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2004 Paper 1 Q3
D: 1500.0 B: 1500.0

  1. Show that \(x-3\) is a factor of \begin{equation} x^3-5x^2+2x^2y+xy^2-8xy-3y^2+6x+6y \;. \tag{\(*\)} \end{equation} Express (\( * \)) in the form \((x-3)(x+ay+b)(x+cy+d)\) where \(a\), \(b\), \(c\) and \(d\) are integers to be determined.
  2. Factorise \(6y^3-y^2-21y+2x^2+12x-4xy+x^2y-5xy^2+10\) into three linear factors.


Solution:

  1. Let \(f(x,y) = x^3-5x^2+2x^2y+xy^2-8xy-3y^2+6x+6y\), then \begin{align*} f(3,y) &= 27 - 5 \cdot 9 +18y + 3y^2-24y-3y^2+18 + 6y \\ &= 0 \end{align*}, therefore \(x-3\) is a factor of \(f(x,y)\). \begin{align*} f(x,y) &= x^3-5x^2+6x+y(2x^2-8x+6) + y^2(x-3) \\ &= (x-3)(x^2-2x)+y(x-3)(2x-2)+y^2(x-3) \\ &= (x-3)(x^2-2x+2y(x-1)+y^2) \\ &= (x-3)(x+y)(x+y-2) \end{align*}
  2. Let \(g(x,y) = 6y^3-y^2-21y+2x^2+12x-4xy+x^2y-5xy^2+10\), notice that \(g(x,-2) = 0\), so \(y+2\) is a factor, \begin{align*} g(x,y) &= 6y^3-y^2-21y+2x^2+12x-4xy+x^2y-5xy^2+10 \\ &= x^2(2+y) + x(12-4y-5y^2) + 6y^3-y^2-21y+10 \\ &= x^2(y+2) + x(y+2)(6-5y) + (y+2)(6y^2-13y+5) \\ &= (y+2)(x^2+(6-5y)x+(6y^2-13y+5)) \\ &= (y+2)(x-2y +1)(x-3y+5) \end{align*}