
4 x+h=A+B 5 x+t=y+t 6 a+x=b
7 k+x=m 8 v+x=w+y 9 ax = b
248 Algebra 2

10 hx = m 11 mx = a + b 12 kx = c  d
13 vx = e + n 14 3x = y + z 15 xp = r
16 xm = h  m 17 ax + t = a 18 mx  e = k
19 ux  h = m 20 ex + q = t 21 kx  u2 = v2

Now do these.
22 gx + t 2 = s2 23 xa + k = m2 24 xm  v = m
25 a + bx = c 26 t + sx = y 27 y + cx = z
28 a + hx = 2a 29 mx  b = b 30 kx + ab = cd
31 a(x  b) = c 32 c(x  d) = e 33 m(x + m) = n2 In questions 31–39
34 k(x  a) = t 35 h(x  h) = k 36 m(x + b) = n multiply out the
brackets first.
37 a(x  a) = a2 38 c(a + x) = d 39 m(b + x) = e

5.1.2 Formulae involving fractions

EXAMPLE

Make x the subject in these formulae.

2
a x =p b m =t c a = d
a x m x
...........................................................................
2 Notice in parts b
a x =p b m =t c a = d and c that when x
a x m x
is on the bottom
x = ap m = xt xa2 = dm you start by
m multiplying both
=x x = dm
t a2 sides by x.

Exercise 2 M 
Make x the subject.
1 x =m 2 x =n 3 x =a
t e p
4 am = x 5 bc = x 6 e = x2
t a y
x x x
7 = (b + c) 8 = (c  d) 9 =s+t
a t m
10 x = h + i 11 x = a 12 x = z
k b c m y
13 x = c 14 m
=
x
15 b
=
x
h d n e e h
x x
16 =c 17 =m 18 x = m
(a + b) (h + k) u y
x x e When x is on the
19 =t 20 = (z + t) 21 t =
(h  k) (a + b) x bottom, multiply
22 a = e 23 m = h 24 a = c both sides by x.
x x b x
 Changing the subject of a formula 249

25 u = c 26 m = t 2 27 h = sin 20° You will meet

x d x x
2 2 sine, cos and tan
28 e = cos 40° 29 m = tan 46° 30 a2 = c in chapter 6.
x x b x

5.1.3 Formulae with negative x-terms

EXAMPLE

Make x the subject of these formulae.

a t  x = a2 b h  bx = m c a(m  x) = h
...........................................................................
a tx = a2 b h  bx =m c a(m  x) = h Notice that in
t = a2 + x h = m + bx am  ax = h each question the
first step is to
t  a2 = x hm = bx am = h + ax
make the x-term
or x = t  a2 hm am  h = ax
=x positive by taking
b
am  h it to the other
=x
a side.

Exercise 3 M 
Make x the subject.
1 ax = y 2 hx = m 3 zx = q 4 v = bx
5 m = kx 6 h  cx = d 7 y  mx = c 8 k  ex = h
9 a  bx = d
2
10 m  tx = n
2 2
11 v  ax = w
2
12 y  x = y2
13 k  t 2 x = m 14 e = b  cx 15 z = h  gx 16 a + b = c  dx
17 y2 = v2  kx 18 h = d  fx 19 a(b  x) = c 20 h(m  x) = n
Make a the subject.
21 m(c 2 a) = t 22 v(p 2 a) = w 23 e = d (q 2 a) 24 b2 2 a = r 2
h  fa
25 x  a = 2f 26 B  Aa = E 27 D  Ea = B 28 =x
f D N b
f (Na  e) T (M  a)
29 v  ha = d
2
M(a + B)
30 =T 31 =B 32 =F
C N m E

Make x the subject (more difficult).

33 2 + 1 = 3y 34 5  2 = 4z 35 A + B = C 36 V + G = H
x x x x

37 r  t = n 38 q = b + d 39 t = m  n 40 h = d  b
x x x x

41 C  d = e 42 r  m = e 2 43 t 2 = b  n 44 d + b = mn
x x x x
2
q
45 3M = M + N 46 A = B 25A 47 m  n = 2p 48 t = w 
P +x c+x x x
250 Algebra 2

5.1.4 Formulae with squares and square roots

EXAMPLE

Make x the subject in these formulae.

a mx2 = b b x2 + h = k c ax2 + b = c
pffiffiffi pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
d x=u e x2e = t f x2 + A = B
........................................................................................................
a mx2 = b b x2 + h = k c ax2 + b = c
x2 = b x2 = k 2 h ax2 = c 2 b
m rffiffiffiffiffi
pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
x=6 b x = 6 (k 2 h) x2 = c 2 b
m a ffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
r
x = 6 cb
a

pffiffiffi pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi

d x=u e x2e = t f x2 + A = B
x = u2 (square both sides) x 2 e = t2 x2 + A = B2
x = t2 + e x2 = B2 2A
pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
x = 6 (B2  A)


Exercise 4 M / H
Make x the subject.
1 cx2 = h 2 bx2 = f 3 x2 t = m 4 x2 y = (a + b)
5 mx2 = (t + a) 6 x2  a = b 7 x2 + c = t 8 x2 + y = z
9 x2  a2 = b2 10 x2 + t 2 = m2 11 x2 + n2 = a2 12 ax2 = c
13 hx2 = n 14 cx2 = z + k 15 ax2 + b = c 16 dx2  e = h
17 gx2  n = m 18 x2 m + y = z 19 a + mx2 = f 20 a2 + x2 = b2

Make x the subject.

pffiffiffi pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
21 x = 2z 22 (x  2) = 3y 23 (x + C) = D 24 (ax + b) = c
pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
25 b = (gx  t) 26 (d  x) = t 27 c = (n  x) 28 g = (c  x)
pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi pffiffiffiffi
29 (Ax + B) = D 30 x 2 = g 31 x 2 = B 32 x 2  A = M

Make k the subject.

