| Exam Board | OCR MEI |
|---|---|
| Module | C1 (Core Mathematics 1) |
| Marks | 12 |
| Paper | Download PDF ↗ |
| Mark scheme | Download PDF ↗ |
| Topic | Curve Sketching |
| Type | Vertical translation of cubic with factorisation |
| Difficulty | Moderate -0.8 This is a straightforward C1 question involving routine curve sketching from factored form, applying a horizontal translation to find roots, and algebraic manipulation with factor theorem. All techniques are standard with clear signposting and no problem-solving insight required—easier than average A-level. |
| Spec | 1.02j Manipulate polynomials: expanding, factorising, division, factor theorem1.02n Sketch curves: simple equations including polynomials1.02w Graph transformations: simple transformations of f(x) |
| Answer | Marks | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Answer | Mark | Guidance |
| Sketch of cubic the right way up, with two turning points and clearly crossing \(x\)-axis in 3 places | B1 | No section to be ruled; no curving back; condone slight "flicking out" at ends; curve must clearly extend beyond \(x\)-axis at both ends |
| Crossing/reaching \(x\)-axis at \(-4\), \(-2\) and \(1.5\) | B1 | Intersections must be shown correctly labelled or worked out nearby; accept curve crossing axis halfway between 1 and 2 if \(\frac{3}{2}\) not marked |
| Intersection of \(y\)-axis at \(-24\) | B1 | NB to find \(-24\) some are expanding \(f(x)\) here, which gains M1 in (iii)A |
| Answer | Marks | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Answer | Mark | Guidance |
| \(-2\), \(0\) and \(\frac{7}{2}\) oe isw or ft their intersections | 2 | B1 for 2 correct or ft or for \((-2,0)\), \((0,0)\) and \((3.5, 0)\); or M1 for \((x+2)x(2x-7)\) oe; or SC1 for \(-6\), \(-4\) and \(-\frac{1}{2}\) oe |
| Answer | Marks | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Answer | Mark | Guidance |
| Correct expansion of product of 2 brackets of \(f(x)\) | M1 | Need not be simplified; condone lack of brackets; or allow M1 for expansion of all 3 brackets showing all terms with at most one error: \(2x^3 + 4x^2 + 8x^2 - 3x^2 + 16x - 12x - 6x - 24\); e.g. \(2x^2+5x-12\) or \(2x^2+x-6\) or \(x^2+6x+8\) |
| Correct expansion of quadratic and linear, completion to given answer | A1 | For correct completion if all 3 brackets already expanded, with reference to show why \(-24\) changes to \(-9\); condone lack of brackets if correctly expanded; NB answer given, mark the whole process |
| Answer | Marks | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| \(g(1) = 2 + 9 - 2 - 9 = 0\) | B1 | Allow this mark for \((x-1)\) shown to be a factor and a statement that \(x=1\) is a root [of \(g(x)=0\)]; B0 for just \(g(1) = 2(1)^3 + 9(1)^2 - 2(1) - 9 [=0]\) |
| Attempt at division by \((x-1)\) as far as \(2x^3 - 2x^2\) in working | M1 | Or inspection with at least two terms of quadratic factor correct; M0 for division by \(x+1\) after \(g(1)=0\) unless further working such as \(g(-1)=0\) shown, but this can go on to gain last M1A1 |
| Correctly obtaining \(2x^2 + 11x + 9\) | A1 | Allow B2 for another linear factor found by the factor theorem; NB mixture of methods may be seen |
| Factorising a correct quadratic factor | M1 | For factors giving two terms correct; e.g. allow M1 for factorising \(2x^2 + 7x - 9\) after division by \(x+1\); allow M1 for \((x+1)(x+\frac{18}{4})\) after \(-1\) and \(-\frac{18}{4}\) correctly found by formula |
