AS Level/Year 1 A Level Maths

Exam Questions Exponential and Logarithm

Mark Scheme
Types of marks: Abbreviations:
M method marks cao correct answer only
A accuracy marks ft follow through
B unconditional accuracy marks oe or equivalent
(independent of M marks) dep dependent on previous marks
C communication marks

Multiple Choice Questions [10 marks]

Q Details Marks Typical solution

1 C B1 y = 3e3x

2 D B1 625 5
3 A B1

4 D B1

5 B B1

6 D B1 6

(a )
2
7 C B1 log3 b

8 A B1 e4 – 1
x= 3

9 C B1 log3 – log5
x = log5 – log3

10 B B1 3 + 3lnx – 4lny

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 AS Level Pure Maths Exponential and Logarithm Exam Questions

AO1 Questions [27 marks]

Q Details Marks Typical solution

1a Correct answer only. B1 5

1b Correct answer only. B1 -2

1c Correct answer only. B1 0

2a Uses laws of logs to write the two logs M1 loga10 – loga5 = 3
as a single log.
loga2 = 3
Rewrite the equation as an exponential. M1
a3 = 2
Solves to find the exact value of a. A1 a= 2
3

2b Takes logs to any base of both sides. M1 log(4b + 1) = log(32b)

Uses laws of logs to eliminate at least M1 (b + 1)log4 = 2blog3

one power. blog4 + log4 = 2blog3
Divides throughout to find the exact A1
2blog3 – blog4 = log4
value of b.
Note: If logs taken to base 3 or 4, b(2log3 – log4) = log4
answers will be simplified: log4
b = 2log3 – log4
log 4 1
e.g. b = 2 – log
3
= 2log 3 – 1
34 3

3a States the gradient function of y = e2x. B1 dy

= 2e2x
dx

Finds the gradient at the point x = 12 . M1 When x = 12 , gradient = 2e and y = e.

y – y1 = m(x – x1)
Finds the y-coordinate and attempts to M1
use it to find the equation of a straight y – e = 2e(x – 1
2 )
line.
y – e = 2ex – e
Fully correct method leading to the A1
equation of the tangent. y = 2ex

3b Sets the two equations equal to each M1 6 – e x = e2x

other.
e2x + e x – 6 = 0
Rearranges their equation to equal 0. M1
(e x + 3)(e x – 2) = 0
Identifies stealth quadratic and begins to M1 e x = -3 has no solutions so we discard
solve. this.
Rejects e x = -3 with a reason. C1 ex = 2
Attempts to solve e x = 2. M1 x = ln2
y=4
Final solution. A1

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 AS Level Pure Maths Exponential and Logarithm Exam Questions

4a Correct shape in the correct quadrants. B1

Marks a y-intercept of 3. B1

4b Correct answer only. B1 y=2

5 Uses laws of logs to write the LHS as a M1 log2(x + k) – log2 x2 = 4

single log.
log2( x2 )=4
x+k
Uses exponentials to remove logs. M1
x+k
x2
= 24
Rearranges to form a quadratic. M1
x + k = 16x2
Attempts to use the discriminant and M1 16x2 – x – k = 0
sets as > 0.
b2 – 4ac > 0
Correct set of values for k. A1
1 + 64k > 0
1
k > - 64

AO2 Questions [45 marks]

Q Details Marks Typical solution

6a Substitutes in w = 1. B1 99 × 0.981 = 97.119%

6b Considers the graph of the model or the B1 y=0

value as w → ∞.
6c Sets the equation equal to 80 or 75. M1 99 × 0.981w = 80

Solves one of these equations. M1 0.981w = 0.8̇0̇

w = 11.1 (3s.f.)
Sets up and solves a second equation. M1
99 × 0.981w = 75
Correct weeks given. A1
0.981w = 0.7̇5̇
w = 14.5 (3s.f.)
The booster can be given 12 or 13
Accept answers that include 11 and 14. weeks after the vaccine.
6d Considers the protection immediately C1 When w = 0, p = 99. This means that
after the jab is given and equates to the the vaccine will immediately give 99%
real-life accuracy. protection. Realistically, the vaccine
will take a few days to begin to work.