33 C  k 2 = m 34 mk 2 = n 35 kz = t 36 n = a  k 2
a sffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
 
pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi N
37 (k 2  A) = B 38 t = (m + k 2 ) 39 A (k + B) = M 40
k
=B
pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
41 (a 2  k 2 ) = t 42 2p (k + t) = 4 43 (ak 2  b) = C 44 k 2 + b = x 2
 Changing the subject of a formula 251

5.1.5 Formulae with x on both sides

EXAMPLE

Make x the subject of each formula.

a Ax  B = Cx + D b x+a=x+b
c
........................................................................................................
a Ax  B = Cx + D b x + a =x+b
c
Ax  Cx = D + B (x-terms on one side)
c(x + a) = x + b
x(A  C) = D + B (factorise)
cx + ca = x + b
x= D+B cx  x = b  ca (x-terms on one side)
AC x(c  1) = b  ca (factorise)

x = b  ca
c1


Exercise 5 M / H
Make y the subject.
1 5(y  p) = 2(y + x) 2 x(y  3) = p(3  y) 3 Ny + B = D  Ny
4 My  D = E  2My 5 ay + b = 3b + by 6 my  c = e  ny
7 xy + 4 = 7  ky 8 Ry + D = Ty + C 9 ay  x = z + by
10 m(y + a) = n(y + b) 11 x(y  b) = y + d ay
12 =b
a+y
1y c My a
13 = 14 = 15 m( y + n) = n(n 2 y)
1+y d M+y b
2y  5 y+2 ay + e
16 y + m = 17 y  n = 18 y + b =
m n b
ay + x
19 = 4y 20 c  dy = e  ay 21 y(a  c) = by + d
x
y+x
22 y(m + n) = a(y + b) 23 t  ay = s  by 24 =3
yx
sffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
 ffi
vy 1 y+x
25 = 26 y(b  a) = a(y + b + c) 27 =2
v+y 2 yx
sffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
 ffi sffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
 ffi
z+y m(y + n) 4y  n
28 = 1 29 =p 30 n  y =
zy 3 y m


Exercise 6 M / H
1 A formula for calculating velocity is v = u + at.
a Rearrange the formula to express a in terms of v, u and t.
b Calculate a when v = 20, u = 4, t = 8.
2 The area of a sector of a circle is given
2 x
by the formula A = xpr . r
360
Express x in terms of A, p and r.
252 Algebra 2

3 a Express k in terms of P , m and y, when P = mk .

y
b Express y in terms of P , m and k.
4 A formula for calculating repair bills, R, is R = n  d .
p
a Express n in terms of R, p and d.
b Calculate n when R = 400, p = 3 and d = 55.
5 The formula for the area of a circle in A = pr 2.
Express r in terms of A and p.
6 The volume of a cylinder is given by V = pr 2h.
Express h in terms of V, p and r.
7 The surface area, A, and volume, V, of a sphere are given by the
formulae A = 4pr2 and V = 4 pr3. Make r the subject of each formula.
3


Exercise 7 M / H
Make the letter in brackets the subject.
1 ax  d = h [x] 2 zy + k = m [ y] 3 d( y + e) = f [ y]
4 m(a + k) = d [k] 5 a + bm = c [m] 6 ae2 = b [e]
2
7 yt = z [t ] 8 x  c = e [x]
2
9 my  n =b [ y]
10 a(z + a) = b [z] 11 a = d [x] 12 k = t [k]
x m
y
13 u = n [u] 14 = d [x] 15 a = t [m]
m x m

16 d = n [g ] 17 t = (a + b) [t ] 18 y = v [e]
g k e
2
19 c = m [ y] 20 a = b [a] 21 g(m + a) = b [m]
y m
22 h(h + g) = x 2 [g ] 23 y  t = z [t ] 24 me2 = c [e]
25 a(y + x) = t [x] 26 uv  t 2 = y 2 [v] 27 k2 + t = c [k]
28 k  w = m [w] 29 b  an = c [n] 30 m(a + y) = c [ y]
31 pq  x = ab [x] 32 a2  bk = t [k] 33 v 2 z = w [z]
34 c = t  u [u] 35 xc + t = 2t [c] 36 m(n + w) = k [w]
37 v  mx = t [m] 38 c = a( y + b) [ y] 39 m(a  c) = e [c]
40 ba2 = c [a] 41 a = q [ p] 42 a2 = e [n]
p n
43 h2 = m [ f ] 44 v2 = n [x] 45 v  ac = t 3 [c]
f x
46 a(a2 + y) = b3 [ y] 47 ah2  d = b [h] 48 h(h + k) = bc [k]
49 u2  n2 = v 2 [n] 50 m(b  z) = b3 [z]
 Inequalities and regions 253

5.2 Inequalities and regions

5.2.1 Inequality symbols

There are four inequality symbols.

l x<4 means ‘x is less than 4’

l y>7 means ‘y is greater than 7’
l z < 10 means ‘z is less than or equal to 10’
l t > 3 means ‘t is greater than or equal to 3’

When there are two symbols in one statement look at each part
separately.
For example, if n is an integer and 3 < n < 7,
n has to be greater than 3 but at the same time it has to be less than
or equal to 7.
So n could be 4, 5, 6 or 7 only.
EXAMPLE

Illustrate on a number line the range of values of x stated.

a x>1

1
The circle at the left-hand end
of the range is open.
This means that 1 is not included.
b x < 2

−2

The circle at 2 is filled in to

indicate that 2 is included.

c 1<x<4

1 4

Exercise 8 M 
1 Write each statement with either > or < in the box.
a 3 7 b 0 2
c 3·1 3·01 d 3 5
e 100 mm 1m f 1 kg 1 lb
254 Algebra 2

2 Write the inequality displayed. Use x for the variable.

a b c
2 5 100
d e f
−2 2 −6 3 8
g h i
4 7 −5 0 −1 3
3 Draw a number line to display these inequalities.
a x>7 b x < 2·5 c 1<x<7
d 0<x<4 e 1 < x < 5
4 Write an inequality for each statement.
a You must be at least 16 to get married. [Use A for age.]
b Vitamin J1 is not recommended for people over 70 or for
children 3 years or under. [Use A for age recommended.]
c To cook beef the oven temperature should be between 150 °C
and 175 °C. [Use T for temperature.]
d Applicants for training as paratroopers must be at least 1·75 m
tall. [Use h for height.]
5 Answer ‘true’ or ‘false’:
a n is an integer and 1 < n < 4, so n can be 2, 3 or 4.
b x is an integer and 2 < x < 5, so x can be 2, 3 or 4.
c p is an integer and p > 10, so p can be 10, 11, 12, 13 . . .
6 Which of the numbers x, below, satisfy x2 < 90?
pffiffiffiffiffiffi
7, 26, 10, 8·5, 95
7 Write one inequality to show the values of x which satisfy both of
these inequalities.

x<7 x.2

8 Write one inequality to show the values of x which satisfy all three
of these inequalities.

x,5 0,x,6 3 < x , 10

5.2.2 Solving inequalities

Follow the same procedure that you use for solving equations
except that when you multiply or divide by a negative number you
reverse the inequality.
For example, 4 > 2 but if you multiply by 2 then 8 < 4
 Inequalities and regions 255

It is best to avoid dividing by a negative number as in the following

example, part b.
EXAMPLE

Solve these inequalities.

a x + 11 < 4 b 8 > 13 2 x
c 2x 2 1 > 5 d x + 1 < 2x < x + 3
........................................................................................................
a x + 11 < 4 b 8 > 13 2 x
x < 27 (subtract 11) 8 + x > 13 (add x)
x > 5 (subtract 8)
c 2x  1 > 5 d x + 1 < 2x < x + 3
2x > 5 + 1 (add 1) Solve the two inequalities separately.
x>6 (divide by 2) x + 1 < 2x 2x < x + 3
2 1<x x<3
x>3 The solution is 1 < x < 3.

