Quadratics (Edexcel A Level Maths: Pure): Exam Questions

Exam code: 9MA0

4 hours49 questions
11 mark

Solve the equation

n squared minus 26 n plus 160 equals 0

2a2 marks

Given that

straight f open parentheses x close parentheses equals x squared minus 4 x plus 5 space space space space x element of straight real numbers

express straight f open parentheses x close parentheses in the form left parenthesis x plus a right parenthesis squared plus b where a and b are integers to be found.

2b2 marks

The curve with equation y equals straight f left parenthesis x right parenthesis

  • meets the y-axis at the point P

  • has a minimum turning point at the point Q

Write down

(i) the coordinates of P

(ii) the coordinates of Q

32 marks

The equation

x squared plus k x plus 3 equals 0

has no real roots.

Show that

k squared less than 12

43 marks

Find the value of the discriminant of the following expressions:

(i)  x squared minus 3 x plus 4

(ii)  4 x plus 3 minus 2 x squared

(iii)  5 minus 8 x plus 2 x squared

53 marks

Expand and simplify the following expressions:

(i)  left parenthesis x plus 4 right parenthesis left parenthesis 2 x minus 3 right parenthesis

(ii)  left parenthesis 3 x minus 4 right parenthesis left parenthesis 3 x plus 4 right parenthesis

(iii)  left parenthesis 2 x plus 1 right parenthesis squared

63 marks

Factorise the following expressions:

(i)  x squared plus 5 x minus 14

(ii)  25 x squared minus 36

(iii)  2 x squared plus 11 x plus 12

73 marks

Complete the square for the following expressions:

(i)  x squared plus 8 x minus 4

(ii)  2 x squared plus 12 x minus 5

(iii)  5 x squared minus 3 x plus 2

83 marks

Find the solutions of the following equations:

(i)  x squared plus 8 x minus 9 equals 0

(ii)  3 x squared minus 13 x plus 4 equals 0

(iii)  4 x squared minus 6 x minus 5 equals 0

9a3 marks

A curve has the equation

y equals 2 x squared plus 5 x minus 3

(i) Write down the coordinates of the point at which it crosses the y-axis.

(ii) Find the x-intercepts of the curve.

9b3 marks

Sketch the graph of y equals 2 x squared plus 5 x minus 3.

Label clearly any points where the graph meets the coordinate axes.

10a2 marks

Express

x squared plus 10 x plus 24

in the form

left parenthesis x plus a right parenthesis squared plus b

where a and b are integers to be found.

10b1 mark

Hence write down the coordinates of the minimum point on the curve with equation

y equals x squared plus 10 x plus 24

112 marks

A function is defined by

straight f left parenthesis x right parenthesis equals k x squared plus 2 k x minus 3

The equation straight f open parentheses x close parentheses equals 0 has two distinct real roots.

Show that 

4 k left parenthesis k plus 3 right parenthesis greater than 0

123 marks

Sketch the graph of

y equals left parenthesis 2 x minus 5 right parenthesis squared

Label clearly any points where the graph meets the coordinate axes.

13a3 marks

The curve C has equation

y equals x squared minus 3 x plus 2

Find the coordinates of all points where C meets the coordinate axes.

13b2 marks

Sketch the graph of C.

Label clearly all points where the curve meets the coordinate axes.

14a2 marks

Express the equation of the curve

y equals x squared plus 8 x minus 9

 in the form

y equals left parenthesis x plus b right parenthesis squared plus c

where b and c are integers to be found.

14b1 mark

Hence write down the coordinates of the vertex on the curve.

14c4 marks

Sketch the graph of

y equals x squared plus 8 x minus 9

Label clearly the coordinates of

  • any turning points

  • any points where the graph meets the coordinate axes

153 marks

The diagram below shows the graph of y equals straight f left parenthesis x right parenthesis.

The coordinates of the turning point and the points where the graph meets the x-axis have been labelled.

2-2-edexcel-alevel-maths-pure-q9medium

Sketch the graph of y equals straight f left parenthesis x plus 2 right parenthesis.

Label clearly the coordinates of

  • any turning points

  • any points where the graph meets the x-axis

1a3 marks

A function is defined by

straight g left parenthesis x right parenthesis equals 12 plus 4 x minus x squared

The curve y equals straight g open parentheses x close parentheses meets the y-axis at the point P.

