A-Math Practice Questions (July) (Full Solutions)

JULY PRACTICE QUESTIONS 2021
SECONDARY 4 EXPRESS
SECONDARY 5 NORMAL ACADEMIC
ADDITIONAL MATHEMATICS 4049/01
Specimen Paper MARKING SCHEME

Date: 1 July 2021 Duration: NIL
Candidates answer on separate writing paper
READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST
Answer all questions.

If working is needed for any question it must be shown with the answer.
Omission of essential working will result in loss of marks.
You are expected to use a scientific calculator to evaluate explicit numerical expressions.
If the degree of accuracy is not specified in the question, and if the answer is not exact,
give the answer to three significant figures.
Give answers in degrees to one decimal place.
For 𝝅, use either your calculator value of 𝟑. 𝟏𝟒𝟐, unless the question requires the answer in
terms of 𝝅.
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Setter: Ong Kai Wen
This marking scheme consists of 92 printed pages including the cover page
Author: © Ong Kai Wen

1 Updated: July 31, 2021
Content Covered
- Quadratic Functions, Equations & Inequalities
- Surds
- Polynomials
- Partial Fractions
- Binomial Theorem
- Power, Exponential, Logarithm & Modulus Functions
- Trigonometry
- Linear Law
- Coordinate Geometry
- Further Coordinate Geometry
- Proofs of Plane Geometry
- Calculus
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the ‘O’ Level A-Math Examination. If questions are sourced from respective sources, credit
will be given when appropriate
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Some of these questions are slightly more challenging than others and require some out
of the box thinking. When faced with such challenging questions, always go back to the
fundamentals, and think about the basics you already have learnt in school. Questions
will never deviate away from the curriculum that is already pre-set for you
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before moving on and planning the curriculum and content for the rest of the year.
All the best and I really do hope that this initiative will help as many students as it can
reach! 加油!

Topic: Quadratic Functions, Equations & Inequalities
(a) Find the largest integer value of 𝒃 for which 𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝒃𝒙 + 𝟐 is always positive
(b) Find the exact values of 𝒄 for which the line is a tangent to the curve
𝒚 = 𝟑𝒙 + 𝒄
𝒙 − 𝒚𝟐 = 𝟒𝒙 + 𝟓
𝟐
[S4 MGS P1 2011 PRELIM Qn 8]
Solution
(a) Since 𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝒃𝒙 + 𝟐 is always positive, 𝒃𝟐 − 𝟒𝒂𝒄 < 𝟎
(𝒃)𝟐 − 𝟒(𝟐)(𝟐) < 𝟎

𝒃𝟐 − 𝟏𝟔 < 𝟎
𝒃𝟐 < 𝟏𝟔
−𝟒 < 𝒃 < 𝟒
Hence, the largest integer value is 𝟑
(b) 𝒚 = 𝟑𝒙 + 𝒄 … … … (𝟏)
𝒙𝟐 − 𝒚𝟐 = 𝟒𝒙 + 𝟓 … … … (𝟐)
Substitute Equation (𝟏) into Equation (𝟐),

𝒙𝟐 − (𝟑𝒙 + 𝒄)𝟐 = 𝟒𝒙 + 𝟓
𝒙𝟐 − (𝟗𝒙𝟐 + 𝟔𝒙𝒄 + 𝒄𝟐 ) − 𝟒𝒙 − 𝟓 = 𝟎
𝒙𝟐 − 𝟗𝒙𝟐 − 𝟔𝒙𝒄 − 𝒄𝟐 − 𝟒𝒙 − 𝟓 = 𝟎
−𝟖𝒙𝟐 − (𝟔𝒄 + 𝟒)𝒙 − (𝒄𝟐 + 𝟓) = 𝟎
Since the line is a tangent to the curve, 𝒃𝟐 − 𝟒𝒂𝒄 = 𝟎

𝟐
7−(𝟔𝒄 + 𝟒)8 − 𝟒(−𝟖)9−(𝒄𝟐 + 𝟓): = 𝟎
𝟑𝟔𝒄𝟐 + 𝟒𝟖𝒄 + 𝟏𝟔 − 𝟑𝟐𝒄𝟐 − 𝟏𝟔𝟎 = 𝟎

𝟒𝒄𝟐 + 𝟒𝟖𝒄 − 𝟏𝟒𝟒 = 𝟎
𝒄𝟐 + 𝟏𝟐𝒄 − 𝟑𝟔 = 𝟎
−(𝟏𝟐) ± <(𝟏𝟐)𝟐 − 𝟒(𝟏)(−𝟑𝟔)
𝒄=
𝟐(𝟏)
−𝟏𝟐 ± √𝟐𝟖𝟖
=
𝟐
−𝟏𝟐 ± 𝟏𝟐√𝟐
=
𝟐
= −𝟔 ± 𝟔√𝟐

𝒃
Given that the line is tangent to the curve, where 𝒂 and 𝒃 are positive integers, prove that is a
𝒂
perfect square
𝒚=𝒙+𝒂
𝒚𝟐 = 𝒃𝒙
[S4 PLMGS P1/2014 PRELIM Qn 1]
Solution
𝒚 = 𝒙 + 𝒂 … … … (𝟏)
𝒚𝟐 = 𝒃𝒙 … … … (𝟐)

(𝒙 + 𝒂)𝟐 = 𝒃𝒙
𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒂𝒙 + 𝒂𝟐 − 𝒃𝒙 = 𝟎
𝒙𝟐 + (𝟐𝒂 − 𝒃)𝒙 + 𝒂𝟐 = 𝟎
Since the line is tangent to the curve, 𝒃𝟐 − 𝟒𝒂𝒄 = 𝟎

(𝟐𝒂 − 𝒃)𝟐 − 𝟒(𝟏)(𝒂𝟐 ) = 𝟎
𝟒𝒂𝟐 − 𝟒𝒂𝒃 + 𝒃𝟐 − 𝟒𝒂𝟐 = 𝟎
𝒃𝟐 − 𝟒𝒂𝒃 = 𝟎
𝒃(𝒃 − 𝟒𝒂) = 𝟎
𝒃 = 𝟎 (𝐫𝐞𝐣 ∵ 𝒃 ∈ ℤ" ) 𝐨𝐫 𝒃 = 𝟒𝒂
𝒃
= 𝟒, 𝐚 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐬𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐞
𝒂

(a) Show that the expression, where 𝒑 is a constant, is always positive for all real values of 𝒙
𝒙𝟐 + 𝒑𝒙 − 𝒙 + 𝒑𝟐 + 𝟐
Hence, find the range of values of 𝒙 for which
𝒙𝟐 − 𝟑𝒙 − 𝟐𝟖
<𝟎
𝒙𝟐 + 𝒑𝒙 − 𝒙 + 𝒑𝟐 + 𝟐
(b) Find the range of values of 𝒌 for which the line cuts the curve at 𝟐 different points
𝒚 = 𝟐𝒙 − 𝒌
𝒚𝟐 = 𝒙 + 𝒌
[S4 TSS P2/2015 PRELIM Qn 2]
Solution
(a) 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒑𝒙 − 𝒙 + 𝒑𝟐 + 𝟐 = 𝒙𝟐 + (𝒑 − 𝟏)𝒙 + (𝒑𝟐 + 𝟐)

𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭 = (𝒑 − 𝟏)𝟐 − 𝟒(𝟏)(𝒑𝟐 + 𝟐)
= 𝒑𝟐 − 𝟐𝒑 + 𝟏 − 𝟒𝒑𝟐 − 𝟖
= −𝟑𝒑𝟐 − 𝟐𝒑 − 𝟕
= −(𝟑𝒑𝟐 + 𝟐𝒑 + 𝟕)
𝟐 𝟏
= −𝟑 U𝒑𝟐 + 𝒑 + 𝟐 V
𝟑 𝟑
𝟏 𝟐 𝟏 𝟏
= −𝟑 WU𝒑 + V − + 𝟐 X
𝟑 𝟗 𝟑
𝟏 𝟐 𝟐
= −𝟑 WU𝒑 + V + 𝟐 X
𝟑 𝟗
𝟏 𝟐 𝟐
= −𝟑 U𝒑 + V − 𝟔
𝟑 𝟑
𝟏 𝟐
𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 U𝒑 + V ≥ 𝟎,
𝟑
𝟏 𝟐
−𝟑 U𝒑 + V ≤ 𝟎,
𝟑
𝟏 𝟐 𝟐
∴ −𝟑 U𝒑 + V − 𝟔 < 𝟎
𝟑 𝟑
Since the coefficient of 𝒙𝟐 is positive and the discriminant is strictly less than 𝟎, 𝒙𝟐 +
𝒑𝒙 − 𝒙 + 𝒑𝟐 + 𝟐 is always positive for all real values of 𝒙
∎

Hence, want to find the range of
𝒙𝟐 − 𝟑𝒙 − 𝟐𝟖
<𝟎
𝒙𝟐 + 𝒑𝒙 − 𝒙 + 𝒑𝟐 + 𝟐
Since it is shown earlier that 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒑𝒙 − 𝒙 + 𝒑𝟐 + 𝟐 is always positive, this implies that

𝒙𝟐 − 𝟑𝒙 − 𝟐𝟖 < 𝟎
𝒙𝟐 − 𝟑𝒙 − 𝟐𝟖 < 𝟎
(𝒙 + 𝟕)(𝒙 − 𝟒) < 𝟎
−𝟒 < 𝒙 < 𝟕
(b) 𝒚 = 𝟐𝒙 − 𝒌 … … … (𝟏)
𝒚𝟐 = 𝒙 + 𝒌 … … … (𝟐)

(𝟐𝒙 − 𝒌)𝟐 = 𝒙 + 𝒌
𝟒𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒𝒙𝒌 + 𝒌𝟐 − 𝒙 − 𝒌 = 𝟎
𝟒𝒙𝟐 − (𝟒𝒌 + 𝟏) + (𝒌𝟐 − 𝒌) = 𝟎
Since the line cuts the curve at 𝟐 points, 𝒃𝟐 − 𝟒𝒂𝒄 > 𝟎

𝟐
7−(𝟒𝒌 + 𝟏)8 − 𝟒(𝟒)(𝒌𝟐 − 𝒌) > 𝟎
𝟏𝟔𝒌𝟐 + 𝟖𝒌 + 𝟏 − 𝟏𝟔𝒌𝟐 + 𝟏𝟔𝒌 > 𝟎
𝟐𝟒𝒌 + 𝟏 > 𝟎
𝟐𝟒𝒌 > −𝟏
𝟏
𝒌>−
𝟐𝟒

Topic: Surds
The concepts of Indices will be tested here as well for the completeness of the chapter
Without using a calculator, find the values of the integers, 𝒂 and 𝒃 for which the solution of the
𝒂_𝒃√𝟐
equation is
𝟕
(𝒙 + 𝟏)√𝟒𝟎 = 𝒙√𝟓 + √𝟏𝟎
[S4 SPS P2/2012 Mock Paper Qn 2]
Solution
(𝒙 + 𝟏)√𝟒𝟎 = 𝒙√𝟓 + √𝟏𝟎

𝒙√𝟒𝟎 − 𝒙√𝟓 = √𝟏𝟎 − √𝟒𝟎
𝒙7√𝟒𝟎 − √𝟓8 = √𝟏𝟎 − 𝟐√𝟏𝟎
−√𝟏𝟎 √𝟒𝟎 + √𝟓
𝒙= ×
√𝟒𝟎 − √𝟓 √𝟒𝟎 + √𝟓
−√𝟒𝟎𝟎 − √𝟓𝟎
=
𝟑𝟓
−𝟐𝟎 − 𝟓√𝟐
=
𝟑𝟓
−𝟒 − √𝟐
=
𝟕
𝒂 = −𝟒, 𝒃 = −𝟏

Solve the simultaneous equations
𝟏
𝟐𝟓𝒙 =
𝟏𝟐𝟓𝒚
𝟐𝟕𝒚 𝒙%𝟏
÷ 7√𝟑8 = 𝟐𝟕
√𝟑
[S4 VS P1/2014 PRELIM Qn 2]
Solution
𝟏
𝟐𝟓𝒙 = … … … (𝟏)
𝟏𝟐𝟓𝒚
𝟐𝟕𝒚 𝒙%𝟏
÷ 7√𝟑8 = 𝟐𝟕 … … … (𝟐)
√𝟑
From Equation (𝟏),

𝟓𝟐𝒙 = 𝟓%𝟑𝒚
∴ 𝟐𝒙 = −𝟑𝒚
−𝟐𝒙 = 𝟑𝒚 … … … (𝟑)
From Equation (𝟐),

𝟑𝟑𝒚 𝟏
𝟏 ÷ 𝟑𝟐(𝒙%𝟏) = 𝟑𝟑
𝟑𝟐
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
𝟑𝟑𝒚%𝟐 × 𝟑𝟐%𝟐𝒙 = 𝟑𝟑
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
𝟑𝟑𝒚%𝟐"𝟐%𝟐𝒙 = 𝟑𝟑
𝟏
∴ 𝟑𝒚 − 𝒙 = 𝟑 … … … (𝟒)
𝟐
Substitute Equation (𝟑) into Equation (𝟒),

𝟏
−𝟐𝒙 − 𝒙 = 𝟑
𝟐
𝟏
−𝟐 𝒙 = 𝟑
𝟐
𝟏
𝒙 = −𝟏
𝟓
𝟏
𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝒙 = −𝟏 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝟑),
𝟓
𝟏
−𝟐 U−𝟏 V = 𝟑𝒚
𝟓
𝟒
𝒚=
𝟓

Without the use of a calculator, evaluate 𝟏𝟎𝒙
𝟐𝟐𝒙"𝟐 × 𝟓𝒙%𝟏 = 𝟖𝒙 × 𝟓𝟐𝒙
[S4 CHS P1/2015 PRELIM Qn 1]
Solution
𝟐𝟐𝒙"𝟐 × 𝟓𝒙%𝟏 = 𝟖𝒙 × 𝟓𝟐𝒙

