Indices logs and surds

topical past papers

2011-2021
1 Express lg a + 3lg b – 3 as a single logarithm. [3]
For
Examiner’s
Use

© UCLES 2011 4037/11/M/J/11 [Turn over

2 (i) Express logx2 in terms of a logarithm to base 2. [1] For
Examiner’s
Use

(ii) Using the result of part (i), and the substitution u = log2x, find the values of x which satisfy
the equation log2x = 3 – 2 logx2. [4]

© UCLES 2011 4037/12/O/N/11

 52x+3 252–x
3 (a) (i) Solve = . [3] For
252x 125x Examiner’s
Use

(ii) Solve 1g y + 1g(y – 15) = 2. [4]

© UCLES 2011 4037/21/O/N/11

4 Given that loga pq = 9 and loga p2q = 15, find the value of For
Examiner’s
(i) loga p and of loga q, [4] Use

(ii) logp a + logq a. [2]

© UCLES 2012 4037/12/O/N/12

5 1
(i)  Given that log 4 x = , find the value of x. [1] For
2 Examiner’s
Use

1
  (ii)  Solve 2 log 4 y - log 4 ^5y - 12h = . [4]
2

© UCLES 2013 4037/11/M/J/13

6 Solve 2 lg y - lg ^5y + 60h = 1. [5] For
Examiner’s
Use

© UCLES 2013 4037/13/O/N/13

7 (a)  (i)  State the value of u for which lg u = 0 . [1]

    (ii)  Hence solve lg 2x + 3 = 0 . [2]

  (b)  Express 2 log 3 15 - ^loga 5h^log 3 ah, where a > 1, as a single logarithm to base 3. [4]

© UCLES 2014 4037/22/M/J/14

8 Do not use a calculator in this question.

i rad

^4 + 3 2h cm

B ^8 + 5 2h cm C

  The diagram shows the triangle ABC where angle B is a right angle, AB = ^4 + 3 2h cm,
BC = ^8 + 5 2h cm and angle BAC = i radians. Showing all your working, find

  (i)  tan i in the form a + b 2 , where a and b are integers, [2]

  (ii)  sec 2 i in the form c + d 2 , where c and d are integers. [3]

© UCLES 2015 4037/11/M/J/15

9 (a)  Write log 27 x as a logarithm to base 3. [2]

  (b)  Given that log a y = 3 ^loga 15 - log a 3h + 1, express y in terms of a. [3]

© UCLES 2015 4037/21/M/J/15

10 Do not use a calculator in this question.

B A
(6 + 3 5) cm

  The diagram shows the right-angled triangle ABC, where AB = ^6 + 3 5hcm and angle B = 90°. The
J36 + 15 5N
  area of this triangle is K O cm 2 .
L 2 P

  (i)  Find the length of the side BC in the form ^a + b 5h cm , where a and b are integers. [3]

  (ii)  Find ^ACh2 in the form ^c + d 5h cm 2 , where c and d are integers. [2]

© UCLES 2015 4037/22/M/J/15

 1
11 (a) Solve 6x-2 = . [2]
4

(b) Solve log a2y 2+ log a8 + log a16y - log a64y = 2 log a4 . [4]

© UCLES 2015 4037/22/M/J/15

12   Solve the following equation.
2
  log2 (29x - 15) = 3 + [5]
log x 2

© UCLES 2015 4037/23/O/N/15

  
13
   

   

   

   

© UCLES 2016 4037/11/M/J/16  

14  Do not use a calculator in this question.

  (i)  Find the value of - log p p 2 . [1]

J1 N
  (ii)  Find lg K nO . [1]
L10 P

lg 20 - lg 4
  (iii)  Show that = ^lg yh2 , where y is a constant to be found. [2]
log 5 10

  (iv)  Solve log r 2x + log r 3x = logr 600 . [2]

© UCLES 2016 4037/21/M/J/16

 1 1 3
p 3 q-2 r 2
15  Given that = p a q b r c , find the value of each of the integers a, b and c. [3]
- 23 5
p (qr)

16
  By using the substitution y = log 3 x , or otherwise, find the values of x for which

3 (log 3 x) 2 + log 3 x 5 - log3 9 = 0 . [6]

© UCLES 2016 4037/12/O/N/16

  
17

9
4m m -
2  Express m in the form Am + B , where A and B are integers to be found. [3]
3
2 m+
m

© UCLES 2016 4037/13/O/N/16  

18  5
(i)  Given that log 9 xy = , show that log 3 x + log 3 y = 5. [3]
2

  (ii)  Hence solve the equations

5
    log 9 xy = ,
2
    log 3 x # log 3 y =- 6 . [5]