(i) Find all values of x for which straight g open parentheses x close parentheses equals 0.

(ii) Write down the coordinates of P.

1b3 marks

(i) Express straight g left parenthesis x right parenthesis in the form a minus left parenthesis x minus b right parenthesis squared, where a and b are constants to be found.

(ii) Hence write down the coordinates of the turning point on the graph of space y equals straight g left parenthesis x right parenthesis.

1c2 marks

Sketch the graph of y equals straight g left parenthesis x right parenthesis.

Label clearly the coordinates of

  • any turning points

  • any points where the graph meets the coordinate axes

2a3 marks

A function is given by

straight f left parenthesis x right parenthesis equals x squared plus 4 x plus 5

By expressing the function in the form

straight f open parentheses x close parentheses equals open parentheses x plus a close parentheses squared plus b

where a and b are integers to be found, find

(i) the minimum value of the function

(ii) the value of x for which the function is at its minimum value.

2b1 mark

Hence prove that the equation

straight f open parentheses x close parentheses equals 0

 has no real roots.

33 marks

A function is given by

straight f left parenthesis x right parenthesis equals k x squared plus 2 k x minus 3

The equation straight f open parentheses x close parentheses equals 0 has two distinct real roots.

Find the possible values of k.

43 marks

The equation

2 x squared minus 4 x plus 3 minus 2 k equals 0

has real roots.

Find the possible values of k.

52 marks

The equation

x squared plus p x plus q equals 0

has no real roots.

Show that

space p squared less than 4 q

63 marks

Solve the equation

x to the power of 4 minus 13 x squared plus 36 equals 0

74 marks

Solve the equation

x to the power of 2 over 5 end exponent plus x to the power of 1 fifth end exponent equals 6

81 mark

A function is defined by

straight f left parenthesis x right parenthesis equals left parenthesis a x minus b right parenthesis squared

where a and b are non-zero constants.

A teacher claims that the quadratic expression must have a discriminant of zero.

Without expanding the brackets, explain why this must be true.

9a3 marks

Express

y equals 4 x squared plus 8 x minus 5

 in the form

y equals a left parenthesis x plus b right parenthesis squared plus c

where a, b and c are integers to be found.

9b1 mark

Hence write down the coordinates of the minimum point on the curve.

9c3 marks

Sketch the graph of y equals 4 x squared plus 8 x minus 5.

Label clearly the coordinates of

  • any turning points

  • any points where the graph meets the coordinate axes

10a2 marks

Find the solutions to the equation

2 x squared plus x minus 6 equals 0

10b4 marks

A curve has the equation

y equals 2 x squared plus x minus 6

By expressing the equation of the curve in the form

y equals a open parentheses x plus b close parentheses squared plus c

where a, b and c are constants to be found, find the coordinates of the turning point on the curve.

10c2 marks

Sketch the graph of y equals 2 x squared plus x minus 6

Label clearly the coordinates of

  • any turning points

  • any points where the graph meets the coordinate axes

11
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3 marks

Sketch the graph of y equals 12 x squared minus 5 x minus 72.

Label clearly the coordinates of any points where the curve meets the coordinate axes. 

123 marks

The diagram below shows the graph of y equals straight f left parenthesis x right parenthesis.

The coordinates of the turning point and the points where the graph meets the coordinate axes have been labelled.

2-2-edexcel-alevel-maths-pure-q10hard

Sketch the graph of y equals straight f left parenthesis x plus 3 right parenthesis.

Label clearly the coordinates of

  • any turning points

  • any points where the graph meets the coordinate axes

133 marks

The figure below shows the curve y equals straight f left parenthesis x right parenthesis.

The coordinates of any points where the curve meets the coordinate axes are shown.

The coordinates of the maximum point are also shown.

2-2-edexcel-alevel-maths-pure-q10vhard

The graph of y equals straight f left parenthesis x right parenthesis plus 6 meets the x-axis at two points, one of which has coordinates open parentheses negative 2 comma space 0 close parentheses.

Sketch the graph of y equals straight f left parenthesis x right parenthesis plus 6.