Exercise 9 M
Solve these inequalities.
1 x  3 > 10 2 x+1<0 3 5>x7
4 2x + 1 < 6 5 3x  4 > 5 6 10 < 2x  6
7 5x < x + 1 8 2x > x  3 9 4 + x < 4
10 3x + 1 < 2x + 5 11 2(x + 1) > x  7 12 7 < 15  x
13 9 > 12  x 14 4  2x < 2 15 3(x  1) < 2(1  x)
16 7  3x < 0 17 x 5 1 18 2x > 3
3 5
19 2x > 0 20 x < 0
4
21 The height of this picture has to be
greater than the width.
Find the range of possible values of x. height
2(x + 1)

width
(x + 7)
In questions 22 to
22 10 < 2x < x + 9 23 x < 3x + 2 < 2x + 6 27, solve the two
24 10 < 2x  1 < x + 5 25 3 < 3x  1 < 2x + 7 inequalities
separately.
26 x  10 < 2(x  1) < x 27 4x + 1 < 8x < 3(x + 2)
256 Algebra 2

28 Sumitra said ‘I think of an integer.

I subtract 14.
I multiply the result by 5.
I divide by 2.
The answer is greater than the number I
thought of.’
Write an inequality and solve it to find the smallest number
Sumitra could have thought of.
Take care when there are squares and square roots in inequalities.
The equation x 2 = 4 has solutions x = 62, which is correct.
For the inequality x 2 < 4, you might wrongly write x < 62.
Consider x = 23, say.
3 is less than 2 and is also less than +2.
But (23)2 is not less than 4 and so
x = 3 does not satisfy the inequality x 2 < 4: (23)2 = 9
The correct solution for x 2 < 4 is 2 < x < 2.

EXAMPLE

a Solve the inequality b List the solutions which satisfy

2x 2  1 > 17. 2 < n < 14; n is a prime number
........................................................................................................
a 2x 2  1 > 17 b The prime numbers in the range
2x > 18
2
specified are 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13.
x2 > 9
x > 3 or x < 3 (Avoid the temptation
to write x > 63!)

Exercise 10 M 
1 The area of the rectangle must be greater than the area of the
triangle.
Find the range of possible values of x.

4 3

x+1 x−2

For questions 2 to 8, list the solutions which satisfy the given condition.
2 3a + 1 < 20; a is a positive integer.
 Inequalities and regions 257

3 b  1 > 6; b is a prime number less than 20.

4 1 < z < 50; z is a square number.
5 2x > 10; x is a negative integer.
6 x + 1 < 2x < x + 13; x is an integer.
7 0 < 2z  3 < z + 8; z is a prime number.
8 a + 10 . a; a is a positive even number.
2
9 Given that 4x > 1 and x < 1 1 , list the possible integer values of x.
3 3
10 State the smallest integer n for which 4n > 19:
11 Given that 24 < a < 3 and 25 < b < 4, find
a the largest possible value of a2
b the smallest possible value of ab
c the largest possible value of ab
d the value of b if b 2 = 25.
12 For any shape of triangle ABC, complete the statement B
AB + BC AC, by writing < , > or = inside the box.
A C

13 Find a simple fraction r such that 1 < r < 2 .

3 3
14 Find the largest prime number p such that p2 < 400:
pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
15 Find the integer n such that n < 300 < n + 1.
16 If f(x) = 2x 2 1 and g(x) = 10 2 x for what values of x is
f(x) > g(x)?
17 a The solution of x 2 < 9 is 23 < x < 3.
[The square roots of 9 are 23 and 3.]
b Copy and complete.
i If x 2 < 100, then <x<
ii If x 2 < 81, then <x<
iii If x 2 > 36, then x > or x <
Solve the inequalities.
18 x 2 < 25 19 x 2 < 16 20 x 2 > 1
21 2x > 72
2
22 3x 2 + 5 > 5 23 5x 2 2 2 < 18
24 Given 2 < p < 10 and 1 < q < 4, find the range of values of
p
a pq b q c p2q d p+q

25 If 2 r > 100, what is the smallest integer value of r ?

 258 Algebra 2

 x
26 Given 1 < 1 , what is the smallest integer value of x ?
3 200
27 Find the smallest integer value of x which satisfies x x > 10 000:
28 What integer values of x satisfy 100 < 5x < 10 000?
1
*29 If x is an acute angle and sin x > , write the range of values that
2
x can take.
1
*30 If x is an acute angle and cos x > , write the range of values that
4
x can take.

5.2.3 Shading regions

You can represent inequalities on a graph, particularly where two
variables (x and y) are involved.
EXAMPLE

Draw a sketch graph and shade the area which represents the set of points that
satisfy each of these inequalities.
a x.2 b 1<y<5 c x+y<8
........................................................................................................
y y y
5 y=5
8
x>2
x=2

1⩽y⩽5
+
y
=
8

1 y=1 x+y⩽8
0 2 x 0 x 0 8 x

In each graph, the required region is shaded.

In a, the line x = 2 is shown as a broken line to indicate that the points on the line
are not included.
In b and c points on the line are included ‘in the region’ and the lines are drawn
unbroken.
To decide which side to shade when the line is sloping, take a trial point. This
can be any point which is not actually on the line.
In c above, the trial point could be (1, 1).
Is (1, 1) in the region x + y < 8?
It satisfies x + y < 8 because 1 + 1 = 2, which is less than 8.
So below the line is x + y < 8 which is in the shaded region.
 Inequalities and regions 259


Exercise 11 M / H
In questions 1 to 6, describe the region which is shaded.

1 y 2 y 3 y

x=1

x=6
x=3

y=2
2

0 x 0 x 0 x

4 y 5 y 6 y
y=5

x
+
x
x=7

y
=

=
y

10
0 x 0 x 0 x

7 The point (1, 1), marked *, lies in the shaded region.

Use this as a trial point to describe the shaded y
region as follows:
Is the shaded region 2x 2 y . 3?

