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QUADRATIC FUNCTIONS
1) Simplify the following.
a) (3x + 1)(x 2) b) (x 9)(x 7) c) (x 100)(x 10)
d) (3x 1)(2x + 2) e) (4x + 3)(2x 3) f) (x 3)(3x 6)
g) (5x + 6)(3x 10) h) (5 2x)(x + 1) i) (3x 4)(5 2x)
j) (3 x)(4 x) k) (x
2
+ 2x + 1)(x 1) l) (x 1)(x 2)(x 3)
m) (x + 1)(x + 3)(x 5) n) (2x + 1)
3
.
2) a) Copy and complete this table of values for the function y = x
2
4x.
Plot the graph of y = x
2
4x for values of x between 2 and 6.
b) Use your graph to find the values of x of the points where the curve crosses the xaxis.
3) a) Copy and complete this table of values for the function y = x
2
5x + 2.
Plot the graph of y = x
2
5x + 2 for values of x between 1 and 6.
b) The equation of the line of symmetry of the curve is x = a for some number a. Use your graph to
find a.
4) Copy and complete this table of values for the function y = 6 2x
2
.
Plot the graph of y = 6 2x
2
for values of x between 3 and 3.
5) i) Copy and complete the following table of values for the function of y = 10 + x 2x
2
.
ii) Plot the graph of y = 10 + x 2x
2
for values of x between 3 and 4.
iii) Using the same axes, plot the graph of the straight line y = 2x + 1.
iv) Write down the x-coordinates of the points where your 2 graphs meet.
x 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
y = x
2
4x 12 12
x 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
y = x
2
5x + 2 8 2 8
x 3 2 1 0 1 2 3
y = 6 2x
2
12 -12
x 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4
y = 10 + x 2x
2
11
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6) Factorise the following quadratic expressions.
a) x
2
+ 7x + 10 b) x
2
+ 7x + 12 c) x
2
+ 8x + 15 d) x
2
+ 10x + 21
e) x
2
+ 8x + 12 f) y
2
+ 12y + 35 g) y
2
+ 11y + 24 h) y
2
+ 10y + 25
i) y
2
+ 15y + 36 j) a
2
3a 10 k) a
2
a 12 l) z
2
+ z 6
m) x
2
2x 35 n) x
2
5x 24 o) x
2
6x + 8 p) y
2
5y + 6
q) x
2
8x + 15 r) a
2
a 6 s) a
2
+ 14a + 45 t) b
2
4b 21.
7) Factorise the following quadratic expressions.
a) 2x
2
+ 5x + 3 b) 2x
2
+ 7x + 3 c) 3x
2
+ 7x + 2 d) 2x
2
+ 11x + 12
e) 3x
2
+ 8x + 4 f) 2x
2
+ 7x + 5 g) 3x
2
5x 2 h) 2x
2
x 15
i) 2x
2
+ x 21 j) 3x
2
17x 28 k) 6x
2
+ 7x + 2 l) 3x
2
11x + 6
m) 3y
2
11y + 10 n) 6y
2
+ 7y 3 o) 10x
2
+ 9x + 2 p) 6x
2
19x + 3
q) 8x
2
10x 3 r) 12x
2
+ 23x + 10 s) 4y
2
23y + 15 t) 6x
2
27x + 30.
8) Solve the following equations by factorising and sketch the appropriate graphs.
a) x
2
+ 7x + 12 = 0 b) x
2
+ 7x + 10 = 0 c) x
2
+ 2x 15 = 0
d) x
2
+ x 6 = 0 e) x
2
8x + 12 = 0 f) x
2
+ 10x + 21 = 0
g) x
2
5x + 6 = 0 h) x
2
4x 5 = 0 i) x
2
+ 5x 14 = 0
j) 2x
2
3x 2 = 0 k) 3x
2
+ 10x 8 = 0 l) 2x
2
+ 7x 15 = 0
m) 6x
2
13x + 6 = 0 n) 4x
2
29x + 7 = 0 o) 10x
2
x 3 = 0
p) y
2
15y + 56 = 0 q) 12y
2
16y + 5 = 0 r) y
2
+ 2y 63 = 0
s) 6a
2
a 1 = 0 t) 4a
2
3a 10 = 0.
