Add Maths Bloopers

M
COMON MISTAKES

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Concentrate on the little black squares.

Believe it or not they are of the same size!
This is a common observation. It is called an illusion.

Maths problem can be an illusion !!

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Add Maths Bloopers

The solutions or part of solutions given below contain one or more mistakes.The Circle part is
incorrect solutions. Show the correct solutions on the corresponding column on the right .

Question & Solutions Corrections

x
1. Solve 5   3
2

5 + x=6  x=1

2. Find the quadratic equation with roots 3 and 6.

[Sum] = 3 + 6 = 9 [Product] = (3)(6) = 18

Answer : x2 + 9x + 18

3. f(x) = x2 + (k – 2)x – k+ 2 has equal roots. Find

the values of k.

b2 – 4 a c = 0
2
(k – 2) – 4(1)(–k + 2) = 0
k2 + 4 – 8 = 0
k2 = 4
k = 2

4. Solve x2 – 3x > 10

x2 – 3x - 10 > 0
(x - 5)(x + 2) > 0

x > 5 , x > -2

5. Solve x2 + 5x = 6

x(x + 5) = 6

x=6 , x+5=6
x=1

6. Solve simultaneously

2
2 x 2 x
  x  x
2
2 
 2   2 

Question and Solution Correction

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 Add Maths Bloopers

7. Solve 2 log2 3y + log2 y = 4

log2 3y2 + log2 y = 4

3y2 + y = 4

8. Solve log3 ( y + 4) = log3 2y + 3

log3 y + log3 4 = log3 2y + 3

9. Solve 2 x – 1 + 2x = 12.

2 x 1 x = 12
2x – 1 = 6

10. Given that 4x . 4 2y = 1, find y in terms of x.

x + 2y = 1

11. Given that y = (x – 2)2 + 3. Find

(a) equation of the axis of symmetry.
(b) the y-intercept

2
Answer: (a) ……………
( 0, 7 )
(b) …………….

12. Sector AOB has radius 4.5 cm and arc length 7.2 cm.
Find  , in radians.

solutions:
s=r 
  1.6 
7.2 = 4.5  180
 = 1.6 = 0.02793 rad

Question & Solution Correction

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Add Maths Bloopers

13. A series is given by 8, 4, 2, 1 … Find the twelfth

term.
d = 4 – 8 = –4

T12 = 8 + (12– 1) – 4
= 8 + 11 – 4
= 15

14. differentiate:
d  1 
  =
dx  2 x 
d
dx
2 x  1
= – 2 x -2

15. Find  (6 x  5) 2 dx

(6 x  5)3
=
3

1
16. Given 0
f ( x ) dx  5 , evaluate
1

 [x 
0
f ( x )] dx .
1
=  0
xdx  5 dx
1
x2
= 2
 5x
0

  2 x  1
1 3
17. Evaluate dx
0

 2 x  1 4 ( 2(1)  1) 4
1

=
8
=  0
0 8
81
=
8

18. Solve 5 ( 3 x + 2) = 4

15 x + 2 = 4
(x +2) log 15 = log 4

log 4
 x  2 
log 15
(x + 2) = log 4 – log 15

x + 2 = – 0.57403
x = – 2.574
THE END