Friday, September 11, 2015

Answers For Cambridge AS & A Level P1 (Pure) 2014 (9709/11)



*These answers are only for reference purposes and are not the official marking scheme for the relevant paper. Download Paper

  1. $(2+ax)^7=\displaystyle\sum_{r=0}^{7} {}^7C_r 2^{7-r} (ax)^r$
    The terms of $x$ and $x^2$ can get by $r=1$ and $r=2$ respectively.
    $T_1={}^7C_1 2^{7-1} (ax)$ and $T_2={}^7C_2 2^{7-2} (ax)^2$
    $\therefore {}^7C_1 2^{\not{6}} \not{a}={}^7C_2 \not{2^5} a^{\not{2}}$
    $\mathbf{a=\cfrac{2}{3}}$
     
  2. Assume $\theta=\tan^{-1}(3)$, Then $t=\tan{\theta}=3$
    $\sin^{-1}(x-1)=\tan^{-1}3$
    $(x-1)=\sin{\theta}$
    $(x-1)^2=\sin^2{\theta}$
    $=\cfrac{1-\cos 2\theta}{2}$
    $=\cfrac{1-\cfrac{1-t^2}{1+t^2}}{2}$
    $=\cfrac{1-\cfrac{1-9}{1+9}}{2}$
    $=\cfrac{18}{20}$
    $\therefore x-1=\pm \cfrac{3}{\sqrt{10}}$
    $\mathbf{x=1\pm\cfrac{3}{\sqrt{10}}}$
    *The answer can be easily taken if you are using table or calculators.
     
  3. $\cfrac{13\sin^2\theta}{2+\cos\theta}+\cos\theta=2$
    $13\sin^2\theta=(2-\cos\theta)(2+\cos\theta)$
    $13\sin^2\theta=4-\cos^2\theta$
    $12\sin^2\theta+\sin^2\theta+\cos^2\theta=4$
    $12\sin^2\theta=4-1$
    $\sin\theta=\pm \cfrac{1}{2}$
    $\mathbf{\theta=30^0}$ or $\mathbf{\theta=150^0}$
     
  4.   
    1. As $4x+ky=20$ passes through $A(8,-4)$ and $B(b,2b)$,
      $4\times 8+k\times(-4)=20$
      $\mathbf{k=3}$
      $4\times b+3\times (2b)=20$
      $\mathbf{b=2}$
       
    2. If the mid point is $M$,
      $M=\left(\cfrac{8+2}{2},\cfrac{-4+4}{2}\right)$
      $\mathbf{M=(5,0)}$
  5. If the line $y_1=2x-k$ meets the curve $y_2=x^2+kx-2$ at two distinct points, then the quadratic equation $y_1=y_2$ must have two distinct roots. For that, the discriminant $\Delta _x$ must be positive.
    $2x-k=x^2+kx-2$
    $x^2+(k-2)x+k-2=0$
    $\therefore \Delta _x=(k-2)^2-4\times1\times(k-2)$
    But $\Delta _x> 0$
    $\therefore (k-2)^2-4(k-2)> 0$
    $(k-2)(k-2-4)>0$
    $(k-2)(k-6)>0$
    $\therefore$ either $k>2$ and $k>6$ or $k<2$ and $k<6$
    So the set of values of $k$ is $\mathbf{k>6}$ or $\mathbf{k<2}$


     
  6.  
    1. Here I show two methods
      Method 01
      $\overrightarrow{OA}=3i+2j-k$ and $\overrightarrow{OB}=7i-3j+k$
      $\therefore \overrightarrow{AB}=\overrightarrow{AO}+\overrightarrow{OB}$
      $=-3i-2j+k+7i-3j+k=4i-5j+2k$
      If $OAB\measuredangle=90^0$ then the scalar product between $\overrightarrow{OA}$ and $\overrightarrow{AB}$ must be zero.
      $\overrightarrow{OA}\cdot\overrightarrow{AB}=(3i+2j-k)\cdot(4i-5j+2k)$
      $=12-10-2=\mathbf{0}$

      Method 02
      If $\hat{OAB}$ is a right angle, then $OAB$ triangle must be a right angle triangle. So we must be use Pythagorean theorem for the triangle.
      $|\overrightarrow{OA}|^2=3^2+2^2+(-1)^2=14$
      $|\overrightarrow{OB}|^2=7^2+(-3)^2+1^2=59$
      $|\overrightarrow{AB}|^2=4^2+(-5)^2+2^2=45$
      $\therefore$ We can see that,
      $|\overrightarrow{OB}|^2=|\overrightarrow{OA}|^2+|\overrightarrow{AB}|^2$
      Hence, according to the converse of the Pythagorean theorem we can say $OAB$ is a right angle triangle.
       