9) Complete the square for each of the following.
a) x
2
+ 8x, b) x
2
12x, c) x
2
+ 4x, d) x
2
10x,
e) x
2
+ 12x, f) x
2
4x + 4, g) x
2
6x + 9, h) x
2
+ 6x + 9,
i) x
2
+ 4x + 1, j) x
2
6x 9, k) x
2
+ 2x 15, l) x
2
+ 16x + 5,
m) x
2
+ 6x + 15, n) x
2
8x 3, o) x
2
10x + 1, p) x
2
+ 2x +1,
q) x
2
+ 8x + 11, r) x
2
6x 19, s) x
2
6x, t) x
2
+ 10x + 30.
10) Complete the square for each of the following.
a) 2x
2
+ 8x, b) 2x
2
8x + 1, c) 2x
2
12x, d) 3x
2
+ 6x + 1,
e) 2x
2
8x 3, f) 5x
2
10x + 6, g) 3x
2
+ 12x + 1, h) 2x
2
4x 2,
i) 4x
2
8x + 1, j) 3x
2
+ 6x 2, k) 3x
2
12x 5, l) 2x
2
+ 8x + 20,
m) 4x
2
+ 16x + 3, n) 2x
2
+ 20x + 18, o) 2x
2
+ 4x 3, p) 3x
2
+ 12x 7.
*11) Complete the square for the following. (Each one will require fractions; -do not use decimals!)
a) x
2
+ x, b) x
2
+ 3x, c) x
2
+ 5x + 1, d) x
2
+ x 2,
e) x
2
x, f) x
2
3x + 1, g) x
2
5x + 3, h) x
2
x 1,
i) 2x
2
+ 6x, j) 2x
2
2x + 1, k) 3x
2
9x 5, l) x
2
+
2
1
x.
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12) Solve the following equations by firstly completing the square and secondly by factorising.
i) ii) ,
iii) iv)
v) 2
x x x x
x x x x
x x
2 2
2 2
2
6 40 0 8 20 0
10 16 0 12 13
7 4 0
= + =
+ = + =
+ =
,
, ,
.
13) Show that the equation x
2
+ 6x + 10 = 0 has no solutions.
{Hint: try and solve it by completing the square and see what happens!}
14) Use the quadratic formula to solve the following equations. Give your answers to 2 decimal places
where appropriate.
a) 2x
2
+ 11x + 5 = 0 b) 3x
2
+ 11x + 6 = 0 c) 6x
2
+ 7x + 2 = 0
d) 3x
2
10x + 3 = 0 e) 5x
2
7x + 2 = 0 f) 6x
2
11x + 3 = 0
g) 2x
2
+ 5x 1 = 0 h) 3x
2
+ x 3 = 0 i) 3x
2
+ 8x 6 = 0
j) 3x
2
7x 20 = 0 k) 2x
2
7x 15 = 0 l) 2 x 6x
2
= 0.
15) Use the formula to show that the equation x
2
+ 3x + 3 = 0 has NO solutions.
{Hint: simply use the formula and remember that you cannot square-root a negative number!}
16) Rearrange the following as quadratic equations and solve.
a) b)
2
c)

1
2
d)
1
+ 1
1
1
= 3.
x
x
x
x
x
x x x
x x
+ =
+
+
=

+ +
=

1
2
3
3
4
5
1
12
2
, , ,
17) Complete the square for the following. Hence sketch the curves and write down the
CO-ORDINATES of min/max points as appropriate.
a) y = x
2
+ 8x + 20, b) y = x
2
8x + 3, c) y = x
2
6x + 11,
d) y = x
2
+ 6x, e) y = 2x
2
+ 8x + 7, f) y = 4 2x x
2
,
g) y = 5 + 6x x
2
, h) y = x
2
+ 2x + 1, i) y = x
2
9
j) y = x
2
2x 3, k) y = 4x
2
8x + 11, l) y = 10x x
2
m) y = x
2
4x + 7 n) y = 8 x
2
o) y = x
2
+ 2x 4.
