CAIE P2 2024 November — Question 4

Exam BoardCAIE
ModuleP2 (Pure Mathematics 2)
Year2024
SessionNovember
TopicFactor & Remainder Theorem
TypeVerify, factorise, solve with substitution

4 The polynomial \(\mathrm { p } ( x )\) is defined by $$\mathrm { p } ( x ) = a x ^ { 3 } - a x ^ { 2 } - 15 x + 18$$ where \(a\) is a constant. It is given that ( \(x + 2\) ) is a factor of \(\mathrm { p } ( x )\).
  1. Find the value of \(a\).
  2. Hence factorise \(\mathrm { p } ( x )\) completely.
  3. Solve the equation \(\mathrm { p } \left( \operatorname { cosec } ^ { 2 } \theta \right) = 0\) for \(- 90 ^ { \circ } < \theta < 90 ^ { \circ }\).