Math/CE LQ Ex.

Unit 4 Formulae, Polynomials and Algebraic Fractions

2006 CE Exam Syllabus

Syllabus Topics Notes (Whole Syllabus) Notes (Foundation Part)

Formulas Numerical applications. Change of Numerical applications. Change of

subject, excluding formulas involving subject, excluding formulas involving
radicals. Simple algebraic fractions. radicals. Simple algebraic fractions.

Polynomials Fundamental operations. Fundamental operations.

Simple factorization, including a2–b2, Simple factorization, including a2–b2,
a2 ± 2ab + b2, a3 ± b3, a2 ± 2ab + b2, a3 ± b3,
px2 + qx + r = (hx + k)(mx + n), where px2 + qx + r = (hx + k)(mx + n), where
h, k , m and n are integers. h, k , m and n are integers.

Remainder theorem Including the factorization of (This topic is not included)

polynomials up to degree 3.

1. Important Identities
a 2 − b 2 = (a + b)(a − b)
(a + b) 2 = a 2 + 2ab + b 2
(a − b) 2 = a 2 − 2ab + b 2

a 3 + b 3 = (a + b)(a 2 − ab + b 2 )
a 3 − b 3 = (a − b)(a 2 + ab + b 2 )

2. Remainder Theorem
When a polynomial f (x) is divided by x − a , the remainder is equal to f (a) .

3. Factor Theorem
If f (x) is a polynomial and f (a ) = 0 , then x − a is a factor of f (x) .

4. Long Divisions
8x2 − 2x − 3
e.g. Divide 8x3 – 26x2 + 3x + 9 by x – 3 x − 3 8 x 3 − 26 x 2 + 3 x + 9
3 2
∴ 8x – 26x + 3x + 9
8 x 3 − 24 x 2
= ( x − 3)(8 x 2 − 2 x − 3) − 2 x 2 + 3x
= ( x − 3)(2 x + 1)(4 x − 3) − 2x2 + 6x
− 3x + 9
− 3x + 9

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Math/CE LQ Ex.4

Section A

1. Factorize (a) x 2 y + 2 xy + y , and (b) x 2 y + 2 xy + y − y 3 . [CE 84]

2. Factorize (a) x 2 − 2 x − 3 , and (b) (a 2 + 2a ) 2 − 2(a 2 + 2a ) − 3 . [CE 86]

3. (a) Find the remainder when x1000 + 6 is divided by x + 1 . [CE 90]

(b) (i) Using (a), or otherwise, find the remainder when 81000 + 6 is divided by 9.

(ii) What is the remainder when 81000 is divided by 9.

4. Factorize (a) x 2 − 2 x , and (b) x 2 − 6 x + 8 . [CE 92]

5. Find the remainder when x 3 − 2 x 2 + 3 x − 4 is divided by x − 1 . [CE 92]

x 2 +1
6. (a) Let f(x) = . Find f(3). [CE 93]
x −1

(b) If 2xy + 3 = 6x, express y in terms of x.

7. Find the remainder when x 3 + x 2 is divided by x - 1. [CE 93]

8. If (x - 1)(x + 2) ≡ x2 + rx + s, find r and s. [CE 93]

9. If y = 2x + 3, express x in terms of y. [CE 94]

10. Factorize ax + 2ay + bx + 2by . [CE 94]

11. When ( x + 3)( x − 2) + 2 is divided by x − k , the remainder is k 2 . [CE 94]

Find the value(s) of k.

12. Find the remainder when x 3 + 1 is divided by x + 2. [CE 95]

13. Make r the subject of the formula h = a + r(1 + p2). [CE 96]

If h = 8, a = 6 and p = -4, find the value of r.

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Math/CE LQ Ex.4

14. Show that x + 1 is a factor of x 3 − x 2 − 3x − 1 . [CE 96]

Hence solve x 3 − x 2 − 3 x − 1 = 0 .

(Leave your answers in surd form.)

Exam. report: Satisfactory. Quite a number of candidates used the symbol

f(-1) without defining what f(x) is.

15. Factorize (a) x 2 − 9 , and (b) ac + bc − ad − bd . [CE 97]

16. Make x the subject of the formula b = 2x + (1 - x)a. [CE 98]

17. Let f ( x) = x 3 + 2 x 2 − 5 x − 6 . [CE 98]

(a) Show that x − 2 is a factor of f (x) .

(b) Factorize f (x) .

c
18. Make x the subject of the formula a = b + . [CE 99]
x

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19. Let C = ( F − 32) . If C = 30, find F. [CE 00]
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20. Let f ( x) = 2 x 3 + 6 x 2 − 2 x − 7 . [CE 00]

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

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21. Make x the subject of the formula y = ( x + 3) . [CE 01]
2

If the value of y is increased by 1, find the corresponding increase in the value of x.

22. Let f ( x) = x 3 − x 2 + x − 1 . [CE 01]

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

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Math/CE LQ Ex.4

23. Let f ( x) = x 3 − 2 x 2 − 9 x + 18 . [CE 02]

(a) Find f (2) .

(b) Factorize f (x) .

24. Make m the subject of the formula mx = 2(m + c). [CE 03]

25. Factorize (a) x2–(y–z)2, and (b) ab–ad–bc + cd. [CE 03]

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26. Make x the subject of the formula y = . [CE 04]
a−x

27. Factorize (a) a 2 − ab + 2a − 2b , and (b) 169 y 2 − 25 . [CE 04]

28. Make a the subject of the formula P = ab + 2bc + 3ac. [CE 05]

29. Factorize

(a) 4x2 – 4xy + y2,

(b) 4x2 – 4xy + y2 – 2x + y. [CE 05]

~ End of Unit 4 LQ ~
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