3
Try x = 1, y = 1. Is 2 2 1 > 3? No. y=
Copy and complete ‘So the shaded region is
−
(1, 1)
2x

2x 2 y 3.’ *
x

8 The point (3, 1), marked *, lies in the shaded triangle.

Use this as a trial point to write the three inequalities which y
describe the shaded region.
x
=

x=8
y

* (3, 1)
0 x
y = −2
 260 Algebra 2

9 A trial point (1, 2) lies inside the shaded triangles. Write the three
inequalities which describe each shaded region.
a y
b y

2
+
x x
=
y= y
x=0

x+
x

y=
+
y
=

6
7

x y=0 x

For questions 10 to 27, draw a sketch graph similar to those in

question 9 and indicate the set of points which satisfy the inequalities
by shading the required region.
1
10 2 < x < 7 11 0 < y < 3
2
12 22 < x < 2 13 x < 6 and y < 4
14 0 < x < 5 and y < 3 15 1 < x < 6 and 2 < y < 8
16 23 < x < 0 and 24 < y < 2 17 y < x
18 x + y < 5 19 y > x + 2 and y < 7
20 x > 0 and y > 0 and x + y < 7 21 x > 0 and x + y < 10 and y > x
22 8 > y > 0 and x + y > 3 23 x + 2y < 10 and x > 0 and y > 0
24 3x + 2y < 18 and x > 0 and y > 0 25 x > 0, y > x 2 2, x + y < 10

26 3x + 5y < 30 and y > x 27 y > x , y < 2x and x + y < 8

2 2

28 The two lines y = x + 1 and y

x + y = 5 divide the graph into 1
four regions A, B, C, D. +
D x
=
Write the two inequalities which describe y
each of the regions A, B, C, D. A C
x
+
y

B
=
5

*29 Using the same axes, draw the graphs of xy = 10 and x + y = 9

for values of x from 1 to 10.
Hence find all pairs of positive integers with products greater than
10 and sums less than 9.
 Direct and inverse proportion 261

5.3 Direct and inverse proportion

5.3.1 Direct proportion

a When you buy petrol, the more you buy the more money you have
to pay. So if 2·2 litres costs 198p, then 4·4 litres will cost 396p.
The cost of petrol is directly proportional to the quantity bought.
To show that quantities are proportional, you use the symbol ‘}’.
So in the example if the cost of petrol is c pence and the number of
litres of petrol is l, you write
c}l
The ‘}’ sign can always be replaced by ‘ = k’ where k is a
constant.
So c = kl
From above, if c = 198 when l = 2·2
then 198 = k · 2·2

k = 198 = 90
2·2
You can then write c = 90l, and this allows you to find the value
of c for any value of l, and vice versa.

b If a quantity z is proportional to a quantity x, you can write

z}x or z = kx
Two other expressions are sometimes used when quantities are
directly proportional. You can say
‘z varies as x’ z
or ‘z varies directly as x’.

kx
z=

l When z and x are directly proportional the graph

connecting z and x is a straight line which passes through
the origin.
262 Algebra 2

EXAMPLE

If y varies as z, and y = 2 when z = 5, find

a the value of y when z = 6
b the value of z when y = 5.
........................................................................................................
Because y } z, then y = kz where k is a constant.
y = 2 when z = 5
So 2 = k · 5
k=2
5
2
So y = z
5
a When z = 6, y = 2 · 6 = 2 2 .
5 5
b When y = 5, 5 = 2 z; z = 25 = 12 1 .
5 2 2

EXAMPLE

The value V of a diamond is proportional to

the square of its weight W.
If a diamond weighing 10 grams is worth £200, find
a the value of a diamond weighing 30 grams
b the weight of a diamond worth £5000.
...........................................................................
V } W2
or V = kW 2 where k is a constant.
V = 200 when W = 10
So 200 = k · 102
k = 2
So V = 2W 2
a When W = 30,
V = 2 · 302 = 2 · 900
V = £1800
So a diamond of weight 30 grams is worth £1800.
b When V = 5000,
5000 = 2 · W 2
W 2 = 5000 = 2500
2
pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
W = 2500 = 50
So a diamond of value £5000 weighs 50 grams.
 Direct and inverse proportion 263


Exercise 12 H
1 Rewrite the statement connecting each pair of variables using a
constant k instead of ‘}’.
Reminder: If x } d,
a S}e b v } tpffiffiffiffi c x } z2
pffiffiffi then x = kd.
d y} x e T } L
2 y is proportional to t so that y = kt. If y = 6 when t = 4, calculate
the value of k and hence find
a the value of y when t = 6
b the value of t when y = 4:
3 z is proportional to m. If z = 20 when m = 4, calculate
a the value of z when m = 7
b the value of m when z = 55:
4 A varies directly as r 2 . If A = 12, when r = 2, calculate
a the value of A when r = 5
b the value of r when A = 48.

5 Given that z } x, copy and complete the table. 1

x 1 3 5
2

z 4 16

6 Given that V } r 3 , copy and complete the table.

r 1 2 11
2

V 4 256

7 The pressure of the water, P, at any point below the surface of the
sea varies as the depth of the point below the surface, d. If the
pressure is 200 newtons/cm2 at a depth of 3 m, calculate the
pressure at a depth of 5 m.
8 The distance d through which a stone falls from rest is
proportional to the square of the time taken, t. If a stone falls 45 m
in 3 seconds, how far will it fall in 6 seconds? How long will it take
to fall 20 m?
9 The energy, E, stored in an elastic band is proportional to the
square of the extension, x. When the elastic is extended by 3 cm,
the energy stored is 243 joules.
a What is the energy stored when the extension is 5 cm?
b What is the extension when the stored energy is 36 joules?
264 Algebra 2

10 The resistance to motion of a car is proportional to the square of

the speed of the car.
a If the resistance is 4000 newtons at a speed of 20 m/s, what is
the resistance at a speed of 30 m/s?
b At what speed is the resistance 6250 newtons?

11 In an experiment, Julie made measurements of w and p.

w 2 5 7
p 1·6 25 68·6

Which of these laws fits the results?

p } w, p } w 2, p } w 3:

12 A road research organisation recently claimed that the

damage to road surfaces was proportional to the fourth
power of the axle load. The axle load of a 44-ton HGV is
about 15 times that of a car. Calculate the ratio of the
damage to road surfaces made by a 44-ton HGV and a car.

5.3.2 Inverse proportion

If you travel a distance of 200 m at 10 m/s, the time taken is 20 s.
If you travel the same distance at 20 m/s, the time taken is 10 s.
As you double the speed, you halve the time taken.
For a fixed journey, the time taken is inversely proportional to the
speed at which you travel.
If s is inversely proportional to t, you write
1 t
s}
t

or s=k· 1
t
Sometimes you
Notice that the product s · t is
will see ‘x varies
constant. inversely as y’. It
The graph connecting s and t means the same
is a curve. as ‘x is inversely
s
The shape of the curve is similar proportional to y’.

to that of y = 1 .
x
 Direct and inverse proportion 265

EXAMPLE

z is inversely proportional to t 2 and z = 4 when t = 1.

Calculate z when t = 2.
...........................................................................
z } 12 or z = k · 12 (k is a constant)
t t
z = 4 when t = 1
 
So 4 = k 12
1
so k=4
So z = 4 · 12
t
When t = 2, z = 4 · 12 = 1
2


Exercise 13 H
1 Rewrite the statements connecting the variables using a constant
of variation, k.
a x} 1 b s } 12 c t } p1ffiffiffi
y t q
d m varies inversely as w
e z is inversely proportional to t 2.
2 T is inversely proportional to m. If T = 12 when m = 1, find
Start by writing
a T when m = 2 b T when m = 24.
T = k and then
m
find k.

