3. For APPLICANTS IN $\left\{ \begin{array} { l } \text { MATHEMATICS } \\ \text { MATHEMATICS \& STATISTICS } \\ \text { MATHEMATICS \& PHILOSOPHY } \\ \text { MATHEMATICS \& COMPUTER SCIENCE } \end{array} \right\}$ ONLY.
Computer Science and Computer Science \& Philosophy applicants should turn to page 20.
The degree of a polynomial is the highest exponent that appears among its terms. For example, $2 x ^ { 6 } - 3 x ^ { 2 } + 1$ is a polynomial of degree 6 .
(i) A polynomial $p ( x )$ has a turning point at ( 0,0 ). Explain why $p ( 0 ) = 0$ and why $p ^ { \prime } ( 0 ) = 0$, and explain why there is a polynomial $q ( x )$ such that
$$p ( x ) = x ^ { 2 } q ( x ) .$$
(ii) A polynomial $r ( x )$ has a turning point at ( $a , 0$ ) for some real number $a$. Write down an expression for $r ( x )$ that is of a similar form to the expression (*) above. Justify your answer in terms of a transformation of a graph.
(iii) You are now given that $f ( x )$ is a polynomial of degree 4 , and that it has two turning points at $( a , 0 )$ and at $( - a , 0 )$ for some positive number $a$.
(a) Write down the most general possible expression for $f ( x )$. Justify your answer.
(b) Describe a symmetry of the graph of $f ( x )$, and prove algebraically that $f ( x )$ does have this symmetry.
(c) Write down the $x$-coordinate of the third turning point of $f ( x )$.
(iv) Is there a polynomial of degree 4 which has turning points at $( 0,0 )$, at $( 1,3 )$, and at $( 2,0 )$ ? Justify your answer.
(v) Is there a polynomial of degree 4 which has turning points at ( 1,6 ), at ( 2,3 ), and at $( 4,6 )$ ? Justify your answer.
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