ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS – SAMPLE PROBLEMS

Solve for x in the equation 3x2 – 4xi + 4 = 0 Key: Quadratic Equation

a. -2i and -2i/3 x = [-b±√ (b2 – 4ac)]/2a

b. 2i and -2i/3
c. -2i and 2i/3 a = 3, b = -4i and c = 4
d. 2i and 2i/3
First root: 2i and Second root: -2i/3
In a quadratic equation problem, one student made a mistake
in copying the coefficient of x and got a root of +3 and -2. Key: Quadratic Equation
Another student made a mistake in copying the constant term
(x – a) (x – b) = 0 (any degree)
and got a root of +3 and +2. Find the correct equation.
#1: (x – 3) (x + 2) = 0 x2 – x – 6 = 0; coefficient is wrong
a. x2 + 2x – 1 = 0
b. x2 – 5x – 6 = 0 #2: (x – 3) (x – 2) = 0 x2 – 5x + 6 = 0; constant term is wrong
c. 3x2 + 4x – 10 = 0
d. 2x2 + 5x – 1 = 0 Correct equation: x2 – 5x – 6 = 0

Two turtle A and B start to move at the same time towards Key: Motion Problem
each other at a distance of 150 m. The rate of A is 10 m/s while
that of B is 20 m/s. A fly flies from one turtle to another at the Va*t + Vb*t = Total distance
same time that the turtles start to move towards each other.
The speed of the fly is 100 m/s. Find the total distance traveled 10 m/s (t) + 20 m/s (t) = 150 m
by the fly until the turtles meet.
t = 5 seconds
a. 600 m
100 m/s (5 sec) = 500 meters
b. 450 m
c. 500 m
Key: Diophantine Equation
d. 750 m
Total No. of item sold: 24 boxes
A mechanical engineer bought 24 boxes of screws for Php
2200. There were three types of screws bought. Screw A costs Total Sales: 2200
Php 300 per box, screw B costs Php 150 per box and screw C
costs Php 50 per box. How many boxes of screw A did he buy? Equation #1: A + B + C = 24

a. 2 Equation #2: 300A + 150B + 50C = 2200

b. 17
c. 5 Elimination by subtraction: Equation #2 – (Equation #1)*(50)
d. 14
250A + 100B = 1000
At what time after 3 o’clock will the angle between the hands of
the clock bisected by the second hand? Substitution of values

a. 3:00:05:57 250(2) + 100B = 1000; B = 5 ∴ answer is 2

b. 3:00:07:57
250(17) + 100B = 1000; B = -32.5
c. 3:00:06:57
d. 3:00:08:57 250(5) + 100B = 1000; B = -2.5

250(14) + 100B = 1000; B = -25

Rules of Application: negative values are not allowed

Key: Clock Problem

H – S = S – M;

H = 1/120 deg per sec, M = 1/10 deg per sec & S = 6 deg per sec

90 degrees = 3 o’clock

90 + t/120 – 6t = 6t – t/10

t = 7:568325158

t = 3:00:07:57
 ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS – SAMPLE PROBLEMS

A man who is on a diet losses 24 lbs. In 3 months, 16 lbs, in the Key: Sum of Infinity Series
next 3 months and so on for a long time. What is the maximum
total weight loss? Ratio: 16/24 = 2/3 a1 = 24

a. 72 lbs Sum = a1/(1 – r)

b. 54 lbs
Sum = 24/(1 – 2/3)
c. 64 lbs
d. 81 lbs Sum = 72 lbs
Find the quotient of the sum of all odd integers between 100
Key: Sum of Arithmetic Progression
and 1000 when it is divided by 9.
a1 = 101
a. 247500
b. 27500 an = 999
c. 27561
d. 24805 a1 = an + (n – 1)*d

When a certain polynomial f(x) is divided by (x – 1), the 101 = 999 + (n – 1)*2
remainder is 12. When the same polynomial is divided by (x –
4), the remainder is 3. Find the remainder when the n = 450
polynomial is divided by (x – 1) (x – 4).
s = (n/2)*(a1 + an)
a. x+5
b. -2x – 8 s = 247500
c. -3x + 15
q = s/9
d. 4x – 1
q = 27500
Three people A, B and C rode in a minibus that has a six vacant
seats on each side. In how many ways can they be seated if A Key: Remainder Theorem
insists sitting at the right side of the minibus?
f(x) = (x – 1)*(x – 4)q(x) + r(x); r(x) = Ax + B
a. 660 ways
b. 650 ways R1 = 12
c. 670 ways
d. 60 ways R2 = 3