3 L is inversely proportional to x. If L = 24 when x = 2, find

a L when x = 8 b L when x = 32.
4 b varies inversely as e. If b = 6 when e = 2, calculate
a the value of b when e = 12
b the value of e when b = 3:
5 x is inversely proportional to y 2. If x = 4 when y = 3, calculate
a the value of x when y = 1
b the value of y when x = 2 1 :
4
pffiffiffi
6 p is inversely proportional to y: If p = 1·2 when y = 100,
calculate
a the value of p when y = 4
b the value of y when p = 3:
266 Algebra 2

7 Given that z } 1 , copy and

y 1
y 2 4
complete the table. 4

z 8 16

8 Given that v } 12 , copy and

t t 2 5 10
complete the table.
v 25 1
4

9 e varies inversely as ( y 2 2). If e = 12 when y = 4, find

a e when y = 6 b y when e = 1 .
2
10 The volume, V, of a given mass of gas varies inversely as the
pressure, P. When V = 2 m3 , P = 500 N=m2.
a Find the volume when the pressure is 400 N=m2.
b Find the pressure when the volume is 5 m3 .

11 The number of hours, N, required to dig a certain hole is

inversely proportional to the number of people available, x.

When 6 people are digging, the hole takes 4 hours.

a Find the time taken when 8 people are available.
b If it takes 1 hour to dig the hole, how many people are there?
2

12 The force of attraction, F, between two magnets varies inversely as

the square of the distance, d, between them. When the magnets
are 2 cm apart, the force of attraction is 18 newtons. How far apart
are they if the attractive force is 2 newtons?

13 The number of tiles, n, that can be pasted using one tin of tile
paste is inversely proportional to the square of the side, d, of the
tile. One tin is enough for 180 tiles of side 10 cm. How many tiles
of side 15 cm can be pasted using one tin?

14 The life expectancy, L, of a rat varies inversely as the square of the

density, d, of poison distributed around its home.
When the density of poison is 1 g=m2 the life expectancy is 50 days.
How long will the rat survive if the density of poison is
a 5 g=m2 ? b 1 g=m2 ?
2
 Curved graphs 267

15 When cooking snacks in a microwave oven, a cook assumes that

the cooking time is inversely proportional to the power used. The
five levels on his microwave have the powers shown in the table.

Power
Level used
Full 600 W
Roast 400 W
Simmer 200 W
Defrost 100 W
Warm 50 W

a Escargots de Bourgogne take 5 minutes on ‘Simmer’. How long

will they take on ‘Warm’?
b Escargots a la Provençale are normally cooked on ‘Roast’ for
3 minutes. How long will they take on ‘Full’?

16 Given z = kn , find k and n, then copy and complete the table.

x

x 1 2 4

z 100 12 1 1
2 10

kffiffiffi
*17 Given y = p , find k and n, then copy and complete the table.
n v pn
ffiffi
v means the nth
root of v.
v 1 4 36

y 12 6 3
25

5.4 Curved graphs

5.4.1 Common curves

It is helpful to know the general shape of some of the more
common curves.
The curve also
l Quadratic curves have an x 2 -term as the highest has a line of
power of x. symmetry.
268 Algebra 2

For example, y = 2x 2 2 3x + 7 and y = 5 + 2x 2 x 2

a When the x 2 -term is positive, b When the x 2 -term is negative

the curve is -shaped. the curve is an inverted .

line of symmetry y
y

x
x

l Cubic curves have an x 3 -term as the highest power of x.

For example, y = x 3 + 7x 2 4 and y = 8x 2 4x 3

a When the x 3 -term is positive, the curve can be like one of the two
shown below. Notice that as x gets larger, so does y.

y y

x x

b When the x 3 -term is negative, the curve can be like one of

the two shown below. Notice that when x is large, y is large
but negative.

y y

x x
 Curved graphs 269

l Reciprocal curves have a 1 term.

x

For example, y = 12 and y

x
12
y=6 +5 y=
x
x

The curve has a break at x = 0. The x-axis and the y-axis are called
asymptotes to the curve. The curve gets very near but never
actually touches the asymptotes.

l Exponential curves have a term involving a x , where a is

a constant.

For example, y = 3x y
 x
y= 1
2 y = 3x
The x-axis is an asymptote
to the curve.


Exercise 14 M / H
1 What sort of curves are these? Give as much information as
For example:
you can.
‘quadratic,
positive x2’
a y
b y
c y

x
x x
270 Algebra 2

d y e y f y

x x
x

2 Draw the general shape of these curves. (Do not draw accurate
graphs.)
a y = 3x 2 2 7x + 11 b y = 2x c y = 100
x
d y = 8x 2 x 2
e y = 10x + 7x 2 2
3 1
*f y = 2
x
3 Here are the equations of the six curves in question 1, but not in the correct order.

i y=8 ii y = 2x 3 + x + 2 iii y = 5 + 3x 2 x 2
x
iv y = x 2 2 6 v y = 5x vi y = 12 + 11x 2 2x2 2 x3
Write which equations fit the curves a to f.
4 Sketch the two curves given and state the number of times the curves intersect.
a y = x 3, b y = x 2, c y = x 3, *d y = 3 x
y = 10 2 x y = 10 2 x 2 y=x y = x3

5.4.2 Plotting curved graphs

EXAMPLE

Draw the graph of the function

y = 2x 2 + x 2 6, for 23 < x < 3:
........................................................................................................
a Make a table of x- and y-values. y
16
x 23 22 21 0 1 2 3 14
2x 2 18 8 2 0 2 8 18 12
10
x 23 22 21 0 1 2 3 y = 2x2 + x − 6
8
26 26 26 26 26 26 26 26 6
y 9 0 25 26 23 4 15 4
2
b Draw and label axes using suitable scales. −3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3x
c Plot the points and draw a smooth curve −2
through them with a pencil. −4
d Check any points which interrupt the −6
smoothness of the curve.
e Label the curve with its equation.
 Curved graphs 271

Common errors with graphs

Avoid these mistakes. Your curve should be smooth.

A series of ‘mini curves’ Flat bottom Wrong point

Exercise 15 M 
1 a Copy and complete the table for 2 a Copy and complete the table for
y = x2 + 2x. y = x2 2 3x.

x 23 22 21 0 1 2 3 x 23 22 21 0 1 2 3
x 2
9 4 1 0 1 4 9 x2 9 0 4
2x 26 24 0 4 23x 9 0 26
y 3 0 0 y 18

b Draw the graph of y = x2 + 2x using a b Draw the graph of y = x2 2 3x using

scale of 2 cm for 1 unit on the x-axis the same scales as in question 1.
and 1 cm for 1 unit on the y-axis.