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 AS Level Pure Maths Exponential and Logarithm Exam Questions

7 Rearranged the second equation to M1 log2a = 4b

make a the subject. a = 24b
Substitutes their expression for a into M1
= 16b
the first equation.
a = 32 – 42b
Attempts to solve to find b. M1
16b = 32 – 16b
Correct solution for b. A1
2 × 16b = 32
Correct solution for a. A1 16b = 16
b=1
a = 16
8a Takes log to base 10 of both sides. M1 θ = ab t

Uses laws of logs to get an equation in M1 log10θ = log10(ab t)

the form y = mx + c.
Explains they have an equation in the
form y = mx + c where y = log10θ and
x = t.
8b Correctly completes the values for t = 4.
log10θ = log10a + log10b t
C1 log10θ = (log10b)t + log10a
This is a linear equation with gradient
log10b and y-intercept log10a.
B1 When t = 4, log10θ = 1.85

Correctly completes the values for t = 12. B1 When t = 12, log10θ = 1.56
2.0
Correct linear graph. B1 A B
C
D
1.5 E
F
log10θ

1.0

0.5

Allow F/T from part b. for the remainder 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14

of this question. t
8c Identifies the y-intercept of their graph. B1 y-intercept = 1.98

Sets their y-intercept equal to log10a and M1 log10a = 1.98

begins to solve. a = 101.98
An answer for a in the interval [89,100]. A1 = 95.5 (3s.f.)
Calculates the gradient of their graph. B1 gradient = -0.03
log10b = -0.03
Sets their gradient equal to log10b and M1
begins to solve. b = 10-0.03
An answer for b that rounds to 0.9. A1 = 0.933 (3s.f.)

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 AS Level Pure Maths Exponential and Logarithm Exam Questions

8d Substitutes their values for a and b into M1 θ = 95.5 × 0.933t

the model.
20 = 95.5 × 0.933t
Sets the equation equal to 20 and M1
0.933t = 0.209
begins to solve.
Correct value for t. A1 t = log0.9330.209
= 23 minutes
9a Identifies stealth quadratic and begins to M1 32x + 1 – 3x + 2 – 30 = 0
solve. 3(32x) – 32(3x) – 30 = 0
Solves to find two values of 3x. M1
3(3x)2 – 9(3x) – 30 = 0
Rejects e x = -3 with a reason. C1 (3x)2 – 3(3x) – 10 = 0
Correctly solves for x. A1 (3x – 5)(3x + 2) = 0
3x = 5 or 3x = -2
3x = -2 has no solutions so we discard
this.
x = log35
= 1.46 (3s.f.)
9b Rearranges to equal 0 and identifies the M1 3ln2(2x + 3) – ln(2x + 3) – 2 = 0
stealth quadratic. (3ln(2x + 3) + 2)(ln(2x + 3) – 1) = 0
Solves quadratic to get two values for M1
ln(2x + 3).
ln(2x + 3) = - 23 ln(2x + 3) = 1
Both values for x. A1 2
2x + 3 = e-3 2x + 3 = e1
x = -1.24 (3s.f.) x = -0.141 (3s.f.)
10a Find the y-coordinate of P. B1 When x = ln3, y = 9
dy
Differentiates the curve to find the M1 dx = 2e2x
gradient function. At x = ln3, gradient = 18
Finds the gradient of the tangent. M1 y – 9 = 18(x – ln3)
Correct equation for the tangent. A1 y = 18x – 18ln3 + 9

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 AS Level Pure Maths Exponential and Logarithm Exam Questions

10b Sets the equations equal and begins to M1 e2x = e x + 28

solve.
e2x – e x – 28 = 0
Identifies the stealth quadratic and finds M1 1 + 113
ex = 2
a solution.
We reject the negative solution as e x
Discards the negative value of e x with a C1
is always positive.
reason.
x = ln( 1 + 2 113 )
Finds the correct coordinates of Q. A1
Find the gradient of PQ. M1 = 1.76 (3s.f.)

Attempts to find the equation of a M1 y = 33.8 (3s.f.)