© UCLES 2016 4037/13/O/N/16

  
19

a b
2  Without using a calculator, find the integers a and b such that + = 3 - 3. [5]
3+1 3-1

© UCLES 2016 4037/22/O/N/16  

 x + 10
20  Solve the equation 2 lg x - lg c m = 1. [5]
2

   

© UCLES 2016 4037/22/O/N/16

 5+3 3
21 Without using a calculator, show that = k - 2 where k is an integer to be found. [3]
5+ 3

22 Solve the equation e 3x = 6e x . [3]

© UCLES 2016 4037/23/O/N/16

23

3
3 (a) Simplify x 8 y 10 ' x 3 y - 6 , giving your answer in the form x a y b , where a and b are integers. [2]

(b) (i) Show that 4 ^t - 2h2 + 5 ^t - 2h2 can be written in the form ^t - 2h p ^qt + rh, where p, q and r
1 3

are constants to be found. [3]

(ii) Hence solve the equation 4 ^t - 2h2 + 5 ^t - 2h2 = 0 .

1 3
[1]

© UCLES 2017 4037/11/M/J/17

24

2 Do not use a calculator in this question.

9 30
(a) Show that 24 # 27 + can be written in the form a 2, where a is an integer. [3]
15

(b) Solve the equation 3 ^1 + xh = 2 ^x - 3h, giving your answer in the form b + c 3 , where b and c
are integers. [3]

© UCLES 2017 4037/21/M/J/17

25

© UCLES 2017 4037/22/M/J/17

26 (a) Given that a 7 = b , where a and b are positive constants, find,

(i) log a b , [1]

(ii) log b a . [1]

1
(b) Solve the equation log 81 y =- . [2]
4

2
32 x - 1
(c) Solve the equation 2 = 16 . [3]
4x

© UCLES 2017 4037/22/M/J/17

 2x 1.5 + 6x -0.5
27 Solve the equation = x. [5]
x 0.5 + 5x -0.5

© UCLES 2017 4037/22/O/N/17

28

p 1
3 Find integers p and q such that + = q + 3 3. [4]
3-1 3+1

© UCLES 2017 4037/23/O/N/17

29 If z = 2+ 3 find the integers a and b such that az 2 + bz = 1 + 3 . [5]

© UCLES 2017 4037/22/O/N/17

30 (a) Write ^log ph^log 2h + log q as a single logarithm to base 3. [3]
2 3 3

(b) Given that ^log a 5h2 - 4 log a 5 + 3 = 0 , find the possible values of a. [3]

© UCLES 2018 4037/11/M/J/18

31 Do not use a calculator in this question.
5+6 5
(a) Simplify . [3]
6+ 5

(b) Show that 3 0.5 # ^ 2h7 can be written in the form a b, where a and b are integers and a > b.
[2]

4
(c) Solve the equation x + 2 = x , giving your answers in simplest surd form. [4]

© UCLES 2018 4037/11/M/J/18

32 (a) (i) Solve lg x = 3. [1]

(ii) Write lg a - 2 lg b + 3 as a single logarithm. [3]

6
(b) (i) Solve x - 5 + = 0. [2]
x

(ii) Hence, showing all your working, find the values of a such that log4 a - 5 + 6 log a 4 = 0 .
[3]

© UCLES 2018 4037/12/M/J/18

33 Do not use a calculator in this question.

All lengths in this question are in centimetres.

4 3 -5

60°
B C
4 3 +5

The diagram shows the triangle ABC, where AB = 4 3 - 5, BC = 4 3 + 5 and angle ABC = 60° .
3 1
It is known that sin 60° = , cos 60° = , tan 60° = 3 .
2 2
(i) Find the exact value of AC. [4]

© UCLES 2018 4037/12/M/J/18

 2 p
(ii) Hence show that cosec ACB = (4 3 + 5) , where p and q are integers. [4]
q

© UCLES 2018 4037/12/M/J/18

34 Solve

(i) 2 3x - 1 = 6 , [3]

2
(ii) log 3 (y + 14) = 1 + . [5]
log y 3

© UCLES 2018 4037/22/O/N/18

35 Solve the quadratic equation `1 - 3j x 2 + x + `1 + 3j = 0 , giving your answer in the form a + b 3 ,
where a and b are constants. [6]

© UCLES 2018 4037/22/O/N/18

36 (a) Solve log 3 x + log 9 x = 12 . [3]

