A Level Cambridge (CIE) Maths 5 hours 62 questions

Exam Questions

Polynomials
Polynomial Division / Factor & Remainder Theorem / Factorisation / Rational
Expressions / Improper Algebraic Fractions

Easy (17 questions) /77

Medium (16 questions) /78 Scan here to return to the course

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Hard (16 questions) /79

Very Hard (13 questions) /63

Total Marks /297

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Easy Questions
1 Expand and simplify

(i) (2x + 3) (x − 4)

(ii) 2p (p + 3) (p − 2)

(iii) (y − 1) (y − 2) 2

(5 marks)

2 Use the factor theorem to verify that (x − 2) is a factor of x 3 − x 2 − 14x + 24 .

(2 marks)

3 Factorise

(i) 4x 2 − 4x − 15

(ii) 3x 3 + 11x 2 − 4x

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 (4 marks)

4 Divide x 3 + 6x 2 + 11x + 6 by (x + 2) .

(4 marks)

5 Given f (x ) = x 3 − 5x 2 − 2x + 24 has a root at x = 3 , fully factorise f (x ) .

(6 marks)

6 Use polynomial division to show that (x − 2) is a factor of 2x 3 + 3x 2 − 18x + 8.

(4 marks)

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7 Given x = − 2 is a root of the function f (x ) = x 3 − 3x 2 − 8x + 4 , fully factorise f (x ) .

(4 marks)

8 Given that (x − 4) is a factor of x 3 − kx 2 − 4x + 16, find the value of k .

(3 marks)

1
9 Given that x = is a root of the function f (x ) = 2x 3 + (p 2 + 1) x 2 − 11x + 4 , find the
2
possible values of p .

(4 marks)

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10 (a) Given that (x + 1) is a factor of f (x ) = x 3 − 5x 2 + 3x + 9, fully factorise f (x ) .

(4 marks)

(b) Sketch the graph of y = f (x ) , labelling the coordinates of all points where the graph
intersects the coordinate axes.

(3 marks)

11 Find the remainder when x 3 − 7x − 6 is divided by (x + 4) .

(4 marks)

12 The function f (x ) is given by f (x ) = x 4 + ax 3 − 13x 2 − 38x − 4b , where a and b are

constants.

Given that both (x + 1) and (x + 2) are factors of f (x ) find the values of a and b .

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 (5 marks)

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13 (a) The function f (x ) is given by f (x ) = 2x 3 + 7x 2 − 4x .

Show that f (x ) = x (2x − 1) (x + 4) .

(2 marks)

(b) Hence, or otherwise, write down the real solutions to the equation

f (x)
= 0.
x +1

(2 marks)

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14 (a) The function f (x ) is given by

f (x ) = x 3 − 4x 2 − 7x + 10

Work out f (1) and hence write down a factor of f (x ) .

(2 marks)

(b) Work out f (x ) ÷ (x + 2) .

(2 marks)

(c) Write f (x ) in the form (x + a ) (x + b ) (x + c ) where a , b and c are integers to be found.

(3 marks)

15 Find the remainder when x 3 + 2x 2 − 5x + 8 is divided by (x − 3) .

(3 marks)

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 C
16 (a) Given that (x 2 − 8x − 20) ÷ (x − 2) = Ax + B +
x−2

where A , B and C are integer constants.

In terms of A , B and/or C as appropriate

i) write down the divisor,

ii) write down the quotient,

iii) write down the remainder.

(3 marks)

(b) Find the values of A , B and C .

(4 marks)

17 The function f (x ) is given by

f (x ) = x 2 + ax + b

where a and b are integer constants.

It is also given that f (3) = f (−8) = 0 .

Find the values of a and b .

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 (4 marks)

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Medium Questions
1 (a) Expand and simplify y (2x + 2) (7 − x ) .

(1 mark)

(b) A rectangle has side lengths of (3x − 2y + 5) units and (x + 3y − 1) units. Find an
expression for the area of the rectangle in terms of x and y .

(2 marks)

2 Given that(3x + y ) (2x − 3y ) (x − 2y ) = ax 3 + bx 2y + cxy 2 + dy 3 , where a , b , c and d

are constants, find the values of a , b , c and d .

(2 marks)

3 Factorise completely 3x 3 − 51x 2 + 126x .

(2 marks)

4 Divide x 3 − 6x 2 − 9x + 14 by (x − 7) .

(2 marks)

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5 (a) f (x ) = 2x 3 − x 2 − 16x + 15

Find the remainder when f (x ) is divided by (x − 2) .

(2 marks)

(b) Given that (x + 3) is a factor of f (x ) , factorise f (x ) completely.

(4 marks)

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6 (a) f (x ) = 2x 3 − 3x 2 − 72x − 35

Show that f (x ) = (2x + 1) ( ax 2 + bx + c ) where a , b and c are constants to be found.

(2 marks)

(b) Hence factorise f (x ) completely.

(4 marks)

(c) Write down all the real roots of the equation f (x ) = 0 .

