ZIMBABWE SCHOOL EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL

(ZIMSEC)

ZIMBABWE GENERAL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION

(ZGCE)
ADVANCED LEVEL

Literature in English
Economics
Mathematics
Chemistry
Accounting
Management of Business

Report on the June 2006 Examination

 MATHEMATICS

SUBJECT 9154

PAPER 1

GENERAL COMMENTS

There was a wide range of standard of work by candidates on this paper. The
marks ranged from one to almost full marks per question. The majority of
candidates were able to make reasonable attempts at answering most
questions. However, the majority of candidates did not pay adequate
attention to the specified accuracy of required answers. The frequency of
scripts where work is presented in double column form is still a cause for
concern to examiners.

The first ten of the sixteen questions seemed accessible to all but the weakest
candidates. The notable weaknesses were in the sketching of question 3,
trigonometrically work in questions 4, 5 and 12, the logarithmic and
exponential functions in question 9, and in question 15. The detailed
comments that follow will inevitably refer to errors and misconceptions
evident from the work of candidates.

COMMENTS ON INDIVIDUAL QUESTIONS

Question 1

This was done reasonably well

Answer: 1 +1–x
x + 1 x2 + 4

Question 2

This question was usually answered well. The majority of candidates

squared both sides.

Answer: x = 2/5 or – 8/3

Question 3

Most candidates could solve the differential equation by separating

variables. The majority of candidates, however, failed to notice that the
resulting equation was that of a circle centre origin. Hence they failed to
sketch the graph of the function.

Answer: x2 + y2 = 132

Question 4

Those candidates who managed to write the algebraic statement connecting

the two areas were able to show the given result. Most candidates gave
perimeter for arcs as decimal fractions when exact answer for the perimeter
was required. Application of the cosine rule was well done in finding length
of BC.

Answer: 20 + 14л/ 3 and √124

Question 5

This was poorly done by a large number of candidates. Candidates failed to

realize that they needed to write sec x as 1 before differentiating in order
to show the given result. Some candidates simply took the result given in the
formula booklet while others simply concluded by stating ‘hence shown
after writing given result down, the application of Maclaurin series was
generally good.

Answers: d2y = sec3x + sec x tan2x

dx2

Question 6

The first part was generally well answered. The second part was poorly
presented by nearly all candidates as they equated to zero before showing
the required result.

Answers: (a) 1 – I, z = √2, ArgZ = - л/4

Question 7

Generally well done although a few candidates failed to use the given
general term to write down the required terms of the sequence.

The second part of the question had candidates showing weaknesses in

algebraic manipulation as they failed to obtain the desired quadratic equation
in r

Answers: (a) U3 = 7 U4 = 13 and U 5 = 27.

(b) r = ± 1/8

Question 8

those familiar with ideas on vectors answered the question reasonably well.
In the calculation of the angle some candidates did not realize the
importance of using correct direction vectors.

Answers: (i) 5i + 8j
(ii) 5l – 6k
(iii) 31.3º

Question 9

Most candidates were familiar with laws of logarithms. Factorization of the

quadratic expression and the power of the denominator were often wrong.
Some candidates had the power of the denominator were often wrong. Some
candidates had the power of the denominator as – ½ after applying laws of
logarithms. Solution of the exponential equation was generally done well by
most candidates although some candidates failed to give quadratic in e 3x

Answers: (a) In(2x + 1) + In(x – 2) – ½ In(1 – x)

(b) x = 0.698
Question 10

This question was well done. However, a few candidates lost the accuracy
mark for showing required area is 52 square units through failure to use
exact dimensions for relevant sides.

Answers: (i) 3y + 2x +1 = 0

(ii) mid-point (1, -1)

Question 11

Most candidates failed to draw reasonable graphs. A large number of

candidates drew graphs which did not pass through the origin and also failed
to indicate the asymptote x = -1. Application of the Newton – Raphson
method poorly done by some candidates as they failed to calculate relevant
elements of the structure.

Answer: 8.22 and -0.9991

Question 12

Most candidates were able to do part (i) correctly. Part (ii) was generally
poorly done or completely left out. Most candidates expected the application
of d2y in establishing a point to be a maximum / minimum. Very few
dx2
Candidates were able to interpret the meaning of a constant gradient.