𝟓𝒙
𝟒(𝟐𝟐𝒙 ) × = (𝟐𝟑𝒙 )(𝟓𝟐𝒙 )
𝟓
𝟒 (𝟐𝟑𝒙 )(𝟓𝟐𝒙 )
= 𝟐𝒙 𝒙
𝟓 (𝟐 )(𝟓 )
𝟒
= (𝟐𝒙 )(𝟓𝒙 )
𝟓
𝟒
𝟏𝟎𝒙 =
𝟓
In the diagram, 𝑨𝑩 is parallel to 𝑬𝑪. Given that 𝑨𝑬: 𝑬𝑫 = 𝟏: √𝟐 and 𝑪𝑬 = 7𝟑 + √𝟐8 𝐜𝐦, find in the
form 𝒂√𝟐 + 𝒃
(a)
𝑪𝑬
𝑨𝑩
(b)
𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚 𝐨𝐟 ∆𝑪𝑫𝑬
𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚 𝐨𝐟 ∆𝑩𝑫𝑨
(c)
Length of 𝑨𝑩
[S4 HIHS P2/2015 PRELIM Qn 4]
Solution
We shall first prove that ∆𝑪𝑬𝑫 and ∆𝑩𝑫𝑨 are similar

∠𝑪𝑫𝑬 is a common angle (𝐀) During the exam, this proof
∠𝑫𝑬𝑪 = ∠𝑫𝑨𝑩 (𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞, 𝑪𝑬 ∥ 𝑩𝑨) (𝐀) is not necessary. It is
provided here for the
∠𝑫𝑪𝑬 = ∠𝑫𝑩𝑨 (𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞, 𝑪𝑬 ∥ 𝑩𝑨) (𝐀) completeness of the
solution
By 𝐀𝐀𝐀 similarity test, ∆𝑪𝑬𝑫 and ∆𝑩𝑫𝑨 are similar

Full solution on the next page →

(a) Do note that ∆𝑪𝑬𝑫 and ∆𝑩𝑫𝑨 are similar
𝑪𝑬 𝑬𝑫 𝑫𝑪
= =
𝑩𝑨 𝑨𝑫 𝑫𝑩
𝑪𝑬 √𝟐 √𝟐 − 𝟏
∴ = ×
𝑨𝑩 √𝟐 + 𝟏 √𝟐 − 𝟏
𝟐 − √𝟐
=
𝟏
= −√𝟐 + 𝟐
(b) Since the figures are similar, we can use the formula of the ratio of similar planar figures
𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚 𝐨𝐟 ∆𝑪𝑫𝑬 𝒍∆𝑪𝑫𝑬 𝟐
=U V
𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚 𝐨𝐟 ∆𝑩𝑫𝑨 𝒍∆𝑩𝑫𝑨
𝟐
= 7−√𝟐 + 𝟐8
= 𝟐 − 𝟒√𝟐 + 𝟒
= −𝟒√𝟐 + 𝟔
(c) Since 𝑪𝑬 = 7𝟑 + √𝟐8,

𝟑 + √𝟐
= −√𝟐 + 𝟐
𝑨𝑩
𝟑 + √𝟐 𝟐 + √𝟐
𝑨𝑩 = ×
𝟐 − √𝟐 𝟐 + √𝟐
𝟔 + 𝟑√𝟐 + 𝟐√𝟐 + 𝟐
=
𝟐
𝟖 + 𝟓√𝟐
=
𝟐
𝟓
= U √𝟐 + 𝟒V 𝐜𝐦
𝟐

Topic: Polynomial
(a) The expression 𝟐𝒙𝟑 + 𝒂𝒙𝟐 + 𝒃𝒙 − 𝟑 is divisible by (𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏) but leaves a remainder of −𝟏𝟓 when
divided by (𝒙 − 𝟐). Find the values of 𝒂 and 𝒃
(b) When the polynomial 𝒈(𝒙) is divided by (𝒙 − 𝟑) and (𝒙 + 𝟐) , the remainder is 𝟑𝟎 and 𝟐𝟎
respectively. Find the remainder when 𝒈(𝒙) is divided by 𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙 − 𝟔
[S4 NHHS P1/2012 PRELIM Qn 5]
Solution
(a) Let 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟐𝒙𝟑 + 𝒂𝒙𝟐 + 𝒃𝒙 − 𝟑
Since 𝒇(𝒙) is divisible by (𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏),

𝟏
𝒇 U− V = 𝟎
𝟐
𝟏 𝟑 𝟏 𝟐 𝟏
𝟐 U− V + 𝒂 U− V + 𝒃 U− V − 𝟑 = 𝟎
𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
− + 𝒂− 𝒃−𝟑=𝟎
𝟒 𝟒 𝟐
𝒂 = 𝟏𝟑 + 𝟐𝒃 … … … (𝟏)
Since 𝒇(𝒙) leave a remainder of −𝟏𝟓 when divided by (𝒙 − 𝟐),

𝒇(𝟐) = −𝟏𝟓
𝟐(𝟐)𝟑 + 𝒂(𝟐)𝟐 + 𝒃(𝟐) − 𝟑 = −𝟏𝟓
𝟒𝒂 + 𝟐𝒃 = −𝟐𝟖
𝟐𝒂 + 𝒃 = −𝟏𝟒 … … … (𝟐)

𝟐(𝟏𝟑 + 𝟐𝒃) + 𝒃 = −𝟏𝟒
𝟓𝒃 = −𝟒𝟎
𝒃 = −𝟖
Substitute 𝒃 = −𝟖 into Equation (𝟏),

𝒂 = 𝟏𝟑 + 𝟐(−𝟖)
= −𝟑

(b) 𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙 − 𝟔 = (𝒙 − 𝟑)(𝒙 + 𝟐)
𝒈(𝒙) = (𝒙 − 𝟑)(𝒙 + 𝟐)𝑸(𝒙) + 𝒂𝒙 + 𝒃
𝒈(𝟑) = 𝟑𝟎
𝟑𝒂 + 𝒃 = 𝟑𝟎
𝒃 = 𝟑𝟎 − 𝟑𝒂 … … … (𝟏)
𝒈(−𝟐) = 𝟐𝟎
−𝟐𝒂 + 𝒃 = 𝟐𝟎 … … … (𝟐)

−𝟐𝒂 + (𝟑𝟎 − 𝟑𝒂) = 𝟐𝟎
−𝟓𝒂 = −𝟏𝟎
𝒂=𝟐
Substitute 𝒂 = 𝟐 into Equation (𝟏),

𝒃 = 𝟑𝟎 − 𝟑(𝟐)
= 𝟐𝟒
𝑹 = 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟐𝟒

The term containing the highest power of 𝒙 in the polynomial 𝒇(𝒙) is 𝟐𝒙𝟒 and the roots of 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟎
are 𝟐 and −𝟕. 𝒇(𝒙) has a remainder of −𝟕𝟐 when divided by (𝒙 + 𝟏) and a remainder of −𝟖𝟎 when
divided by (𝒙 − 𝟏)
(a) Find the expression for 𝒇(𝒙) in descending powers of 𝒙
(b) Explain why the equation 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟎 has exactly 𝟐 real roots
[S4 NHHS P2/2014 PRELIM Qn 1(a)]
Solution
(a) Since the roots are 𝟐 and −𝟕

𝒇(𝒙) = (𝒙 − 𝟐)(𝒙 + 𝟕)(𝒂𝒙𝟐 + 𝒃𝒙 + 𝒄)
By inspection and that the highest power of 𝒙 is 𝟐𝒙𝟒 ,

𝒂=𝟐
∴ 𝒇(𝒙) = (𝒙 − 𝟐)(𝒙 + 𝟕)(𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝒃𝒙 + 𝒄)
Since 𝒇(𝒙) leaves a remainder of −𝟕𝟐 when divided by (𝒙 + 𝟏),

𝒇(−𝟏) = −𝟕𝟐
(−𝟏 − 𝟐)(−𝟏 + 𝟕)(𝟐(−𝟏)𝟐 + 𝒃(−𝟏) + 𝒄) = −𝟕𝟐
𝒄−𝒃+𝟐=𝟒
𝒄 = 𝟐 + 𝒃 … … … (𝟏)
Since 𝒇(𝒙) leaves a remainder of −𝟖𝟎 when divided by (𝒙 − 𝟏),

𝒇(𝟏) = −𝟖𝟎
(𝟏 − 𝟐)(𝟏 + 𝟕)(𝟐(𝟏)𝟐 + 𝒃(𝟏) + 𝒄) = −𝟖𝟎
𝒃 + 𝒄 + 𝟐 = 𝟏𝟎
𝒃 + 𝒄 = 𝟖 … … … (𝟐)

𝒃+𝟐+𝒃=𝟖
𝟐𝒃 = 𝟔
𝒃=𝟑
Substitute 𝒃 = 𝟑 into Equation (𝟏),

𝒄=𝟐+𝟑
=𝟓

∴ 𝒇(𝒙) = (𝒙 − 𝟐)(𝒙 + 𝟕)(𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟓)
= (𝒙𝟐 + 𝟓𝒙 − 𝟏𝟒)(𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟓)
= 𝟐𝒙𝟒 + 𝟑𝒙𝟑 + 𝟓𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏𝟎𝒙𝟑 + 𝟏𝟓𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝟓𝒙 − 𝟐𝟖𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒𝟐𝒙 − 𝟕𝟎
= 𝟐𝒙𝟒 + 𝟏𝟑𝒙𝟑 − 𝟖𝒙𝟐 − 𝟏𝟕𝒙 − 𝟕𝟎
(b) 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟎
(𝒙 − 𝟐)(𝒙 + 𝟕)(𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟓) = 𝟎
𝒙=𝟐 𝐨𝐫 𝒙=𝟕 𝐨𝐫 𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟓 = 𝟎
𝒙=𝟐 𝐨𝐫 𝒙=𝟕
𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟓 = 𝟎
𝒃𝟐 − 𝟒𝒂𝒄 = (𝟑)𝟐 − 𝟒(𝟐)(𝟓)
= −𝟑𝟏 < 𝟎
Since the discriminant is less than 𝟎, there are no real roots for 𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟓 = 𝟎
Hence, 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟎 has exactly 𝟐 real roots 𝟐 and −𝟕

The cubic polynomial 𝒇(𝒙) is such that the coefficient of 𝒙𝟑 is 𝟏 and the roots of 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟎 are −𝟏, 𝒎
and 𝟐𝒎, where 𝒎 is an integer. It is given that 𝒇(𝒙) has a remainder of 𝟔 when divided by (𝒙 − 𝟏)
(a) Find an expression for 𝒇(𝒙) in descending powers of 𝒙
(b) Hence or otherwise, solve the equation
𝒚𝟔 − 𝟓𝒚𝟒 + 𝟐𝒚𝟐 + 𝟖 = 𝟎
[S4 CCHS(Y) P1/2015 PRELIM Qn 2]
Solution
(a) Since the roots of 𝒇(𝒙) are −𝟏, 𝒎 and 𝟐𝒎

𝒇(𝒙) = (𝒙 + 𝟏)(𝒙 − 𝒎)(𝒙 − 𝟐𝒎)
Since 𝒇(𝒙) leaves a remainder of 𝟔 when divided by (𝒙 − 𝟏),

𝒇(𝟏) = 𝟔
(𝟏 + 𝟏)(𝟏 − 𝒎)(𝟏 − 𝟐𝒎) = 𝟔
𝟐𝒎𝟐 − 𝟑𝒎 + 𝟏 = 𝟑
𝟐𝒎𝟐 − 𝟑𝒎 − 𝟐 = 𝟎
(𝒎 − 𝟐)(𝟐𝒎 + 𝟏) = 𝟎
𝟏
𝒎=𝟐 𝐨𝐫 𝒎=− (𝐫𝐞𝐣 ∵ 𝒎 ∈ ℤ)
𝟐
𝒇(𝒙) = (𝒙 + 𝟏)(𝒙 − 𝟐)(𝒙 − 𝟒)

= (𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙 − 𝟐)(𝒙 − 𝟒)
= 𝒙𝟑 − 𝟒𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟒𝒙 − 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟖
= 𝒙𝟑 − 𝟓𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟖
(b) 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒙𝟑 − 𝟓𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟖

= (𝒙 + 𝟏)(𝒙 − 𝟐)(𝒙 − 𝟒)
𝒙 = −𝟏 𝐨𝐫 𝒙=𝟐 𝐨𝐫 𝒙=𝟒
By comparing the 𝟐 equations above, we can form the relationship that 𝒙 = 𝒚𝟐

𝒚𝟐 = −𝟏 (𝐫𝐞𝐣) 𝐨𝐫 𝒚𝟐 = 𝟐 𝐨𝐫 𝒚𝟐 = 𝟒
𝒚 = ±√𝟐 𝒚 = ±𝟐

Topic: Partial Fractions
Questions set from this topic will include Calculus (Integration) as well! If you have not learned
the topic yet, then skip the integration aspect of these questions
(a) Express the following as a partial fraction
𝟏𝟏𝒙 − 𝟒
(𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑)(𝒙 + 𝟏)𝟐
(b) Hence, evaluate the following
𝟓
𝟏𝟏𝒙 − 𝟒
x 𝒅𝒙
𝟐 (𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑)(𝒙 + 𝟏)𝟐
[S4 MGS P1/2012 PRELIM Qn 11]
Solution
(a) By partial fractions,

𝟏𝟏𝒙 − 𝟒 𝑨 𝑩 𝑪
= + +
(𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑)(𝒙 + 𝟏) 𝟐 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑 𝒙 + 𝟏 (𝒙 + 𝟏)𝟐
𝟏𝟏𝒙 − 𝟒 = 𝑨(𝒙 + 𝟏)𝟐 + 𝑩(𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑)(𝒙 + 𝟏) + 𝑪(𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑)
𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝒙 = −𝟏,
𝟏𝟏(−𝟏) − 𝟒 = 𝑪(𝟐(−𝟏) − 𝟑)
−𝟏𝟓 = −𝟓𝒄
𝒄=𝟑
𝟑
𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝒙 = ,
𝟐
𝟐
𝟑 𝟑
𝟏𝟏 U V − 𝟒 = 𝑨 U + 𝟏V
𝟐 𝟐
𝑨=𝟐
Let 𝒙 = 𝟏,
𝟏𝟏(𝟏) − 𝟒 = 𝟐(𝟏 + 𝟏)𝟐 + 𝑩(𝟐(𝟏) − 𝟑)(𝟏 + 𝟏) + 𝟑(𝟐(𝟏) − 𝟑)
𝟐 = −𝟐𝑩
𝑩 = −𝟏
𝟏𝟏𝒙 − 𝟒 𝟐 𝟏 𝟑
∴ = − +
(𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑)(𝒙 + 𝟏)𝟐 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑 𝒙 + 𝟏 (𝒙 + 𝟏)𝟐

