SUGGESTED ANSWERS AND SOLUTIONS to

2016 VCAA

MATHEMATICAL METHODS
Written Examination 1

These solutions to the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority 2016 Examinations papers have been written and
published to assist students in their preparations for the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority’s 2017 VCE
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© The Mathematical Association of Victoria, 2016

MAV Solutions to 2016 VCAA Mathematical Methods Examination 1

Written Examination 1
MAV Suggested Answers and Solutions
Question 1

cos( x )
a.   y =
x2 + 2

dy ( x 2 + 2) ´ - sin( x ) - cos( x ) ´ 2 x
= using the Quotient Rule.
dx ( x 2 + 2) 2

dy - x 2 sin( x ) - 2 sin( x ) - 2 x cos( x )

=
dx ( x 2 + 2) 2

b.   f ( x ) = x 2 e5 x

f ¢( x ) = 2 xe 5 x + 5x 2 e5 x using the Product Rule.

f ¢(1) = 2e5 + 5e5 = 7e5

Question 2
1
a.   f ( x ) = (1 - 2 x )2

1 1 1
´ -2 ´ (1 - 2 x ) 2 = -
-
f ¢( x ) =
2 (1 - 2 x )
1
b.   The gradient of the tangent at x = -1 is - .
3

1
Therefore tan q = - and so q = 1500 .
3

© The Mathematical Association of Victoria, 2016 Page 2

MAV Solutions to 2016 VCAA Mathematical Methods Examination 1

Question 3
a.

y=2

( - 12 , 0)
x
(0,-1)

x=1

4
æ 3 ö
ò çè 2 + x - 1 ÷ødx = [2 x + 3 log ( x - 1)]
4
b. e 2
2

= (8 + 3 loge 3) - (4 + 3 loge 1)

= 4 + 3 log e 3 square units

Question 4
4 4
æ 20 ö æ 2 ö 16
a.   ç ÷ = ç ÷ =
è 30 ø è 3 ø 81

16
b.   Pr(At least 1 tagged sheep) = 1 - Pr(0 tagged) = 1 -
81
65
Answer =
81
6
æ æ 2 ö 4 ö æ 2 ö
24
ç
c.   ç ÷ ÷ = ç ÷
ç è 3 ø ÷ è 3 ø
è ø

© The Mathematical Association of Victoria, 2016 Page 3

MAV Solutions to 2016 VCAA Mathematical Methods Examination 1

Question 5

a.   i. h( x ) = log e ( x 2 + 1)

ii. Domain: x Î R ; Range [0, ¥)

iii. L.H.S. = h( x ) + h( - x )

= log e ( x 2 + 1) + log e (( - x ) 2 + 1)

= log e ( x 2 + 1) + log e ( x 2 + 1)

= 2 log e ( x 2 + 1)

= log e ( x 2 + 1) 2

= loge (g ( x))
2

= f (( g ( x ))2 ) as required.

2x
iv. h ¢( x ) =
x +1
2

= 0 when x = 0

When x = 0, h(0) = log e (0 2 + 1) = 0

The coordinates of the stationary point is (0, 0) and it is a minimum turning point.

b.   i. Interchange x and y to find inverse: x = log e ( y 2 + 1)

Make y the subject: e x = y 2 + 1 so y = ± e x - 1 . ( )

Domain Range

k(x) (-¥ , 0 ] [ 0, ¥ )

k-1(x) [ 0, ¥ ) (-¥ , 0 ]

The range of the inverse function is the same as the domain of the function so the
negative square root needs to be taken.

(
Hence k -1 ( x) = - e x - 1 )
ii. The domain of k -1 is [ 0, ¥ ) and the range is (-¥ , 0 ] .