Answers: (i) dy = 5
dx 2

(ii) End points of straight line segment are (1; -1) and (3; 4)
intercept (7/8; 0)

Question 13

Part (a) was the least well answered question as candidates could only obtain
the quadratic equation. Application of the discriminant b2 – 4ac > 0 was
poorly done.
Part (b) was generally well done although a few candidates failed to
factories the last part of the question

Answers: a = -3 and f(x – 2) = x(2x -5)(x -5)

Question 14

Generally well done in part (a) although a few candidates simply evaluated
the interests and added them up to obtain 45º. Part b(i) was well done. Part
b(ii) was poorly done with most candidates failing to determine the least and
greatest values of the reciprocal of the given expression (27 + 7cose – 24
sine)

Answers: b(i) 336.5º and 236.1º

(ii) Greatest value = ½

Least value = 1/ 52

Question 15

Part (a) was poorly done by most candidates. The majority stretched the
graph of y = x2 parallel to the y-axis indicating lack of familiarity with
concepts on transformations.

In part b(i) most candidates obtained the inverse but failed to give correct
domain. Part (ii) had candidates falling to clearly state the relationship
between f-1(x) and f(x). Candidates generally failed to state the correct range
of y = f(x) and often some gave the range in terms of x. the graph in part (iii)
was generally of correct shape. However, candidates did not indicate the y –
intercept as well as the asymptotes x = -1 and y = 2.

Answers: (i) f-1(x) = 1 – x, x ≠ 0

x

(ii) y = f-1(x) a reflection of the graph of y = f(x) in the line

y=x

(iii) y>0
Question 16

Many candidates had good answers in 16a(i). However, a few candidates

failed to change limits correctly. The explanation in a(ii) was generally poor
with no reference at all to the fact that part of the area specified lies below
the x-axis.

Part(b) was poorly done by most candidates as they failed to realize that they
had to take dv/dx = 1 in their application of integrations by parts.

Answers: (b) xln3x – x + c

 MATHEMATICS

SUBJECT 9164

PAPER 2

General Comments

There was a marked Improvement in the presentation of candidates work.

The majority of candidates attempted all questions although quite a lot did
not complete the examination. Candidates performed better in statistics
option than in Pure Mathematics and Mechanics.

Report on Individual Questions

Question 1

Most candidates had the correct graph but lost marks due to omission of y –
intercept and the limit as x  ∞. A lot of candidates drew the graph on the
graph paper instead of just sketching it.

Question 2

The first part was generally well done. The proof by induction was badly
done by most candidates. It appears that the majority of candidates knew the
correct procedure for proof by induction but found the concept difficult to
apply to differentiation.

Question 3

Part (i) and (ii) were generally well done. Candidates failed to understand
the locus in part (iii) (a) and often sketched the bisection of two points
instead of circles.

(i) -3 + 11i (ii) 0.6

11 13
Question 4

The majority of candidates obtained more than half the marks. The common
error was on the integration part as candidates failed to deal with the
negative sign in the linear function in the denominator.

(a) 21n A(8 – x) (b) t = 21n 1(8 – x), t = 1.02h

(4 – x) 3(4 – x)

Question 5

Part (a)(i) was very badly done. Quite a lot of candidates did not attempt this
question. Most candidates had an idea of how to answer (a)(i) although they
could not use the correct points on the line. Candidates were able to answer
part (b) easily and were able to calculate the determinant accurately.

(a)(i) (3 0) (ii) 3y + 2x = 0 (b) x = -1

(0 4),

Question 6

Candidates were able to do (a)(i) and (a)(ii) easily. Only a few candidates
answered (b)(ii) accurately. The majority of candidates fumbled and had no
meaningful attempts to this part of the question.

(a)(i) (4,2) and 4 (b)(i) 48º (b)(ii) n = 40º

Question 7

Part (a) was generally well done although most candidates obtained 40.2º
instead of 49.8º. Part (b) was fairly well done but candidates did not
understand question c(i). There were very few completely correct solutions
to this question
(a) 49.8º (b) (4; -3.3) (c)(i) (7; 29; -19) (ii) 1
(3 6 6) √6
Question 8

Part (i) was generally well done but in part (ii), candidates made arithmetic
errors in finding the area under the curve. The concepts involved here were
quite easy for most candidates.

(ii) 95m

Question 9

Candidates had meaningful attempts to part (i) but only a few of them
managed to get all the 3 marks. In part (ii) candidates either left the question
unattempted or had no meaningful attempts. Candidates could not link the
relationship between the force in each string and the lengths of each string.

(i) 4√2 and 70.5º (ii) 7.3575

Question 10

Candidates used Newton’s second law correctly but had problems in

resolving forces to get the resultant force in the direction of motion. Quite a
number of candidates did not give exact values and tended approximate the
value.

(a) 1g (20√3 – 16) (b) 40√3 – 32

5 9

Question 11
This was a very badly done question. Most candidates did not attempt this
question. Candidates often wrote irrelevant equations about projectiles Quite
a few who used the correct methods could not get full marks because of
failing to solve quadratic equations correctly.