(b) Hence, by partial fraction decomposition,
𝟓
𝟏𝟏𝒙 − 𝟒
x 𝒅𝒙
𝟐 (𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑)(𝒙 + 𝟏)𝟐
𝟓
𝟐 𝟏 𝟑
=x U − + V 𝒅𝒙
𝟐 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑 𝒙 + 𝟏 (𝒙 + 𝟏)𝟐
𝟓 𝟓 𝟓
𝟐 𝟏 𝟑
=x 𝒅𝒙 − x 𝒅𝒙 + x 𝒅𝒙
𝟐 (𝒙 + 𝟏)
𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑 𝟐
𝟐 𝟐 𝒙+𝟏
5 5 𝟓
= 𝐥𝐧(𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑) − 𝐥𝐧(𝒙 + 𝟏) + 𝟑 x (𝒙 + 𝟏)%𝟐 𝒅𝒙
2 2 𝟐
𝟓
𝟏
= [𝐥𝐧(𝟐(𝟓) − 𝟑) − 𝐥𝐧(𝟐(𝟐) − 𝟑)] − [𝐥𝐧(𝟓 + 𝟏) − 𝐥𝐧(𝟐 + 𝟏)] + 𝟑 } ~
−(𝒙 + 𝟏) 𝟐
𝟏 𝟏
= 𝐥𝐧 𝟕 − 𝐥𝐧 𝟔 + 𝐥𝐧 𝟑 + 𝟑 } −U V~
−(𝟓 + 𝟏) −(𝟐 + 𝟏)
𝟕 𝟏
= 𝐥𝐧 U V +
𝟐 𝟐

(a) Express the following as a partial fraction
𝟐𝒙𝟒 + 𝟑𝒙𝟑 − 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟒
(𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒)(𝒙 − 𝟐)
(b) Hence, find the expression, for 𝒙 > 𝟐, of
𝟐𝒙𝟒 + 𝟑𝒙𝟑 − 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟒
x 𝒅𝒙
(𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒)(𝒙 − 𝟐)
[S4 NCHS P2/2014 PRELIM Qn 6]
Solution
(a) By long division,

𝟐𝒙𝟒 + 𝟑𝒙𝟑 − 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟒 𝟐𝟏𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏𝟐𝒙 − 𝟓𝟐
= 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟕 +
(𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒)(𝒙 − 𝟐) 𝒙𝟑 − 𝟐𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒𝒙 + 𝟖
𝟐𝟏𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏𝟐𝒙 − 𝟓𝟐 𝟐𝟏𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏𝟐𝒙𝟐 − 𝟓𝟐
=
(𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒)(𝒙 − 𝟐) (𝒙 + 𝟐)(𝒙 − 𝟐)𝟐
𝑨 𝑩 𝑪
= + +
𝒙 + 𝟐 𝒙 − 𝟐 (𝒙 − 𝟐)𝟐
𝟐𝟏𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏𝟐𝒙 − 𝟓𝟐 = 𝑨(𝒙 − 𝟐)𝟐 + 𝑩(𝒙 + 𝟐)(𝒙 − 𝟐) + 𝑪(𝒙 + 𝟐)
Let 𝒙 = 𝟐, 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟕
𝟐
𝟐𝟏(𝟐) + 𝟏𝟐(𝟐) − 𝟓𝟐 = 𝑪(𝟐 + 𝟐)
𝒙𝟑 − 𝟐𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒𝒙 + 𝟖 𝟐𝒙𝟒 + 𝟑𝒙𝟑 − 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟒
𝟒𝑪 = 𝟓𝟔
−(𝟐𝒙𝟒 − 𝟒𝒙𝟑 − 𝟖𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏𝟔𝒙)
𝑪 = 𝟏𝟒
𝟕𝒙𝟑 + 𝟕𝒙𝟐 − 𝟏𝟔𝒙 + 𝟒
−(𝟕𝒙𝟑 − 𝟏𝟒𝒙𝟐 − 𝟐𝟖𝒙 + 𝟓𝟔)

Let 𝒙 = −𝟐,
𝟐𝟏(−𝟐)𝟐 + 𝟏𝟐(−𝟐) − 𝟓𝟐 = 𝑨(−𝟐 − 𝟐)𝟐 𝟐𝟏𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏𝟐𝒙 − 𝟓𝟐
𝟏𝟔𝑪 = 𝟖
𝟏
𝑨=
𝟐
Let 𝒙 = 𝟎,
𝟏
𝟐𝟏(𝟎)𝟐 + 𝟏𝟐(𝟎) − 𝟓𝟐 = (𝟎 − 𝟐)𝟐 + 𝑩(𝟎 + 𝟐)(𝟎 − 𝟐) + 𝟏𝟒(𝟎 + 𝟐)
𝟐
−𝟒𝑩 = −𝟖𝟐
𝟒𝟏
𝑩=
𝟐
𝟐𝒙𝟒 + 𝟑𝒙𝟑 − 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟒 𝟏 𝟒𝟏 𝟏𝟒
∴ = 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟕 + + +
(𝒙 − 𝟒)(𝒙 − 𝟐)
𝟐 𝟐(𝒙 + 𝟐) 𝟐(𝒙 − 𝟐) (𝒙 − 𝟐)𝟐

(b) By partial fraction decomposition,
𝟐𝒙𝟒 + 𝟑𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟒 𝟏 𝟒𝟏 𝟏𝟒
x 𝒅𝒙 = x 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟕 + + + 𝒅𝒙
(𝒙 − 𝟒)(𝒙 − 𝟐)
𝟐 𝟐(𝒙 + 𝟐) 𝟐(𝒙 − 𝟐) (𝒙 − 𝟐)𝟐
𝟏 𝟒𝟏 𝟏𝟒
= 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟕𝒙 + 𝐥𝐧(𝒙 + 𝟐) + 𝐥𝐧(𝒙 − 𝟐) − +𝑪
𝟐 𝟐 𝒙−𝟐

Express the following in terms of partial fractions
𝟔𝒙𝟐 − 𝟑𝒙 − 𝟐
𝟒𝒙𝟑 − 𝟏𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝟕𝒙 − 𝟐𝟏
[S4 NHHS P2/2014 PRELIM Qn 1(b)]
Solution
Let 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟒𝒙𝟑 − 𝟏𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝟕𝒙 − 𝟐𝟏

𝟒𝒙𝟐 + 𝟕
𝒙−𝟑 𝟒𝒙𝟑 − 𝟏𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝟕𝒙 − 𝟐𝟏
When 𝒙 = 𝟑,
𝒇(𝟑) = 𝟒(𝟑)𝟑 − 𝟏𝟐(𝟑)𝟐 + 𝟕(𝟑) − 𝟐𝟏 −(𝟒𝒙𝟑 − 𝟏𝟐𝒙𝟐 )
=𝟎 𝟕𝒙 − 𝟐𝟏
Hence, (𝒙 − 𝟑) is a factor −(𝟕𝒙 − 𝟐𝟏)
𝟎
By long division,
𝒇(𝒙) = (𝒙 − 𝟑)(𝟒𝒙𝟐 + 𝟕)
𝟔𝒙𝟐 − 𝟑𝒙 − 𝟐 𝑨 𝑩𝒙 + 𝑪
∴ 𝟑 𝟐
= + 𝟐
𝟒𝒙 − 𝟏𝟐𝒙 + 𝟕𝒙 − 𝟐𝟏 𝒙 − 𝟑 𝟒𝒙 + 𝟕
𝟔𝒙𝟐 − 𝟑𝒙 − 𝟐 = 𝑨(𝟒𝒙𝟐 + 𝟕) + (𝑩𝒙 + 𝑪)(𝒙 − 𝟑)
Let 𝒙 = 𝟑,
𝟔(𝟑)𝟐 − 𝟑(𝟑) − 𝟐 = 𝑨(𝟒(𝟑)𝟐 + 𝟕)
𝟒𝟑𝑨 = 𝟒𝟑
𝑨=𝟏
Let 𝒙 = 𝟎,
𝟔(𝟎)𝟐 − 𝟑(𝟎) − 𝟐 = (𝟒(𝟎)𝟐 + 𝟕) + (𝑩(𝟎) + 𝑪)(𝟎 − 𝟑)
−𝟑𝑪 = −𝟗
𝑪=𝟑
Let 𝒙 = 𝟏,
𝟔(𝟏)𝟐 − 𝟑(𝟏) − 𝟐 = (𝟒(𝟏)𝟐 + 𝟕) + (𝑩(𝟏) + 𝟑)(𝟏 − 𝟑)
−𝟐𝑩 = −𝟒
𝑩=𝟐
𝟔𝒙𝟐 − 𝟑𝒙 − 𝟐 𝟏 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟑
∴ = +
𝟒𝒙𝟑 − 𝟏𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝟕𝒙 − 𝟐𝟏 𝒙 − 𝟑 𝟒𝒙𝟐 + 𝟕

Topic: Binomial Theorem
(a) Write down and simplify the first 𝟑 terms, in ascending powers of 𝒙, in the expansion of
𝒙 𝟓
9𝟐 − :
𝟑
(b) Find the value of 𝒉, given that the first three terms in the following expansion are as follows
𝒙 𝟓
(𝟏 + 𝒉𝒙 + 𝒙𝟐 ) 9𝟐 − : = 𝟑𝟐 − 𝒌𝒙 + 𝟐𝒌𝒙𝟐 + ⋯
𝟑
[S4 CGSS P1/2011 PRELIM Qn 4]
Solution
(a) By using the Binomial Theorem,

𝒙 𝟓 𝟓 𝒙 𝟏 𝟓 𝒙 𝟐
9𝟐 − : = 𝟐𝟓 + 9 : (𝟐)𝟓%𝟏 9− : + 9 : (𝟐)𝟓%𝟐 9− : + ⋯
𝟑 𝟏 𝟑 𝟐 𝟑
𝟐 𝟖 𝟐
= 𝟑𝟐 − 𝟐𝟔 𝒙 + 𝟖 𝒙 + ⋯
𝟑 𝟗
(b) By observing the pattern from part (a),

𝒙 𝟓
(𝟏 + 𝒉𝒙 + 𝒙𝟐 ) 9𝟐 − :
𝟑
𝟐 𝟖
= (𝟏 + 𝒉𝒙 + 𝒙𝟐 ) U𝟑𝟐 − 𝟐𝟔 𝒙 + 𝟖 𝒙𝟐 + ⋯ V
𝟑 𝟗
𝟐 𝟐 𝟖
= 𝟑𝟐(𝟏) + 𝟑𝟐(𝒉𝒙) + 𝟑𝟐(𝒙𝟐 ) + U−𝟐𝟔 𝒙V (𝟏) + U−𝟐𝟔 𝒙V (𝒉𝒙) + U𝟖 𝒙𝟐 V (𝟏) + ⋯
𝟑 𝟑 𝟗
𝟐 𝟐 𝟖
= 𝟑𝟐 + U𝟑𝟐𝒉 − 𝟐𝟔 V 𝒙 + U𝟑𝟐 − 𝟐𝟔 𝒉 + 𝟖 V 𝒙𝟐 + ⋯
𝟑 𝟑 𝟗
By comparing coefficients,
𝟐
𝟑𝟐𝒉 − 𝟐𝟔 = −𝒌
𝟑
𝟐
𝟐𝟔 − 𝟑𝟐𝒉 = 𝒌 … … … (𝟏)
𝟑
𝟖 𝟐
𝟒𝟎 − 𝟐𝟔 𝒉 = 𝟐𝒌 … … … (𝟐)
𝟗 𝟑

𝟖 𝟐 𝟐
𝟒𝟎 − 𝟐𝟔 𝒉 = 𝟐 U𝟐𝟔 − 𝟑𝟐𝒉V
𝟗 𝟑 𝟑
𝟖 𝟐 𝟏
𝟒𝟎 − 𝟐𝟔 𝒉 = 𝟓𝟑 − 𝟔𝟒𝒉
𝟗 𝟑 𝟑
𝟏 𝟒
𝟑𝟕 𝒉 = 𝟏𝟐
𝟑 𝟗
𝟏
𝒉=
𝟑

(a) (i) Find the first four terms of the expansion, in ascending powers of 𝒙, of
(𝟑 + 𝒙)𝟓
(ii) Hence, the coefficient of 𝒙𝟑 in the expansion of
(𝟑 + 𝒙)𝟓 (𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝒙 − 𝟏)
(iii) Hence, the coefficient of 𝒚𝟑 in the expansion of
(𝟑 − 𝒚 + 𝒚𝟐 )𝟓
(b) Determine if the term independent of 𝒙 exists in the expansion of
(𝒙𝟐 − 𝟐𝒙)𝟏𝟎𝟎
[S4 HIHS P2/2014 PRELIM Qn 2]
Solution
(a) By using the Binomial Theorem,
(𝟑 + 𝒙)𝟓 = 𝟑𝟓 + 9𝟓: (𝟑)𝟓%𝟏 (𝒙)𝟏 + 9𝟓: (𝟑)𝟓%𝟐 (𝒙)𝟐 + 9𝟓: (𝟑)𝟓%𝟑 (𝒙)𝟑 + ⋯
𝟏 𝟐 𝟑
= 𝟐𝟒𝟑 + 𝟒𝟎𝟓𝒙 + 𝟐𝟕𝟎𝒙𝟐 + 𝟗𝟎𝒙𝟑 + ⋯
(b) By using part (a),

(𝟑 + 𝒙)𝟓 (𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝒙 − 𝟏) = (𝟐𝟒𝟑 + 𝟒𝟎𝟓𝒙 + 𝟐𝟕𝟎𝒙𝟐 + 𝟗𝟎𝒙𝟑 + ⋯ )(𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝒙 − 𝟏)
= ⋯ + (𝟒𝟎𝟓𝒙)(𝟐𝒙𝟐 ) + (𝟐𝟕𝟎𝒙𝟐 )(𝒙) + (𝟗𝟎𝒙𝟑 )(−𝟏) + ⋯
= ⋯ + 𝟗𝟗𝟎𝒙𝟑 + ⋯
Coefficient of 𝒙𝟑 is 𝟗𝟗𝟎
(c) By using part (a),

