HONG KONG DIPLOMA OF SECONDARY EDUCATION EXAMINATION

MATHEMATICS
Compulsory Part

Exam Paper (By Topic)

Question-Answer Book
Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Write your Candidate Number in the space provided on the cover page.
2. This paper consists of TWO sections, A and B. Each section carries 45 marks.
3. Attempt ALL questions in this paper. Write your answers in the spaces provided in this
Question-Answer Book.
4. Unless otherwise specified, all working must be clearly shown.
5. Unless otherwise specified, numerical answers should be either exact or correct to 3 significant
figures.
6. The diagrams in this paper are not necessarily drawn to scale.
TOPICS
1. Indices
2. Number System (with complex number)
3. Quadratic Equations
4. Functions and Graph
5. Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

Candidate Name

Question No.

Marks

/ 4

/ 6

/ 4

/ 4

/ 5

/ 4

/ 6

/ 4

/ 4

10

/ 4

11

/ 15

12

/ 15

13

/ 15

Total

/ 90

Exam Date

HKDSE Exam Paper

MATHEMATICS (Core)

By HENRY LEUNG

Section A 45 marks
1. Simplify

8 x x
3

. (4 marks)

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2. Solve the following equations:
a)

x 325 x , (3 marks)

b)

( y2)325( y2) . (3 marks)

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1
2

3
2

3. Solve the equation log 4 2 x +log 4 x =

3
. (4 marks)
2

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HKDSE Exam Paper

4. Simplify

MATHEMATICS (Core)

By HENRY LEUNG

2i
. (4 marks)
3+2 i

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5. Given 3 +2 and 3 +2 are roots of x 24 x77=0 , construct an quadratic equation
with roots and . (5 marks)
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HKDSE Exam Paper

MATHEMATICS (Core)

By HENRY LEUNG

6. Let a quadratic function y= f ( x ) . If f ( 4)= f (2)=0 and f (2)=4 find the quadratic
function y= f ( x ) . (4 marks)
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7. Solve the equation

1
1

=2 . (6 marks)
13 x 1+3 x

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HKDSE Exam Paper

MATHEMATICS (Core)

By HENRY LEUNG

1
n+1
2

+2 n . (4 marks)
8. Simplify 4
2n +1+2n 1
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9. If log 2=a and log 7=b , find log 7 20 in terms of a and b . (4 marks)
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10. Given the Richter scale of the earthquake occurred at Japan is 8.9 , find the energy released.
(4 marks)
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HKDSE Exam Paper

MATHEMATICS (Core)

By HENRY LEUNG

Section B 45 marks
11. In the graph below, the curve y=x 2 +b x+c cuts the x-axis at point A( ,0) and
B( , 0) . And M (3 ,0) is the mid-point of A B .

a) Find + in terms of b . Hence, find the value of b . (3 marks)

b) If 2+ 2=42 , find the value of c . (3 marks)
c) If a straight line y=m x+c cuts the curve y=x 2 +b x+c at x=2 ,
i) show that x 2(6+m) x(3+c)=0 , (2 marks)
ii) show that c=2 m11 , (2 marks)
iii) find the values of m and c . (5 marks)
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HKDSE Exam Paper

MATHEMATICS (Core)

By HENRY LEUNG

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HKDSE Exam Paper

MATHEMATICS (Core)

By HENRY LEUNG

12. The velocity of a car A is defined as a function v A (t) in ms 1 , where t is the time in
second. Suppose v A (0)=10 ms1 and its acceleration a is a constant.
a) Write down the function v A (t) in terms of a and t . (2 marks)
b) When t=10 , the velocity of a car searches 60 ms1 , i.e., v A (10)=60 , find the value
of a . (2 marks)
Another car B has the function of its velocity, defined as v B (t)=c+10 log ( t+5 ) .
c) When t=5 , v B (5)=v A (10) , find the value of c . (3 marks)
d) Find the value of t such that v B (t )=1.2 v B (10) . (6 marks)
e) A student claims that v B (t )>v A (t) for any time t . Discuss this statement. (2 marks)
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HKDSE Exam Paper

MATHEMATICS (Core)