1
(b) Solve log 4 (3y 2 - 10) = 2 log 4 ( y - 1) + . [5]
2

© UCLES 2019 4037/11/M/J/19

 ` pr 2j2 qr
3

37 (a) Given that can be written in the form paqbr c, find the value of each of the constants a,
2` 2j-1
q pr
b and c. [3]

1 1
(b) Solve 3x 2 - y - 2 = 4,
1 1
4x 2 + 3y - 2 = 14. [3]

© UCLES 2019 4037/12/M/J/19

38

` 5 - 3j
2

4 Without using a calculator, express in the form p 5 + q , where p and q are integers. [4]
5 +1

© UCLES 2019 4037/21/M/J/19

39 (a) Solve lg (x 2 - 3) = 0 . [2]

ln a sin (2x + 5) + ln b l
1
a
(b) (i) Show that, for a 2 0 , may be written as sin (2x + 5) + k , where k is an
ln a
integer. [3]

© UCLES 2019 4037/22/M/J/19

 qp 2
pa k
40 (a) Write r in the form p a q b r c , where a, b and c are constants. [3]
p -1 3 qr

(b) Solve log 7 x + 2 log x 7 = 3. [4]

© UCLES 2019 4037/12/O/N/19

41 (a) Given that log a x = p and log a y = q, find, in terms of p and q,

(i) log a axy 2, [2]

log a e
x3 o
(ii) , [2]
ay

(iii) log x a + log y a. [1]

(b) Using the substitution m = 3 x, or otherwise, solve 3 x - 3 1 + 2x + 4 = 0. [3]

© UCLES 2019 4037/13/O/N/19

42 Do not use a calculator in this question.

3– 3

A 3+ 3 B

(i) Find tan ACB in the form r + s 3 , where r and s are integers. [3]

(ii) Find AC in the form t u, where t and u are integers and t ! 1. [3]

© UCLES 2019 4037/23/O/N/19

43

2 DO NOT USE A CALCULATOR IN THIS QUESTION.

The point `1 - 5, pj lies on the curve

10 + 2 5
y= . Find the exact value of p, simplifying your
answer. x2 [5]

© UCLES 2020 4037/22/M/J/20

 9

44 (a) Solve the equation 9 5x

= 243. [3]
27 x - 2

1
(b) loga b - = logb a, where a 2 0 and b 2 0.
2
Solve this equation for b, giving your answers in terms of a. [5]

© UCLES 2020 4037/22/M/J/20

45 Solve the simultaneous equations.

log3 (x + y) = 2
2 log3 (x + 1) = log3 (y + 2) [6]

© UCLES 2020 4037/22/O/N/20

46 DO NOT USE A CALCULATOR IN THIS QUESTION.

log 2 (y + 1) = 3 - 2 log2 x
log2 (x + 2) = 2 + log2 y

(a) Show that x 3 + 6x 2 - 32 = 0 . [4]

© UCLES 2020 4037/23/O/N/20

 1
(pqr) -2 r 3
47 Write in the form p a q b r c , where a, b and c are constants. [3]
`p r
2 j-1 3
q

© UCLES 2021 4037/12/M/J/21

48 (a) Given that log p + log 5 - log 4 = log 20 , find the value of p. [2]
a a a a

(b) Solve the equation 3 2x + 1 + 8 (3 x) - 3 = 0 . [3]

(c) Solve the equation 4 log y 2 + log 2 y = 4. [3]

© UCLES 2021 4037/12/M/J/21

49 In this question all lengths are in centimetres.
Do not use a calculator in this question.

5 3-3
A B

3+2

D C
5 3-1

The diagram shows the trapezium ABCD, where AB = 5 3 - 3, DC = 5 3 - 1 and AD = 3 + 2 .

(a) Find the area of ABCD, giving your answer in the form a + b 3 , where a and b are integers. [3]

© UCLES 2021 4037/14/M/J/21

 (b) Given that angle BCD = i radians, find the value of cot i in the form c + d 3  , where c and d are
integers. [3]

(c) Using your answer to part (b), find the value of cosec 2 i in the form e + f 3 , where e and f are
integers. [2]

© UCLES 2021 4037/14/M/J/21

 xy `zyj
3 2
50 (a) Given that = x a y b z c , find the exact values of the constants a, b and c. [3]
`xzj
-3
z

(b) Solve the equation 5 (2 2p + 1) - 17 (2 p) + 3 = 0 . [4]

© UCLES 2021 4037/12/O/N/21

51 (a) Write 3 + 2 lg a - 4 lg b as a single logarithm to base 10. [4]

(b) Solve the equation 3 log a 4 + 2 log 4 a = 7 . [5]

