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2011/12 AHSMC Part 1 Problem 8

Problem 8 of 16

Let f(x)f(x) be a quadratic polynomial. If f(1)=2f(1) = 2, f(2)=4f(2) = 4 and f(3)=8f(3) = 8, then the value of f(4)f(4) is

Answer choices

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Solution

Note that g(x)=f(x+1)−f(x)g(x) = f(x + 1) - f(x) is a linear polynomial. Since g(1)=f(2)−f(1)=2g(1) = f(2) - f(1) = 2 and g(2)=f(3)−f(2)=4g(2) = f(3) - f(2) = 4, we have g(3)=6g(3) = 6. Hence f(4)=f(3)+g(3)=8+6=14f(4) = f(3) + g(3) = 8 + 6 = 14. The answer is (B).