Equations and Inequalities

4. 2017 H2 MA Prelim Compilation - Equations and Inequalities (19 Questions)

BASIC LEVEL

CJC Prelim 9758/2017/02/Q1

The curve with equation y  f  x  , where f  x  is a cubic polynomial, has a maximum point with
 34   19 
coordinates  2,  and a minimum point with coordinates  3,   . Find the equation of the
 3  2
curve. [4]
Answers
1 1
y  x3  x 2  6 x  4
3 2

JJC Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q1

Mr Subash returned to Singapore after his tour in Europe and wishes to convert his foreign
currencies back to Singapore Dollars (S$). Three money changers offer the following exchange
rates:
Total amount of S$ Mr Subash
Money 1 Swiss 1 British
1 Euro would receive after
Changer Franc Pound
currency conversion
A S$1.35 S$1.80 S$1.55 S$1151.50
B S$1.40 S$1.85 S$1.65 S$1208.25
C S$1.45 S$1.75 S$1.60 S$1189.25

How much of each currency has Mr Subash left after his tour? [4]
Answers
He has 250 francs, 125 pounds and 380 euros left.

MI Prelim 9740/2017/01/Q1
The sum of the first n terms of a sequence is denoted by S n . The first term of the sequence is 3
and it is known that S3  21 and S10  210 . Given that S n is a quadratic polynomial in n , find
S n in terms of n . [3]
Answers
Sn  2n2  n

PJC Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q1

The first three terms of a sequence are given by u1  70 , u2  136 , u3  198 . Given that un is
a quadratic polynomial in n, find un in terms of n. [4]
Answers
un  2n2  72n

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Equations and Inequalities

TPJC Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q1

Without using a calculator, solve the inequality

3x 2  7 x  1
 2x 1. [4]
x3
Answers
x < −3

VJC Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q1

6 x  13
Without using a calculator, solve the inequality 1. [4]
x2  4
Answers
2  x  2 or x  3

INTERMEDIATE LEVEL

AJC Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q1

Mr Tan invested a total of $25,000 in a structured deposit account, bonds and an estate fund. He
invested $7,000 more in bonds than in estate fund. The projected annual interest rates for
structured deposit account, bonds and estate fund are 2%, 3% and 4.5% respectively. Money that
is not drawn out at the end of the year will be re-invested for the following year.

Mr Tan plans to draw out his money from all investments at the end of the second year and
estimates that he will receive a total of $26,300. Find the amount of money Mr Tan invested in
each investment, giving your answer to the nearest dollar. [5]
Answers
x = 13937.6 = 13938 (nearest dollars),
y = 9031.2 9031,
z = 2031.2  2031

DHS Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q3

Using an algebraic method, find the set of values of x that satisfies the inequality

x
2 x  .
2 x [3]
2
x
Hence solve 2  x 2  . [2]
2  x2
Answers
1  x  2 or x  4 ; x  2 or  2  x  1 or 1  x  2 or x  2

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Equations and Inequalities

HCI Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q3

(i) By first expressing 3x  x2  4 in completed square form, show that 3x  x2  4 is always
negative for all real values of x . [2]
(ii) Hence, or otherwise, without the use of a calculator, solve the inequality

 3x  x 2
 4   x  1
2

0 ,
x2  2 x  5
leaving your answer in exact form. [4]
Answers
2
 3 7 7
(i) 3x  x 2  4    x       0 (ii) x  1  6 or x  1  6 or x  1
 2 4 4

IJC Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q1

4 x2  7 x  1
Without using a graphic calculator, solve the inequality  x2. [3]
3x  1
4x  7 x 1
Hence solve the inequality  x  2. [2]
3 x 1
Answers
1
x  1 or   x  1 ; 0  x  1
3

MI Prelim 9740/2017/02/Q1
The curve C has the equation 4( x  1)2  9 y 2  36 .
(i) Sketch, for y  0 , the curve C, stating the coordinates of the end points and the turning
point.
[3]
(ii) By adding a suitable graph to your sketch in part (i), solve the inequality

 ( x  1)2 
2  1    2  ( x  1)2  0 . [2]
 9 
 (e x  1)2 
 
2
(iii) Hence, solve the inequality 2  1    ex 1  2 . [2]
 9 
Answers

(i) (ii) 0.886  x  2.89 (3 s.f) (iii) x  1.06 (3 s.f)

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Equations and Inequalities

MJC Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q2

Without using a calculator, solve the inequality
x 4
 . [5]
x 1 x  2
Answers
2  x  1