(2 marks)

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7 (a) f (x ) = 4x 3 + 4x 2 − 23x − 30

Use the factor theorem to show that (x + 2) is a factor of f (x ) .

(2 marks)

(b) Factorise f (x ) completely.

(4 marks)

(c) Write down all the real roots of the equation f (x ) = 0 .

(2 marks)

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8 (a) f (x ) = x 3 + 9x 2 + rx + s . Given that f (2) = 0 and f ( − 1) = − 54:

find the values of r and s .

(6 marks)

(b) Factorise f (x ) completely.

(3 marks)

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9 (a) The function f (x ) is given by

f (x ) = 3x 3 − 5x 2 − 4x + 4

f ( 3 ) = 0.
2
Show that

(2 marks)

(b) Hence write down a factor of f (x ) .

(1 mark)

(c) Fully factorise f (x ) .

(3 marks)

(d) Write down the solutions to the equation f (x ) = 0 .

(2 marks)

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10 (a) Show that (2x − 3) is a factor of 2x 3 − 13x 2 + 23x − 12 .

(2 marks)

(b) Fully factorise 2x 3 − 13x 2 + 23x − 12 .

(2 marks)

(c) Find all the real solutions to 2x 3 − 13x 2 + 23x − 12 = 0 .

(2 marks)

11 Given that (2x − 1) is a factor of 2x 3 + x 2 − 25x + a find the value of a .

(2 marks)

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 29
12 (a) Given (x 2 + 8x − 4) ÷ (x − 3) = x + 11 +
x−3

i) Write down the divisor.

ii) Write down the quotient.

iii) Write down the remainder.

(3 marks)

(b) i) Write down the degree of x 2 + 8x − 4 .

ii) Write down the degree of x − 3 .

iii) Explain why you would expect the quotient to be of degree 1 in this case.

(3 marks)

13 It is given that

f (x) 2
= 3x + 4 −
x+2 x+2

Find f (x ) .

(2 marks)

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 d
14 The result of dividing x 2 + ax − 5 by ( x + 1) is x + 3 + .
x +1

Find the values of a and d .

(2 marks)

15 Consider the function f (x ) = 4x 3 + 6x 2 − 7x + 2 .

(i) Find the quotient and remainder when 4x 3 + 6x 2 − 7x + 2 is divided by (x − 2) .

(ii) Hence write 4x 3 + 6x 2 − 7x + 2 in the form (x − 2) ( ax 2 + bx + c ) + d , where a , b , c

and d are constants to be determined.

(5 marks)

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16 (a) The function f (x ) = 2x 3 − 5x 2 + ax + b has (2x + 3) as a factor, and when f (x ) is
divided by (x − 2) the remainder is 7.

Show that a and b must satisfy the simultaneous equations:

2a + b = 11

3a − 2b = − 36

(5 marks)

(b) Hence find a and b .

(2 marks)

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Hard Questions
1 (a) Expand and simplify (2 − x ) (3x + 1) (x + 1) .

(1 mark)

(b) A square has side lengths of (5x − 2y + 3) units. Find an expression for the length of the
diagonal of the square in terms of x and y .

(2 marks)

2 Given that (2x − 3y ) 2 (y − 2x ) = ax 3 + bx 2y + cxy 2 + dy 3 , where a , b , c and d are

constants, find the values of a , b , c and d .

(2 marks)

3 Factorise completely 15x 3 + 19x 2 − 10x .

(2 marks)

4 Divide x 3 − 19x − 30 by (x − 5) .

(2 marks)

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5 (a) f (x ) = x 3 − 28x + 48

Find the remainder when f (x ) is divided by (x − 3) .

(2 marks)

(b) Given that (x + 6) is a factor of f (x ) , factorise f (x ) completely.

(4 marks)

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6 (a) f (x ) = 6x 3 − 19x 2 + 11x + 6

Show that f (x ) = (2x − 3) ( ax 2 + bx + c ) where a , b and c are constants to be found.

(2 marks)

(b) Hence factorise f (x ) completely.

(4 marks)

(c) Write down all the real roots of the equation f (x ) = 0 .

(2 marks)

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7 (a) f ( x ) = 4x 3 − 7x − 3

Use the factor theorem to show that (2x + 1) is a factor of f (x ) .

(2 marks)

(b) Factorise f (x ) completely.

(4 marks)

(c) Write down all the real roots of the equation f (x ) = 0 .

(2 marks)

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8 (a) f (x ) = x 3 + rx 2 + sx − 30. Given that f (2) = 0 and f ( − 3) = − 240:

find the values of r and s .

(6 marks)

(b) Factorise f (x ) completely.

(3 marks)

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9 (a) The function f (x ) is given by

f (x ) = 4x 3 − 7x 2 − 21x + 18

Show that (4x − 3) is a factor of f (x ) .

(2 marks)

(b) Hence, or otherwise, fully factorise f (x ) .

(4 marks)

(c) Write down the roots of f (x ) .