    2. Area $=\cfrac{1}{2}\times|OA|\times|AB|=\cfrac{1}{2}\times\sqrt{14}\times\sqrt{45}$
      $\therefore$ Area $=\cfrac{3}{2}\sqrt{70}$
       
  7.  
    1. According to the given data,
      $S=\cfrac{a\left(1-r^{\infty}\right)}{1-r}$  --------- (1)
      $3S=\cfrac{a\left(1-(2r)^{\infty}\right)}{1-2r}$ ------- (2)
      By dividing (2) by (1),
      $3=\cfrac{1-r}{1-2r}$    $(\because r^{\infty},$ $(2r)^{\infty} \to 0)$
      $3-6r=1-r$
      $\therefore r=\cfrac{2}{5}$
       
    2. According to the given data,
      $T_1=7$, $T_n=84$ and $T_{3n}=245$
      If the common difference is $d$, then the general term is,
      $T_n=a+(n-1)d$  where $a$ is the first term.
      $84=7+(n-1)d$
      $(n-1)d=77$ -------- (A)
      $T_{3n}=a+(3n-1)d$
      $245=7+(3n-1)d$
      $(3n-1)d=238$ -------- (B)
      Dividing (B) by (A),
      $\cfrac{3n-1}{n-1}=\cfrac{238}{77}$
      $11(3n-1)=34(n-1)$
      $\therefore \mathbf{n=23}$
       
  8.  
    1. When we consider the given figure $OA=4 cm$
      By resolving the side,
      $OD=4\cos\alpha$ $cm$
      $\therefore$ The arc length $CD=4\alpha\cos\alpha$   $(\because A=r\theta)$
      $\therefore$ Total perimeter of $ABCD=4\alpha\cos\alpha+4\alpha+2(4-4\cos\alpha)$
      $=4\alpha(1+\cos\alpha)+8(1-\cos\alpha)$ $cm$
       
    2. Area of a sector $=\cfrac{1}{2}r^2\theta$
      $\therefore$ The area of the shaded region $=\cfrac{1}{2}4^2\alpha-\cfrac{1}{2}(4\cos\alpha)^2\alpha$
      $=8\cdot\cfrac{\pi}{6}\left(1-\left(\cfrac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\right)^2\right)$
      $=\cfrac{1}{3}\pi$ $cm^2$
       
  9.  
    1. As $\mathrm{f}'(x)=2x-\cfrac{2}{x^2}$ we can get the gradient of the tangent ($m_T$) at $P(2,6)$,
      $m_T=2(2)-\cfrac{2}{2^2}=\cfrac{7}{2}$
      $\therefore$ the gradient of the normal $m_N$ satisfies,
      $m_T m_N=-1$  ($\because$ they are perpendicular to each other)
      $\therefore m_N=-\cfrac{2}{7}$
      As the normal passes through point $P$,
      $\cfrac{y-6}{x-2}=\cfrac{-2}{7}$
      $\therefore$ the equation of the normal is $\mathbf{7y+2x-46=0}$
       
    2. By integrating w.r.t $x$, $\int \mathrm{f}'(x) \: \mathrm{d}x=\mathrm{f}(x)$

      $\mathrm{f}(x)=2\cdot\cfrac{x^2}{2}-2\cdot\cfrac{x^{-2+1}}{-2+1}+c$  Where $c$ is a constant
      $\mathrm{f}(x)=x^2+\cfrac{2}{x}+c$
      As $y=\mathrm{f}(x)$ passes through $P$,
      $6=2^2+\cfrac{2}{2}+c$
      $\therefore c=1$
      Then $\mathrm{f}(x)=x^2+\cfrac{2}{x}+1$
       
