MATH101: Solutions to Week 3 Lecture 3 Exercises

Question 1: Cubics
(a) y = x(x 3)(x + 2)
Setting y = 0 gives us the x-intercepts at (0, 0), (2, 0), and (3, 0)
Setting x = 0 gives us the y-intercept at (0, 0).
(b) y = (x 1)(x + 1)(x + 2)
Setting y = 0 gives us the x-intercepts at (1, 0), (1, 0), and (2, 0)
Setting x = 0 gives us the y-intercept at (0, 2).
(c) y = (x 6)(x 2)(x + 1)
Setting y = 0 gives us the x-intercepts at (6, 0), (2, 0), and (1, 0)
Setting x = 0 gives us the y-intercept at (0, 12).
(d) y = (x 3)(x 2)(x 1)
Setting y = 0 gives us the x-intercepts at (3, 0), (2, 0), and (1, 0).
Setting x = 0 gives us the y-intercept at (0, 6).
(e) y = x2 (x 4)
Setting y = 0 gives us the x-intercepts at (0, 0) and (4, 0).
Setting x = 0 gives us the y-intercept at (0, 0).
(f ) y = (2 x)(x + 4)(x 3)
Setting y = 0 gives us the x-intercepts at (2, 0), (4, 0), and (3, 0).
Setting x = 0 gives us the y-intercept at (0, 24).

Question 2: Factor Theorem and Cubics

(a) To show that x 4 is a factor of x3 4x2 x + 4, we substitute x = 4 into this
expression and show that the answer is 0.
43 4(4)2 4 + 4 = 64 64 4 + 4 = 0. Therefore x 4 is a factor of x3 4x2 x + 4.

(b) Note that x + 2 can be written as x (2), so we substitute x = 2 into the

expression, set this equal to 0, and solve for c:
(2)3 + 5(2)2 (2) + c = 0

8 + 20 + 2 + c = 0

c = 14.

Answers only are given for (c) and (d). Remember to use the factors of the constant
term as your starting list of possible factors, then substitute these into the cubic
expression to see if the result is zero. If x = a gives zero when substituted into
the polynomial, then (x a) is a factor of the polynomial. Please come to the help
sessions if you have any questions.
(c) x3 + 4x2 7x 10 = (x 2)(x + 1)(x + 5)
(d) x3 + 9x2 + 6x 16 = (x 1)(x + 2)(x + 8)

Question 3: Cubics and their Graphs

(a) y = x(x 3)(x + 3)
The x-intercepts are at (0, 0), (3, 0), and (3, 0), and the y-intercept is at (0, 0).

(b) y = (x 1)(x + 2)(x + 4)

T he x-intercepts are at (1, 0), (2, 0), and (4, 0), and the y-intercept is at (0, 8).

(c) y = x2 (x + 4)
he x-intercepts are at (0, 0) (a repeated root), and (4, 0), and the y-intercept is at (0, 0).

(d) y = (2 x)(x + 1)(x + 3) Note that the x3 term is negative.

The x-intercepts are at (2, 0), (1, 0), and (3, 0), and the y-intercept is at (0, 6).

Question 4: Finding Equations from Graphs

(a) y = (x + 3)(x + 1)(x 2)
(b) y = (x + 4)(x + 2)(x 3)
(c) y = x(x + 3)(x 3)
(d) y = (x + 4)(x 1)2
Question 5: More About Cubics
(a) The maximum number of turning points for a cubic graph is two. The minimum
number is none (consider the standard graph y = x3 ). It is not possible for a cubic
to have only one turning point. It must have either no turning points or two turning
points.
(b) Any equation of the form y = a(x + 2)(x 2)(x 4) is a possible equation for a
cubic with x-intercepts at x = 2, x = 2, and x = 4.
Some examples are: y = (x + 2)(x 2)(x 4), y = (x + 2)(x 2)(x 4), and
y = 3(x + 2)(x 2)(x 4).
If the cubic also passes through the point (0, 32), then the equation must be
y = 2(x + 2)(x 2)(x 4). (Substitute x = 0 and y = 32 and solve for a.)
(c) The graph is increasing for x < 1 and x > 1, and decreasing for 1 < x < 1. The
turning points are at (1, 4) and (1, 0).
4

Question 6: Just for Fun!

The volume of the larger sphere will be the sum of the volumes of the three smaller
spheres:
V

=
=
=
=
=

4
3
4
3
4
3
4
3
4
3

33 +

4
4
43 + 53
3
3

33 + 43 + 53

(27 + 64 + 125)
216
63

Therefore the radius of the larger sphere is 6mm.

factor out