(2 marks)

10 Show that (5x − 2) is a factor of 25x 3 + 55x 2 − 56x + 12.

Hence find all the real solutions to the equation 25x 3 + 55x 2 − 56x + 12 = 0

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 (5 marks)

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11 (a) Given that (4x − 5) is a factor of 4x 3 − 9x 2 + ax + 30 find the value of a .

(2 marks)

(b) Hence, or otherwise, fully factorise 4x 3 − 9x 2 + ax + 30.

(2 marks)

12 i) Find the remainder when x 3 − 2x 2 + 4x − 3 is divided by x − 2 .

[2]

ii) Find the value of f (2) when f (x ) = x 3 − 2x 2 + 4x − 3 .

[1]

iii) Comment on your answers to parts (i) and (ii).

[1]

(4 marks)

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13 (a) It is given that

f (x ) 4
= 2x + 3 −
g(x ) x+1

Why would assuming that g(x ) = x + 1 be a logical first step in attempting to determine
the precise forms of f (x ) and g(x ) ?

(1 mark)

(b) By first making the assumption from part (a), find f (x ) .

(2 marks)

(c) Explain, with an example, why the forms of f (x ) and g(x ) determined in parts (a) and
(b) are not the only possible forms for those functions.

(2 marks)

14 When x 3 + ax 2 + 4x − 1 is divided by x +2 the quotient is x 2 − 4x + 12 and the

remainder is b .

Find the values of a and b .

(3 marks)

15 Given that (x + 4) is a factor of the function f (x ) = px 3 + (5p + 1) x 2 + 5qx − 2q − 2 and

that the remainder when f (x ) is divided by (x + 1) is −12, find the values of the

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 constants p and q.

(6 marks)

16 Show that 3x 3 + 16x 2 − 22x can be written in the form (3x + 1) ( ax 2 + bx + c ) + d ,

where a , b , c and d are constants to be found.

(4 marks)

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Very Hard Questions
1 (a) Expand and simplify (x + y ) (x − y ) (y − x ) ( − x − y ) .

(2 marks)

(b) A cuboid has a length of (2x − 3y + 3) units, a width of (2x + 3y − 3) units, and a height
of (x − y ) . Find an expression for the volume of the cuboid in terms of x and y .

(2 marks)

2 Given that( ax + by ) (2x + y ) (x − 3y ) = 8x 3 + cx 2y + dxy 2 − 9y 3 , where a , b , c and d

are constants, find the values of a , b , c and d .

(3 marks)

3 Factorise completely x 5y − xy 5 .

(3 marks)

4 Divide 4x 4 − 37x 2 + 9 by (2x − 1) .

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 (3 marks)

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5 (a) f (x ) = 6x 4 + 7x 3 − 27x 2 − 28x + 12

Find the remainder when f (x ) is divided by (2x + 3) .

(2 marks)

(b) Given that (x + 2) is a factor of f (x ) , factorise f (x ) completely.

(5 marks)

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6 (a) f (x ) = 3x 4 + x 3 − 12x 2 − 49x − 15

Show that f (x ) = (3x + 1) ( ax 3 + bx 2 + cx + d ) where a , b , c and d are constants to be

found.

(2 marks)

(b) Given that (x − 3) is a factor of f (x ) , factorise f (x ) completely.

(5 marks)

(c) Hence show that the equation f (x ) = 0 has exactly 2 real roots.

(2 marks)

7 Given that 3 is a root of the equation 2x 3 − x 2 − 11x − 12 = 0 , prove that the equation
has no other real roots.

(4 marks)

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8 (a) f (x ) = 2x 4 − 15x 3 − 10x 2 + 105x + 98

Show that f ( − 1) = 0 and f ( − 2) = 0 .

(1 mark)

(b) Hence, solve f (x ) = 0 .

(7 marks)

9 Given that (2x − 5) is a factor of the function

f (x ) = 2x 3 + kx 2 − 11x − 60

find the value of k and fully factorise f (x ) .

(4 marks)

10 Show that ( 9x 2 − 4 ) is a factor of 9x 4 − 40x 2 + 16 and hence find all the real solutions
to the equation 9x 4 − 40x 2 + 16 = 0 .

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 (5 marks)

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11 (a) Show that ( ax − 2) is a factor of 3ax 2 + ( a − 6) x − 2 .

(2 marks)

1
(b) Given that x=− is a root of 3ax 2 + ( a − 6) x − 2 , find the value of a .
a−4

(3 marks)

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12 (a) For a polynomial f (x ) , the Remainder Theorem states that

b
When f (x ) is divided by ( ax − b ) the remainder is f ( a ) .

Use the Remainder Theorem to find the remainder when 8x 3 + 6x 2 − x − 2 is divided

by (2x + 1) .

(2 marks)

(b) Work out the remainder when 6x 2 − x − 2 is divided by (2x + 1) .

(2 marks)

13 When 2x 3 + ( a + b ) x 2 + ( a − b ) x − 3 is divided by x + 4 the quotient is

2x 2 + (2a + 3) x + (2b − 5) and the remainder is c .

Find the values of a , b and c.

(4 marks)

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