18) i) Complete the square for x
2
+ 6x + 10.
ii) Use i) to show that there are NO solutions to the equation x
2
+ 6x + 10 = 0.
iii) Use i) to sketch the graph of y = x
2
+ 6x + 10 and explain how this also shows that the equation
x
2
+ 6x + 10 = 0 has NO solutions.
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19) i) Complete the square for x
2
+ 4x + 6 and hence write down the MINIMUM value of x
2
+ 4x + 6.
ii) Use i) to explain why the equation x
2
+ 4x + 6 = 1 has NO solutions.
20) Solve the following inequalities. {Sketch the graphs first to be safe!}
a) x
2
+ 3x 10 0 b) x
2
+ 5x + 4 0 c) x
2
2x > 0
d) x
2
5x + 4 > 0 e) x
2
6x 8 f) x
2
+ 5x < 6
g) x
2
< 64 h) x
2
> 64 i) x
2
<
1
9
j) (x + 3)(x 7) > 0 k) 2x
2
5x + 2 < 0 l) 2x(x 1) < 3 x.
21) Factorise the expression 2 5 3
2
x x + and hence sketch the graph of y = 2 5 3
2
x x + .
Solve the inequality 2x
2
+ 5x > 3.
22) Sketch the graph of y = x
2
+ 4x 12 and hence solve the inequality 2x
2
+ 5x < x
2
+ x + 12.
23) Draw sketch graphs to solve each of the following inequalities:
a) x
2
+ 6x + 8 > 3, b) 3 4 3
2 2
x x x x + + .
24) Solve the following pairs of simultaneous equations. {Use either algebraic or graphical methods.}
a) x + y = 3, y = x + 1 b) x + y = 3, y = x 1 c) 2x + y = 8, y = x 1
d) 3x + y = 9, y = x + 1 e) 3x + 2y = 11, y = x + 3 f) 2x + 3y = 11, y = x 3
g) x + 2y = 7, y = x + 2 h) 2x + y = 7, y = x 2 i) 2x + y = 9, y = 2x + 1
j) 3x + 2y = 15, y = 2x 3 k) 3x + 4y = 20, y = 2x 6 l) 5x + 2y = 51, y = 2x + 3
m) 5x + 3y = 41, y = 2x 1 n) 3x + 4y = 27, x = y + 2 o) 5x + 3y = 37, x = y + 1
p) 5x + 3y = 18, x = 2y + 1 q) 5x 3y = 1, y = x + 1 r) 7x 3y = 6, y = x + 2
s) 7x 2y = 1, y = 2x + 1 t) 9x 2y = 4, y = 3x + 1
u) 2x 3y = 13, y = 2x 1 v) 3x 2y = 5, y = 3x 7
w) 5x 3y = 6, y = 2x 3 x) 3x 2y = 7, y = x 1.
25) Solve the following pairs of simultaneous equations.
a) x
2
+ y
2
= 25 b) y = x
2
3x 8 c) x
2
y
2
= 8
x + y = 7 y = x 3 y = 2 x
d) 16x
2
+ y
2
= 65 e) 2x
2
+ 3xy + y
2
= 8 f) y = 2x
2
3x 1
x + y = 1 y x = 2 y 3x = 7.
g) y = x
2
x + 3 h) x
2
+ y
2
= 26 i) y = x
2
5
y = 2x + 1 y = 3x + 2 y = 2x 2.
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26) Establish the nature of the roots of the following quadratic equations by investigating suitable
discriminants.
a) x
2
+ 5x + 3 = 0 b) x
2
5x + 7 = 0 c) 3x
2
x 1 = 0
d) 4x
2
+ 12x + 9 = 0 e) 2x
2
= 3x 4 f) x
2
+ ax + a
2
= 0.
