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Problem 1

Factorise the following quadratic expressions:

  1. x22kx+k2

  2. x2kx2k2

  3. 3p25pq2q2

Part (c) can be given in the form

(paq)(bp+q),a,bN

Give the value of

a4+b4
Hint

For the first problem, imagine it in this way

x2+(2k)bx+k2c

So you can begin by writing

(x)(x)

and your table should look like

k2±1±k2±k±k

You are searching for the pair from the table which adds together to make 2k.

The other two can be treated similarly.

Solution
  1. (xk)2
  2. Our table looks like

    2k2±2k2±2kk

    We need the pair which adds to make k and so we get

    (x2k)(x+k)
  3. We can consider this as a quadratic in terms of p, so we get

    6q2±6q2±32q2±23q2±6qq±3q2q±2q3q

    We need the pair which sums to 5q, so we get

    (3p6q)3(3p+q)1=(p2q)(3p+q)