4x² + 8x + 3 ≡ a(x + b)² + c
(a) Find the values of the constants a, b and c - Edexcel - A-Level Maths Pure - Question 2 - 2013 - Paper 3
Question 2
4x² + 8x + 3 ≡ a(x + b)² + c
(a) Find the values of the constants a, b and c.
(b) On the axes on page 27, sketch the curve with equation y = 4x² + 8x + 3, showing ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:4x² + 8x + 3 ≡ a(x + b)² + c
(a) Find the values of the constants a, b and c - Edexcel - A-Level Maths Pure - Question 2 - 2013 - Paper 3
Step 1
Find the values of the constants a, b and c.
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Answer
To find the constants a, b, and c in the equation given, we first need to observe the quadratic expression:
4x2+8x+3.
Identify a: The coefficient of x2 is 4, so we have:
a=4.
Complete the square:
The expression 4x2+8x can be rewritten using the completing square method:
4(x2+2x) can be rewritten as:
4((x+1)2−1)=4(x+1)2−4
Adding 3 gives:
4(x+1)2−4+3=4(x+1)2−1.
Hence, the expression becomes:
4(x+1)2−1.
We can now clearly see that:
b is 1 (from (x+1))
c is -1.
Thus, the values are:
a=4
b=1
c=−1.
Step 2
On the axes on page 27, sketch the curve with equation y = 4x² + 8x + 3, showing clearly the coordinates of any points where the curve crosses the coordinate axes.
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Answer
To sketch the curve defined by the equation y=4x2+8x+3, follow these steps:
Find the x-intercepts: Set y=0:
4x2+8x+3=0.
Using the quadratic formula:
x=2a−b±b2−4ac
where a=4, b=8, c=3:
x=2⋅4−8±82−4⋅4⋅3=8−8±64−48=8−8±16=8−8±4.
This gives two roots:
x=−21
x=−2.
Find the y-intercept: Set x=0:
y=4(0)2+8(0)+3=3.
So the curve crosses the y-axis at (0, 3).
Sketch the curve: The curve will:
Open upwards (since a>0)
Cross the y-axis at (0, 3)
Cross the x-axis at points (-2, 0) and (-0.5, 0).
Make sure to label the intercepts on the sketch to clearly show the coordinates.