(𝟑 − 𝒚 + 𝒚𝟐 )𝟓 = [𝟑 − (𝒚𝟐 − 𝒚)]𝟓
= 𝟐𝟒𝟑 + 𝟒𝟎𝟓(𝒚𝟐 − 𝒚) + 𝟐𝟕𝟎(𝒚𝟐 − 𝒚)𝟐 + 𝟗𝟎(𝒚𝟐 − 𝒚)𝟑 + ⋯
= 𝟐𝟒𝟑 + 𝟒𝟎𝟓(𝒚𝟐 − 𝒚) + 𝟐𝟕𝟎(𝒚𝟒 − 𝟐𝒚𝟑 + 𝒚𝟐 ) + 𝟗𝟎(𝒚𝟐 − 𝒚)(𝒚𝟒 − 𝟐𝒚𝟑 + 𝒚𝟐 ) + ⋯
= ⋯ + (𝟐𝟕𝟎)(−𝟐)𝒚𝟑 + 𝟗𝟎(−𝒚)(𝒚𝟐 ) + ⋯
= ⋯ − 𝟔𝟑𝟎𝒚𝟑 + ⋯
Coefficient of 𝒚𝟑 is −𝟔𝟑𝟎

(d) To find the term independent of 𝒙, we first need to find the general 𝒓 + 𝟏 term
𝟏𝟎𝟎 (𝒙𝟐 )𝟏𝟎𝟎%𝒓 (−𝟐𝒙)𝒓
𝑻𝒓"𝟏 = 9 :
𝒓
𝟏𝟎𝟎 (−𝟐)𝒓 (𝒙)𝟐𝟎𝟎%𝟐𝒓 (𝒙𝒓 )
=9 :
𝒓
𝟏𝟎𝟎
=9 : (−𝟐)𝒓 (𝒙)𝟐𝟎𝟎%𝒓
𝒓
Since we are looking for the independent term of 𝒙, the power of 𝒙 is 𝟎

∴ 𝟐𝟎𝟎 − 𝒓 = 𝟎
𝒓 = 𝟐𝟎𝟎
The term independent of 𝒙 does not exist as there should only be 𝟏𝟎𝟏 terms in the
expansion of (𝒙𝟐 − 𝟐𝒙)𝟏𝟎𝟎 and so it is not possible to obtain any term when 𝒓 = 𝟐𝟎𝟎 is
substituted

(a) Find the coefficient of the term in 𝒙 in the expansion
𝟏 𝟖
U𝒙𝟐 − V
𝟐𝒙𝟑
(b) The coefficient of 𝒙𝟐 in the expansion (𝟓 − 𝟑𝒙)(𝟏 + 𝟓𝒙)𝒏 is 𝟏𝟕𝟖𝟓. Find the value of 𝒏
Solution
(a) To find the coefficient of the term in 𝒙, we first find the general 𝒓 + 𝟏 term
𝟖 𝟏 𝒓
𝑻𝒓"𝟏 = 9 : (𝒙𝟐 )𝟖%𝒓 U− 𝟑 V
𝒓 𝟐𝒙
𝟖 𝟏 𝒓
= 9 : U− V (𝒙)𝟏𝟔%𝟐𝒓 (𝒙)%𝟑𝒓
𝒓 𝟐
𝟖 𝟏 𝒓
= 9 : U− V (𝒙)𝟏𝟔%𝟓𝒓
𝒓 𝟐
For the term in 𝒙, the power of 𝒙 is 𝟏

∴ 𝟏𝟔 − 𝟓𝒓 = 𝟏
𝒓=𝟑
𝟖 𝟏 𝟑
∴ 𝐂𝐨𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝒙 = 9 : U− V
𝟑 𝟐
= −𝟕
(b) By using the Binomial Theorem,

𝒏 𝒏
(𝟓 − 𝟑𝒙)(𝟏 + 𝟓𝒙)𝒏 = (𝟓 − 𝟑𝒙)(𝟏 + 9 : (𝟏)𝒏%𝟏 (𝟓𝒙) + 9 : (𝟏)𝒏%𝟐 (𝟓𝒙)𝟐 + ⋯
𝟏 𝟐
𝒏(𝒏 − 𝟏)
= (𝟓 − 𝟑𝒙) …𝟏 + 𝟓𝒏𝒙 + (𝟐𝟓𝒙𝟐 ) + ⋯ †
𝟐
𝒏(𝒏 − 𝟏)
= ⋯ + (−𝟑𝒙)(𝟓𝒏𝒙) + (𝟓) … † (𝟐𝟓𝒙𝟐 ) + ⋯
𝟐
𝟏𝟐𝟓
= ⋯+ } (𝒏)(𝒏 − 𝟏) − 𝟏𝟓𝒏~ 𝒙𝟐 + ⋯
𝟐
Since the coefficient is 𝟏𝟕𝟖𝟓,

𝟏𝟐𝟓
(𝒏)(𝒏 − 𝟏) − 𝟏𝟓𝒏 = 𝟏𝟕𝟖𝟓
𝟐
𝟏𝟐𝟓𝒏(𝒏 − 𝟏) − 𝟏𝟓𝒏 = 𝟑𝟓𝟕𝟎
𝟏𝟐𝟓𝒏𝟐 − 𝟏𝟓𝟓𝒏 − 𝟑𝟓𝟕𝟎 = 𝟎
𝟐𝟓𝒏𝟐 − 𝟑𝟏𝒏 − 𝟕𝟏𝟒 = 𝟎
(𝒏 − 𝟔)(𝟐𝟓𝒏 + 𝟏𝟏𝟗) = 𝟎
𝟏𝟏𝟗
𝒏=𝟔 𝐨𝐫 𝒏=− (𝐫𝐞𝐣)
𝟐𝟓

Topic: Exponential & Logarithmic functions
(a) The solution for the following equation can be expressed in the form 𝒑 + 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟐 𝒒 where 𝒑 and 𝒒
are integers. Find the value of 𝒑 and of 𝒒
𝟐𝟐𝒙"𝟑 = 𝟐𝒙"𝟏 + 𝟑
(b) Find the 𝒙-coordinates of points of intersection of the curves
𝒆
𝒚=𝟏−
𝒆𝒙
𝒙
𝒚=𝒆 −𝒆
[S4 BPGHS P1/2012 PRELIM Qn 6]
Solution
(a) 𝟐𝟐𝒙"𝟑 = 𝟐𝒙"𝟏 + 𝟑

𝟖(𝟐𝟐𝒙 ) = 𝟐(𝟐𝒙 ) + 𝟑
Let 𝟐𝒙 be 𝒖
𝟖𝒖𝟐 − 𝟐𝒖 − 𝟑 = 𝟎
(𝟒𝒖 − 𝟑)(𝟐𝒖 + 𝟏) = 𝟎
𝟑 𝟏
𝒖= 𝐨𝐫 𝒖=−
𝟒 𝟐
𝟑 𝟏
𝟐𝒙 = 𝟐𝒙 = − (𝐫𝐞𝐣)
𝟒 𝟐
𝟑
𝟐𝒙 =
𝟒
𝟑
𝒙 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟐 𝟐 = 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟐 U V
𝟒
𝒙 = 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟐 𝟑 − 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟐 𝟒
= 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟐 𝟑 − 𝟐

(b) 𝒚 = 𝒆𝒙 − 𝒆 … … … (𝟏)
𝒆
𝒚 = 𝟏 − 𝒙 … … … (𝟐)
𝒆

𝒆𝒙 − 𝒚𝒆𝒙 = 𝒆
𝒆𝒙 (𝟏 − 𝒚) = 𝒆
𝒆
𝒆𝒙 = … … … (𝟑)
𝟏−𝒚
Substitute Equation (𝟑) into Equation (𝟏),

𝒆
𝒚= −𝒆
𝟏−𝒚
(𝒚 + 𝒆)(𝟏 − 𝒚) = 𝒆
𝒚 − 𝒚𝟐 + 𝒆 − 𝒆𝒚 = 𝒆
−𝒚𝟐 + 𝒚 − 𝒆𝒚 = 𝟎
−𝒚𝟐 + (𝟏 − 𝒆)𝒚 = 𝟎
𝒚(−𝒚 + 𝟏 − 𝒆) = 𝟎
𝒚=𝟎 𝐨𝐫 𝒚=𝟏−𝒆
Substitute 𝒚 = 𝟎 into Equation (𝟏),

𝟎 = 𝒆𝒙 − 𝒆
𝒆𝒙 = 𝒆
𝒙=𝟏
Substitute 𝒚 = 𝟏 − 𝒆 into Equation (𝟏),

𝟏 − 𝒆 = 𝒆𝒙 − 𝒆
𝒆𝒙 = 𝟏
𝒙=𝟎
Hence, the 𝒙-coordinates of points of intersection of the curves are 𝒙 = 𝟎 and 𝒙 = 𝟏

(a) Express 𝒚 in the form of 𝒂𝒙𝒏
𝐥𝐠 <𝒚 = 𝟐 𝐥𝐠 𝒙 − 𝟑
(b) Given that 𝒚𝟐 − 𝟏 = 𝒙𝟐 , show that
𝐥𝐨𝐠 (𝒚%𝟏) 𝒙 + 𝐥𝐨𝐠(𝒚"𝟏) 𝒙 = 𝟐7𝐥𝐨𝐠(𝒚%𝟏) 𝒙87𝐥𝐨𝐠 (𝒚"𝟏) 𝒙8
[S4 CGS P2/2012 PRELIM Qn 5]
Solution
(a) 𝐥𝐠 <𝒚 = 𝟐 𝐥𝐠 𝒙 − 𝟑
𝟐 𝐥𝐠 𝒙 − 𝐥𝐠 <𝒚 = 𝟑
𝒙𝟐
𝐥𝐠 =𝟑
<𝒚
𝒙𝟐
= 𝟏𝟎𝟑
<𝒚
<𝒚 = 𝟏𝟎%𝟑 𝒙𝟐
𝒚 = 𝟏𝟎%𝟔 𝒙𝟒
(b) 𝒚𝟐 − 𝟏 = 𝒙𝟐
(𝒚 − 𝟏)(𝒚 + 𝟏) = 𝒙𝟐
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒙 [(𝒚 − 𝟏)(𝒚 + 𝟏)] = 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒙 𝒙𝟐
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒙 (𝒚 − 𝟏) + 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒙 (𝒚 + 𝟏) = 𝟐
𝟏 𝟏
+ =𝟐
𝐥𝐨𝐠(𝒚%𝟏) 𝒙 𝐥𝐨𝐠 (𝒚"𝟏) 𝒙
𝐥𝐨𝐠 (𝒚"𝟏) 𝒙 + 𝐥𝐨𝐠(𝒚%𝟏) 𝒙
=𝟐
7𝐥𝐨𝐠 (𝒚%𝟏) 𝒙87𝐥𝐨𝐠(𝒚"𝟏) 𝒙8
𝐥𝐨𝐠(𝒚%𝟏) 𝒙 + 𝐥𝐨𝐠 (𝒚"𝟏) 𝒙 = 𝟐7𝐥𝐨𝐠 (𝒚%𝟏) 𝒙87𝐥𝐨𝐠 (𝒚"𝟏) 𝒙8 (shown)

(a) Sketch the graph of
𝒚 = 𝒆𝟑%𝒙 − 𝟏
(b) Find the equation of the straight line which must be drawn on the graph to obtain the solution
of the equation
𝐥𝐧(𝟑𝒙 + 𝟐) = 𝐥𝐧 𝟐 + (𝟑 − 𝒙)
(c) Draw this line into the same diagram and state the number of solutions of the above equation
[S4 CHIJSNGS P1/2014 PRELIM Qn 3]
Solution
(a) 𝒚 = 𝒆𝟑%𝒙 − 𝟏
𝒚 = 𝒆𝟑%𝒙 − 𝟏 (c) 𝟑
𝒚= 𝒙
𝒙-intercept: 𝒚 = 𝟎 𝟐
𝒆𝟑%𝒙 = 𝟏
𝟑−𝒙=𝟎
𝒙=𝟑
𝒚-intercept: 𝒙 = 𝟎
𝒚 = 𝒆𝟑 − 𝟏
Asymptote: 𝒚 = −𝟏
(b) 𝐥𝐧(𝟑𝒙 + 𝟐) = 𝐥𝐧 𝟐 + (𝟑 − 𝒙)
𝐥𝐧(𝟑𝒙 + 𝟐) − 𝐥𝐧 𝟐 = 𝟑 − 𝒙
𝟑𝒙 + 𝟐
𝐥𝐧 U V=𝟑−𝒙
𝟐
𝟑𝒙 + 𝟐
= 𝒆𝟑%𝒙
𝟐
𝟑
𝒙 + 𝟏 = 𝒆𝟑%𝒙
𝟐
𝟑
𝒙 = 𝒆𝟑%𝒙 − 𝟏
𝟐
𝟑
𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐰𝐧 𝐢𝐬: 𝒚 = 𝒙
𝟐
(c) *In diagram above*
The number of solutions is 𝟏

At the beginning of year 𝟏𝟗𝟎𝟎, the population of a country was 𝟓𝟖𝟎 𝟎𝟎𝟎. Due to a disease, the
population decreased such that after a period of 𝒕 years, the new population was given by the
equation, where 𝒌 is a constant
𝑷 = 𝟓𝟖𝟎 𝟎𝟎𝟎𝒆𝒌𝒕
Given that the population after 𝟐 years was 𝟒𝟖𝟎 𝟎𝟎𝟎,

(a) Find the value of 𝒌
(b) Calculate, to the nearest whole number, the population of the country after 𝟓 years
(c) Find the year in which the population first fall below 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝟎𝟎𝟎
[S4 GMS(S) P1/2014 PRELIM Qn 5]
Solution
(a) 𝑷 = 𝟓𝟖𝟎 𝟎𝟎𝟎𝒆𝒌𝒕
When 𝒕 = 𝟐, 𝑷 = 𝟒𝟖𝟎 𝟎𝟎𝟎

∴ 𝟒𝟖𝟎 𝟎𝟎𝟎 = 𝟓𝟖𝟎 𝟎𝟎𝟎𝒆𝒌(𝟐)
𝟐𝟒
𝒆𝟐𝒌 =
𝟐𝟗
𝟐𝟒
𝟐𝒌 = 𝐥𝐧 U V
𝟐𝟗
𝟏 𝟐𝟒
𝒌 = 𝐥𝐧 U V
𝟐 𝟐𝟗
(b) After 𝟓 years, 𝒕 = 𝟓