Draw the graphs of these functions using a scale of 2 cm for 1 unit

on the x-axis and 1 cm for 1 unit on the y-axis.
3 y = x 2 + 4x, for 23 < x < 3 4 y = x 2 + 2, for 23 < x < 3
5 y = x 2 2 7, for 23 < x < 3 6 y = x 2 + x 2 2, for 23 < x < 3
7 y = x 2 + 3x 2 9, for 24 < x < 3 8 y = x 2 2 3x 2 4, for 22 < x < 4
9 y = x 2 2 5x + 7, for 0 < x < 6 10 y = 2x 2 2 6x,
for 21 < x < 5 In question 10,
remember:
11 y = 2x 2 + 3x 2 6, for 24 < x < 2 12 y = 3x 2 2 6x + 5, 2x2 = 2(x2).
for 21 < x < 3
13 y = 2 + x 2 x 2 , for 23 < x < 3 14 f(x) = 1 2 3x 2 x 2 , for 25 < x < 2
15 f(x) = 3 + 3x 2 x 2 , for 22 < x < 5 16 f(x) = 7 2 3x 2 2x 2 , for 23 < x < 3
17 f(x) = 6 + x 2 2x 2 , for 23 < x < 3 18 y = 8 + 2x 2 3x 2 , for 22 < x < 3
19 y = x(x24), for 21 < x < 6 20 y = (x + 1)(2x 2 5), for 23 < x < 3:
272 Algebra 2

EXAMPLE

Draw the graph of y = 12 + x 2 6, for 1 < x < 8:

x
Use the graph to find approximate values for
a the minimum value of 12 + x 2 6
x
12
b the value of + x 2 6, when x = 2·25:
x
........................................................................................................
Here is the table of values. y
7
x 1 2 3 4 5 6 8
6
12 12 6 4 3 2·4 2 1·5
x 5 12
+x−6
y=
x
x 1 2 3 4 5 6 8
4
26 26 26 26 26 26 26 26
3
y 7 2 1 1 1·4 2 3·5
2

a From the graph, the minimum value of 1

12 + x 2 6, (that is y)
x 0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 x
is approximately 0·9.
b At x = 2·25, y is approximately 1·6.


Exercise 16 M / H
Draw these curves. The scales given are for one unit of x and y.

1 y = 12 , for 1 < x < 10: (Scales: 1 cm for x and y)

x

2 y = 9 , for 1 < x < 10: (Scales: 1 cm for x and y)

x

3 y = 12 , for 0 < x < 8: (Scales: 2 cm for x, 1 cm for y)

x+1

4 y = 8 , for 24 < x < 3·5: (Scales: 2 cm for x, 1 cm for y)

x24
x
5 y= , for 23·5 < x < 4: (Scales: 2 cm for x and y)
x+4

6 y = x + 8 , for 0 < x < 8: (Scales: 2 cm for x and y)

x+1
 Curved graphs 273

7 y = 10 + x, for 1 < x < 7: (Scales: 2 cm for x, 1 cm for y)

x

8 y = 3 x , for 23 < x < 3. (Scales: 2 cm for x, 1 cm for y)

2
 x
9 y = 1 , for 24 < x < 4. (Scales: 2 cm for x, 1 cm for y)
2

10 y = 5 + 3x 2 x 2 , for 22 < x < 5: (Scales: 2 cm for x, 1 cm for y)

Find
a the maximum value of the function 5 + 3x 2 x 2
b the two values of x for which y = 2:

11 y = 15 + x 2 7, for 1 < x < 7: (Scales: 2 cm for x and y)

x
From your graph find
a the minimum value of y
b the y-value when x = 5·5:

12 y = x 3 2 2x 2 , for 0 < x < 4: (Scales: 2 cm for x, 1 cm for y)

2
From your graph find
a the y-value at x = 2·5
b the x-value at y = 15:

13 y = 1 (x 3 + 2x + 20), for 23 < x < 3: (Scales: 2 cm for x and y)

10
From your graph find
a the x-value where x 3 + 2x + 20 = 0
b the x-value where y = 3:

*14 Draw the graph of

x
y= 2 , for 26 < x < 6: (Scales: 1 cm for x, 10 cm for y)
x +1

*15 Draw the graph of

5000
E= + 3x for 10 < x < 80:
x
(Scales: 1 cm to 5 units for x and 1 cm to 25 units for E )
From the graph find
a the minimum value of E,
b the value of x corresponding to this minimum value,
c the range of values of x for which E is less than 275.
274 Algebra 2


Exercise 17 M / H (Mixed questions)
1 A rectangle has a perimeter of 14 cm and length x cm. Show that the
width of the rectangle is (7 2 x) cm and hence that the area, A, of
the rectangle is given by the formula, A = x(7 2 x).
Draw the graph, plotting x on the horizontal axis with a scale of
2 cm to 1 unit, and A on the vertical axis with a scale of 1 cm to 1 x
unit. Take x from 0 to 7. From the graph find
a the area of the rectangle when x = 2·25 cm
b the dimensions of the rectangle when its area is 9 cm2
c the maximum area of the rectangle
d the length and width of the rectangle corresponding to the
maximum area
e what shape of rectangle has the largest area.

2 A farmer has 60 m of wire fencing which he uses

to make a rectangular pen for his sheep. He uses Wall
a stone wall as one side of the pen so the wire is
width x A
used for only three sides of the pen.

length

a If the width of the pen is x m, what is the length (in terms

of x)?
b What is the area, A, of the pen?
c Draw a graph with area, A, on the vertical axis and the width, x,
on the horizontal axis. Take values of x from 0 to 30.
d What dimensions should the pen have if the farmer wants to
enclose the largest possible area?

3 A ball is thrown in the air so that t seconds after it is thrown,

its height h metres above its starting point is given by the function
h = 25t 2 5t 2 . Draw the graph of the function of 0 < t < 6,
plotting t on the horizontal axis with a scale of 2 cm to 1 second, and
h on the vertical axis with a scale of 2 cm for 10 metres.
Use the graph to find
a the time when the ball is at its greatest height
b the greatest height reached by the ball
c the interval of time during which the ball is at a height of more
than 30 m.
 Curved graphs 275

4 Consider the equation y = 1 :

x
When x = 1 , y = 1 = 2: When x = 1 , y = 1 = 100:
2 1 100 1
2 100
As the denominator of 1x gets smaller, the answer gets larger.
An ‘infinitely small’ denominator gives an ‘infinitely large’ answer. The symbol for
infinity is ‘.
You write 1 ! ‘ as x ! 0.
x
Draw the graph of y = 1 for
x
x = 24,23,22,21,20·5,20·25, 0·25, 0·5, 1, 2, 3, 4.
(Scales: 2 cm for x and y)

5 Draw the graph of y = x + 1 for

x
x = 24,23,22,21,20·5,20·25, 0·25, 0·5, 1, 2, 3, 4.
(Scales: 2 cm for x and y)
x
6 Draw the graph of y = 2 , for 24 < x < 7, including
x
x = 20·5, x = 0·5:
(Scales: 1 cm to 1 unit for x and y)
7 At time t = 0, one bacterium is placed in a culture in a
laboratory.The number of bacteria doubles every 10 minutes.
a Draw a graph to show the growth of the bacteria
from t = 0 to t = 120 min.
Use a scale of 1 cm to 10 minutes across the page
and 1 cm to 100 units up the page.
b Use your graph to estimate the time taken to
reach 800 bacteria.