NJC Prelim 9758/2017/02/Q1

There are 3 bike-sharing companies in the current market. For each ride,  - bike charges a certain
amount per 5 min block or part thereof,  - bike charges a certain amount per 10 min block or part
thereof and  - bike charges a certain amount per 15 min block or part thereof. Rebecca rode each
of the bike-sharing companies’ bikes once in each month. The table below shows the amount of
time Rebecca clocked for each ride and her total spending for each month. In celebration of the
company’s first anniversary, the pricings in February and March 2017 of  - bikes are a 5%
discount off the immediate previous month’s pricing.
January 2017 February 2017 March 2017
 - bike 25 min 17 min 36 min
 - bike 30 min 10 min 39 min
 - bike 15 min 44 min 33 min
Total spending $5.70 $5.72 $9.71

Determine which bike-sharing company offers the cheapest rate (without any discount) for a 40-
min ride. Justify your answer clearly. [4]
Answers
  $0.41,   $0.84,   $1.14 .

PJC Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q3

By sketching the graphs of y  e2 x and y  2e x  1 , solve the inequality

e2 x  2e x  1 . [3]

Hence, without using a calculator, find

2
 1
e2 x  2e x  1 dx ,
giving your answer in terms of e. [4]
Answers
1 5
x  0 ; e4  2e  e2  4
2 2

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Equations and Inequalities

RI Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q1
A local wholesaler sells Pikachi plushies in two sizes, small and large. The number of Pikachi
plushies bought by three particular retailers and the total amount they paid are shown in the
following table.

Retailer Small Large Total Amount paid

A 30 50 $1375

B k 2k $2704

C 2k k $2522

Find the price of each small and each large Pikachi plushy and determine the value of k. [4]
Answers
k = 52, Small Pikachi plushy costs $15, Large Pikachi plushy costs $18.50

RVHS Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q2

2x2  3
A curve C has equation y  , x  , x  1.
x 1
(i) Sketch C, stating the equations of the asymptotes, axial intercepts and the coordinates of the
turning points, if any. [3]
5
(ii) Using part (i), solve the inequality 2 x  2  e x  . [2]
x 1
5
(iii) Hence, solve the inequality 2 x  4  e x 1  . [2]
x
Answers
(ii) x  1 or x  2.34 (iii) x  0 or x  1.34

SRJC Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q2

2 x2  2 x 1
Solve the inequality 1 .
x2  2x
2 x2  2 x 1
Hence, solve the inequality  1. [6]
x2  2 x
Answers
2  x  1 or 0  x  1 , 1  x  1, x  0

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Equations and Inequalities

VJC Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q2

The Singapore Utility Board charges the residential users based on the usage for electricity, water
and gas. Electricity and gas are charged by kilowatt hour (kWh) used while water usage is
charged by cubic meters (CuM). Below are the monthly utility statements for Mr Pandy from
May to August 2017.

SP Utility Bill (May 2017) SP Utility Bill (June 2017)

Mr Pandy Mr Pandy
Blk 20 Marine … Blk 20 Marine …

Current month charges Current month charges

Electricity 514 kWh ***.** Electricity 309 kWh ***.**
Water 18.8 CuM **.** Water 11.3 CuM **.**
Gas 134 kWh **.** Gas 89 kWh **.**
Total $155.54 Total $ 94.99

SP Utility Bill (July 2017) SP Utility Bill (August 2017)

Mr Pandy Mr Pandy
Blk 20 Marine … Blk 20 Marine …

Current month charges Current month charges

Electricity 639 kWh ***.** Electricity 555 kWh ***.**
Water 21.7 CuM **.** Water ??? CuM **.**
Gas 108 kWh **.** Gas 128 kWh **.**
Total $ 208.40 Total $ 184.84

It is known that the unit costs for electricity, water and gas remain unchanged for May and June.
The unit cost for electricity was increased by 20% with effect from July 2017, while the unit cost
for gas and water remain unchanged.
(i) Calculate the unit cost for electricity, water and gas for June 2017, giving your answers
correct to the nearest 4 decimal places. [3]
(ii) The water usage for August 2017 was not clearly printed on the bill. Using your answers
in part (i), calculate the water usage for August 2017 to the nearest CuM. [2]
Answers
(i) E  0.2137, W  1.1749, G  0.1761
(ii) w  17

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Equations and Inequalities

YJC Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q2

x
(i) Without using a calculator, solve the inequality  0 , giving your answer in exact
x 5
2

form. [2]
x
(ii) Hence, find the set of values of x for which  0. [2]
x 5
Answers
(i) x   5 or 0  x  5
(iii) (ii)  x  : 0  x  5

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