12 = r(1); r(1) = A(1) + B – Equation #1

3 = r(4); r(4) = A(4) + B – Equation #2

A(x) + B = -3x + 15

Key: Combinatorics and Permutations

We can choose a seat on the right for A in 6 ways. That leaves

11 seats (6 on the left and 5 on the right). For each of the 6
ways we can choose a seat for A, we can choose a seat for B in
11 ways. That's 6×11 or 66 ways to seat A and B. That leaves
10 vacant seats. For each of those 66 ways we can seat A & B,
we can seat C in any one of those remaining 10 seats.

So that's a total of 10×66 = 660 ways

 ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS – SAMPLE PROBLEMS

Situation I Key: Permutations & Combinatorics

Given the following digits: 4, 3, 5, 8, 9 and 1. First digit: 1 (1 choice)

How many three-digit numbers less than 500 can be made Second digit: any of the remaining (5 choice)
without repeating any digit?
Third digit: any of the remaining (4 choice)
a. 180
b. 120 First digit: 3 (1 choice)
c. 60
Second digit: any of the remaining (5 choice)
d. 100
Third digit: any of the remaining (4 choice)
How many four-digit numbers greater than 8500 can be made
without repeating any digit? First digit: 4 (1 choice)
a. 60 Second digit: any of the remaining (5 choice)
b. 72
c. 125 Third digit: any of the remaining (4 choice)
d. 84
1*5*4 + 1*5*4 + 1*5*4 = 60
One box contain four cards numbered 1, 3, 5 and 6. Another
box contains three cards numbered 2, 4 and 7. One card is Key: Permutations & Combinatorics
drawn from each box. Find the probability that the sum is even.
85xx 89xx (2 sets)
a. 5/12
b. 3/7 91xx 93xx 94xx 95xx 98xx (5 sets)
c. 7/12
d. 5/7 7sets*(4 remaining)*(3 remaining) = 84

Luffy and Zoro each throw two dice. If Luffy gets a sum of 4, Proof:
what is the probability that Zoro will get less?
8513 8913 9134 9314 9413 9513 9813
a. ½ 8514 8914 9135 9314 9415 9514 9814
b. 5/6 8519 8915 9138 9318 9418 9518 9815
c. 9/11 8531 8931 9143 9341 9431 9531 9831
d. 1/12 8534 8934 9145 9345 9435 9534 9834
8539 8935 9148 9348 8438 9538 9835
8541 8941 9153 9351 9451 9541 9841
8543 8943 9154 9354 9453 9543 9843
8549 8945 8158 9358 9458 9548 9845
8594 8954 9183 9381 9481 9581 9851
8593 8953 9184 9384 9483 9583 9853
8594 8954 9185 9385 9485 9584 9854

Key: Permutations & Combinatorics

Probability = No. of Favorable Ways/ No. of Total Ways

Probability = 5 possibilities/ 12 ways

Proof: ¼*1/3 = 1/12 => Total Ways

1+7 8
3+7 10
5+7 12
6+2 8
6+4 10
5 possibilities

Answer: 5*(1/12) = 5/12

Key: Permutations & Combinatorics

Probability = No. of Favorable Ways/ No. of Total Ways

Probability = 3/36 = 1/12

 ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS – SAMPLE PROBLEMS

Situation II Key: Pythagorean Theorem, Spherical Segment and Cone

Formula
A spherical ball having a radius of 3 cm is placed inside an
empty conical vessel having a top base radius of 6 cm and an Alternate Key: Proof by Similar Triangle
altitude of 8 cm. The spherical ball is just level with the top
base of the conical vessel. a = 3, b = 5 and c = 4

