MathematicsCode 9709
Algebra
What this topic asks you to be able to do
- understand what |x| represents, draw a sketch of the graph of y = |ax + b|, and apply relations such as |a| = |b| ⇔ a2 = b2 and |x – a| < b ⇔ a – b < x < a + b when working through equations and inequalities
- carry out a division of a polynomial having a degree that does not exceed 4 by a linear or quadratic polynomial, and state the quotient together with the remainder (the remainder may equal zero)
- apply the factor theorem together with the remainder theorem
- recall the right form of partial fractions for a rational function and decompose the function accordingly, for denominators no more complex than (ax + b)(cx + d)(ex + f), (ax + b)(cx + d)2, (ax + b)(cx2 + d)
- apply the expansion of (1 + x)n for any rational value of n, provided x 1 1