AQA Core 4 Algebra

Section 1: Rational functions and algebraic division

Solutions to Exercise
1. (i)

x 2 5 x x( x 5 )

x
x 5
x 5

x 2 6 x 16 ( x 8)( x 2 ) x 8
(ii)

( x 2)( x 8) ( x 2 )( x 8) x 8
(iii)

x 2 a 2 ( x a )( x a ) x a

( x a )2
( x a )2
x a

(iv)

v 3
v 3
( 3 v )
1

6 2v 2(3 v ) 2( 3 v )
2

2. (i)

(ii)

x 2 3x 4
8

2
( x 4)( x 1 )
2
x 4

3x 3
84
3( x 1 )
12

3
x 2 4 x 12
3
( x 6 )( x 2 )
3
2

x 2 x 2 x 24 x 2 ( x 6 )( x 4) x 4

5 c 15 c 2 9 5 c 15
4

2
(iii)
2
4
2
c 9
5( c 3 )
4

2
( c 3 )(c 3)
10

c 3

(iv)

3. (i)

(ii)

x2 x
x2 2x 3
x 2 x 2 x 2 3x 2

2 x 1 2 x 2 3x 2 2 x 1 x 2 2 x 3
x( x 1 ) ( 2 x 1 )( x 2)

2x 1
( x 3)( x 1 )
x( x 2)

x 3

x
2

3 x 5 x 6 x 11 x

5
10 10
10

2
1
8
3
5

3 x 4 x 12 x 12 x 12 x

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AQA C4 Algebra 1 Exercise solutions

4. (i)

(ii)

2
1
2( x 5 )
x 3

x 3 x 5 ( x 3)( x 5 ) ( x 3)( x 5 )
2 x 10 x 3

( x 3)( x 5 )
3x 7

( x 3)( x 5 )
5
2
5(4 x 1)
2(2 x 3)

2 x 3 4 x 1 (2 x 3)(4 x 1) (2 x 3)(4 x 1)
20 x 5 4 x 6

(2 x 3)(4 x 1)
16 x 11

(2 x 3)(4 x 1)

(iii) t

5. (i)

(ii)

6. (i)

5
t (3t 1)
5

3t 1
3t 1
3t 1
2
3t t 5

3t 1

1
1
2( x 1)
x 5

2( x 5 ) 4( x 1) 4( x 5 )( x 1) 4( x 5 )( x 1)
2x 2 x 5

4( x 5 )( x 1)
x 3

4( x 5 )( x 1)

3u
1
3u
1

2
u 4u 4 2 u (u 2) u 2
3u
u 2

2
(u 2) (u 2)2
3u u 2

(u 2)2
2u 2

(u 2)2
2

f( x ) 3 x 2 2 x 2
When divided by 3x 1, remainder is f( 31 ) .

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AQA C4 Algebra 1 Exercise solutions

f( 31 ) 3 31 2 31 2
2

1
9

2
3

31 23 2

5
3

(ii) f( x ) 2 x 3 3 x 2 x 4
When divided by 2x + 3, remainder is f( 23 )

f( 23 ) 2 23 3 23 23 4
3

3
2 27
8 3 4 2 4
9

27
4

27
4

23 4

11
2

7. f( x ) 8 x 3 20 x 2 6 x 9

f( 21 ) 8 21 20 21 6 21 9
3

8 81 20 41 3 9
1 5 3 9
0
so 2x + 1 is a factor of f(x).

8 x 3 20 x 2 6 x 9 (2 x 1)(4 x 2 12 x 9)
(2 x 1)(2 x 3)2

8. (i) Since a cubic is being divided by a linear expression, the

quotient is quadratic and the remainder constant.
3x 3 x 2 2 x 4
D
Ax 2 Bx C
x 2
x 2
3
2
2
3 x x 2 x 4 ( Ax Bx C )( x 2) D

Ax 3 (2 A B )x 2 (2B C )x 2C D
Equating coefficients of x:
A=3
Equating coefficients of x:
2A + B = -1 B = -7
Equating coefficients of x: 2B + C = 2 C = 16
Equating constant terms: 2C + D = -4 D = -36
3x 3 x 2 2 x 4
36
3 x 2 7 x 16
x 2
x 2
(ii) Since a quartic is being divided by a quadratic, the quotient
is quadratic and the remainder linear.

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AQA C4 Algebra 1 Exercise solutions

x4 2x2 x 1
Dx E
Ax 2 Bx C 2
2
x 1
x 1
4
2
2
x 2 x x 1 Ax Bx C x 2 1 Dx E
Ax 4 BX 3 ( A C )x 2 (B D )x C E
Equating coefficients of x4:
A=1
Equating coefficients of x:
B=0
Equating coefficients of x:
A+C=2 C=1
Equating coefficients of x: B + D = -1 D = -1
Equating constant terms: C + E = -1 E = -2
x4 2x2 x 1
x 2
x2 1 2
2
x 1
x 1
(iii) Since a cubic is being divided by a quadratic, the quotient is
linear and the remainder linear.
x3
Cx D
Ax B 2
2
x 2
x 2
3
2
x Ax B x 2 Cx D

Ax 3 Bx 2 (2 A C )x 2B D
Equating coefficients of x:
A=1
Equating coefficients of x:
B=0
Equating coefficients of x: 2A + C = 0 C = -2
Equating constant terms: 2B + D = 0 D = 0
x3
2 x
x 2
2
x 2
x 2
(iv) Since a linear expression is being divided by a linear
expression, the quotient is a constant and the remainder a
constant.
6x 2
B
A
2x 3
2x 3
6 x 2 A 2 x 3 B
2 Ax 3 A B
Comparing coefficients of x:
2A = 6
A=3
Comparing constant terms:
3A + B = -2 B = -11
6x 2
11
3
2x 3
2x 3
(v) Since a quadratic expression is being divided by a
quadratic expression, the quotient is a constant and the
remainder linear.
3x 2 1
Bx C
A 2
2
x 2x 1
x 2x 1

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AQA C4 Algebra 1 Exercise solutions

3 x 2 1 A x 2 2 x 1 Bx C
Ax 2 (B 2 A )x A C
Comparing coefficients of x:
A=3
Comparing coefficients of x:
B 2A = 0
Comparing constant terms:
-A + C = 1
2
3x 1
6x 4
3 2
2
x 2x 1
x 2x 1

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B=6
C=4

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