    3. At stationary points $\mathrm{f}'(x)=0$
      $\therefore 2x-\cfrac{2}{x^2}=0$
      $x^3-1=0$
      $(x-1)(x^2+x+1)=0$
      As $x^2+x+1\ne 0$, $x-1=0$
      Therefore there is a stationary point at $\mathbf{x=1}$
      If you substitute two values in positive and negative sides of $x=1$, to the differential $\mathrm{f}'(x)$, you will find that this is a minimum. 
      or
      differentiate $\mathrm{f}'(x)$ w.r.t $x$ again and substitute $x=1$, you'll get a positive value.
  10.  
    1. $x^2-2x-15=x^2-2x+\left(\cfrac{-2}{2}\right)^2-\left(\cfrac{-2}{2}\right)^2-15$
      $=(x^2-2x+1)-16=(x-1)^2-16$
       
    2. $\mathrm{f}(x)=(x-1)^2-16$
      $c$ is the minimum value that can be taken for $\mathrm{f}(x)$
      $\therefore \mathrm{f}_{min}(x)=0-16=\mathbf{-16}\quad(\because 0$ is the minimum value for a quadratic$)$
      $c_{min}=-16$
       
    3. If $\mathrm{f}(x)\to c$ then $x\to p$
      $9=(p-1)^2-16$
      $(p-1)^2=25$
      $p-1=\pm 5$
      $p=\mathbf{6}$  as $p$ is a positive constant
      $65=(q-1)^2-16$
      $(q-1)^2=81$
      $q-1=\pm 9$
      $q=\mathbf{10}$ as $q$ is positive.
       
    4. $y=\mathrm{f}(x)=(x-1)^2-16$
      $(x-1)^2=y+16$
      $x-1=\pm \sqrt{y+16}$
      $x=1\pm \sqrt{y+16}$
      $0<x$ and $9<y$
      $\therefore \mathrm{f}^{-1}(x)=1+\sqrt{x+16}$
       
  11.  

    1. By differentiating both curves w.r.t $x$, at the point $Q(2,3)$, we can get the gradient of to tangents.
      $m_1=\left.\cfrac{\mathrm{d}}{\mathrm{d}x}\left(\sqrt{4x+1}\right)\right |_{x=2}=\left.\cfrac{1}{2}(4x+1)^{\frac{1}{2}-1}\cdot 4\right |_{x=2}$
      $m_1=\cfrac{2}{\sqrt{4\times 2+1}}=\cfrac{2}{3}$
      $m_2=\left.\cfrac{\mathrm d}{\mathrm d x}\left(\cfrac{1}{2}x^2+1\right)\right |_{x=2}=\left. \cfrac{1}{2}\cdot 2x\right |_{x=2}$
      $m_2=2$

      $\theta=\theta _2-\theta _1$
      $\tan\theta=\tan(\theta_2-\theta_1)$
      $\tan\theta=\cfrac{\tan\theta_2-\tan\theta_1}{1+\tan\theta_2\tan\theta_1}$
      $\tan\theta=\left|\cfrac{m_2-m_1}{1+m_2 m_1}\right|$
      $\theta=\tan^{-1}\left|\cfrac{2-\cfrac{2}{3}}{1+2\cdot\cfrac{2}{3}}\right|$
      $\theta=\tan^{-1}\left(\cfrac{4}{7}\right)=29.745^0$
       
    2. Area $=\int\limits_0^2 y_1-y_2 \: \mathrm{d}x$
      $=\int\limits_0^2 \sqrt{4x+1}-\left(\cfrac{1}{2}x^2+1\right)\:\mathrm{d}x$
      $=\left[\cfrac{(4x+1)^{\frac{1}{2}+1}}{\frac{1}{2}+1}\cdot\cfrac{1}{4}-\cfrac{1}{2}\cfrac{x^3}{3}-x\right]_0^2$
      $=\left[\cfrac{(4x+1)^{\frac{3}{2}}}{6}-\cfrac{x^3}{6}-x\right]_0^2$
      $=\left\{\cfrac{(4\times2+1)^\frac{3}{2}}{6}-\cfrac{2^3}{6}-2\right\}-\left\{\cfrac{(0+1)^\frac{3}{2}}{6}-0-0\right\}$
      $=\cfrac{9^{^3/_2}}{6}-\cfrac{8}{6}-2-\cfrac{1}{6}$
      $=1 $ unit
Stay connected for the next paper....

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Centers of a Triangle

Triangle is an important polygon when we consider the geometry. It has several properties which are very specific to the triangle. In this article I have mentioned about the centers of a triangle.