𝑷 = 𝟓𝟖𝟎 𝟎𝟎𝟎𝒆𝟓𝒌
𝟏 𝟐𝟒
= 𝟓𝟖𝟎 𝟎𝟎𝟎𝒆𝟓9𝟐 𝐥𝐧<𝟐𝟗>?
= 𝟑𝟔𝟏𝟑𝟕𝟕. 𝟒𝟗𝟓 …
= 𝟑𝟔𝟏𝟑𝟕𝟕 (𝟑. 𝐬. 𝐟. )
(c) When the population fall below 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝟎𝟎𝟎,

𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝟎𝟎𝟎 = 𝟓𝟖𝟎 𝟎𝟎𝟎𝒆𝒌𝒕
𝟓
𝒆𝒌𝒕 =
𝟐𝟗
𝟏 𝟐𝟒 𝟓
} 𝐥𝐧 U V~ 𝒕 = 𝐥𝐧 U V
𝟐 𝟐𝟗 𝟐𝟗
𝒕 = 𝟏𝟖. 𝟓𝟕𝟕𝟖𝟖𝟑 …
≈ 𝟏𝟖
The year in which the population first hit below 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝟎𝟎𝟎 is 𝟏𝟗𝟏𝟖

(a) Express 𝒚 in terms of 𝒙
𝟏
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟓 𝒙𝟐 𝒚 = 𝟑 + 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟓 𝒙 −
𝟐 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒚 𝟓
(b) Solve the equation
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟑 (𝒙 + 𝟓) − 𝐥𝐨𝐠 √𝟑 (𝒙 − 𝟏) = 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟑 𝟐
[S4 CHIJSJC P2/2015 PRELIM Qn 5]
Solution
(a) Using Logarithm laws,

𝟏
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟓 𝒙𝟐 𝒚 = 𝟑 + 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟓 𝒙 −
𝟐 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒚 𝟓
𝟐 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟓 𝒙𝟐 𝒚 = 𝟔 + 𝟐𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟓 𝒙 − 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟓 𝒚
𝒙𝟐
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟓 (𝒙𝟐 𝒚)𝟐 = 𝟔 + 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟓 … †
𝒚
𝒙𝟐
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟓 (𝒙𝟐 𝒚)𝟐 − 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟓 … † = 𝟔
𝒚
(𝒙𝟐 𝒚)𝟐
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟓 =𝟔
𝒙𝟐
U𝒚V
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟓 𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟑 = 𝟔
𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟑 = 𝟓𝟔
𝟓𝟔
𝒚𝟑 =
𝒙𝟐
𝟐𝟓
𝒚= 𝟑
√𝒙𝟐
(b) 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟑 (𝒙 + 𝟓) − 𝐥𝐨𝐠 √𝟑 (𝒙 − 𝟏) = 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟑 𝟐

𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟑 (𝒙 − 𝟏)
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟑 (𝒙 + 𝟓) − 𝟏 = 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟑 𝟐
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟑 𝟑𝟐
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟑 (𝒙 + 𝟓) − 𝟐𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟑 (𝒙 − 𝟏) = 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟑 𝟐
𝒙+𝟓
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟑 U V = 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟑 𝟐
(𝒙 − 𝟏)𝟐
𝒙+𝟓
=𝟐
(𝒙 − 𝟏)𝟐
𝒙 + 𝟓 = 𝟐(𝒙𝟐 − 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏)
𝟐𝒙𝟐 − 𝟓𝒙 − 𝟑 = 𝟎
(𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏)(𝒙 − 𝟑) = 𝟎
𝟏
𝒙=− (𝐫𝐞𝐣) 𝐨𝐫 𝒙=𝟑
𝟐

Topic: Trigonometry
Given that 𝒙 and 𝒚 are acute angles, and that
𝟒
𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙 =
𝟓
𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙 𝟒√𝟑
=
𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝒚 𝟓
Find the exact value of

(a)
𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝒙
(b)
𝒚
𝐜𝐨𝐬𝟐 9 :
𝟐
[S4 VS P2/2011 PRELIM Qn 7(a)]
Solution
(a) Since 𝒙 is an acute angle, 𝒙 is in the first quadrant
𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝒙

𝟑 𝟒 𝟑
𝒙
𝟓 𝟓 𝟒
𝟓
𝟑
𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝒙 = 𝟐 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙

𝟑 𝟒
= 𝟐U VU V
𝟓 𝟓
𝟐𝟒
=
𝟐𝟓

(b) Since 𝒚 is an acute angle, 𝒚 is in the first quadrant
𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙 𝟒√𝟑
=
𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝒚 𝟓
𝟒
= √𝟑
𝟓
𝟒
9𝟓:
=
𝟏
U V
√𝟑
𝟏
𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝒚 =
√𝟑
𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒚 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒚 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝒚

𝟏 √𝟑 𝟏
𝒙
𝟐 𝟐 √𝟑
𝟐
𝟏
√𝟑
Since 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟐𝑨 = 𝟐 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝟐 𝑨 − 𝟏,

𝟏 + 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟐𝑨
𝐜𝐨𝐬𝟐 𝑨 =
𝟐
𝒚 𝟏 + 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒚
𝐜𝐨𝐬𝟐 9 : =
𝟐 𝟐
√𝟑
𝟏+
= 𝟐
𝟐
𝟐 + √𝟑
=
𝟒

The diagram shows a quadrilateral 𝑨𝑩𝑪𝑫 where ∠𝑫𝑨𝑷 = ∠𝑩𝑪𝑫 = 𝟗𝟎°. 𝑨𝑩 = 𝟐 𝐜𝐦 and 𝑫𝑪 = 𝟓 𝐜𝐦.
𝑷 is a point on 𝑨𝑩 such that 𝑨𝑫 = 𝑨𝑷
(a) Find the exact length of the diagonal 𝑩𝑫
(b) Show that
√𝟑
∠𝑩𝑫𝑷 = 𝐜𝐨𝐬%𝟏 … † − 𝟒𝟓°
𝟓
Solution
(a) Using ∆𝑩𝑪𝑫,

𝑪𝑫
𝐬𝐢𝐧 ∠𝑪𝑩𝑫 =
𝑩𝑫
𝟓
𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟔𝟎° =
𝑩𝑫
√𝟑 𝟓
=
𝟐 𝑩𝑫
𝟏𝟎
𝑩𝑫 =
√𝟑
(b) Using ∆𝑨𝑫𝑩,

𝑨𝑫
𝐜𝐨𝐬 ∠𝑨𝑫𝑩 =
𝑩𝑫
𝟐
=
𝟏𝟎
U V
√𝟑
√𝟑
=
𝟓
√𝟑
∠𝑨𝑫𝑩 = 𝐜𝐨𝐬%𝟏 … †
𝟓
Since 𝑨𝑫 = 𝑨𝑷, 𝑨𝑫𝑷 is an isosceles triangle

𝟏𝟖𝟎° − 𝟗𝟎°
∠𝑨𝑫𝑷 =
𝟐
= 𝟒𝟓°
√𝟑
∴ ∠𝑩𝑫𝑷 = 𝐜𝐨𝐬%𝟏 … † − 𝟒𝟓°
𝟓

(a) Without using a calculator, find the exact value of
𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟏𝟎𝟓°
𝐬𝐞𝐜 𝟏𝟎𝟓°
(b) Prove that
𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝑨 + 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝑩 𝑨−𝑩

= 𝐜𝐨𝐭 U V
𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝑩 − 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝑨 𝟐
[S4 SCGS P1/2012 PRELIM Qn 8]
Solution
(a) Using special angles,

𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟏𝟎𝟓° 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟏𝟎𝟓°
=
𝐬𝐞𝐜 𝟏𝟎𝟓° 9 𝟏
𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟏𝟎𝟓°:
= (𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟏𝟎𝟓°)(𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟏𝟎𝟓°)
= [𝐬𝐢𝐧(𝟔𝟎° + 𝟒𝟓°)][𝐜𝐨𝐬(𝟔𝟎° + 𝟒𝟓°)]
= [𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟔𝟎° 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟒𝟓° + 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟔𝟎° 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟒𝟓°][𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟔𝟎° 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟒𝟓° − 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟔𝟎° 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟒𝟓°]
√𝟑 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 √𝟑 𝟏
= W… † U V + U V U VX WU V U V − … † U VX
𝟐 √𝟐 𝟐 √𝟐 𝟐 √𝟐 𝟐 √𝟐
𝟏
=−
𝟒
(b) To prove the identity,

𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝑨 + 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝑩
𝐋𝐇𝐒 =
𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝑩 − 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝑨
𝑨+𝑩 𝑨−𝑩
𝟐 𝐬𝐢𝐧 9 𝟐 : 𝐜𝐨𝐬 9 𝟐 :
=
𝑨+𝑩 𝑨−𝑩
𝟐 𝐬𝐢𝐧 9 𝟐 : 𝐬𝐢𝐧 9 𝟐 :
𝑨−𝑩
𝐜𝐨𝐬 9
= 𝟐 :
𝑨−𝑩
𝐬𝐢𝐧 9 𝟐 :
𝑨−𝑩
= 𝐜𝐨𝐭 U V
𝟐
= 𝐑𝐇𝐒

The curve, where 𝑘, 𝑚 and 𝑛 are integers and 𝟎 ≤ 𝒙 ≤ 𝟓𝝅, has an amplitude of 𝟓 and a period of 𝟒𝝅
𝒙
𝒚 = 𝒌 𝐜𝐨𝐬 9 : − 𝒏
𝒎
(a) State the value of 𝒌 and 𝒎

(b) Write down the value of 𝒏, given that the maximum value of 𝒚 is 𝟑
(c) Sketch the graph of 𝒚, indicating clearly the turning points
(d) By sketching an additional straight line into the same diagram, state the number of solutions
to the equation
𝒙
𝝅𝒌 𝐜𝐨𝐬 9 : = 𝒙 + 𝝅(𝒏 − 𝟐)
𝒎
[S4 SPS P1/2012 PRELIM Qn 11]
Solution
(a) Since the amplitude is 𝟓, 𝒌 = 𝟓

Since the period is 𝟒𝝅,
𝟐𝝅
𝟒𝝅 =
𝒃
𝟏
𝒃=
𝟐
∴𝒎=𝟐
(b) Since the maximum value of 𝒚 is 𝟑, 𝒏 = −𝟐
(c)
(d) To find the number of solutions,

𝒙
𝝅𝒌 𝐜𝐨𝐬 9 : = 𝒙 + 𝝅(𝒏 − 𝟐)
𝒎
𝒙 𝒙
𝒌 𝐜𝐨𝐬 9 : = + (𝒏 − 𝟐)
𝒎 𝝅
𝒙 𝒙
𝒌 𝐜𝐨𝐬 9 : − 𝒏 = − 𝟐
𝒎 𝝅
𝒙
𝐒𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐜𝐡: 𝒚 = −𝟐
𝝅
Number of solutions = 𝟑

(a) Prove the identity
𝐭𝐚𝐧𝟒 𝒙 = 𝐬𝐞𝐜 𝟐 𝒙 𝐭𝐚𝐧𝟐 𝒙 − 𝐬𝐞𝐜 𝟐 𝒙 + 𝟏
(b) Solve, for 𝟎° ≤ 𝒙 ≤ 𝟑𝟔𝟎°, the equation
𝐜𝐨𝐬𝟐 𝒙 + 𝟑 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙 + 𝟏 = 𝟎
(c) For 𝟎° < 𝜽 < 𝟗𝟎°, and given that
√𝟑 + 𝟏
𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽 =
𝟐√𝟐
(i) Find the value of 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽 in the form
<𝒂 − √𝒃
𝒂
(ii) Hence, prove that
𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝜽 = ™𝟕 − 𝟒√𝟑
[S4 DSS P2/2014 PRELIM Qn 8]
Solution
(a) Using trigonometric identities,

𝐑𝐇𝐒 = 𝐬𝐞𝐜 𝟐 𝒙 𝐭𝐚𝐧𝟐 𝒙 − 𝐬𝐞𝐜 𝟐 𝒙 + 𝟏
= (𝐭𝐚𝐧𝟐 𝒙 − 𝟏)(𝐭𝐚𝐧𝟐 𝒙) − (𝐬𝐞𝐜 𝟐 𝒙 − 𝟏)
= 𝐭𝐚𝐧𝟒 𝒙 + 𝐭𝐚𝐧𝟐 𝒙 − 𝐭𝐚𝐧𝟐 𝒙
= 𝐭𝐚𝐧𝟒 𝒙
= 𝐋𝐇𝐒

(b) 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝟐 𝒙 + 𝟑 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙 + 𝟏 = 𝟎
𝐜𝐨𝐬𝟐 𝒙 + 𝟑 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙 + 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝟐 𝒙 + 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝟐 𝒙 = 𝟎
𝟐 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝟐 𝒙 + 𝟑 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙 + 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝟐 𝒙 = 𝟎
(𝟐 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙 + 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙)(𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙 + 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙) = 𝟎
𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝒙 = −𝟐 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝒙 = −𝟏
For 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝒙 = −𝟐,

𝜶 = 𝐭𝐚𝐧%𝟏 (𝟐)
𝒙 = 𝟏𝟖𝟎° − 𝐭𝐚𝐧%𝟏 (𝟐) 𝐨𝐫 𝒙 = 𝟑𝟔𝟎° − 𝐭𝐚𝐧%𝟏 (𝟐)
= 𝟏𝟏𝟔. 𝟓𝟔𝟓𝟎𝟓𝟏 … = 𝟐𝟗𝟔. 𝟓𝟔𝟓𝟎𝟓𝟏 …
= 𝟏𝟏𝟔. 𝟔° = 𝟐𝟗𝟔. 𝟔°
For 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝒙 = −𝟏,

𝜶 = 𝐭𝐚𝐧%𝟏 (𝟏)
𝒙 = 𝟏𝟖𝟎° − 𝐭𝐚𝐧%𝟏 (𝟏) 𝐨𝐫 𝒙 = 𝟑𝟔𝟎° − 𝐭𝐚𝐧%𝟏 (𝟏)
= 𝟏𝟑𝟓° = 𝟑𝟏𝟓°
(c) To solve this question, we shall draw a right triangle and solve for the missing side
𝟐√𝟐
𝒙
√𝟑 + 𝟏
𝟐 𝟐
𝒙 = ™7𝟐√𝟐8 − 7√𝟑 + 𝟏8
= ™𝟖 − 7𝟑 + 𝟐√𝟑 + 𝟏8
= ™𝟒 − 𝟐√𝟑
(i) To find 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽,

