A2 June 2022 Q7

EdexcelCurrent spec8 marksNumber Theory

7.

(i) The polynomial \(\mathrm{F}(x)\) is a quartic such that\[\mathrm{F}(x) = px^4 + qx^3 + 2x^2 + rx + s\]

where \(p\), \(q\), \(r\) and \(s\) are distinct constants.

Determine the number of possible quartics given that

(a) the constants \(p\), \(q\), \(r\) and \(s\) belong to the set \(\{-4, -2, 1, 3, 5\}\) (1)
(b) the constants \(p\), \(q\), \(r\) and \(s\) belong to the set \(\{-4, -2, 0, 1, 3, 5\}\) (1)
(ii) A 3-digit positive integer \(N = abc\) has the following properties
  • \(N\) is divisible by 11
  • the sum of the digits of \(N\) is even
  • \(N \equiv 8 \bmod 9\)
(a) Use the first two properties to show that\[a - b + c = 0\] (2)
(b) Hence determine all possible integers \(N\), showing all your working and reasoning. (4)