  1. Centroid

    Centroid is the point that the three medians of triangle meet together (concurrent). Following figure shows the geometry of the centroid. (median is the line, which joins the vertex and opposite mid point)

    Centroid is the center of gravity of a triangle and we can discuss it in the lesson "Center of Gravity".
    Here $AG:GE=BG:GF=CG:GD=2:1$
    $\therefore GE=\cfrac{1}{3}AE$
  2. Circumcenter 

    Cercumcenter is the center of the circumscribed circle of a triangle. Concurrent perpendicular bisectors of each side of a triangle gives the circumcenter. 

    Here $AM=BM=CM=$ Radius of circumcircle. The angle subtend the center is equal to the double of the angle which subtend the circumference. So $AMB\measuredangle=2ACB\measuredangle=2C$.

  3. Incenter

    Incenter is the center of the inscribed circle of a triangle. This is the concurrent point of three angle bisectors. The circle drawn with incenter as the center and the perpendicular length from incenter to the sides(which is equal) as the radius, is called the incircle.

    $ID=IE=IF=$ Radius of incircle.
  4. Orthocenter

    Orthocenter of a triangle is the concurrent point of three altitudes. (altitude is the line drawn from a vertex to the opposite side, perpendicularly). Refer the following figure.
  5. Nine point circle
    Nine point circle is the circle which goes through three mid points of sides, three feet of altitudes and three mid points of line segments from orthocenter to the vertices.

    Radius of circumcircle is two times the radius of nine point circle.
Note: There are other centers and lines (such as Euler line) specific to the triangle. Here I have described most important properties.

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Trigonometry 02 (Measurements of Angles & Trigonometric Ratios)

  • Definition of Angle

Let's assume that the line $OP$ is rotating in the same plane, around the point $O$ as shown in the figure. Let its origin is $OA$ and it is getting on to the positions $OB, OC, OD...$ respectively. Then we measure the angle between $OA$ and any position of $OP$ such as $OB$, using the amount of rotation that it made during its relocation from $OA$ to $OB$. According to this, there can be any number of complete rotations through $OA$, when $OP$ comes to $OB$. 


So not as in Geometry, in Trigonometry there can be any magnitude for the angles, without limitations. According to the above figure $O$ is the Origin, $OA$ is the Initial Line and $OP$ is the Rotating Line (Generating Line/ Radius Vector).

  • Measurement of angles

Measuring the angles has happened in ancient history as well. For the measurement of angles we use the unit of complete revolution; that is the angle of a complete cycle which subtend the center of a circle. This complete angle has divided in to 360 equal parts and has called them degrees, by the ancient astronomers.

  • Sexagesimal measurement 

In this measuring system, angle in a complete cycle has divided into four equal parts and has named them as right angles. Each right angle has divided into 90 equal parts and has introduced each part as a degree, and again each degree has divided into 60 equal parts and called each part as a minute. Finally each minute has divided again into 60 equal parts and named them as seconds.
The angle which describe as 54 degrees, 45 minutes and 3.45 seconds, can be denoted by $54^0$ $45'$ $3.45''$.

  • Radian measurements

Practically we use the above mentioned sexagesimal system for measuring angles. But in theoretical applications radians are used widely for measuring angles. A radian has defined as the angle which subtend the center by an arc, having the length of the radius of the particular circle.
$AOB\measuredangle=1rad$



  • The ratio between the circumference and the diameter, is a constant in any circle. 


To derive this, we have to consider the circle as a polygon with $n$ number of sides. Consider two circles with radii $r_1$ and $r_2$ and centers $O_1$ and $O_2$.

If we consider these two are regular polygons and assume the length of a side of the first polygon is $A_1 B_1$ and the length of a side of the second polygon is $A_2 B_2$.
So $A_1 O_1 B_1\measuredangle=A_2 O_2 B_2\measuredangle=\cfrac{360^0}{n}$.
Hence both triangles $A_1 O_1 B_1$ and $A_2 O_2 B_2$ become equi-angular.
$\therefore \cfrac{A_1B_1}{O_1A_1}=\cfrac{A_2B_2}{O_2A_2}$
Let $A_1B_1=l_1$ and $A_2B_2=l_2$, then,
$\cfrac{l_1}{r_1}=\cfrac{l_2}{r_2}$
$\therefore \cfrac{nl_1}{r_1}=\cfrac{nl_2}{r_2}$
If the number of sides $n$ is going to be increased infinitely, then $nl_1$ tends to be the circumference of the circle with radius $r_1$. Same thing happens to the other circle as well. If the circumferences of circles are $C_1$ and $C_2$ respectively then,
$\cfrac{C_1}{r_1}=\cfrac{C_2}{r_2}$
This shows us that the ratio between the circumference and the radius of any  circle is a constant. If so, the ratio between the circumference and the diameter of any circle is probably a constant.
$\therefore \cfrac{circumference}{diameter}$ is a constant.
This constant is represented by the Greek letter $\pi$. The value of this constant is approximately equal to the $\cfrac{22}{7}$. However exact constant is an Irrational number.
Circumference $C=2\pi r$ 