x4 1 2 4 8
*8 Draw the graph of y = x ,
4
10 min 10 min 10 min
for x = 21, 2 , 2 , 2 1 , 0, 1 , 1 , 3 ,
3 1
4 2 4 4 2 4
1, 1·5, 2, 2·5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
(Scales: 2 cm to 1 unit for x, 5 cm to 1 unit for y)
a For what values of x is the gradient of the function
zero?
b For what values of x is y = 0·5?
276 Algebra 2

5.5 Graphical solution of equations

With an accurately drawn graph you can find an approximate
solution for a wide range of equations, many of which are impossible
to solve exactly by other methods.
EXAMPLE

Draw the graph of the function y = 2x 2 2 x 2 3 for 22 < x < 3:

Use the graph to find approximate solutions to these equations.
a 2x 2 2 x 2 3 = 6 b 2x 2 2 x = x + 5
........................................................................................................
a To solve the equation 2x 2 2 x 2 3 = 6, y
draw the line y = 6. At the points y = 2x2 − x − 3
12
of intersection (A and B), y 10
simultaneously equals both 6 and 8
(2x 2 2 x 2 3): 6
y=6 B
A D
So you can write 2x 2 2 x 2 3 = 6 4 +2
y=x
The solutions are the x-values of the 2
points A and B, that is x = 21·9 and C
x = 2·4 approx. −2 −1 0 1 2 3 4 x
−2
b To solve the equation 2x 2 2 x = x + 5, −4
rearrange the equation to obtain the
function (2x 2 2 x 2 3) on the left-hand
side. In this case, subtract 3 from both sides.
2x 2 2 x 2 3 = x + 5 2 3
2x 2 2 x 2 3 = x + 2
If you now draw the line y = x + 2, the solutions of the
equation are given by the x-values of C and D, the points of
intersection, that is, x = 21·2 and x = 2·2 approx.

EXAMPLE

Assuming that the graph of y = x 2 2 3x + 1 has been drawn, find the equation
of the line which you should draw to solve the equation x 2 2 4x + 3 = 0.
........................................................................................................
Rearrange x 2 2 4x + 3 = 0 in order to obtain (x 2 2 3x + 1) on the
left-hand side.
Remember:
x 2 2 4x + 3 = 0 ‘Rearrange the
add x x 2 2 3x + 3 = x equation to be
subtract 2 x 2 2 3x + 1 = x 2 2 solved.’

Therefore draw the line y = x 2 2 to solve the equation.

 Graphical solution of equations 277


Exercise 18 H
1 In the diagram, the graphs of y = x 2 2 2x 2 3, y = 22 and y = x
have been drawn.
y
5

3
4

− 2x −
3
x

2
=

y = x2
y

1
0
−2 −1 1 2 3 4 x
−1
y = −2
−2
−3
−4

Use the graphs to find approximate solutions to these

Reminder: Only
equations.
the x-values are
a x 2 2 2x 2 3 = 22 b x 2 2 2x 2 3 = x required.
c x 2 2x 2 3 = 0
2
d x 2 2 2x + 1 = 0

2 The graphs of y = x 2 2 2, y = 2x and y = 2 2 x are shown.

y
8
7
6
5
y=
2− 4
2x

x
=

3
y

2
1

−3 −2 −1 1 2 3 x
−1
−2 y = x2 − 2
−3

Use the graphs to solve these equations.

a x2 2 2 = 2 2 x
b x 2 2 2 = 2x
c x2 2 2 = 2
278 Algebra 2

In questions 3 to 6, use a scale of 2 cm to 1 unit for x and 1 cm to

1 unit for y.
3 Draw the graphs of the functions y = x 2 2 2x and y = x + 1
for 21 < x < 4: Hence find approximate solutions of the
equation x 2 2 2x = x + 1:
4 Draw the graphs of the functions y = x 2 2 3x + 5 and y = x + 3
for 21 < x < 5: Hence find approximate solutions of the
equation x 2 2 3x + 5 = x + 3:
5 Draw the graphs of the functions y = 6x 2 x 2 and y = 2x + 1 for
0 < x < 5: Hence find approximate solutions of the equation
6x 2 x 2 = 2x + 1:
6 a Complete the table and then draw the graph of
y = x 2 2 4x + 1.

x 21 0 1 2 3 4
y 6 22 22 1

b On the same axes, draw the graph of y = x 2 3.

c Find the solutions of these equations.
i x 2 2 4x + 1 = x 2 3
ii x 2 2 4x + 1 = 0 [answers to 1 dp]
In questions 7 to 9, do not draw any graphs.
7 Assuming the graph of y = x 2 2 5x has been drawn, find the
equation of the line which you should draw to solve each of these
equations.
You want to get
a x 2 2 5x = 3 b x 2 2 5x = 22
x2  5x on the
c x 2 2 5x = x + 4 d x 2 2 6x = 0 left-hand side.
e x 2 5x 2 6 = 0
2

8 Assuming the graph of y = x 2 + x + 1 has been drawn, find the

equation of the line which you should draw to solve each of
these equations.
a x2 + x + 1 = 6 b x2 + x + 1 = 0
c x + x23 = 0
2
d x2 2 x + 1 = 0
e x2 2 x 2 3 = 0
9 Assuming the graph of y = 6x 2 x 2 has been drawn, find the
equation of the line which you should draw to solve each of
these equations.
a 4 + 6x 2 x 2 = 0 b 4x 2 x 2 = 0
c 2 + 5x 2 x 2 = 0 d x 2 2 6x = 3
e x 2 6x = 22
2
 Graphical solution of equations 279

For questions 10 to 13, use scales of 2 cm to 1 unit for x and 1 cm

to 1 unit for y.
10 a Complete the table and then draw the graph of
y = x 2 + 3x 2 1.

x 25 24 23 22 21 0 1 2
y 9 3 23 23 9

b By drawing other graphs, solve these equations.

i x 2 + 3x 2 1 = 0
ii x 2 + 3x = 7
iii x 2 + 3x 2 3 = x

11 Draw the graph of y = x 2 2 2x + 2 for 22 < x < 4: By drawing

other graphs, solve these equations.
a x 2 2 2x + 2 = 8 b x 2 2 2x + 2 = 5 2 x
c x 2 2 2x 2 5 = 0

12 Draw the graph of y = x 2 2 7x for 0 < x < 7: Draw suitable

straight lines to solve these equations.
a x 2 2 7x + 9 = 0 b x 2 2 5x + 1 = 0

13 Draw the graph of y = 2x 2 + 3x 2 9 for 23 < x < 2:

Draw suitable straight lines to find approximate solutions of
these equations.
a 2x 2 + 3x 2 4 = 0 b 2x 2 + 2x 2 9 = 1