33.8 – 9
straight line. mPQ = 1.76 – ln3

Correct y-intercept of the straight line. A1 = 37.4…

y – 9 = 37.4…(x – ln3)
y = 37.5x – 32.2
y-intercept is -32.2 (3s.f.)

AO3 Questions [31 marks]

Q Details Marks Typical solution

11ai Correct explanation. C1 A reflection in the y-axis.

11aii Correct explanation. C1 A vertical stretch of scale factor 3.

11b Sets the equations equal. M1 5-x = 3 × 5x

1
Rearranges to find the value of 5x. M1 (5x)2 = 3

Solves to find x. A1 5x = 1
3
We reject the negative solution as 5x
is always positive.

x = log5 1
3
= -0.341 (3s.f.)

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 AS Level Pure Maths Exponential and Logarithm Exam Questions

12a At least 1 pair of values for lnt and lnr. M1 lnt 0 0.182 0.336 0.470 0.588 0.693
lnr 0.300 0.859 1.338 1.735 2.098 2.420
A fully correct set of values. A1

Plots their values and draws a line of M1 2.4

best fit. 2.2

Uses their line of best fit to estimate the M1 2.0

gradient or y-intercept.
1.8
Finds a linear equation. M1
1.6
Uses laws of logs to combine to a single M1
1.4
log.
Attempts to use powers to write in the M1 1.2

lnr
required format. 1.0
Correct model. A1 0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8

lnt
Note: values are estimated so may
vary.

r = at b
lnr = ln(at b)
lnr = lna + ln(t b)
lnr = blnt + lna

m = 3.05
b = 3.05

c = 0.301
lna = 0.301
a = e0.301
= 1.35

r = 1.35 × t 3.05
12b Substitutes t = 24 into their model. M1 t = 24: r = 1.35 × 243.05

Correct value for r. A1 = 21877m

The model slightly overestimates the
Compares their value for r with the true C1 radius of the fire.
value.

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 AS Level Pure Maths Exponential and Logarithm Exam Questions

13 Considers the stretch of scale factor 16. M1 y = 16 × 4x

Uses laws of indices to write as a single M1 = 42 × 4x

power.
14a Starts to work with a model in the form
y = abx.
Substitutes in a pair of values for x and y.
= 4x + 2
When the graph is stretched by a
scale factor of 16, the new equation
is y = 4x + 2, which represents
a translation of -2 units in the
x-direction (a translation of 2 units to
the left).
M1 Let y represent the tumour burden
and x the time in days.
M1 y = ab x

Uses simultaneous equations to find the M1 When x = 1, y = 30: 30 = ab

value of b. When x = 4, y = 1170: 1170 = ab4
Uses simultaneous equations to find the M1 b3 = 39
value of a.
b = 3.39 (3s.f.)
Fully correct method leading to the A1
correct model. a = 8.85 (3s.f.)
y = 8.85 × 3.39x
14b Substitutes x = 10 into their model. M1 t = 10: y = 8.85 × 3.3910

Gets the correct value for y. M1 = 1 770 000 units (3s.f.)

The model is consistent to 3
Compares the accuracy of the values. C1
significant figures.
15 Multiplies throughout to make x the M1 x = loga(b3)logb(a4)
subject.
= 3logab × 4logba
Uses laws of logs to simplify the M1
= 12logab logba
expression.
Attempts to find the link between logab M1
and logba. Let loga(b) = y
Uses this link to simplify the expression. M1 ay = b

Correct value for x. A1 logb(a y) = logbb

y logba = 1
logba = 1y
x = 12y × 1y
= 12

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 AS Level Pure Maths Exponential and Logarithm Exam Questions

Challenge Question [6 marks]

16 Considers the value of y as the B1 As pe qx → 0, y tends to 5 so r = 5.
exponential tends to 0 to find r. When x = 0, y = 16 :
3
Substitutes the point (0, 16
3 ). M1 16
=p+5
3
Rearranges to find the value of p. A1 p = 13
Substitutes the point (-ln9, 32). M1
When x = -ln9, y = 32:
Simplifies to the form e m = n. M1
32 = 13 e-qln9 + 5
Correct value of q. A1
27 = 13 e-qln9
81 = e-qln9
ln 81 = -qln9
-q = ln81
ln9
q = -2

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