{Hint: remember to rearrange each equation into the form ax
2
+ bx + c = 0.}
27) The roots of the equation 3x
2
+ kx + 12 = 0 are equal. Find the possible values of k.
28) Find the range, or ranges, of values K can take for the equation Kx
2
4x + (5 K) = 0 to have 2
distinct real roots.
29) If ax
2
8x + 2 = 0 has a repeated root, find the value of a.
30) Find the range(s) of values b can take for 9x
2
+ bx + 4 = 0 to have 2 real distinct roots.
31) Find the range(s) of values k can take for x
2
+ (k + 1)x + 1 = 0 to have 2 distinct roots.
32) Find the range(s) of values k can take for 2x
2
+ (3 k)x + k + 3 = 0 to have 2 real distinct roots.
33) Show that the function y = 3x
2
5x + 4 is always positive for any value of x.
{Hint: show that the equation 3x
2
5x + 4 = 0 has no solutions. Now think about the graph
of y = 3x
2
5x + 4.}
Miscellaneous questions. The following questions contain many past exam questions.
34) The diagrams shows that part of the graph of y
x
=
3
for which x 0, and the graph of y = 2x + 1.
The graphs intersect at the point A(x, y).
a) Show that x satisfies the equation 2x
2
+ x 3 = 0 and hence find the co-ordinates of A.
y
x
y = 2x + 1
A
y
x
=
3
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b) Show that the line y x = 1 does not intersect with the graph of the curve y
x
=
3
.
35) i) Sketch, on the same axes, the graphs of the curve y = x
2
+ 3x and the line y = x + k where k is a
constant.
ii) Given that the curve given by y = x
2
+ 3x and the line y = x + k intersect at two distinct points,
show that k > 1.{Hint: solve simultaneously to get x
2
+ 2x k = 0 and now use the
discriminant etc.}
iii) Interpret, in terms of the above graphs, the case when k = 1.
36) i) Solve the simultaneous equations y = x
2
3x + 2, y = 3x 7.
ii) Interpret your solution to part i) geometrically.
37) Factorise ( ) x + 3 16
2
.
38) The quadratic polynomial x
2
10x + 17 is denoted by f(x). Express f(x) in the form (x a)
2
+ b,
stating the values of a and b. {Hint: the question is asking you to complete the square!}
Hence find the least possible value that f(x) can take, and the corresponding value of x.
39) Solve the simultaneous equations x + y = 1, x
2
xy + y
2
= 7.
40) Find the set of values of a for which the equation ax x a
2
6 0 + = has two distinct real roots.
41) Using the substitution y = x
2
, or otherwise, solve the equation x
4
+ 5x
2
36 = 0.
42) Solve the equation 2x
4
3x
2
+ 1 = 0. {c.f. example 9.2}
43) Solve the equation 2
3
2
t 3
3
1
t + 1 = 0 by means of the substitution u =
3
1
t .
44) Solve the simultaneous equations 2x + y = 3, 2x
2
xy = 10.
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45) a)
The diagram shows the graphs of y = x 1 and y = kx
2
, where k is a positive constant. The graphs
intersect at two distinct points A and B.
Write down the quadratic equation satisfied by the xcoordinates of A and B, and hence show
k <
1
4
.
Solve the inequality x x 1 >
2
9

2
.
b) Describe briefly the relationship between the graphs of y = x 1 and y = kx
2
in each of the
following cases i) k =
1
4
, ii) k >
1
4
.
c) Show, by means of a graphical argument or otherwise, that when k is a negative constant, the
equation x 1 = kx
2
has two real roots, one of which lies between 0 and 1.
{Hint: draw a sketch graph showing y = x 1 and y = kx
2
. Remember that k is negative and that
the solutions of the equation x 1 = kx
2
are the xcoordinates of where the 2 graphs meet!}
46) The diagram shows the graphs of y = 6 2x and y = k x
2
, where k is a positive constant.