Compute the radius of circle of contact of the spherical ball and 18 = a2 + b2 – c2

cone.
30 = 2*a*b
a. 1.98 cm
R = 3*sin [arcos (18/30)] = 2.40 cm
b. 2.54 cm
c. 1.75 cm
V = (πh/6)*(3r – h)
d. 2.40 cm
V = 11.7621229 cm3
Compute the volume of the spherical segment below the circle
of contact.
V = [(πh/3)*(R2 + r2 + R*r)] – [(πh2/3)*(3*r – h)]
a. 12.34 cm3
V = 180.9557368 cm3
b. 15.24 cm3
c. 11.76 cm3 Key: Pythagorean Theorem
d. 9.27 cm3
Hypotenuse = distance required
If water is poured into the conical vessel, how much water is
needed to keep the conical vessel full assuming no water gets Opposite side = 10 cm = height
inside the circle of contact between the sphere and the cone?
Adjacent side = 8 cm = diameter = 2*radius
a. 158.45 cm3
b. 180.95 cm3 H2 = OS2 + AS2
c. 165.78 cm3
d. 172.31 cm3 H = 12.80624827 cm

A right circular cylinder has a height of 10 cm and radius of 4 Key: Plane Geometry: Ellipse
cm. A point X and point Y lies on the surface of the cylinder. If
point X and point Y are to be far apart as possible from each LR = 2b2/a
other, what is the maximum distance between X and Y?
2b = length of minor axis
a. 12.81 cm
Given: LR = 3/4 (2b)
b. 14.42 cm
c. 10.77 cm 3/4 (2b) = 2b2/a
d. 17.21 cm
a = 4b/3
If the length of the latus rectum of an ellipse is three-fourths of
the length of its minor axis, determine the eccentricity. Substitute a to equation: a2 = b2 + c2

a. 0.18 c = b*(√7)/3
b. 0.66
c. 0.32 Eccentricity = c/a
d. 0.72
Eccentricity = √7/4 ≈ 0.6614378287
Situation III
Key: Changing Polar Form to Trigonometric Form
The polar equation of a curve is expressed as r = 2/1 – sin θ
r2 = x2 + y2, x = r*cos θ, y = r*sin θ
Compute the ordinate of the vertex of the curve.
r – r*sin θ = 2
a. 1
b. 0 √(x2 + y2) – y = 2; x2 + y2 = (2 + y)2
c. -1
Standard Equation of Parabola: (x – h)2 = 4a(y – k)2
d. 2
x2 = 4 + 4y
Compute the length of latus rectum.
x2 = 4(y + 1)
a. 8
b. 4 (x – 0)2 = 4(y – (-1))2
c. 6
d. 2 h = 0 and k = -1
 ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS – SAMPLE PROBLEMS

Determine the distance from vertex to the directrix. Vertical Axis General Form: Ax2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0

a. 1 x2 – 4y – 4 = 0
b. 3
c. 2 A = 1; D = 0; E = -4; F = -4; k = (D2 – 4AF)/4AE
d. 4
k = -4(1)(-4)/4(1)(-4) = -1
The vertices of a triangle are at A(1, 2), B(3, 8), and C(8, -1).
a = -E/4A
Locate the point of intersection of its altitudes.
a = -(-4)/4(1) = 1
a. (1/4, 19/12)
b. (-1/4, 19/12) 4a = 4(1) = 4
c. (19/12, 1/4)
d. (1/4, -19/12) Length of latus rectum = 4a = 4

Find the second derivative of y = x/2*(3x+1) 2 when x = 0. By inspection standard parabolic equation: (x – h)2 = 4a(y – k)2

a. 6 4a = 4
b. 0.5
c. -6 a = distance of vertex to directrix
d. -0.5
a=1
A function given below, what value of x maximizes y? y 2 + y + x2
– 2x = 0 Key: Slope of a Line, Point-slope form and Perpendicular slope
of a line.
a. 0
b. 2 Slope of AB and BC
c. 1
d. 3 m = y2 – y1/x2 – x1

m = 8 – 2/3 – 1 = 3

m = 8 – (-1)/3 – 8 = -9/5

Perpendicular Slope of AB and BC

m = -1/3

m = 5/9

Point-slope form

Equation#1 y – (-1) = -1/3(x – 8) ≈ y – 5/3 = -x/3

Equation#2 y – (2) = 5/9(x – 1) ≈ y – 13/9 = 5x/9

Subtract Equation#1 to Equation#2

-5/3 – (-13/9) = -x/3 – (5x/9)

x = 1/4

y = 19/12

Required coordinates (1/4, 19/12)

Key: Differentiation Formula: Algebraic Function

d(u/v) = vdu – udv/v2

1st derivative: (-3x + 1)/2*(3x + 1)3

2nd derivative: (9x – 6)/( 3x + 1)4 substitute x = 0

d2y/dx2 = -6