<𝟒 − 𝟐√𝟑
𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽 =
𝟐√𝟐
™𝟐7𝟐 − √𝟑8
=
𝟐√𝟐
√𝟐<𝟐 − √𝟑
=
𝟐√𝟐
<𝟐 − √𝟑
=
𝟐

(ii) To find 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝜽
<𝟒 − 𝟐√𝟑
𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝜽 =
√𝟑 + 𝟏
𝟒 − 𝟐√𝟑
𝐭𝐚𝐧𝟐 𝜽 = 𝟐
7√𝟑 + 𝟏8
𝟒 − 𝟐√𝟑 𝟒 − 𝟐√𝟑
= ×
𝟒 + 𝟐√𝟑 𝟒 − 𝟐√𝟑
𝟏𝟔 − 𝟏𝟔√𝟑 + 𝟏𝟐
=
𝟒
= 𝟕 − 𝟒√𝟑
∴ 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝜽 = ™𝟕 − 𝟒√𝟑 (𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐧)

Show that, when −𝟗𝟎° < 𝒙 < 𝟗𝟎°
𝟏 − 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙
› = 𝐬𝐞𝐜 𝒙 − 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝒙
𝟏 + 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙
Hence, explain why 𝒙 must be acute for this identity to be true
[S4 AHS P1/2015 PRELIM Qn 1]
Solution
› = 𝐬𝐞𝐜 𝒙 − 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝒙
= (𝐬𝐞𝐜 𝒙 − 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝒙)𝟐
𝐋𝐇𝐒 =
(𝟏 − 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙)(𝟏 − 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙)
=
(𝟏 + 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙)(𝟏 − 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙)
(𝟏 − 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙)𝟐
=
𝟏 − 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝟐 𝒙
𝟏 − 𝟐 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙 + 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝟐 𝒙
=
𝐜𝐨𝐬𝟐 𝒙
𝟏 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙
= − 𝟐U V + 𝐭𝐚𝐧𝟐 𝒙
𝐜𝐨𝐬𝟐 𝒙 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝟐 𝒙
= 𝐬𝐞𝐜 𝟐 𝒙 − 𝟐 𝐬𝐞𝐜 𝒙 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝒙 + 𝐭𝐚𝐧𝟐 𝒙
= (𝐬𝐞𝐜 𝒙 − 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝒙)𝟐
= 𝐑𝐇𝐒
To answer the hence part, we shall breakdown the solution into 2 cases: Obtuse & Reflex
Case 1: Obtuse (𝟗𝟎° < 𝒙 ≤ 𝟏𝟖𝟎°)

If 𝒙 is obtuse, 𝐬𝐞𝐜 𝒙 < 𝟎 and 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝒙 < 𝟎. This will imply that the 𝐑𝐇𝐒 of the equation will be
negative. However, 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙 > 𝟎. This will imply that the 𝐋𝐇𝐒 of the equation will be positive.
This will form a contradiction. Hence, 𝒙 cannot be obtuse
Case 2: Reflex (𝟏𝟖𝟎° < 𝒙 ≤ 𝟑𝟔𝟎°)

If 𝒙 is reflex, 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙 < 𝟎. This will imply that the 𝐋𝐇𝐒 of the equation will always be negative.
However, you cannot take the root of a negative number. Hence, this case is also not
possible. This will form a contradiction. Hence, 𝒙 cannot be reflex

The diagram above shows the graph, where 𝒂, 𝒃 and 𝒄 are constants, of
𝒚 = 𝒄 + 𝒂 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒃𝒙
(a) Use your graph to determine the value of 𝒂, 𝒃 and 𝒄

(b) By using the values of 𝒂, 𝒃 and 𝒄 found in part (a), determine the equation of the straight line
that needs to be drawn on the same diagram to solve
𝒂𝝅
𝐬𝐞𝐜 𝒃𝒙 =
𝒙 − 𝝅𝒄
[S4 ACS(I) P1/2015 PRELIM Qn 5]
Solution
(a) Based on the graph,

𝒂 = −𝟑
𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐝 = 𝝅, 𝒃 = 𝟐
𝒄=𝟐
(b) To determine the equation,

𝒂𝝅
𝐬𝐞𝐜 𝒃𝒙 =
𝒙 − 𝝅𝒄
𝒙 − 𝟐𝝅
𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟐𝒙 =
−𝟑𝝅
−𝟑𝝅 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟐𝒙 = 𝒙 − 𝟐𝝅
𝟐𝝅 − 𝟑𝝅 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟐𝒙 = 𝒙
𝝅(𝟐 − 𝟑 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟐𝒙) = 𝒙
𝒙
𝟐 − 𝟑 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟐𝒙 =
𝝅
𝒙
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐰𝐧 𝐢𝐬: 𝒚 =
𝝅

The figure shows two circles, 𝑪𝟏 and 𝑪𝟐 which touch each other and lie on the 𝒙𝒚 plane and shown
below. 𝑪𝟏 has radius 𝟒 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐬 and touches the 𝒙-axis at 𝑫, 𝑪𝟐 has radius 𝟑 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐬 and touches the 𝒚-
axis at 𝑬. The line 𝑨𝑩, joining the centres of 𝑪𝟐 and 𝑪𝟏 meets at the 𝒙-axis at 𝑭 and ∠𝑩𝑭𝑶 = 𝜽°
(a) Obtain expressions for 𝑶𝑫 and 𝑶𝑬
(b) Show that
𝑬𝑫𝟐 = 𝟕𝟒 + 𝟓𝟔 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽 + 𝟒𝟐 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽
(c) Express 𝑬𝑫𝟐 in the form 𝟕𝟒 + 𝑹 𝐜𝐨𝐬(𝜽 − 𝜶) where 𝑹 > 𝟎 and 𝟎° < 𝜶 < 𝟗𝟎°
(d) By considering the extreme positions in which both circles can touch the 𝒙-axis and both circles
touch the 𝒚-axis, correcting to one decimal place, show that
𝟖. 𝟐° ≤ 𝜽 ≤ 𝟖𝟏. 𝟖°
[S4 FMS(S) P2/2015 PRELIM Qn 11]
Solution
(a) 𝑶𝑫 = 𝑬𝑨 + 𝑮𝑩
= 𝟑 + 𝟕 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽
𝑶𝑬 = 𝑫𝑩 + 𝑯𝑬
= 𝟒 + 𝟕 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽
(b) By Pythagoras’ Theorem,

𝑬𝑫𝟐 = 𝑶𝑫𝟐 + 𝑶𝑬𝟐
= (𝟑 + 𝟕 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽)𝟐 + (𝟒 + 𝟕 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽)𝟐
= 𝟗 + 𝟒𝟐 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽 + 𝟒𝟗 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝟐 𝜽 + 𝟏𝟔 + 𝟓𝟔 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽 + 𝟒𝟗 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝟐 𝜽
= 𝟐𝟓 + 𝟓𝟔 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽 + 𝟒𝟐 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽 + 𝟒𝟗(𝐬𝐢𝐧𝟐 𝜽 + 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝟐 𝜽)
= 𝟐𝟓 + 𝟓𝟔 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽 + 𝟒𝟐 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽 + 𝟒𝟗
= 𝟕𝟒 + 𝟓𝟔 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽 + 𝟒𝟐 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽 (𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐧)

(c) 𝑬𝑫𝟐 = 𝟕𝟒 + 𝟓𝟔 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽 + 𝟒𝟐 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽
𝟕𝟒 + 𝑹 𝐜𝐨𝐬(𝜽 − 𝜶) = 𝟕𝟒 + 𝟓𝟔 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽 + 𝟒𝟐 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽
𝑹 = <𝟓𝟔𝟐 + 𝟒𝟐𝟐
= 𝟕𝟎
𝟓𝟔
𝜶 = 𝐭𝐚𝐧%𝟏 U V
𝟒𝟐
= 𝟓𝟑. 𝟏𝟑𝟎 …
= 𝟓𝟑. 𝟏° (𝟏. 𝐝. 𝐩. )
∴ 𝑬𝑫𝟐 = 𝟕𝟒 + 𝟕𝟎 𝐜𝐨𝐬(𝜽 − 𝟓𝟑. 𝟏°)
(d) Case 1: Both circles touch the 𝒙-axis
𝟏
𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽 =
𝟕
𝜽 = 𝟖. 𝟐𝟏𝟑𝟐𝟏𝟎 …
= 𝟖. 𝟐° (𝟏. 𝐝. 𝐩. )
Case 2: Both circles touch the 𝒚-axis
𝟏
𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽 =
𝟕
𝜽 = 𝟖𝟏. 𝟕𝟖𝟔𝟕𝟖𝟗 …
= 𝟖𝟏. 𝟖° (𝟏. 𝐝. 𝐩. )

Topic: Linear Law
𝟏 𝟏
The figure shows part of a straight line graph obtained by plotting
against
𝒚 𝒙
𝒙
(a) Given that 𝒙 and 𝒚 can be represented by the equation 𝒚 = where 𝒂 and 𝒃 are constants,
𝒂_𝒃𝒙
find the values of 𝒂 and 𝒃
𝟏
(b) Find the value of 𝒙 when 𝒚 = 𝟒
[S4 CCHS(M) P1/2011 PRELIM Qn 7]
Solution
(a) Given the equation,

𝒙
𝒚=
𝒂 + 𝒃𝒙
𝟏 𝒂 + 𝒃𝒙
=
𝒚 𝒙
𝟏 𝟏
= 𝒂U V + 𝒃
𝒚 𝒙
𝒀 = 𝒎𝑿 + 𝑪
Gradient = 𝒂
𝟕−𝟏
𝒂=
𝟐−𝟓
= −𝟐
𝟏 𝟏
= −𝟐 U V + 𝒃
𝒚 𝒙
Substituting (𝟐, 𝟕) into the equation,

𝟕 = −𝟐(𝟐) + 𝒃
𝒃 = 𝟏𝟏
𝟏 𝟏
∴ = −𝟐 U V + 𝟏𝟏
𝒚 𝒙

(b) Since we are given the 𝒚-coordinate,
𝟏 𝟏
𝒚= ⟹ =𝟒
𝟒 𝒚
𝟏
𝟒 = −𝟐 U V + 𝟏𝟏
𝒙
𝟏 𝟕
=
𝒙 𝟐
𝟐
∴𝒙=
𝟕

Answer the whole of this question on a sheet of graph paper
The table below shows experimental values of the variables 𝒙 and 𝒚
𝒙 𝟏. 𝟎 𝟏. 𝟓 𝟐. 𝟎 𝟐. 𝟓 𝟑. 𝟎
𝒚 𝟐. 𝟒𝟓 𝟐. 𝟐𝟒 𝟐. 𝟎𝟎 𝟏. 𝟕𝟑 𝟏. 𝟒𝟏
It is known that 𝒙 and 𝒚 are related by the equation, where 𝒌 and 𝒏 are constants
𝒙 𝒚𝟐
+ =𝟏
𝒌 𝒏
(a) Draw a straight line graph of 𝒚𝟐 against 𝒙 using a scale of 𝟒 𝐜𝐦 to represent 𝟏 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭 on the 𝒙-axis
and 𝟐 𝐜𝐦 to represent 𝟏 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭 on the 𝒚𝟐 axis
(b) Use your graph to estimate the value of 𝒌 and 𝒏
(c) Use the graph to estimate the value of 𝒙 when 𝒚 = 𝟏. 𝟓
[S4 NVSS P1/2012 PRELIM Qn 8]
Solution
(a) Given the equation,

𝒙 𝒚𝟐
+ =𝟏
𝒌 𝒏
𝒚𝟐 𝒙
=𝟏−
𝒏 𝒌
𝒏
𝒚𝟐 = − 𝒙 + 𝒏
𝒌
𝒙 𝟏. 𝟎 𝟏. 𝟓 𝟐. 𝟎 𝟐. 𝟓 𝟑. 𝟎
𝒚 𝟐. 𝟒𝟓 𝟐. 𝟐𝟒 𝟐. 𝟎𝟎 𝟏. 𝟕𝟑 𝟏. 𝟒𝟏
𝟐 𝟔. 𝟎𝟎 𝟓. 𝟎𝟐 𝟒. 𝟎 𝟐. 𝟗𝟗 𝟏. 𝟗𝟗
𝒚

(b) 𝒏 is the 𝒚-intercept
∴𝒏=𝟖
𝒏
− 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭
𝒌
𝟖 𝟔. 𝟎𝟎 − 𝟒. 𝟎𝟎
− =
𝒌 𝟏. 𝟎 − 𝟐. 𝟎
= −𝟐
𝒌=𝟒
(c) 𝒚𝟐 = −𝟐𝒙 + 𝟖
When 𝒚 = 𝟏. 𝟓, 𝒚𝟐 = 𝟐. 𝟐𝟓
𝟐. 𝟐𝟓 = −𝟐𝒙 + 𝟖
𝒙 = 𝟐. 𝟖𝟕𝟓 …
= 𝟐. 𝟖𝟖 (𝟑. 𝐬. 𝐟. )

Variables 𝒙 and 𝒚 are connected by the equation
𝒚 = 𝒂𝒙𝟐 + 𝒃√𝒙
𝒂 and 𝒃 are known to be constants. A straight line can be obtained using experimental values of 𝒙
and 𝒚. This straight line passes through the point (𝟏, 𝟓) and makes an angle of 𝟒𝟓° with the horizontal
axis
(a) Find the values of 𝒂 and 𝒃
(b) Find the coordinates of the point on the line at which 𝒚 = 𝟑√𝒙
[S4 CCHS(M) P1/2014 PRELIM Qn 8 (Modified)]
Solution
(a) 𝒚 = 𝒂𝒙𝟐 + 𝒃√𝒙

𝒚 𝒂𝒙𝟐
= +𝒃
√𝒙 √𝒙
𝒚
= 𝒂𝒙√𝒙 + 𝒃
√𝒙
𝒂 is the gradient
𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝟒𝟓° = 𝒂
𝒂=𝟏
𝒃 is the 𝒚-intercept
Substitute the point (𝟏, 𝟓) into the equation,
𝟓 = 𝟏(𝟏) + 𝒃
𝒃=𝟒
(b) When 𝒚 = 𝟑√𝒙

𝒚
=𝟑
√𝒙
𝟑 = 𝒙√𝒙 + 𝟒
𝒙√𝒙 = −𝟏
The point is (−𝟏, 𝟑)