The graphs intersect at two distinct points A and B.
y
x
y
k
y = 6 2x
y = k x
2
A
B
x
B
A
O
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a) Write down the quadratic equation satisfied by the x-coordinates of A and B, and hence show
that k > 5.
b) Solve the inequality 9 x
2
6 2x.
c) Describe, briefly, the relationship between the graphs of y = 6 2x and y = k x
2
in each of the
following cases. i) k = 5, ii) k < 5.
47) A quadratic function is defined by f(x)= x
2
+ kx + 9, where k is a constant. It is given that the
equation f(x) = 0 has two distinct real roots. Find the set of values that k can take.
For the case where k = 4 3 ,
i) express f(x) in the form (x + a)
2
+ b, stating the values of a and b, and hence write down the least
value taken by f(x), {Hint: the question is asking you to complete the square!}
ii) solve the equation f(x) = 0, expressing your answers in terms of surds, simplified as far as
possible.
48) Solve the equation x x
2
(6 3 + 24 = 0, ) giving your answers in terms of surds, simplified as far
as possible.
Hence, i) solve the inequality x x
2
(6 3 + 24 < 0, ) {Hint: sketch a graph!}
ii) find all four solutions of the equation x x
4 2
(6 3 + 24 = 0, ) giving your
answers to 2 decimal places.
{Hint: put y = x
2
to give 0 = 24 + ) 3 (6
2
y y and now use your earlier
answers to find y etc.}
49) A biologist claims that the average height, h metres, of trees of a certain species after t months
growth is given by h t t =
1
5
2
3
1
3
1
8
+ .
For this model,
i) find the average height of trees of this species after 64 months,
ii) find the number of months that the trees have been growing when the average height is 10
metres. {Hint: put h = 10, rearrange to get 8u
2
+ 5u 400 = 0 where u =
3
1
t etc.}
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ANSWERS.
1) a) 3x
2
5x 2 b) x
2
16x + 63 c) x
2
110x + 1000 d) 6x
2
+ 4x 2
e) 8x
2
6x 9 f) 3x
2
15x + 18 g) 15x
2
32x 60 h) 2x
2
+ 3x + 5
i) 6x
2
+ 23x 20 j) x
2
7x + 12 k) x
3
+ x
2
x 1 l) x
3
6x
2
+ 11x 6
m) x
3
x
2
17x 15 n) 8x
3
+ 12x
2
+ 6x + 1.
6) a) (x + 2)(x + 5) b) (x + 3)(x + 4) c) (x + 3)(x + 5) d) (x + 7)(x + 3)
e) (x + 6)(x + 2) f) (y + 7)(y + 5) g) (y + 8)(y + 3) h) (y + 5)
2
i) (y + 12)(y + 3) j) (a 5)(a + 2) k) (a 4)(a + 3) l) (z + 3)(z 2)
m) (x 7)(x + 5) n) (x 8)(x + 3) o) (x 4)(x 2) p) (y 3)(y 2)
q) (x 3)(x 5) r) (a 3)(a + 2) s) (a + 9)(a + 5) t) (b 7)(b + 3).
7) a) (2x + 3)(x + 1) b) (2x + 1)(x + 3) c) (3x + 1)(x + 2) d) (2x + 3)(x + 4)
e) (3x + 2)(x + 2) f) (2x + 5)(x + 1) g) (3x + 1)(x 2) h) (2x + 5)(x 3)
i) (2x + 7)(x 3) j) (3x + 4)(x 7) k) (2x + 1)(3x + 2) l) (3x 2)(x 3)
m) (y 2)(3y 5) n) (2y + 3)(3y 1) o) (5x + 2)(2x + 1) p) (6x 1)(x 3)
q) (4x + 1)(2x 3) r) (3x + 2)(4x + 5) s) (4y 3)(y 5) t) (2x 5)(3x 6).