(i) 101.14 (ii) 4.324

Question 12
This was an easy question for most candidates and most candidates got full
marks.

39; 65; 90 and 33; 60; 89

Question 13

Only one candidate did this question correctly. Most candidates had an
incorrect diagram and thus could not answer it correctly. The majority of
candidates either did not attempt it or had no meaningful attempts.
8
/0

Question 14

Most candidates obtained full marks for this question. Candidates used the
correct methods in most cases.
20
(ii) /9

Question 15

Candidates performed well in this question. A few candidates used Normal

distribution tables incorrectly.

(a) 85,7% (b) 0.82%

Question 16

Candidates did this question reasonably well expect for calculation of

median where they were not using the correct function. Most candidates
accurately worked out (a) and first part of (b). Quite a number did not
attempt this question possibly due to lack of time.

(a) k = 2/5 (b) E(X) = 19/15, median = 5/ 4.

 MATHEMATICS

SUBJECT 9164

PAPER 4

GENERAL COMMENTS

There has been a significant improvement in the way students attempted to

answer questions in both sections unlike in the past June examinations where
most candidates did not attempt to answer mechanics question. This can be
attributed to the way teachers now approach paper 4. Most candidates
attempted all questions which was quite encouraging and their performance
generally was average.

Question 1

(a) Very well done by most candidates.

(b) A variety of general comments were made but some candidates failed
to compare the performance to students in the two tests given which is
what was expected.

Question 2

Poorly done by the majority of candidates who attempted the question.

Generally most candidates did not attempt to answer the question.

Answer: 8/9

Question 3

(a) Well done by the majority of candidates.

(b) It was surprising to note that some candidates had to first find E(X)
yet it was given. However, the majority of candidates performed very
well.
20
Answer: /9
Question 4

(i) The performance of candidates was average. A number of candidates

failed to get the correct Z ∞ value and this led to incorrect confidents
limits.

Answer (24.076; 253239)

(ii) A good number of candidates were able to make relevant comments.

Answer: Yes, because the population mean lies outside the

confidence limits range.

Question 5

Well done by most candidates who easily identified the question as a normal
distribution question. A few candidates, however, applied continuity
correction and these lost a few marks. Candidates are advised to familiarize
themselves with conditions necessary to apply continuity corrections.

Answer: (i) 0.8570 (85.7%) (ii) 0.0082 (8.02%)

Question 6

The majority of the candidates were able to correctly find the value of k and
E(X). However, most candidates failed to correctly find the median.

Answer: (a) k = 2/5

(b) E(X) = 19/ 15, median (m) = 5/ 4

Question 7

Fairly done by the majority of candidates. A good number of candidates

failed to find the parameters correctly. However, it was pleasing to note that
with or without correct parameters, candidates were able to apply normal
distribution correctly.

Answers: 0.2444
0.6586
Question 8

Very well done by the majority of candidates. Candidates’ work on X 2 was

quite encouraging. Most candidates got full marks.

Answer: 6.928. Team’s performance is independent of weather.

Question 9

Badly done by most candidates. Very few candidates got full marks on this
question.

Answers: (a) 0.9973

(b) 0.00135, 0.00270

Question 10

(i) Well done by most candidates.

Answer: 0.76189

(ii) Poorly done by the majority of candidates. Candidates failed to come

up with different possibilities (combinations) for light and heavy
vehicles.

Answer: 0.391071

Question 11

Candidates’ performance was average on part (i) and the majority of

candidates had difficulty in answering part (ii).

Answer: (i) tcal = - 0.3489 t0.05 = -1.83

Accept H0

(ii) m = 2396
Question 12

Generally well done by most candidates. However, candidates are advised to

show all working when finding the regression line instead of just writing the
answer from the calculator.

Answer: (ii) y = -3.938x + 490.589

(iii) y = 364.573

since 32 is a value within the range of distances given

then the estimate above is reliable.

(iv) r = -0.91. The data shows a strong negative correlation.

Question 13

Candidates’ performance was average. Most candidates left out the key word
constant for acceleration and as a result lost some marks.

Answer (ii) 95m

Question 14

In part (i) candidates performed very well and in part (ii) their performance
was poor.

Answer: (i) BD 4√3 MPD = 70.5º

(ii) T = 7.3575 (N)

Question 15

Attempted by most candidates successfully. A good number of them failed

to observe the exact answer that was generally required.

Answer (a) T = (4√3 – 16/5)g

(b) m = 40√3 – 32
9
Question 16

Poorly done by most candidates. There was a mix up of projectile equations

(time equations mixed with displacement equations).

Answer: (i) 101.14 m

(ii) 4.324 m