© UCLES 2021 4037/12/O/N/21

52 (a) Solve the following simultaneous equations.

ex + e y = 5
2e x - 3e y = 8 [5]

(b) Solve the equation e (2t - 1) = 5e (5t - 3) . [4]

© UCLES 2021 4037/22/O/N/21

53 (a) Solve the equation log (2x - 3) = 1 . Give your answer in exact form. [2]
6 2

(b) Solve the equation ln 2u - ln (u - 4) = 1. Give your answer in exact form. [3]

3v
(c) Solve the equation = 9. [3]
27 2v - 5

© UCLES 2021 4037/23/O/N/21

 Answers
!" ! 15. 𝑎 = 1, 𝑏 = −3, 𝑐 = −1
1.lg #$$$
#
# 16. 𝑥 = 1.44 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 = ,
2.(i)%&' (
"
17. 2𝑚 − 3
(ii)𝑥 = 4, 𝑥 = 4
#
# 18.(ii) 𝑦 = ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦 = 729
3a.(i) )
19. 𝑎 = 4 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏 = −2
(ii)20
20. 𝑥 = 10
4.(i) 𝑙𝑜𝑔! 𝑃 = 6𝑗 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑙𝑜𝑔! 𝑞 = 3
21. 15 − √2
(ii) 0.5
#
5.(i)2 22. 𝑥 = - 𝑙𝑛6

(ii)4, 6 23a. 𝑥 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦 /

#
6. 60 b.(i)(𝑡 − 2)" (5𝑡 − 6)
7a.(i) 1 0
(ii)2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 *
(ii)−1 𝑜𝑟 − 2
24a. 27√2
b. 𝑙𝑜𝑔) 45
b. 15 + 8√3
8.(i) 1 + 2√2
25. 9 − 4√5
(ii)10 − 4√2
26a.(i)7
%&'! (
9a. )
#
(ii)/
b. 𝑦 = 125𝑎
#
b.
)
10.(i) 1 + 2√5
c. ±√3
(ii)102 + 40√5
27. 𝑥 = 3 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 = 2
11a. 1.23
28. 𝑝 = 5 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑞 = 2
b. 𝑦 = 2
* 29. 𝑎 = 1, 𝑏 = 3
12. 𝑥 = + , 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = 3
30a. 𝑙𝑜𝑔) 𝑝𝑞
#$
13a. 𝑥 = !
, b. 5, √5
*
b. 𝑝 = ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑞 = −2 31a. √5
14. (i) −2 b. 8√6
(ii)−𝑛 c.√2, −2√2
(iii)(𝑙𝑔5)- 32a.(i) 1000
(iv)𝑥 = 10 #$$$!
(ii)lg
%'"





 b.(i) 𝑥 = 3 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 = 2 48a. 𝑝 = 16
(ii)𝑎 = 64 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎 = 16 b. 𝑥 = −1

33.(i) 𝐴𝐶 = √123 c. 𝑦 = 4

(ii) 4√3 + 5 49a. 11 + 8√3

34.(i) 1.19 b. 4 − 2√3

/
(ii) 𝑦 = ) c.29 − 16√3
#$ / ,
# √) 50a. 𝑎 = , 𝑏 = ) , 𝑐 = -
35. 𝑥 = 1 + √3 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = − - − -
)

b. 𝑝 = 0.585 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑝 = −2.32

36a. 𝑥 = 6561
#$$$! "
b. 𝑦 = 2 51a. lg Q R
"'
* 2) ##
37a. 𝑎 = , 𝑏 = ,𝑐 = b. 𝑎 = 2, 𝑎 = 64
- - -
# 52a. 𝑦 = 𝑙𝑛0.4 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 = 𝑙𝑛4.6
b. 𝑥 = 4, 𝑦 = 3
-2%6*
b. 𝑡 = )

38. 5√5 − 11
√07)
39.(a) −2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 2 53a. 𝑥 =
-

b.(i) sin(2𝑥 + 5) − 1 238

b. 𝑢 = -28
$ % &$
40a. 𝑝" , 𝑞! , 𝑟 ! #)
c. 𝑣 = *

b. 𝑥 = 7 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 = 49

41a.(i)1 + 2𝑞 + 𝑝
(ii) 3𝑝 − 𝑞 − 1
# #
(iii)4 + 5

b. 𝑥 = 0.262

42.(i) 2 + √3

(ii). 2√6

43. 5 + 2√5
#
44a. 𝑥 = − /
#
b. 𝑏 = 𝑎- , 𝑏 = !

45. 𝑥 = 2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦 = 7
-
47. 𝑎 = 0, 𝑏 = −5, 𝑐 = − )