Type I tasks
4 Properties of quartics HL Type I
Description
A quarticfunction with a "W" shape has two points of inflection, Q and R. ln this investigation a line is drawn
through Q and R to meet the quartic function again at P and S. The ratio PQ:QR:RS is to be investigated
using specific examples to form a conjecture, and then examined formally to prove the findings,
Method
1. Graph the function f (*) = xu - 8xt + 18x2 - l2x + 24 .
2. Find the coordinates of the points of inflection Q and R. Determine the points P and S, where the line
QR intersects the quartic function again, and calculate the ratio PQ:QRlR5.
3. Simplify this ratio so that PQ : I and comment upon your results.
4. Choose another quartic function with a "W" shape and investigate the same ratios.
5. Form a conjecture and formally prove it using a generalquartic function.
6. Extend this investigation to other quartic functions that are not strictly of a "W" shape.
@ lnternational Baccalaureate Organization 2005
Type I tasks
Properties of qua rtics-student 3 HL Type I
L t"/r S sanarx rrl a Cuqat-t e
*ft,e
1L
*,',lo
I U =-
;il*"-i
#."
l&' q( *+-..
a.!4^ ffl. J"."1"^ $
-=-\Zx---=r- :-ll:
"'a'\ a-' €Dc cJ* ot "l&"
ft,tqfr#'r-"^
N-;i," - jtu i"^ :--"
qr&d,.ajft.t3
#'", = o,.**-*- ,
i'l;; ;d,j; - l i.f'r"*-:.! :=
S'C*)a l?23*4a* +36 = Lfu - t.) (+':+)
@ lnternational Baccalaureate Organization 2005
Type I tasks
G'
A.
&- {"G):o, r^}E g"} ,u=3,n=t/
-9r-laa\F,^tt"iq ; {161" r.,'e <+
ftsl -- (rla - s(ei.) * re(r)!_. tz(:) +z+ tt,/ ,,
t l,l -- t,)1 .- k (r:) + \s (r)'-rz(1) +24 = L3,/
,'. pt ,^Fe"|'.. crFe C;lrr, (' ,
D'b
9
-T1^,_
oLoq"^-,. S[-,o'i] Y-L {,r; P
P A RS X**^ -f0.
"'oJ
o
iE*
r^{t-o-r\r, g.r^k QR .
^ - Sk)+ *+-gJ+tg,.'-r2rtzf
q{ {,; Po Rs
Le"1*8. a1 Po, '* !u,rtz-, q ?o'= ('1* -J,")-+ (*q -. r)
_ =) po'='(-[Link])'+(rlzruortqrt5)L
+ Pot =u(-+.4wzrVr\t+ ('lreLo rr qlrq\L _
-InlU c!+ ?&=ps )* P0;&E=li/,6//037
@ lnternational Baccalaureate Organization 2005
Type I tasks
@ lnternational Baccalaureate Organization 2005
Type I tasks
I^ b*qyn [Link], :lA. .?.q1^,E aJr-.. -
!(-f, r::v-t q! qb[) - \: F_6+tr:rgr6 ) ., A(-2, o)
K ( 3), 5 (2,t5-*totQLLt 4,tf +rotq 6; )'
',
C"f-r'rt*1\'^5 1f," U61U Jt- -A" % "2^"^-f 4
3.b
Po 2':6zzl.1 ht* 6r /-l ,Z+Ll rto L8]
K5 [Link] 6r y6
o*-d PQ t Q< = I ,, I'l"irot+
.1;;n;c3.{,.'
S- #* ; 1n^.8 }8.^f-
u
lon. a, I W t q*o-rfr---' ffi!J{. q}e 9-c^^-z
"^n
+rrh *bowt ]U 4*" >+1.-s^^h po a.a , RS ";ft^l
tJ'J}.n2< O c.^-d R a* ffl.
"^fft*+.,... goi^13
} b"t- iL g)u^, o,^^-J 1q. G^^, o**o.,^il<
Pci = Rs q*-x Po Rg a t : r, 6tv6j+ ,,
I ,-,u.,. \ j-- '* *** h^
eh,l*s "tP';
"st\
c;!-o a" :+ffo- ,"4;^€- Pq n.s- -t- h-e 't{ta ?s-: +y g r
a^-d q +'- ? J- Th4 q,0...-.^ R ,",it u- ("r,9)
*L\ , .I- ovr",: 1a*'i\ J?.*t o- {ua-*-h * Llr
-,Zsse't\a-bau4 c-o.w h-r- \a""dt"**"J
-\!-t,a-U
So -lR.o-h POpS
k, "tr1^-1 tk x--.+)t!s +^ i (s '- q.\. $-c o.,-,6r-.
4',i" +*;+"nJp* rc'\\ r,uf oko.w.r- Yt
nr'--t"l'["'1' {";9;;
**r"# -1
#t('zl''r
r'*'
.T A&\
@ lnternational Baccalaureate Organization 2005
Type I tasks
>c(rc-^) = f-:+:r-
*3 = o t +b
Bz-
P,-[t-i:gp--,*"n-) , A-f -o- ,-e ), K (o,
"- )",S (t*t:$ , o).
L
6*d P& i,-QF =* - l r IL+JE
tteo-.- Jt* {r*t *L* 99 - €s
@ lnternational Baccalaureate Organization 2005
Type I tasks
; =. Li t:6lkos+ ,th-.^,*
P& QR -lA--k flr"-,-
-+ {ct) = x+ - zo-}
- J*+4*lno-*po"*a _ax.*_-e-(q*e), ,K l*, ,d)
-r (r.3 t t-}*J)
h*,h- ',*r hy,-t (f -^)L A. o= ,.G--^lt*-^r- i)
@ lnternational Baccalaureate Organization 2005
2_.
a1e^e-s--A
a^/ a""r{-
o ), ( io, -*-
6{ ?O
OR
s;,-',rJ( R-s = ,- €
P''a. R-s
=
@ lnternational Baccalaureate Organization 2005
Type I tasks
Mathematics HL: The portfolio Form B
Feedback to student
Name: Student B
Title of task: Properties of quartics rvre:(y) ll
Date ret: Date submittedl
A Use of notation and terminology 2/2
Appropriate a nd consistent.
B Communication 3/3
Good introductions, continuity and appropriate diag rams.
C Mathematical process 5 / 5
Examples were tested, analysed and a general proof was provided. Further examples were considered.
D Results 4/5
All correct, but the limitations were not made sufficiently clear.
E Use oftechnology 2 / 3
While graphs were helpful, technology could have enhanced the task by being used in further examples.
F Quality of work 2/2
The quality of work was outstanding.
@ lnternational Baccalaureate Organization 2005
