1978 A-Level Pure Mathematics Paper I

1. (a) Let a and b be two distinct positive real numbers. Show that for any positive integer n ,
a n 1  a n b  ab n  b n 1 .
(b) Hence show by induction that b n [( n  1)a  nb]  a n 1 for any positive integer n .
1 1 n 1
(c) Using (b) or otherwise , show that for any positive integer n , (1  ) n  (1  ) .
n n 1
(1978)

2. a , c are positive real numbers and b is a complex number. Let f(z) = azz  bz  b z  c for every
complex number z , where z denotes the conjugate of z . Prove the following :
(a) af (z)  az  b 2  ac  b .
2

f(z)  0 for all z if and only if b  ac .

2
(b)
The equation f(z) = 0 has a solution if and only if b  ac .
2
(c) (1978)

A B 1
3. (a) Find A and B such that   .
n 1 n (n  1) n
1 1 1
(b) Use (a) to compute   ...  .
1.2 2.3 (n  1)n
(c) The following answer to part (b) was offered by Mr. Wu Lung .
1 1 1 3 1
Claim :   ...  = 
1.2 2.3 (n  1)n 2 n
3 1 1 1
Proof : Use mathematical induction on n . For n = 1 , R.H.S. =     L.H.S.
2 1 2 1.2
1 1 1 3 1 1 3 1
Suppose it is true for n , then  ...       
1.2 (n  1)n n (n  1) 2 n n (n  1) 2 n  1
Hence it is true for n + 1 . Q.E.D.
Is this correct ? Explain and comment.
(d) Prove your answer to part (b) by mathematical induction. (1978)

4. Let r1 , r2 , r3 be the roots of the cubic polynomial x 3  a 1 x 2  a 2 x  a 3 . Define s1  r1  r2  r3 ,

s 2  r12  r22  r32 , and s 3  r13  r23  r33 .
(a) Express a 1 , a 2 in terms of s1 , s 2 .
1
(b) Determine ,  so that a 3   s13   s1s 2  s 3
6
(c) Using (a) , (b) or by any other method, solve the system of equations
 xyz  2
 2
x  y  z  6
2 2
(1978)
x 3  y3  z3  8

  
5. (a) For   and any positive integer n such that cos (2n+1)   0 , show that
2 2
n  2 n  1
 (1) k   tan 2 k 1 
k 0
 2 k  1 s
  
s! s 
tan (2n  1)   where and    1
k  2 n  1  r  r!(s  r) ! 0
n
 (1)   tan 
2k
k 0
 2k 
(b) Let f ( x )  x m  a m 1 x m 1 ... a 1 x  a 0  0 be a polynomial with integral coefficients
p
a o , a 1 ,... , a m 1 (m  1) .Prove that if a rational number , written in its lowest term, is a root of
q
f(x) , then q =  1 .

(c) Using (a) and (b) or otherwise , show that tan cannot be rational for any odd integer s
s
different from  1. (1978)

6. A bag contains 2 white balls and 6 black balls. In a certain game, a player draws a ball from the bag,
records the colour of the ball and then replaces the ball in the bag. Then he makes a second draw and so
forth. He will win the A-prize if he gets 4 whites before he gets 3 blacks (for example W W B W B W
or B W W W B W). He will be out if he gets 4 blacks before he gets 3 whites. If he gets 3 whites and
3 blacks in his first six draws, he is given two additional draws. The game will end if in the two additional
draws he gets two balls of the same colour, otherwise he is given another two additional draws and so on.
He will be awarded the B-prize if in any such two additional draws he gets two whites and will be out if he
gets two blacks.
(i) Find the probability that he wins the A-prize.
[Hint : Classify the patterns of draws leading to the A-prize according to the number of black balls
being drawn.]
(ii) Find the probability that he wins the B-prize. (1978)

7. Let a , b , c , d be four real numbers . For real numbers s , t , let E (s , t ) be the system of equations
ax  by  s

cx  dy  t
(a) Show that if E (1, 1) has a solution then for any real number r , E (r, r) has also a solution.
(b) If both of E (1, 0) and E (0, 1) have a solution, show that for every s , t , E (s, t) has a unique
solution.
(c) Using (b) or otherwise , show that if a 2  b 2  0, c 2  d 2  0 and ac + bd = 0 , then E (s, t) has
a unique solution for any s , t . (1978)

8. For a non-empty set X, a relation R in X is said to be an order if it satisfies the following conditions:
(i) For every x  X, xRx.
(ii) For every x, y  X , if xRy and yRx then x = y.
(iii) For every x, y, z  X, if xRy and yRz, then xRz.
(a) In the set C of all complex numbers, a relation S is defined as follows. For z, w  C, zSw if
z  w . Is S an order in C? Why?
(b) Let A = {z  C : z = 0 or z = x + iy with x > 0}.
In C a relation T is defined as follows.
For z, w  C, zTw if (z – w)  A.
Is T an order in C? Why?
(c) Prove that is any non-empty set, there is one and only one relation which is an order as well as
an equivalence relation. (1978)