The diagram shows part of a straight-line graph drawn to represent the equation
𝒌
𝒚+ = 𝟓√𝒙
√𝒙
𝒌 is known to be a constant. Given that the line passes through the point (𝟎, −𝟖) and makes an angle
𝜽 with the 𝒙-axis at point 𝑹, where 𝟎° < 𝜽 < 𝟗𝟎°, find
(a) the value of 𝒌 and of 𝜽
(b) the coordinates of 𝑹
Solution
(a) From the given equation

𝒌
𝒚+ = 𝟓√𝒙
√𝒙
𝒚√𝒙 = 𝟓𝒙 − 𝒌
Substitute the point (𝟎, −𝟖) into the equation,

−𝟖 = 𝟓(𝟎) − 𝒌
𝒌=𝟖
Since 𝟓 is the gradient of the line,

𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝜽 = 𝟓
𝜽 = 𝐭𝐚𝐧%𝟏 𝟓
= 𝟕𝟖. 𝟔𝟗𝟎𝟎𝟔𝟕 …
= 𝟕𝟖. 𝟕° (𝟏. 𝐝. 𝐩. )
(b) At 𝑹, 𝒚√𝒙 = 𝟎
𝟎 = 𝟓𝒙 − 𝟖
𝟑
𝒙=𝟏
𝟓
𝟑
𝑹 U𝟏 , 𝟎V
𝟓

Topic: Coordinate Geometry
The diagram shows a quadrilateral 𝑷𝑸𝑹𝑺 with coordinates 𝑷(𝟕, 𝟕) and 𝑺(𝟐, 𝟒). Given that 𝑴(𝟔, 𝟖) is
the mid-point of 𝑷𝑹, and that 𝑷𝑹 is the perpendicular bisector of 𝑺𝑸
(a) Find the coordinates of 𝑹
(b) Find the equation of 𝑷𝑹
(c) Given that 𝑴𝑺 = 𝟐𝑴𝑸, find the coordinates of 𝑸
(d) Find the area of ∆𝑷𝑸𝑹
Solution
(a) To solve for the coordinates of 𝑹, we can use congruent triangles
𝑹(𝟓, 𝟗) 𝑴(𝟔, 𝟖)
𝟏 𝟏
𝟏 𝑴(𝟔, 𝟖) 𝟏 𝑷(𝟕, 𝟕)
By inspection, 𝑹(𝟓, 𝟗)
(b) To find the equation of 𝑷𝑹,

𝟗−𝟕
𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝑷𝑹 =
𝟓−𝟕
= −𝟏
Hence, using the point (𝟕, 𝟕),

𝒚 − 𝟕 = −𝟏(𝒙 − 𝟕)
𝒚 = −𝒙 + 𝟏𝟒

(c) To solve for the coordinates of 𝑸, we can use similar triangles
𝑴(𝟔, 𝟖) 𝑸(𝟖, 𝟏𝟎)
𝟐 𝟏
𝟒 𝟐
𝑺(𝟐, 𝟒) 𝟒 𝑴(𝟔, 𝟖) 𝟐
By inspection, 𝑸(𝟖, 𝟏𝟎)
(d) To find the area, we shall use the shoelace method

𝟏 𝟕 𝟖 𝟓 𝟕
𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚 = ¨ ¨
𝟐 𝟕 𝟏𝟎 𝟗 𝟕
𝟏
= |(𝟕𝟎 + 𝟕𝟐 + 𝟑𝟓) − (𝟓𝟔 + 𝟓𝟎 + 𝟔𝟑)|
𝟐
𝟏
= |𝟖|
𝟐
= 𝟒 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐬𝟐

Find the gradient of the straight line joining the points of intersection of the curve and the line
𝟒𝟒𝒙𝟐 − 𝒚𝟐 + 𝟐𝟎𝒙 + 𝟏 = 𝟎
𝒚 + 𝟐𝒙 = 𝟑
[S4 SSS P1/2012 PRELIM Qn 5]
Solution
𝟒𝟒𝒙𝟐 − 𝒚𝟐 + 𝟐𝟎𝒙 + 𝟏 = 𝟎 … … … (𝟏)

𝒚 + 𝟐𝒙 = 𝟑 … … … (𝟐)

𝒚 = 𝟑 − 𝟐𝒙 … … … (𝟑)
Substitute Equation (𝟑) into Equation (𝟏),

𝟒𝟒𝒙𝟐 − (𝟑 − 𝟐𝒙)𝟐 + 𝟐𝟎𝒙 + 𝟏 = 𝟎
𝟒𝟒𝒙𝟐 − (𝟗 − 𝟏𝟐𝒙 + 𝟒𝒙𝟐 ) + 𝟐𝟎𝒙 + 𝟏 = 𝟎
𝟒𝟒𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏𝟐𝒙 − 𝟗 + 𝟐𝟎𝒙 + 𝟏 = 𝟎
𝟒𝟎𝒙𝟐 + 𝟑𝟐𝒙 − 𝟖 = 𝟎
𝟓𝒙𝟐 + 𝟒𝒙 − 𝟏 = 𝟎
(𝟓𝒙 − 𝟏)(𝒙 + 𝟏) = 𝟎
𝟏
𝒙= 𝐨𝐫 𝒙 = −𝟏
𝟓
𝟏
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝒙 = 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝟑),
𝟓
𝟏
𝒚 = 𝟑 − 𝟐U V
𝟓
𝟑
=𝟐
𝟓
When 𝒙 = −𝟏 into Equation (𝟑),

𝒚 = 𝟑 − 𝟐(−𝟏)
=𝟓
𝟏 𝟑
𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞: U , 𝟐 V & (−𝟏, 𝟓)
𝟓 𝟓
𝟑
𝟐𝟓 − 𝟓
∴ 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 =
𝟏
− (−𝟏)
𝟓
= −𝟐

The coordinates of points 𝑷 and 𝑸 are (𝟐, 𝟓) and (𝟑, 𝟐) respectively. It is given that the shortest
distance from point 𝑷 to a line 𝒍𝟏 is three times the shortest distance from point 𝑸 to line 𝒍𝟏 . Find
the equation of the line 𝒍𝟏 if 𝒍𝟏 lies between the points 𝑷 and 𝑸, and is perpendicular to the line
joining the points 𝑷 and 𝑸
Solution
𝟓−𝟐
𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝑷𝑸 =
𝟐−𝟑
= −𝟑
Since 𝒍𝟏 is perpendicular to 𝑷𝑸,

−𝟏
𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝒍𝟏 =
(−𝟑)
𝟏
=
𝟑
Let the point of intersection between 𝑷𝑸 and 𝒍𝟏 be 𝑵(𝒙, 𝒚). To solve for the coordinates of
𝑵, we can use similar triangles
𝑷(𝟐, 𝟓) 𝑵(𝒙, 𝒚)
𝟓−𝒚 𝟑 𝒚−𝟐 𝟏
𝒙−𝟐 𝑵(𝒙, 𝒚) 𝟑−𝒙 𝑸(𝟑, 𝟐)
𝟓−𝒚
=𝟑
𝒚−𝟐
𝟓 − 𝒚 = 𝟑𝒚 − 𝟔
𝟏𝟏
𝒚=
𝟒
𝒙−𝟐
=𝟑
𝟑−𝒙
𝒙 − 𝟐 = 𝟗 − 𝟑𝒙
𝟏𝟏
𝒙=
𝟒
𝟏𝟏 𝟏 𝟏𝟏
𝒚− = U𝒙 − V
𝟒 𝟑 𝟒
𝟏 𝟓
𝒚= 𝒙+𝟏
𝟑 𝟔

Solutions to this question by accurate drawing will not be accepted
The diagram, not drawn to scale, shows a trapezium 𝑨𝑩𝑪𝑫 in which 𝑨𝑩 is parallel to 𝑫𝑪 and
∠𝑩𝑨𝑫 = 𝟗𝟎°. The vertices of the trapezium are at the points 𝑨(𝟎, 𝟐), 𝑩(𝟐𝒂 + 𝟒, 𝟑𝒂), 𝑪(𝒃, 𝟎) and
𝑫(𝟐, −𝟐)
(a) Given that the length of 𝑨𝑩 is 𝟒√𝟓 units, find the value of 𝒂, where 𝒂 > 𝟎
(b) Find the equation of 𝑨𝑩
(c) Find the value of 𝒃
(d) Find the perpendicular bisector of 𝑨𝑩
(e) Hence, or otherwise, show that 𝑪 lies on the perpendicular bisector of 𝑨𝑩
(f) Find the area of the trapezium 𝑨𝑩𝑪𝑫
[S4 NGHS P2/2015 PRELIM Qn 9]
Solution
(a) Since the length is 𝟒√𝟓 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐬,

<(𝟐𝒂 + 𝟒 − 𝟎)𝟐 + (𝟑𝒂 − 𝟐)𝟐 = 𝟒√𝟓
𝟒𝒂𝟐 + 𝟏𝟔𝒂 + 𝟏𝟔 + 𝟗𝒂𝟐 − 𝟏𝟐𝒂 + 𝟒 = 𝟏𝟔(𝟓)
𝟏𝟑𝒂𝟐 + 𝟒𝒂 − 𝟔𝟎 = 𝟎
(𝟏𝟑𝒂 + 𝟑𝟎)(𝒂 − 𝟐) = 𝟎
𝟑𝟎
𝒂=− (𝐫𝐞𝐣 ∵ 𝒂 > 𝟎) 𝐨𝐫 𝒂=𝟐
𝟏𝟑
(b) To find the equation of 𝑨𝑩,

𝟔−𝟐
𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝑨𝑩 =
𝟖−𝟎
𝟏
=
𝟐
𝟏
∴𝒚= 𝒙+𝟐
𝟐

(c) Since 𝑨𝑩 is parallel to 𝑫𝑪, 𝑨𝑩 have the same gradient as 𝑫𝑪
𝟎 − (−𝟐) 𝟏
=
𝒃−𝟐 𝟐
𝒃−𝟐=𝟒
𝒃=𝟔
(d) To find the perpendicular bisector of 𝑨𝑩, we need to find the midpoint of 𝑨𝑩
𝟖+𝟎 𝟔+𝟐
𝐌𝐢𝐝𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭 = U , V
𝟐 𝟐
= (𝟒, 𝟒)
−𝟏
𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐛𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 =
𝟏
9𝟐 :
= −𝟐
∴ 𝒚 − 𝟒 = −𝟐(𝒙 − 𝟒)
𝒚 = −𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏𝟐
(e) When 𝒙 = 𝟔,
𝒚 = −𝟐(𝟔) + 𝟏𝟐
=𝟎
As the point satisfies the equation, point 𝑪 lies on the perpendicular bisector
(f) To find the area of trapezium 𝑨𝑩𝑪𝑫,

𝟏 𝟎 𝟐 𝟔 𝟖 𝟎
𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚 = ¨ ¨
𝟐 𝟐 −𝟐 𝟎 𝟔 𝟐
𝟏
= |(𝟏𝟔 + 𝟑𝟔) − (𝟒 − 𝟏𝟐)|
𝟐
𝟏
= |(𝟔𝟎)|
𝟐
= 𝟑𝟎 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐬𝟐

Topic: Further Coordinate Geometry
(𝟎, 𝟓)
𝒚 = 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟐
(𝟒, −𝟑)
Find the equation of the circle, 𝑪, which passes through the points (𝟎, 𝟓) and (𝟒, −𝟑) and has its
centre lying on the line 𝒚 = 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟐. Hence, determine by calculations, whether the point (𝟔, 𝟏) lies
inside or outside 𝑪
[S4 ANDSS P2/2011 PRELIM Qn 12]
Solution
The general form of a circle is 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 + 𝟐𝒈𝒙 + 𝟐𝒇𝒚 + 𝒓 = 𝟎, let the centre be (−𝒈, −𝒇)
Substitute the point (𝟎, 𝟓) into the circle equation,

𝟎𝟐 + 𝟓𝟐 + 𝟐𝒈(𝟎) + 𝟐𝒇(𝟓) + 𝒓 = 𝟎
𝟐𝟓 + 𝟏𝟎𝒇 + 𝒓 = 𝟎
𝟐𝟓 + 𝒓 = −𝟏𝟎𝒇 … … … (𝟏)
Substitute the point (𝟒, −𝟑) into the circle equation,

(𝟒)𝟐 + (−𝟑)𝟐 + 𝟐𝒈(𝟒) + 𝟐𝒇(−𝟑) + 𝒓 = 𝟎
𝟐𝟓 + 𝟖𝒈 − 𝟔𝒇 + 𝒓 = 𝟎 … … … (𝟐)

𝟖𝒈 − 𝟔𝒇 − 𝟏𝟎𝒇 = 𝟎
𝟖𝒈 = 𝟏𝟔𝒇
𝒈 = 𝟐𝒇 … … … (𝟑)
Since the line cuts the centre of the circle,

(−𝒇) = 𝟑(−𝒈) + 𝟐
−𝒇 = 𝟐 − 𝟑𝒈 … … … (𝟒)

Substitute Equation (𝟑) into Equation (𝟒),
−𝒇 = 𝟐 − 𝟑(𝟐𝒇)
−𝒇 = 𝟐 − 𝟔𝒇
𝟐
𝒇=
𝟓
𝟐
𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝒇 = 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝟑),
𝟓
𝟐
𝒈 = 𝟐U V
𝟓
𝟒
=
𝟓
𝟒 𝟐
𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞 = U− , − V
𝟓 𝟓
𝟐 𝟐
𝟒 𝟐
𝐋𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐮𝐬 = ›…𝟎 − U− V† + …𝟓 − U− V†
𝟓 𝟓
𝟏𝟒𝟗
=›
𝟓
𝟐
𝟐 𝟐
𝟒 𝟐 𝟏𝟒𝟗
∴ …𝒙 − U− V† + …𝒚 − U− V† = ®› ¯
𝟓 𝟓 𝟓
𝟒 𝟐 𝟐 𝟐 𝟏𝟒𝟗
U𝒙 + V + U𝒚 + V =
𝟓 𝟓 𝟓
𝟐 𝟐
𝟒 𝟐
𝐋𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭 (𝟔, 𝟏) 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞 = ›…𝟔 − U− V† + …𝟏 − U− V†
𝟓 𝟓
𝟐𝟒𝟏 𝟏𝟒𝟗
=› >›
𝟓 𝟓
Hence, (𝟔, 𝟏) lies outside the circle 𝑪