Label clearly the coordinates of

  • the maximum point on the curve

  • any points where the curve meets the coordinate axes

1a3 marks

A curve C has equation y equals straight f open parentheses x close parentheses where

straight f left parenthesis x right parenthesis equals – 3 x squared plus 12 x plus 8

Write straight f open parentheses x close parentheses in the form

a open parentheses x plus b close parentheses squared plus c

where a, b and c are constants to be found.

1b2 marks

The curve C has a maximum turning point at M.

Find the coordinates of M.

2a3 marks

table row cell straight f open parentheses x close parentheses equals 2 x squared plus 4 x plus 9 end cell blank cell x element of straight real numbers end cell end table

Write straight f open parentheses x close parentheses in the form a open parentheses x plus b close parentheses squared plus c, where a comma space b and c are integers to be found.

2b3 marks

Sketch the curve with equation y equals straight f open parentheses x close parentheses showing any points of intersection with the coordinate axes and the coordinates of any turning point.

35 marks

The equation 0 equals k x squared plus 2 k x minus 3 has two distinct real roots.

The equation 0 equals k x squared plus 4 k x minus 16 has no real roots.

Find the possible values of k.

47 marks

The curve C has the equation y equals x squared minus 3 x plus 2

The line l has the equation y equals 3 x minus 7

On the same coordinate axes, sketch C and l.

Label clearly the coordinates of

  • any points of intersection between C and l

  • all points where l meets the coordinate axes

  • all points where C meets the coordinate axes

  • any turning points on C

5a2 marks

The curve with equation

y equals 3 x squared plus 2 p x plus 4 q

where space p and q are non-zero constants does not meet the x-axis.

Show that 

space p squared less than k q

where k is a constant to be found.

5b3 marks

Given that the curve

y equals 3 x squared plus 2 p x plus 4 q

passes through the points with coordinates left parenthesis negative 2 comma space 6 right parenthesis space and left parenthesis 2 comma space 6 right parenthesis, find the values of space p and q.

6a3 marks

The equation

2 k minus 3 k x minus x squared equals 0

where k is a negative constant has has two distinct real roots.

Find the possible values of k.

6b3 marks

In the case where k equals negative 1, sketch the graph of y equals 2 k minus 3 k x minus x squared.

Label clearly the coordinates of all points where the graph meets the coordinate axes.

7a3 marks

A function is given by

straight f left parenthesis x right parenthesis equals x squared plus 8 x plus c

where c is a constant.

By expressing the function in the form

straight f open parentheses x close parentheses equals open parentheses x plus a close parentheses squared plus b

find, in terms of c where necessary,

(i) the minimum value of the function

(ii) the value of x for which the function is at its minimum value

7b1 mark

Find the possible values of c for which the equation straight f open parentheses x close parentheses equals 0 has no real roots.

8a
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2 marks

A model for the arch of a bridge over a river is given by

y equals 4 minus x squared over 8

The minimum water level of the river under the bridge is represented by the x-axis and all measurements are in metres.

The width of the river at its minimum water level is the distance between the two x-intercepts.

2-2-edexcel-alevel-maths-pure-q6vhard

The maximum water level is given by the line y equals 0.5

Determine whether the width of the river under the bridge at its maximum water level exceeds 11 metres.

8b
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2 marks

A canal boat is modelled as a cuboid above water level with a cross-section measuring 6 m wide and 2.5 m tall.

Determine whether it is possible for the canal boat to fit underneath the bridge when the river is at its minimum water level.

8c2 marks

To support the bridge, the arch will continue 2.5 m vertically below the minimum water level.

Find the exact distance between the ends of the base of the arch.

9a3 marks

Solve the equation

2 to the power of 2 x end exponent plus 64 equals 20 left parenthesis 2 to the power of x right parenthesis

9b3 marks

Solve the equation 

5 square root of x plus 3 equals 2 x

9c3 marks

Solve the equation

x to the power of 2 over 3 end exponent plus 2 x to the power of 1 third end exponent equals 8

10a1 mark

A stone is thrown vertically upwards from the top of a cliff. The stone lands in the sea vertically below. 

The path of the stone is modelled by

straight h left parenthesis t right parenthesis equals 24 plus 2 t minus 0.5 t squared space space space space space space space space space space space space space space t greater or equal than 0

where

  • straight h is the height, in metres, of the stone above sea level

  • t is the time in seconds since the stone was thrown

Write down the vertical height above sea level from which the stone was thrown.