8) a) 3, 4 b) 2, 5 c) 3, 5 d) 2, 3 e) 2, 6 f) 3, 7
g) 2, 3 h) 5, 1 i) 7, 2 j) , 2 k)
2
3
, 4 l) 1, 5
m)
2
3
, 1 n) , 7 o)
3
5
, p) 7, 8 q)
5
6
, r) 7, 9
s)
1
3
, t) 1, 2.
9) a) (x + 4)
2
16 b) (x 6)
2
36 c) (x + 2)
2
4 d) (x 5)
2
100
e) (x + 6)
2
36 f) (x 2)
2
g) (x 3)
2
h) (x + 3)
2
i) (x + 2)
2
3 j) (x 3)
2
18 k) (x + 1)
2
16 l) (x + 8)
2
59
m) (x + 3)
2
+ 6 n) (x 4)
2
19 o) (x 5)
2
24 p) (x + 1)
2
q) (x + 4)
2
5 r) (x 3)
2
28 s) (x 3)
2
9 t) (x + 5)
2
+ 5.
10) a) 2(x + 2)
2
8 b) 2(x 2)
2
7 c) 2(x 3)
2
18 d) 3(x + 1)
2
2
e) 2(x 2)
2
11 f) 5(x 1)
2
+ 1 g) 3(x + 2)
2
11 h) 2(x 1)
2
4
i) 4(x 1)
2
3 j) 3(x + 1)
2
5 k) 3(x 2)
2
17 l) 2(x + 2)
2
+ 12
m) 4(x + 2)
2
13 n) 2(x + 5)
2
32 o) 2(x + 1)
2
5 p) 3(x + 2)
2
19.
11) a) ( )
4
1
2
2
1
+ x b) ( )
4
9
2
2
3
+ x c) ( )
4
21
2
2
5
+ x d) ( )
4
9
2
2
1
+ x
e) ( )
4
1
2
2
1
x f) ( )
4
5
2
2
3
x g) ( )
4
13
2
2
5
x h) ( )
4
5
2
2
1
x
i) 2( )
2
9
2
2
3
+ x j) 2( )
2
1
2
2
1
+ x k) 3( )
4
47
2
2
3
x l) ( )
16
1
2
4
1
+ x .
12) i) x = 10 or 4 ii) x = 2 or 10 iii) x = 2 or 8 iv) x = 1 or 13
v) x =
1
2
or 4.
14) a) , 5 b)
2
3
, 3 c) ,
2
3
, d)
1
3
, 3 e)
2
5
, 1
f)
1
3
, 1 g) 019, 269 h) 085, 118 i) 061, 328, j) 1
2
3
, 4
k) 1, 5 l)
2
3
, .
15) This question gives you a simple technique for checking when a quadratic equation HAS solutions.
16) a) 018, 282 b) No solutions c) 031, 319, d)
1
3
or
1
3
.
17) a) y = (x + 4)
2
+ 4, Min (4, 4) b) y = (x 4)
2
13, Min (4, 13)
c) y = (x 3)
2
+ 2, Min (3, 2) d) y = (x + 3)
2
9, Min (3, 9)
e) y = 2(x + 2)
2
1, Min (2, 1) f) y = 5 (x + 1)
2
, Max (1, 5)
g) y = 14 (x 3)
2
, Max (3, 14) h) y = (x + 1)
2
, Min (1, 0)
i) y = x
2
9, Min (0, 9) j) y = (x 1)
2
4, Min (1, 4)
k) y = 4(x 1)
2
+ 7, Min (1, 7) l) y = 25 (x 5)
2
, Max (5, 25)
m) y = (x 2)
2
+ 3, Min (2, 3) n) y = 8 x
2
, Max (0, 8)
o) y = (x + 1)
2
5, Min (1, 5).
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18) i) (x + 3)
2
+ 1.
19) i) (x + 2)
2
+ 2 ii) Because the least value of x
2
+ 4x + 6 is 2.