14 Draw the graph of y = 18 for 1 < x < 10, using scales of 1 cm to

x
one unit on both axes. Use the graph to solve these equations
approximately.
a 18 = x + 2 b 18 + x = 10 c x 2 = 18
x x

15 Here are five sketch graphs (see overleaf for the other two).

y y y
10
y=
x
y = 2−x
y = 10x
1 1
x
x x
280 Algebra 2

y y
y=4−x 4 2
y = x(x − 2)(x + 2)

−2 2 x −2 2 x

Use the graphs to make your own sketch graphs to find the
number of solutions of each of these equations.
a 10 = 10 x b 4 2 x 2 = 10 x c x(x 2 2) (x + 2) = 10
x x

d 22x = 10x e 4 2 x 2 = 22x f x(x 2 2) (x + 2) = 0

16 Draw the graph of y = 1 x 2 2 6 for 24 < x < 4, taking 2 cm to

2
1 unit on each axis.
a Use your graph to solve approximately the equation
1 2
x 2 6 = 1:
2
b Using tables or ap
calculator
ffiffiffiffiffiffi confirm that your solutions are
approximately 6 14 and explain why this is so.
c Use your graph to find the two square roots of 8.

17 Draw the graph of y = 3x 2 2x 3 for 22 < x < 3. Use your graph

to find the range of values of k for which the equation
3x 2 2 x 3 = k has three solutions.

1 1 1
*18 Draw the graph of y = 6 2 2x 2 x 3 for x = 62, 61 , 61, 6 , 0.
2 2 2
Take 4 cm to 1 unit for x and 1 cm to 1 unit for y.
Use your graph to find approximate solutions of these equations.
a 1 x 3 + 2x 2 6 = 0 b x 2 1 x3 = 0
2 2
Confirm
pffiffiffi that two of the solutions to the equation in part b are
6 2 and explain why this is so.

*19 Draw the graph of y = 2x for 24 < x < 4, taking 2 cm to one unit
for x and 1 cm to one unit for y. Find approximate solutions to
these equations.
a 2x = 6 b 2 x = 3x c x(2x ) = 1
Find also the approximate value of 2 2·5 .
 Test yourself 281

Test yourself
.................................................................................
1 Make p the subject of the formula
5p + 2q = 6 2 q
Simplify your answer as much as possible.
2 Make x the subject of this formula.
4(2x 2 y) = 2y + 5
(OCR, 2003)

3 Solve the inequality 7 + n . 13 2 2n

4 a Solve the inequality 3x 2 1 < 8
b Write down the inequality shown by the following diagram.

x
−4 −3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3 4

c Write down all the integers that satisfy both inequalities

shown in parts (a) and (b).
5 Write down three inequalities which together describe the shaded
region R.
y
4

2
R
1

0 x
0 1 2 3 4 5 6

6 y is inversely proportional to x2 and y = 0·8 when x = 2.

a Find an equation connecting y and x.
b Find the value of y when x = 3.
(OCR, 2003)

7 y is directly proportional to the square of x.

y = 72 when x = 2
a Express y in terms of x.
b Work out the value of y when x = 1 .
2
282 Algebra 2

8 b is inversely proportional to the square of a.

When b = 6, a = 2.
Calculate the value of b when a = 6.
9 a Complete the table for y = x2 23x + 1

x 22 21 0 1 2 3 4
y 11 1 21 1 5

b Draw the graph of y = x2 23x + 1

c Use your graph to find an estimate for the minimum value of y.
d Use a graphical method to find estimates of the solutions to the
equation x2 2 3x + 1 = 2x 2 4
(Edexcel, 2003)

10 a Draw the graph of y = 6 y

x
for values of x from 26 to +6. 6
b On the same axes draw the graph of y = x .
c Show why you can use these graphs to solve x2 = 6.
d Use these graphs to solve x2 = 6. x
−6 6

(OCR, 2004) −6

11 The region R satisfies the inequalities

x > 2, y > 1, x + y < 6
On a copy of the grid below, draw straight lines and use shading to show
the region R.

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1

O 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

(Edexcel, 2008)
 Test yourself 283

12 a Draw the graph of y = 2x for values of x from 22 to 3.

y

10

−2 −1 0 1 2 3 x

−5

b Use your graph to solve 2x = 6.

(OCR, 2004)

13 a Which inequality is shown shaded on the grid? y

Choose the correct answer. 6
5
y>2 y>2
x>2 x>2 4
3
2
1
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 x

b On a copy of the grid draw lines to find the region y

satisfied by the three inequalities 6
y>2 5
y<x+1
4
x+y<5
Label the region with the letter R. 3
(AQA, 2007)
2
1
14 You are given that y is inversely proportional to x, 0
and that y = 9 when x = 4. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 x
a i Find an equation connecting y and x.
ii Find y when x = 1
2
b Find y when x = y.
(OCR, 2008)
284 Algebra 2

Functional task 4

Mr Roe’s horses
Mr Roe has a farm and needs to work out the
cost of keeping his horses. The main costs are
feed, vet’s bills and keeping the horse healthy.
He has volunteers to clean the stables and look
after the horses in return for being allowed to ride
the horses every week.

Feed
The horses are given a mixture of hay and oats. The hay is free
from the farm but a 40 kg bag of oats costs £9·50. Big horses
needs more feed than small horses as shown in the feed chart.

Horse measurement
By tradition the height of a horse is given in hands and inches.
There are four inches in one hand. The formula for converting
hands and inches into centimetres is:
5ð4h + iÞ Where c = number of centimetres
c=
2 h = number of hands
i = number of inches

Feed chart Mr Roe’s horses

Height of horse Feed per day Number Height Age

(cm) (kg) (hands, inches) (years)

135 4·2 1 17 hands 9

140 4·5 2 14 hands 2 inches 7

145 4·8 3 15 hands 13

150 5·2 4 13 hands 2 inches 6

155 5·6 5 16 hands 2 inches 14

160 6·0 6 14 hands 9

165 6·5 7 15 hands 15

170 7·1 8 13 hands 2 inches 5

 Functional task 285

Vet’s bills
Each year horses need injections against Influenza and
Tetanus. Illness or injury can be very expensive so
Mr Roe takes out insurance to cover the cost of fees.
This cost is £30 per month per horse.

Keeping the horse healthy

A farrier is needed to care for the horses’s feet as the
grow all the time (like human fingernails). A farrier is
needed eight times a year and it costs £20 per horse per
visit. Each horse also needs to be wormed seven times a
year at a cost of £15 per horse per visit.

Task 1
Work out the height of each horse in centimetres.

Task 2
Work out the total cost for the eight horses, including
feed, vet’s bills and keeping the horse healthy.