| \((2x+9)(x+1)(x-1)\) isw | A1 | Allow \(2(x+\frac{9}{2})(x+1)(x-1)\); dependent on 2nd M1 only; condone omission of first factor found; ignore \(=0\) seen; SC alternative method: allow first M1A1 for \((2x+9)(x^2-1)\) then second M1A1 for full factorisation |
# Question 3:
## Part (i)
| Answer | Mark | Guidance |
|--------|------|----------|
| Sketch of cubic the right way up, with two turning points and clearly crossing $x$-axis in 3 places | B1 | No section to be ruled; no curving back; condone slight "flicking out" at ends; curve must clearly extend beyond $x$-axis at both ends |
| Crossing/reaching $x$-axis at $-4$, $-2$ and $1.5$ | B1 | Intersections must be shown correctly labelled or worked out nearby; accept curve crossing axis halfway between 1 and 2 if $\frac{3}{2}$ not marked |
| Intersection of $y$-axis at $-24$ | B1 | NB to find $-24$ some are expanding $f(x)$ here, which gains M1 in (iii)A |
**[3 marks]**
## Part (ii)
| Answer | Mark | Guidance |
|--------|------|----------|
| $-2$, $0$ and $\frac{7}{2}$ oe isw or ft their intersections | 2 | B1 for 2 correct or ft or for $(-2,0)$, $(0,0)$ and $(3.5, 0)$; or M1 for $(x+2)x(2x-7)$ oe; or SC1 for $-6$, $-4$ and $-\frac{1}{2}$ oe |
**[2 marks]**
## Part (iii)(A)
| Answer | Mark | Guidance |
|--------|------|----------|
| Correct expansion of product of 2 brackets of $f(x)$ | M1 | Need not be simplified; condone lack of brackets; or allow M1 for expansion of all 3 brackets showing all terms with at most one error: $2x^3 + 4x^2 + 8x^2 - 3x^2 + 16x - 12x - 6x - 24$; e.g. $2x^2+5x-12$ or $2x^2+x-6$ or $x^2+6x+8$ |
| Correct expansion of quadratic and linear, completion to given answer | A1 | For correct completion if all 3 brackets already expanded, with reference to show why $-24$ changes to $-9$; condone lack of brackets if correctly expanded; NB answer given, mark the whole process |
**[2 marks]**
## Question 3(iii)(B):
$g(1) = 2 + 9 - 2 - 9 = 0$ | B1 | Allow this mark for $(x-1)$ shown to be a factor and a statement that $x=1$ is a root [of $g(x)=0$]; B0 for just $g(1) = 2(1)^3 + 9(1)^2 - 2(1) - 9 [=0]$
Attempt at division by $(x-1)$ as far as $2x^3 - 2x^2$ in working | M1 | Or inspection with at least two terms of quadratic factor correct; M0 for division by $x+1$ after $g(1)=0$ unless further working such as $g(-1)=0$ shown, but this can go on to gain last M1A1
Correctly obtaining $2x^2 + 11x + 9$ | A1 | Allow B2 for another linear factor found by the factor theorem; NB mixture of methods may be seen
Factorising a correct quadratic factor | M1 | For factors giving two terms correct; e.g. allow M1 for factorising $2x^2 + 7x - 9$ after division by $x+1$; allow M1 for $(x+1)(x+\frac{18}{4})$ after $-1$ and $-\frac{18}{4}$ correctly found by formula
$(2x+9)(x+1)(x-1)$ isw | A1 | Allow $2(x+\frac{9}{2})(x+1)(x-1)$; dependent on 2nd M1 only; condone omission of first factor found; ignore $=0$ seen; SC alternative method: allow first M1A1 for $(2x+9)(x^2-1)$ then second M1A1 for full factorisation
**[5]**
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3 You are given that $\mathrm { f } ( x ) = ( 2 x - 3 ) ( x + 2 ) ( x + 4 )$.
\begin{enumerate}[label=(\roman*)]
\item Sketch the graph of $y = \mathrm { f } ( x )$.
\item State the roots of $\mathrm { f } ( x - 2 ) = 0$.
\item You are also given that $\mathrm { g } ( x ) = \mathrm { f } ( x ) + 15$.\\
(A) Show that $\mathrm { g } ( x ) = 2 x ^ { 3 } + 9 x ^ { 2 } - 2 x - 9$.\\
(B) Show that $\mathrm { g } ( 1 ) = 0$ and hence factorise $\mathrm { g } ( x )$ completely.
\end{enumerate}
\hfill \mbox{\textit{OCR MEI C1 Q3 [12]}}