20) a) 5 x 2 b) 4 x 1 c) x < 0 or x > 2 d) x < 1 or x > 4
e) x 2 or x 4 f) 6 < x < 1 g) 8 < x < 8 h) x < 8 or x > 8
i) 1/3 < x < 1/3 j) x < 3 or x > 7 k) < x < 2 l) 1 < x <3/2.
21) x < 3 or x > .. 22) 6 < x < 2.
23) a) x < 5 or x > 1 b) 3 x .
24) a) x = 1, y = 2. b) x = 2, y = 1. c) x = 3, y = 2.
d) x = 2, y = 3. e) x = 1, y = 4. f) x = 4, y = 1.
g) x = 1, y = 3. h) x = 3, y = 1. i) x = 2, y = 5.
j) x = 3, y = 3. k) x = 4, y = 2. l) x = 5, y = 13.
m) x = 4, y = 7. n) x = 5, y = 3. o) x = 5, y = 4.
p) x = 3, y = 1. q) x = 2, y = 3. r) x = 3, y = 5.
s) x = 1, y = 3. t) x = 2, y = 7. u) x = 4, y = 7.
v) x = 3, y = 2. w) x = 3, y = 3. x) x = 5, y = 4.
25) a) x = 3, y = 4 or x = 4, y = 3. b) x = 5, y = 2 or x = 1, y = 4.
c) x = 3, y = 1. d) x = 2, y = 1 or x =
32
17
, y =
49
17
.
e) x = 2, y = 0 or x =
1
3
, y =
7
3
. f) x = 1, y = 4 or x = 4, y = 19.
g) x = 2, y = 5 or x = 1, y = 3. h) x = 1, y = 5 or x = 2.2, y = 4.6.
i) x = 3, y = 4 or x = 1, y = 4.
26) a) Discriminant = 13. 2 distinct real roots. b) Discriminant = 3. No real roots.
c) Discriminant = 13. 2 distinct real roots. d) Discriminant = 0. Equal roots.
e) {Rearrange to get 2x
2
3x + 4.} Discriminant = 23. No real roots.
f) Discriminant = 3a
2
. No real roots.
27) k = 12 or k = 12. 28) K < 1 or K > 4. 29) a = 8.
30) b < 12 or b > 12. 31) k < 3 or k > 1. 32) k < 1 or k > 15.
33) The equation 3x
2
5x + 4 = 0 has discriminant 23 and thus has no solutions. This means that the
graph of y = 3x
2
5x + 4 lies completely above the x-axis and hence y = 3x
2
5x + 4 is always
positive.
34) a) (1, 3).
35) iii) If k = 1, then the line y = x + k touches the curve y = x
2
+ 3x exactly once, i.e. y = x + k is a
tangent to y = x
2
+ 3x.
36) i) x = 3, y = 2, ii) The line y = 3x 7 is the tangent to the curve y = x
2
3x + 2 at the point (3, 2)
since the 2 graphs touch at the single point (3, 2).
37) (x 1)(x + 7).
38) (x 5)
2
8; a = 5, b = 8. Least f(x) = 8. 39) When x = 2, y = 1, when x = 1, y = 2.
40) 3 < a < 3. 41) x = 2 or x = 2.
42) x =
2
1
or
2
1
or 1 or 1. 43) t =
8
1
or t = 1.
44) When x =
4
5
, y =
2
11
, when x = 2, y = 1.
45) a) kx
2
x + 1 = 0;
2
3
< x < 3. b) i) The 2 graphs touch exactly once, i.e. y = x 1 is a tangent to
y = kx
2
. ii) The 2 graphs do not intersect.
46) b) 1 x 3. c) i) The line y = 6 2x is a tangent to the curve y = k x
2
.
ii) The 2 graphs do not intersect.
47) k < 6 or k > 6. i) (x 2 3 )
2
3; least value of f(x) = 3, ii) x = 3 or 3 3 .
48) x = 2 3 or 4 3 . i) 2 3 < x < 4 3 . ii) x = 1.86 or 1.86 or 2.63 or 2.63 (2 decimal places).
49) i) 3.7 m. ii) 309.67 months (2 decimal places).