| Exam Board | OCR MEI |
|---|---|
| Module | C1 (Core Mathematics 1) |
| Marks | 2 |
| Paper | Download PDF ↗ |
| Mark scheme | Download PDF ↗ |
| Topic | Factor & Remainder Theorem |
| Type | Single unknown constant |
| Difficulty | Moderate -0.8 This is a straightforward substitution question requiring only direct application of the factor theorem. Students substitute x = -2 into the cubic equation and solve the resulting linear equation for a. It's simpler than average as it involves minimal algebraic manipulation and tests only basic understanding of roots. |
| Spec | 1.02j Manipulate polynomials: expanding, factorising, division, factor theorem |
| Answer | Marks | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | a = ¼ | 2 |
| o.e. obtained eg by division by (x + 2) | 2 |
Question 8:
8 | a = ¼ | 2 | M1 for subst of −2 or for −8 + 4a + 7 = 0
o.e. obtained eg by division by (x + 2) | 2One root of the equation $x^3 + ax^2 + 7 = 0$ is $x = -2$. Find the value of $a$. [2]
\hfill \mbox{\textit{OCR MEI C1 Q8 [2]}}