AQA C1 2005 June — Question 6

Exam BoardAQA
ModuleC1 (Core Mathematics 1)
Year2005
SessionJune
TopicFactor & Remainder Theorem
TypeProve root count with given polynomial

6 The cubic polynomial \(\mathrm { p } ( x )\) is given by \(\mathrm { p } ( x ) = ( x - 2 ) \left( x ^ { 2 } + x + 3 \right)\).
  1. Show that \(\mathrm { p } ( x )\) can be written in the form \(x ^ { 3 } + a x ^ { 2 } + b x - 6\), where \(a\) and \(b\) are constants whose values are to be found.
  2. Use the Remainder Theorem to find the remainder when \(\mathrm { p } ( x )\) is divided by \(x + 1\).
    (2 marks)
  3. Prove that the equation \(( x - 2 ) \left( x ^ { 2 } + x + 3 \right) = 0\) has only one real root and state its value.
    (3 marks)