  • Radians and Degrees

As we know the angle that  subtend the center of a circle by a complete cycle is $360^0$. According to the definitions of a radian,
Subtend angle by a $r$ arc length $=1$ $rad$
$\therefore$ The angle of a complete cycle $=\cfrac{1}{r}2\pi r$     $(\because C=2\pi r)$
$\therefore 360^0=2\pi$ $rad$
$1$ $rad=\cfrac{360^0}{2\pi}\approx 57^0 18'$

  • Length of an arc that subtends the center by a $\theta$ angle.

To be continued...

Sunday, September 6, 2015

Trigonometry 01 (Useful Formulas in Trigonometry)



  1. $S=r\theta$  [Arc = Radius $\times$ Angle in radians]
  2. Area of a sector $A=\frac{1}{2}r^2\theta$
  3. Fundamental identities of trigonometry
    • $\cos^2\theta+\sin^2\theta=1$
    • $1+\tan^2\theta=\sec^2\theta$
    • $\cot^2\theta+1=cosec^2\theta$

  4. $\theta$
    $0^0$
    $30^0$
    $45^0$
    $60^0$
    $90^0$
    $180^0$
    $\sin \theta$
    $0$
    $\frac{1}{2}$
    $\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}$
    $\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}$
    $1$
    $0$
    $\cos \theta$
    $1$
    $\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}$
    $\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}$
    $\frac{1}{2}$
    $0$
    $-1$
    $\tan \theta$
    $0$
    $\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}$
    $1$
    $\sqrt{3}$
    $\infty$
    $0$
     
  5. $\sin(90^0-\theta)=\cos \theta$
    $\cos(90^0-\theta)=\sin \theta$
     
  6. $\sin(-\theta)=-\sin \theta$
    $\cos(-\theta)=\cos \theta$
     
  7. $\sin(180^0-\theta)=\sin \theta$
    $\cos(180^0-\theta)=-\cos\theta$
     
  8. $\sin(90^0+\theta)=\cos \theta$
    $\cos(90^0+\theta)=-\sin \theta$
     
  9. $\sin(180^0+\theta)=-\sin \theta$
    $\cos(180^0+\theta)=-\cos\theta$
     
  10. $\sin(A\pm B)=\sin(A)\cos(B)\pm \cos(A)\sin(B)$
    $\cos(A\pm B)=\cos(A)\cos(B)\mp \sin(A)\sin(B)$
     
  11. $\color{green}{\sin(2A)=2\sin(A)\cos(A)}$
     
  12. $\color{green}{\cos(2A)=\cos^2(A)-\sin^2(A)=2\cos^2(A)-1=1-2\sin^2(A)}$
     
  13. $\color{green}{\tan(2A)=\cfrac{2\tan(A)}{1-\tan^2(A)}}$
     
  14. $\color{blue}{\sin(3A)=3\sin(A)-4\sin^3(A)}$
     
  15. $\color{blue}{\cos(3A)=4\cos^3(A)-3\cos(A)}$
     
  16. $\color{blue}{\tan(3A)=\cfrac{3\tan(A)-\tan^3(A)}{1-3\tan^2(A)}}$
     
  17. $\sin C+\sin D=2\sin\left(\frac{C+D}{2}\right)\cos\left(\frac{C-D}{2} \right)$
     
  18. $\sin C-\sin D=2\cos\left(\frac{C+D}{2}\right)\sin\left(\frac{C-D}{2}\right)$
     
  19. $\cos C+\cos D=2\cos\left(\frac{C+D}{2}\right)\cos\left(\frac{C-D}{2}\right)$
     
  20. $\cos C-\cos D=2\sin\left(\frac{C+D}{2}\right)\sin\left(\frac{D-C}{2}\right)$
     
  21. $2\sin{ }A \cos{ }B=\sin(A+B)+\sin(A-B)$
  22. $2\cos A\sin B=\sin(A+B)-\sin(A-B)$
  23. $2\cos A\cos B=\cos(A+B)+\cos(A-B)$
  24. $2\sin A\sin B=\cos(A-B)-\cos(A+B)$
     
