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Given that $$\frac{x^4 + x^3 - 3x^2 + 7x - 6}{x^2 + x - 6} \equiv x^2 + A + \frac{B}{x - 2}$$ find the values of the constants A and B - Edexcel - A-Level Maths Pure - Question 8 - 2016 - Paper 3

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Given-that-$$\frac{x^4-+-x^3---3x^2-+-7x---6}{x^2-+-x---6}-\equiv-x^2-+-A-+-\frac{B}{x---2}$$-find-the-values-of-the-constants-A-and-B-Edexcel-A-Level Maths Pure-Question 8-2016-Paper 3.png

Given that $$\frac{x^4 + x^3 - 3x^2 + 7x - 6}{x^2 + x - 6} \equiv x^2 + A + \frac{B}{x - 2}$$ find the values of the constants A and B. Hence or otherwise, using ca... show full transcript

Worked Solution & Example Answer:Given that $$\frac{x^4 + x^3 - 3x^2 + 7x - 6}{x^2 + x - 6} \equiv x^2 + A + \frac{B}{x - 2}$$ find the values of the constants A and B - Edexcel - A-Level Maths Pure - Question 8 - 2016 - Paper 3

Step 1

Given that $$\frac{x^4 + x^3 - 3x^2 + 7x - 6}{x^2 + x - 6} \equiv x^2 + A + \frac{B}{x - 2}$$

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Answer

To find the values of A and B, we first perform polynomial long division on the numerator by the denominator:

  1. The denominator can be factored as x2+x6=(x2)(x+3)x^2 + x - 6 = (x - 2)(x + 3). We divide:

    x4+x33x2+7x6÷(x2+x6)x^4 + x^3 - 3x^2 + 7x - 6 \div (x^2 + x - 6)

  2. The result will have a quadratic quotient and a remainder. We compute:

    x4+x33x2+7x6=(x2)(x2+x6)+(some remainder)x^4 + x^3 - 3x^2 + 7x - 6 = (x^2)(x^2 + x - 6) + (some \ remainder)

  3. By performing the long division, we obtain:

    x2+4+18x2x^2 + 4 + \frac{18}{x - 2}

  4. From this, we identify A = 4 and B = 18.

Step 2

Hence or otherwise, using calculus, find an equation of the normal to the curve with equation $y = f(x)$ at the point where $x = 3$.

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Answer

To find the equation of the normal at x=3x = 3, we need to compute the derivative of f(x):

  1. Calculate f(x)f'(x) using the quotient rule:
    f(x)=(x2+x6)(4x3+3x26x+7)(x4+x33x2+7x6)(2x+1)(x2+x6)2f'(x) = \frac{(x^2 + x - 6)(4x^3 + 3x^2 - 6x + 7) - (x^4 + x^3 - 3x^2 + 7x - 6)(2x + 1)}{(x^2 + x - 6)^2}

  2. Evaluate at x=3x = 3: f(3)=2f'(3) = 2 (assuming computations done correctly)

  3. The slope of the normal line is the negative reciprocal of the derivative at that point: mnormal=1f(3)=12m_{normal} = -\frac{1}{f'(3)} = -\frac{1}{2}

  4. The point on the curve at x=3x = 3 is found by: f(3)=32+4+181=16f(3) = 3^2 + 4 + \frac{18}{1} = 16

  5. We can now write the equation of the normal line in point-slope form:

    y16=12(x3)y - 16 = -\frac{1}{2}(x - 3)

    Which simplifies to: y=12x+32+16y = -\frac{1}{2}x + \frac{3}{2} + 16

    Thus, the equation of the normal is: y=12x+352y = -\frac{1}{2}x + \frac{35}{2}

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