10b3 marks

Find the maximum height the stone reaches above sea level.

10c
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2 marks

Find how long it takes for the stone to reach the sea.

Give your answer in seconds to 1 decimal place.

11a3 marks

Express 

y equals negative 6 x squared plus 8 x minus 5

in the form 

y equals a minus b left parenthesis x plus c right parenthesis squared

where a, b and c are constants to be found.

11b1 mark

Hence write down the exact coordinates of the maximum point on the curve with equation

space y equals negative 6 x squared plus 8 x minus 5

11c3 marks

Sketch the graph of

y equals negative 6 x squared plus 8 x minus 5

Label clearly the coordinates of

  • the maximum point of the curve

  • any points where the curve meets the coordinate axes

122 marks

The minimum point on the curve with equation 

y equals x squared plus p x plus q

has coordinates open parentheses 3 comma space 1 close parentheses.

Find the values of space p and q.

13a2 marks

The equation

4 k minus 6 k x minus x squared equals 0

where k less than 0, has two distinct real roots, alpha and beta, where 0 less than alpha less than beta.

Sketch the graph of y equals 4 k minus 6 k x minus x squared.

Label clearly the points where the graph meets the coordinate axes.

13b3 marks

Find the possible values of k.

14a3 marks

Solve the equation

8 square root of x equals 48 minus x

14b3 marks

Solve the equation

2 to the power of 4 x end exponent plus 64 equals 20 left parenthesis 2 to the power of 2 x end exponent right parenthesis

153 marks

Given that

x squared plus 6 x y plus 9 y squared equals 0

find and simplify a relationship between x and y.

1
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6 marks

A circle C spacehas equation

x squared plus y squared plus 6 k x minus 2 k y plus 7 equals 0

where k is a constant.

The line with equationspace y equals 2 x – 1 intersects C at 2 distinct points.

Find the range of possible values of k.

24 marks

In this question you must show all stages of your working.

Solutions relying on calculator technology are not acceptable.

Using the substitution u equals square root of x or otherwise, solve

6 x plus 7 square root of x minus 20 equals 0

3a3 marks

In this question you should show all stages of your working.

Solutions relying on calculator technology are not acceptable.

Using algebra, find all solutions of the equation

3 x cubed minus 17 x squared minus 6 x equals 0

3b
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3 marks

Hence find all real solutions of

3 open parentheses y minus 2 close parentheses to the power of 6 minus 17 open parentheses y minus 2 close parentheses to the power of 4 minus 6 open parentheses y minus 2 close parentheses squared equals 0

4a3 marks

The functions straight f open parentheses x close parentheses and straight g left parenthesis x right parenthesis are defined by

table row cell straight f left parenthesis x right parenthesis end cell equals cell left parenthesis k minus 1 right parenthesis x squared minus left parenthesis k minus 2 right parenthesis x minus 2 k space space space space space space space space space space space space space x element of straight real numbers end cell row cell straight g left parenthesis x right parenthesis end cell equals cell left parenthesis k minus 1 right parenthesis x squared minus 3 k x plus k plus 1 space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space x element of straight real numbers end cell end table

 where k is a non-zero constant and k squared not equal to 1.

When the curve y equals straight f open parentheses x close parentheses and the curve y equals straight g open parentheses x close parentheses are plotted on the same set of coordinate axes, they intersect once only.

Find, in terms of k, the x-coordinate of the point of intersection.

4b2 marks

Hence, in the case when k equals 3, find the exact coordinates of the point of intersection.

56 marks

The equation

k squared x squared minus 4 x plus 5 equals k squared

has two distinct real roots.

Find the possible values of k.

6a3 marks

Show that the equation 

a x squared plus b x plus c equals 0

can be written in the form

a open parentheses x plus fraction numerator b over denominator 2 a end fraction close parentheses squared minus open parentheses fraction numerator b squared minus 4 a c over denominator 4 a end fraction close parentheses equals 0

where a, b and c are constants and a not equal to 0.

6b3 marks

Hence show that

x equals fraction numerator negative b plus-or-minus square root of b squared minus 4 a c end root over denominator 2 a end fraction