© The Mathematical Association of Victoria, 2016 Page 4

MAV Solutions to 2016 VCAA Mathematical Methods Examination 1

Question 6

y 2 - y1
a.   Average rate of change =
x 2 - x1

æ æ 2p ö ö æ æ 2p ö ö
ç 2 sin ç ÷ - 1÷ - ç 2 sin ç - ÷ - 1÷
è è 6 ø ø è è 3 ø ø
=
p æ p ö
- ç - ÷
6 è 3 ø

=
( ) (
3 - 1 - - 3 - 1 )
p
2

2 3
=
p
2

4 3
=
p
p
6
1
b.   Average value =
p æ p ö òp (2 sin(2 x) - 1)dx
- ç - ÷ -
6 è 3 ø 3

p
2
= [- cos(2 x) - x]-p6
p 3

2 éæ æ 2p ö p ö æ æ 2p ö p ö ù

= êç - cos ç ÷ - ÷ - ç - cos ç - ÷ + ÷ ú
p ëè è 6 ø 6 ø è è 3 ø 3 ø û

2 éæ 1 p ö æ æ 1 ö p öù
= ç - - ÷ - ç - ç - ÷ + ÷
p êëè 2 6 ø è è 2 ø 3 øúû

2 é p ù
= - 1 -
p êë 2 úû

( 2 + p )
= -
p

© The Mathematical Association of Victoria, 2016 Page 5

MAV Solutions to 2016 VCAA Mathematical Methods Examination 1

Question 7
a.   Probability that it is from A and faulty PLUS probability that it is from B and
4 5 5 8 60
faulty: ´ + ´ =
9 100 9 100 900
1
Answer:
15
4 5 1 1
b.   ´ ÷ =
9 100 15 3

Question 8

xk
a.   Differentiate (k log e ( x ) - 1) using Product Rule.
k2

xk d d æ x k ö
= ´ ( k log ( x ) - 1) + ( k log ( x ) - 1) ´ ç ÷
dx çè k 2 ÷ø
e e
k 2 dx

xk k æ kx k -1 ö
= ´ + ( k log e ( x ) - 1) ´ çç 2 ÷÷
k2 x è k ø

x k -1 æ x k -1 ö
= + ( k log e ( x ) - 1) ´ çç 1 ÷÷
k1 è k ø

x k -1 k -1 æ x k -1 ö

= + x log e ( x ) - çç 1 ÷÷
k1 è k ø

= x k -1 log e ( x ) as required.

1
æ 1 ö
b.   i. Pr ç X > ÷ = ò (- 4 x log e ( x ) )dx
è e ø 1
e

d æ x 2 ö
Now using part a. with k = 2 : çç 2 (2 log e ( x ) - 1) ÷÷ = x loge ( x )
dx è 2 ø
1 1
Hence ò (- 4 x loge ( x))dx = -4ò (x loge ( x))dx
1 1
e e

1
é x 2 ù
= - 4 ê 2 ( 2 log e ( x ) - 1)ú
ë 2 û 1
e

© The Mathematical Association of Victoria, 2016 Page 6

MAV Solutions to 2016 VCAA Mathematical Methods Examination 1

é 1 ù é 1 1 ù
= -4 ê ( 2 log e (1) - 1)ú + 4 ê 2 ( 2 log e ( ) - 1)ú
ë 4 û ë 4e e û

æ 1 ö
Now log e (1) = 0 and log e ç ÷ = log e (1) - log e ( e) = -1 so this evaluates to
è e ø

é 1 ù é 1 ù 3
- 4 ê ( -1)ú + 4 ê 2 ( -2 - 1)ú = 1 - 2
ë 4 û ë 4e û e

æ 1 ö 3 3 25 13
ii. Pr ç X > ÷ = 1 - 2 » 1 - ÷ =
è e ø e 1 4 25

1 1
Since this is greater than the median must be greater than .
2 e

1
Alternatively, from the diagram it can be seen that the area to the left of x = is
e
1 1
less than and so the median is greater than .
2 e

© The Mathematical Association of Victoria, 2016 Page 7