  25. If $\sin\theta=\sin\alpha$, then $\theta=n\pi+(-1)^n\alpha$
    If $\cos\theta=\cos\alpha$, then $\theta=2n\pi\pm\alpha$
    If $\tan\theta=\tan\alpha$, then $\theta=n\pi+\alpha$
    Here $n\in\mathbb{Z}$
     
  26. For an $ABC$ triangle, in the standard notation,
    1. $\cfrac{\sin A}{a}=\cfrac{\sin B}{b}=\cfrac{\sin C}{c}$
    2. $\cos A=\cfrac{b^2+c^2-a^2}{2bc}$
    3. $a=b$ $\cos C+c$ $\cos B$
    4. $\tan\left(\cfrac{B-C}{2}\right)=\left(\cfrac{b-c}{b+c}\right)\cot\cfrac{A}{2}$
    5. $\cos\cfrac{A}{2}=\sqrt{\cfrac{s(s-a)}{bc}}$
      Here $s$ is the double of perimeter, of the $ABC$ triangle $(2s=a+b+c)$

Fun Math


  1. There are eight balls which are even, but one is heavier and cannot feel the difference by guessing. You are given a balance with no weights and you have only two chances to weigh the balls. How will you identify the different ball.?
  2. There are 3 sticks equal in length and must be broken into 9 pieces by breaking each stick into 3 pieces. You are given 3 chances to break and you cannot break three sticks together. Maximum number of sticks can be broken together is two. How you are going to break these sticks?
  3. There was a grandfather and a grandson in 1932. In that year, the age of the grandson was shown by the last two digits of his birth year. Grandfather's situation was also same. Find the ages of them.
  4. Do you know that we can write nine multiplications which includes all the nine significant digits only once. 
    • Ex- $48\times159=7632$
    • What are the rest of it.
  5. To be continued... 

Friday, September 4, 2015

Univariate Polynomials

Before we move on to the relevant theorems we need to know what is a polynomial. Polynomial is an expression with several terms which might have one or more indeterminate. If a polynomial has only one variable, then we call it a Univariate Polynomial. In this lesson we are going to consider mainly about Univariate Polynomials, but there are Multivariate Polynomials as well. The general form of a Univariate Polynomial is as follows,

$f(x)=a_0x^{n}+a_{1}x^{n-1}+a_{2}x^{n-2}+...+a_{n-1}x+a_{n}$

Here $x$ is the variable with $a_0,a_1,a_2,....,a_n \in \mathbb{R}$ coefficients.
We call that this is a $n^{th} degree$ polynomial if $a_0 \ne 0$. 

For example,


  • $f(x)=x+2$ is a polynomial of $1^{st}$ degree
  • $f(x)=-5x^6+3x^4-2x+8$ is a polynomial of $6^{th}$ degree

If two polynomials are equal, then their degree and all the corresponding coefficients must be equal. 

Note: Following algebraic expansions might help you in further studies.
_____________________________________________


  • $(a+b)^2=a^2+2ab+b^2$
  • $(a-b)^2=a^2-2ab+b^2$
  • $(a+b)^3=a^3+3a^2b+3ab^2+b^3$
  • $(a-b)^3=a^3-3a^2b+3ab^2-b^3$
  • $a^2-b^2=(a-b)(a+b)$
  • $a^3+b^3=(a+b)(a^2-ab+b^2)$
  • $a^3-b^3=(a+b)(a^2+ab+b^2)$


It is possible to use Pascal Triangle for further expansions. 
$\begin{matrix} & & & & & &1& & & & & &\\\mathit{1^{st}}& & & & &1& &1& & & & &\\\mathit{2^{nd}}& & & &1& &2& &1& & & &\\\mathit{3^{rd}}& & &1& &3& &3& &1& & &\\\mathit{4^{th}}& &1& &4& &6& &4& &1& &\\\mathit{5^{th}}&1& &5& &10& &10& &5& &1&\\ & &\vdots& &\vdots& &\vdots& &\vdots& &\vdots& &\end{matrix}$

As we can see each raw of the pascal triangle is related to the corresponding coefficients of the terms of expansion.

Ex.-
If we need to expand $(a-b)^4$, then we need to use $4^{th}$ raw of the pascal triangle.

