MAT1581 ASSIGNMENT 1 SEMESTER 1, 2023

QUESTION 1
1
 x
3


Use the Binomial theorem to expand 1   to 4 terms and simplify each term. [5]
 3 

Binomial theorem is on the information sheets. Do each term and combine for final answer. When
calculating all terms at once it is easy to make mistakes.
n  n  1 2 n  n  1 n  2  3
1  x  
n
 1  nx 
x  x  ...
2! 3!
x 1
Substitute x with and n with
3 3
T1  1
 1  x  x
T2  nx      
 3  3  9
2
n  n  1 2 1  1  1  x  x
T3  x      1    
2! 2.1  3   3   3  81
3
n  n  1 n  2  3 1  1  1  1  x  5 x
3
5x x
T4  x     1   2 
 
  
3! 3.2.1  3   3   3  3  2187 2187
1
 x x x 5 x3
3

 1    1     ....
 3  9 81 2187

Common mistakes: Students forget to put down a final answer.

1any power always 1

QUESTION 2
8
 1
Given  x   write down the following terms in the expansion:
 x

The first term. T1   x 

8
2.1 (1)

2.2 The middle term and simplify your answer. (4)

n = 8 therefore the total number of terms will be 9.
Thus the middle term is term 5.
n  n  1 n  2  n  3 n  4 4
T5  a b
4!
4
8.7.6.5 4  1 
  x   
4.3.2.1  x
 70

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MAT1581 ASSIGNMENT 1 SEMESTER 1, 2023
8
 1 1
2.3 The last term = T9      8 . (1)
 x x
[6]

QUESTION 3
The currents in an electrical network are given by the solution of the system:
I1  I 2  I 3  0 (1)
8 I1  0 I 2  10 I 3  8 (2)
6 I1  3I 2  0 I 3  12 (3)
where 𝐼 , 𝐼 and 𝐼 are measured in amperes.
Number given equations. Insert zero terms. No instructions given about the form of the answer.
With no instructions you can leave your answer as a fraction or a decimal. For decimal answers we
usually instruct to work to two decimal places.
3.1 Solve for I 2 only using Cramèr's rule. (6)

1 1 1
 8 0 10
6 3 0
Develop along column 2
(Tell the marker how you plan to get the value of the determinant.
You can choose any column or row. You can rewrite the first two columns.)
8 10 1 1
  1 1  0   1  3
3 5

6 0 8 10
  1 60    3 18 
 114
1 0 1
2  8 8 10
6 12 0
Develop along row 1
8 10 8 8
= 1 1  0   1
2 4

12 0 6 12
 1120   1 96  48 
 168
 2 168 28
I2      1.47
 114 19

How did I choose my column and row above? Choosing a row/column with zero’s and low number
values makes the calculations easier.

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MAT1581 ASSIGNMENT 1 SEMESTER 1, 2023

3.2 Solve for 𝐼 using substitution and elimination. (3)

In this question I want you to remember the methods you learned earlier (in school) to solve
equations. This answer will have many correct options. I will give two below.

Some students used Gauss elimination which is not covered in your study guide or school
work. You will not receive full marks except if you referenced the source where you learnt
this method.

The same applies if you use different notation to the study guide. If you reference your source
you receive full marks if not no marks.

Possible solution 1:

Start with the given equations:

I1  I 2  I 3  0 (1)
8 I1  0 I 2  10 I 3  8 (2)
6 I1  3I 2  0 I 3  12 (3)
Eq  2   2 : 4 I1  0 I 2  5 I 3  4 (4)
2
Eq  3  : 4 I1  2 I 2  0 I 3  8 (5)
3
Elimination is possible if we have equal terms.
5   4  : 2 I 2  5 I 3  4
5I3  4  2 I 2
28
Substitute: I 2  
19
 28 
5I3  4  2     always use brackets when you substitute 
 19 
20

19
4
I3 
19
 0.21

Possible solution 2:

Start with the given equations:

I1  I 2  I 3  0 (1)
8I1  0 I 2  10 I 3  8 (2)
6 I1  3I 2  0 I 3  12 (3)
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MAT1581 ASSIGNMENT 1 SEMESTER 1, 2023

Substitute I 2 into (3) to find I1 :

 28 
6 I1  3     12
 19 
 28 
6 I1  12  3   
 19 
  28  
I1  12  3      6
  19  
24

19
From (1) : I 3    I1  I 2 
 24 28 
   
 19 19 
4
  0.21
19
[9]

QUESTION 4

Resolve completely into partial fractions:

The keyword here is completely. One should not be able to factorise the denominators in the final
answer further.

With partial fractions ask yourself for each question:

1. Do I have a proper or an improper fraction?

2. Is the denominator fully factorized?
3. What kind of factors do I have? Linear, repeated linear, quadratic?
4. How do I expand these factors? Check on your information sheet.

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MAT1581 ASSIGNMENT 1 SEMESTER 1, 2023
4.1
2 x2  x  5 2 x2  x  5 2x2  x  5
   factors linear and repeated linear 
 
x 2  1  x  1  x  1 x  1 x  1  x  1 x  1
2

A B C
  
 x  1  x  1  x  12
2 x 2  x  5  A  x  1  B  x  1 x  1  C  x  1
2

Put x  1: 8  A(2)2
A2
Put x  1: 6  2C
C  3
Put x  1: 5  A  B  C
 2  B   3
 2 B3
B0
2 x2  x  5 2 0 3
  
 x 1  x  1
2
 x  1  x  1  x  12
2 3 (7)
 
 x  1  x  12

4.2
6 x2  2 x  2 6 x2  2 x  2 6x2  2x  2
 
x3  x 2  2 x x x 2  x  2 
x  x  2  x  1
A B C
  
x x  2 x 1
6 x 2  2 x  2  A  x  2  x  1  B  x  x  1  C  x  ( x  2)

Put x  0 :  2  2 A
A 1
Put x  2 : 18  6 B
B3
Put x  1: 6  3C
C2

6 x2  2 x  2 1 3 2
  
x  x  2x x x  2 x  1
3 2
(7)
[14]
[TOTAL: 34]

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