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Further Mathematics Paper 2, May/June. 2009  
Questions: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Main
General Comments
Weakness/Remedies
Strength



Question 3

If the quadratic equation (x + 1)(x + 2) = k(3x + 7) has equal roots, find the possible values of the constant k.

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Observation

In this question, candidates were expected to expand both sides of the sign of equality and bring like terms together to obtain                          x2 + (3 - 3k)x + (2 – 7k) = 0.  Since this equation had equal roots, then it implied that (3-3k)2 = 4(2-7k) i.e. 9k2 + 10k + 1 = 0.  Solving this equation gave k = -1/9 or -1.

The report stated that although majority of the candidates attempted this question and performed well in it, the challenge that many candidates had was the recall of the condition for the equality of roots.
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