$(a-b)^4={\color{red}1}a^4-{\color{red}4}a^3b+{\color{red}6}a^2b^2-{\color{red}4}ab^3+{\color{red}1}b^4$

Here the power of $a$ has reduced from $4$ to $0$ and the power of $b$ has increased from $0$ to $4$. As here we have a minus$(-)$ sign we have to use it alternatively.
_____________________________________________


Divide a polynomial by another

Here are some examples how to divide polynomials using long division.

1) $\frac{2x^3+3x+5}{x-3}$

$\begin{equation}\cfrac{}{x-3 |}\cfrac{2x^2+6x+21}{\begin{array}[b]{r}2x^3+3x+5\\ \cfrac{{2x}^3-6x^2}{\begin{array}.6x^2+3x+5\\\cfrac{6x^2-18x}{\begin{array}.21x+5\\\cfrac{21x-63}{ 68}\end{array}}\end{array}}\end{array}}\end{equation}$

So the quotient is $ {2x}^2+6x+21 $ and remainder is $ 68 $.

2)$\frac{5x^4+2x-4}{x^2-3}$

$\begin{equation}\cfrac{}{x^2-3 |}\cfrac{5x^2+15}{\begin{array}[b]{r}5x^4+2x-4\\ \cfrac{{5x}^4-15x^2}{\begin{array}.15x^2+2x-4\\\cfrac{15x^2-45}{2x+41}\end{array}}\end{array}}\end{equation}$

In this example quotient is $5x^2+15$ and remainder is $2x+41$.

There are certain conclusions that we can take from these examples and we need to complete some other example to ascertain it.

  • If the divisor is a linear factor (that is a first degree polynomial) then the remainder is a constant. 
  • If the divisor is a higher degree polynomial, then the remainder can be a polynomial with a degree less than the divisor or can be a constant.

Exercise 01

Find the quotient and the remainder of the following fractions using long division.
1) $\cfrac{5x^3-3x+2}{x+1}$     2) $\cfrac{-3x^2+3x+1}{2x-1}$     3) $\cfrac{2x^5-3}{x^2+2}$     4) $\cfrac{x^4-3x^3-2}{x-4}$     5) $\cfrac{4x^6-3x-7}{x^3-2}$


Remainder Theorem

Let $f(x)$ be a univariate polynomial. The remainder, after dividing $f(x)$ by the linear factor $x-a$ is $f(a)$. Here $a \in \mathbb{R}$

Proof

Now we know that the remainder must be a constant, as the divisor is a linear factor. Let $\Phi(x)$ be the quotient and $R$ be the remainder. Then we can write $f(x)$ as follows,

$f(x)=\Phi(x)(x-a)+R$

Let's substitute $x=a$ in the above equation.

$f(a)=\Phi(a)(a-a)+R$

As $a-a=0$,

$R=f(a)$ 


Examples

1) Find the remainder of following fractions.

i) $\cfrac{3x^2+2x-3}{x-5}$     ii) $\cfrac{2x^3-4x-2}{x+2}$     iii) $\cfrac{-2x^3+5x+4}{2x-1}$

i) $3\times 5^2+2\times5-3=82$
ii) $2\times (-2)^3-4\times(-2)-2=-10$
iii) $-2\times{\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)}^3+5\times\frac{1}{2}+4=\frac{25}{4}$


2) If the remainder is $2$ after dividing $2x^2-ax+3$ by the linear factor $x-2$, then find the value of $a$.

$f(x)=2x^2-ax+3$
As the remainder is $2$ after dividing $f(x)$ by $x-2$,
$f(2)=2$
$2\times2^2-a\times2+3=2$
$\therefore a=\cfrac{9}{2}$


Factor Theorem 


If there is a real number $a$, which is as $f(a)=0$, then $(x-a)$ is a factor of $f(x)$.

We can see that this theorem has also derived from the Remainder Theorem. This theorem says what happen when the remainder is going to be zero, as $f(a)$ is the remainder of polynomial which has divided by $(x-a)$. 

Proof

Now we know that remainder of the polynomial $f(x)$ which has divided by the linear factor $(x-a)$, is $f(a)$. Then,

$f(x)=\Phi(x)(x-a)+f(a)$ where $\Phi(x)$ is the quotient.

If the corresponding $a$ satisfies the requirement $f(a)=0$, then,

$f(x)=\Phi(x)(x-a)$

So $(x-a)$ is a factor of $f(x)$.

To be continued...