By HENRY LEUNG

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HKDSE Exam Paper

MATHEMATICS (Core)

By HENRY LEUNG

13. Let a function y= f ( x )=ka k x , where k 0 .

a) Find the range of a such that the function is well defined. (2 marks)
b) If f (6)=3 f (3) , show k =

log a 3
. (3 marks)
3

c) Prove that b log y = y , for every y>0 and b>1 . (4 marks)

b

d) Hence, show y=( log 3 )3 3

a

. (3 marks)

e) If f (3)=1 , find the values of a and k . (3 marks)

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HKDSE Exam Paper

MATHEMATICS (Core)

By HENRY LEUNG

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HKDSE Exam Paper

MATHEMATICS (Core)

By HENRY LEUNG

Answer
1.

8 x x =(2
3

1
3+2 3

=2 x

x 325 x=x ( x5)( x+5)

2. a)
b)

( y2)325( y2)=( y2)( y25)( y 2+5)=( y2)( y7)( y +3)

1

3.

5
3

log 4 2 x 2 +log 4 x 2 =

1
2

3
2

log 4 2 x x =

3
2
3
2

2 x =8

x=2 or x=2 (rejected)

4.

2i
2i
32 i
8i
8
1
=

=
= i
2
2
3+2 i 3+2 i 32 i (3) +2
13 13

5. Since 3 +2+3 +2=4 and (3 +2)(3 +2)=77 , i.e., + =0 and =9 ,

hence, the equation is x 29=0 .
6. Let the quadratic function be y= f (x )=a ( x4)( x+2) , where a0 since
f (4)= f (2)=0 .
As f (2)=4 , we get a=

1
.
2

1
Therefore, the function is y= f ( x)= ( x4)(x+2) .
2

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HKDSE Exam Paper

MATHEMATICS (Core)

1
1

=2
13 x 1+3 x

7.

9 x 2+3 x 1=0
3 3249(1)
x=
29
x=

1 5
6

1
n+1
2

8.

4
+2 n
2 n+2+2n
2n ( 22+1)
=
=
=2
2n +1+2n 1 2 n+1+2 n1 2 n1 (2 2+1)

9.

log 7 20=

10.

E=10 4.8+1.58.91.411018 J

log 20 log10+log 2 1+a

=
=
log7
log 7
b

11. a) Since + =b and

+
=3 , we get b=6 .
2

b) Since =c ,

2+ 2=42
( + )22 =42
2

(6) 2 c=42
c=3

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By HENRY LEUNG

HKDSE Exam Paper

c) i) We have

MATHEMATICS (Core)

By HENRY LEUNG

y= x 26 x3
, substituting them, we get
y=m x +c
2
x (6+m)x (3+c)=0 .

ii) Since 2 2( 6+m)(2)(3+c)=0 , c=2 m11 .

iii) Since =0 , we have (6+m) 2+4 (3+c)=0 ,
m2 +4 m+4=0
m=2

Then, we have c=2(2)11=7 .

12. a) v A (t)=10+a t
b) Since v A (10)=10+a (10)=60 , we get a=5 ms2 .
c) Consider c+10 log(5+5)=60 ,
c+10=60
c=50
d) Since v B (10)=50+10 log15 , consider
50+10 log(t+5)=1.2(50+10 log15)
log

t +5
=10
12
15

t=1010151251.3010 24 s
e) His claim is incorrect because v A (95)=485 and v B (95)=70 , i.e., v A (95)>v B ( 95) .

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HKDSE Exam Paper

MATHEMATICS (Core)

By HENRY LEUNG

13. a) a>0
b) Consider ka6 k =3ka 3 k , we have
a 3 k =3
k=

log a 3
3

c) Since we have log b ( blog y )=( log b y )( log b b )=log b y , hence b log y = y .
b

d) Sub k =

log a 3
into y= f ( x )=ka k x , we get
3
x

y=

log a 3 log 3 3
)
( a
3
a

=( log a 3 )3
e) Since f (3)=1 , i.e.,

x
1
3

( log a 3 )3 3 =1 ,
log a 3=1
a=3

Then, k =

log 3 3 1
= .
3
3

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