Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
M1511 - Pre-Calculus Tutorial Three
1. Solve for the unknown (variables) in the given equations with radicals
√ √ √ √
(a) 7 − x = −18 (f) 2x + 4 − x − 2 = 4x + 1
√
(b) 5 + x − 2 = 1 (g) x4 − 7x2 + 12 = 0
√ √ 4 2
(c) 3x − 6 + x − 2 = 2 (h) x 5 + 5x 5 + 6 = 0
x
(d) √2−x =x+2 (i) x−8 − 9x−4 + 8 = 0
√
(j) x2 + x12 − 5 x + x1 + 8 = 0
(e) 3 2x + 3 = −3
2. Find the value of c that will make each expression a perfect square trinomial
(a) x2 + 3x + c (c) 7x2 + x + c
(b) x2 − 5x + c (d) x2 − 23 x + c
3. A trinomial of the form x4 + ax2 + b can sometimes be factored easily. For example,
x4 + 3x2 + 4 = (x2 + 4)(x2 − 1) = (x2 + 4)(x + 1)(x − 1).
But x4 + 3x2 + 4 cannot be factored in this way. Instead, we can use the following method.
x4 + 3x2 + 4 = x4 + 4x2 − x2 + 4
= x4 + 4x2 + 4 − x2
= (x2 + 2)2 − x2
= (x2 + 2 − x)(x2 + 2 + x)
= (x2 − x + 2)(x2 + x + 2).
Use the method outlined in the above example to factorise the following
(a) x4 + 5x2 + 9 (c) x4 + x2 + 1
(b) x4 + 7x2 + 16 (d) x4 + 6x2 + 25
4. Classify as TRUE or FALSE. If FALSE, then justify.
(a) If x and y are real numbers such that x > y, then −3x > −3y.
(b) If x is a real number such that x < 5 then x − 3 > 2.
(c) If a and b are real numbers such that ab < 0, then a is positive and b is negative or a is
negative and b is positive.
(d) If x is a real number such that x(x + 1) > 6 then either x > 6 or x + 1 > 6.
5. Derive the quadratic formula √
b2 − 4ac
−b ±
x= ,
2a
from the quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 by completing the square.
6. Solve each of the following inequalities using case method and sign table.
(a) x2 − 3x + 2 ≥ 0 (x + 2) x−1
(e) ≤
(b) x2 ≤ 5x − 6 x+3 x−2
−x(x + 3)(x − 5)
(c) (x + 3)(x − 5) ≤ (x + 3) (f) ≤0
(x + 2) (x − 2)(x + 4)
(d) ≥ 14
2−x
7. Solve the following equations and inequalities
(a) −|x| = −6 (f) |3x − 5| < 5 (k) |2x + 1| = x + 5
(b) −|x| > −6 (g) |3x − 5| ≥ 5 (l) |2x + 3| ≤ |x + 5|
(c) −|x| < −6 (h) |3x − 5| ≤ −5 (m) |2x+3|+|3x+6| = |x+5|
(d) |3x| + 5 = 6 (i) |x| = |x − 2|
(e) |3x − 5| = 5 (j) |4x + 2| ≤ x + 10