(a) Write down the equation of the circle, 𝑪𝟏 , with centre 𝑨(𝟎, 𝟑) and radius 𝟑 units
(b) A second circle, 𝑪𝟐 , with centre 𝑩 has equation (𝒙 + 𝒂)𝟐 = 𝟑𝟔 − 𝒚𝟐 , where 𝒂 > 𝟎. It intersects
𝟏𝟐 𝟐𝟒
𝑪𝟏 at the point 𝑷 !− , $
𝟓 𝟓
(i) Find the value of 𝒂
(ii) Find the length of 𝑨𝑩
(iii) The equation of the third circle 𝑪𝟑 , may be written in the form
𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 − 𝟖𝒙 + 𝒌𝒚 + 𝟐𝟕 = 𝟎
Given that 𝑪𝟑 passes through the point 𝑨(𝟎, 𝟑),

(a) Find the value of 𝒌
(b) Hence, find the coordinates of the centre and radius of 𝑪𝟑
[S4 DHS P1/2011 PRELIM Qn 10]
Solution
(a) Since the centre is 𝑨(𝟎, 𝟑) and radius 𝟑 units,

(𝒙 − 𝟎)𝟐 + (𝒚 − 𝟑)𝟐 = 𝟑𝟐
𝒙𝟐 + (𝒚 − 𝟑)𝟐 = 𝟗
(b) (i) To find the value of 𝒂, substitute 𝑷 into 𝑪𝟐

𝟐
𝟏𝟐 𝟐𝟒 𝟐
U− + 𝒂V = 𝟑𝟔 − U V
𝟓 𝟓
𝟏𝟒𝟒 𝟐𝟒 𝟑𝟐𝟒
− 𝒂 + 𝒂𝟐 − =𝟎
𝟐𝟓 𝟓 𝟐𝟓
𝟐𝟒 𝟑𝟔
𝒂𝟐 − 𝒂− =𝟎
𝟓 𝟓
𝟓𝒂𝟐 − 𝟐𝟒𝒂 − 𝟑𝟔 = 𝟎
(𝟓𝒂 + 𝟔)(𝒂 − 𝟔) = 𝟎
𝟏
𝒂 = −𝟏 (𝐫𝐞𝐣 ∵ 𝐚 > 𝟎) 𝐨𝐫 𝒂=𝟔
𝟓

(ii) Based on the equation, the centre of 𝑪𝟐 is (−𝟔, 𝟎)
𝐋𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝑨𝑩 = <(−𝟔 − 𝟎)𝟐 + (𝟎 − 𝟑)𝟐

= √𝟒𝟓
= 𝟑√𝟓 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐬
(iii) (a) Since 𝑨(𝟎, 𝟑) cuts 𝑪𝟑 , substitute 𝑨(𝟎, 𝟑) into the equation of 𝑪𝟑
(𝟎)𝟐 + (𝟑)𝟐 − 𝟖(𝟎) + 𝒌(𝟑) + 𝟐𝟕 = 𝟎
𝟑𝒌 = −𝟑𝟔
𝒌 = −𝟏𝟐
(b) Hence, the equation of 𝑪𝟑 is 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 − 𝟖𝒙 − 𝟏𝟐𝒚 + 𝟐𝟕 =

(−𝟖) (−𝟏𝟐)
𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞 = …− ,− †
𝟐 𝟐
= (𝟒, 𝟔)
𝐑𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐮𝐬 = <(𝟒)𝟐 + (𝟔)𝟐 − 𝟐𝟕

= √𝟐𝟓
= 𝟓 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐬

Topic: Proofs in Plane Geometry
In the diagram, the tangent to the circle at 𝑶 meets 𝑫𝑪 extended at 𝑩. Chord 𝑪𝑭 and 𝑶𝑫 intersect
at 𝑬. 𝑨 and 𝑪 are mid-points of 𝑶𝑩 and 𝑩𝑫 respectively. Show that
(a)
∆𝑨𝑶𝑪 is similar to ∆𝑪𝑫𝑶
(b)
𝑪𝑫𝟐 = 𝟐𝑨𝑩𝟐
(c)
𝑬𝑭 × 𝑪𝑬 = 𝟐𝑨𝑪 × 𝑶𝑬 − 𝑶𝑬𝟐
[S4 TKGS P2/2011 PRELIM Qn 7]
Solution
(a) ∠𝑨𝑶𝑪 = ∠𝑪𝑫𝑶 (𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐠𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐦) (𝐀)
Since 𝑨 and 𝑪 are midpoints of 𝑶𝑩 and 𝑩𝑫 respectively, by the midpoint theorem, 𝑪𝑨

is parallel to 𝑫𝑶
∠𝑨𝑪𝑶 = ∠𝑪𝑶𝑫 (𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐬, 𝑪𝑨 ∥ 𝑫𝑶) (𝐀)
By the 𝐀𝐀 similarity test, ∆𝑨𝑶𝑪 is similar to ∆𝑪𝑫𝑶 (shown)
(b) Since ∆𝑨𝑶𝑪 is similar to ∆𝑪𝑫𝑶,

𝑨𝑶 𝑶𝑪 𝑪𝑨
= =
𝑪𝑫 𝑫𝑶 𝑶𝑪
𝑨𝑶 𝑶𝑪
=
𝑪𝑫 𝑫𝑶
(𝑨𝑶)(𝑫𝑶)
𝑶𝑪 = … … … (𝟏)
𝑪𝑫
𝑨𝑶 𝑪𝑨
=
𝑪𝑫 𝑶𝑪
(𝑨𝑪)(𝑪𝑫)
𝑶𝑪 = … … … (𝟐)
𝑨𝑶

Equation (𝟏) = Equation (𝟐),
(𝑨𝑪)(𝑪𝑫) (𝑨𝑶)(𝑫𝑶)
=
𝑨𝑶 𝑪𝑫
(𝑨𝑪)(𝑪𝑫)𝟐 = (𝑨𝑶)𝟐 (𝑫𝑶)
Since 𝑨 is the midpoint of 𝑶𝑩, 𝑶𝑨 = 𝑨𝑩

(𝑨𝑪)(𝑪𝑫)𝟐 = (𝑨𝑩)𝟐 (𝑫𝑶)
Since 𝑨 and 𝑪 are midpoints of 𝑶𝑩 and 𝑩𝑫 respectively, by the midpoint theorem,

𝟏
𝑪𝑨 = 𝑫𝑶
𝟐
(𝑨𝑪)(𝑪𝑫)𝟐 = (𝑨𝑩)𝟐 (𝟐𝑪𝑨)

𝑪𝑫𝟐 = 𝟐𝑨𝑩𝟐 (shown)
(c) ∠𝑪𝑫𝑬 = ∠𝑶𝑭𝑬 (𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐠𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭) (𝐀)

∠𝑫𝑪𝑬 = ∠𝑭𝑶𝑬 (𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐠𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭) (𝐀)
∠𝑪𝑬𝑫 = ∠𝑶𝑬𝑭 (𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐬) (𝐀)
By the 𝐀𝐀𝐀 similarity test, ∆𝑪𝑫𝑬 is similar to ∆𝑶𝑭𝑬

𝑫𝑬 𝑬𝑪
=
𝑭𝑬 𝑬𝑶
𝑭𝑬 × 𝑬𝑪 = 𝑫𝑬 × 𝑬𝑶 … … … (𝟑)
Since 𝑨 and 𝑪 are midpoints of 𝑶𝑩 and 𝑩𝑫 respectively, by the midpoint theorem,

𝟐𝑪𝑨 = 𝑫𝑶
𝟐𝑪𝑨 = 𝑫𝑬 + 𝑬𝑶
𝑫𝑬 − 𝟐𝑪𝑨 = 𝑶𝑬
(𝑫𝑬 − 𝟐𝑪𝑨)(𝑶𝑬) = 𝑶𝑬𝟐
(𝑫𝑬)(𝑶𝑬) − 𝟐(𝑨𝑪)(𝑶𝑬) = 𝑶𝑬𝟐
𝑫𝑬 × 𝑶𝑬 = 𝟐𝑨𝑪 × 𝑶𝑬 + 𝑶𝑬𝟐 … … … (𝟒)
Equation (𝟒) = Equation (𝟑),

𝑭𝑬 × 𝑬𝑪 = 𝟐𝑨𝑪 × 𝑶𝑬 + 𝑶𝑬𝟐 (shown)

In the diagram, 𝑸𝑹 is a diameter of the circle, 𝑩 is the midpoint of 𝑷𝑹 and ∠𝑷𝑸𝑹 = ∠𝑷𝑩𝑨. 𝑷𝑲,
𝑩𝑪 and 𝑸𝑹 are three lines parallel to each other. 𝑸𝑲 is a tangent to the circle at 𝑸. Prove that
(a)
∆𝑷𝑩𝑨 is similar to ∆𝑷𝑸𝑹
(b)
𝑷𝑹𝟐
𝑷𝑨 =
𝟐𝑷𝑸
(c)
𝑷𝑪: 𝑷𝑸 = 𝟏: 𝟐
(d)
∠𝑲𝑯𝑸 = ∠𝑷𝑹𝑸
[S4 CCHS(Y) P2/2012 PRELIM Qn 2]
Solution
(a) ∠𝑨𝑷𝑩 = ∠𝑹𝑷𝑸 (𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞) (𝐀)

∠𝑷𝑩𝑨 = ∠𝑷𝑸𝑹 (𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧) (𝐀)
By the 𝐀𝐀 similarity test, ∆𝑷𝑩𝑨 is similar to ∆𝑷𝑸𝑹 (shown)
(b) Since ∆𝑷𝑩𝑨 is similar to ∆𝑷𝑸𝑹,

𝑷𝑩 𝑷𝑨
=
𝑷𝑸 𝑷𝑹
Since 𝑩 is the midpoint of 𝑷𝑹, by the midpoint theorem,

𝟏
𝑷𝑩 = 𝑷𝑹
𝟐
𝟏
𝑷𝑨 𝟐 𝑷𝑹
=
𝑷𝑹 𝑷𝑸
𝑷𝑹𝟐
𝑷𝑨 = (𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐧)
𝟐𝑷𝑸

(c) Since 𝑩𝑪 is parallel to 𝑹𝑸 and 𝑷𝑩: 𝑷𝑹 = 𝟏: 𝟐
𝑷𝑪: 𝑷𝑸 = 𝟏: 𝟐 (shown)
(d) ∠𝑷𝑯𝑸 = 𝟏𝟖𝟎° − ∠𝑲𝑯𝑸 (𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞)

= 𝟏𝟖𝟎° − ∠𝑷𝑹𝑸 (𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥)
∴ ∠𝑲𝑯𝑸 = ∠𝑷𝑹𝑸 (shown)

In the figure, the tangent to the circle at 𝑩 meets the diameter 𝑨𝑬 produced at 𝑪. Given that 𝑩𝑫 is
perpendicular to 𝑨𝑪, prove that
(a)
𝑬𝑩 bisects ∠𝑪𝑩𝑫
(b)
∆𝑨𝑩𝑪 is similar to ∆𝑩𝑬𝑪
(c)
𝑨𝑩 × 𝑩𝑪 = 𝑨𝑪 × 𝑩𝑬
[S4 SJI P1/2014 PRELIM Qn 11(a)]
Solution
(a) We first show that ∆𝑨𝑩𝑬 is similar to ∆𝑩𝑫𝑬

∠𝑨𝑩𝑬 = 𝟗𝟎° (𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐥𝐞, 𝑨𝑬 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫)
∠𝑨𝑩𝑬 = ∠𝑩𝑫𝑬 (𝑩𝑫 ⊥ 𝑨𝑪) (𝐀)
∠𝑨𝑬𝑩 is a common angle (𝐀)
By the 𝐀𝐀 similarity test, ∆𝑨𝑩𝑬 is similar to ∆𝑩𝑫𝑬
∠𝑬𝑨𝑩 = ∠𝑬𝑩𝑫 (∆𝑨𝑩𝑬 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐨 ∆𝑩𝑫𝑬)

∠𝑪𝑩𝑬 = ∠𝑬𝑨𝑩 (𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐠𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐦)
∴ ∠𝑪𝑩𝑬 = ∠𝑬𝑩𝑫
𝑬𝑩 bisects ∠𝑪𝑩𝑫 (shown)

(b) ∠𝑪𝑩𝑬 = ∠𝑪𝑨𝑩 (𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐠𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐦) (𝐀)
∠𝑨𝑪𝑩 is a common angle (𝐀)
By the 𝐀𝐀 similarity test, ∆𝑨𝑩𝑪 is similar to ∆𝑩𝑬𝑪 (shown)
(c) Since ∆𝑨𝑩𝑪 is similar to ∆𝑩𝑬𝑪,

𝑨𝑩 𝑨𝑪
=
𝑩𝑬 𝑩𝑪
𝑨𝑩 × 𝑩𝑪 = 𝑨𝑪 × 𝑩𝑬 (shown)

In the diagram, 𝑬 is the point of intersection of the diagonals 𝑨𝑪 and 𝑩𝑫 of the quadrilateral 𝑨𝑩𝑪𝑫.
The points 𝑷, 𝑸, 𝑹 and 𝑺 are the midpoints of 𝑨𝑬, 𝑩𝑬, 𝑪𝑬 and 𝑫𝑬 respectively. Prove that the
perimeter of 𝑨𝑩𝑪𝑫 is twice the perimeter of 𝑷𝑸𝑹𝑺
[S4 SJI P1/2014 PRELIM Qn 11(b)]
Solution
Since 𝑹 and 𝑸 are the midpoints of 𝑪𝑬 and 𝑩𝑬 respectively, by the midpoint theorem,
𝟏
𝑩𝑪 = 𝑸𝑹 … … … (𝟏)
𝟐
Since 𝑸 and 𝑷 are the midpoints of 𝑩𝑬 and 𝑨𝑬 respectively, by the midpoint theorem,
𝟏
𝑨𝑩 = 𝑷𝑸 … … … (𝟐)
𝟐
Since 𝑷 and 𝑺 are the midpoints of 𝑨𝑬 and 𝑫𝑬 respectively, by the midpoint theorem,
𝟏
𝑨𝑫 = 𝑺𝑷 … … … (𝟑)
𝟐
Since 𝑺 and 𝑹 are the midpoints of 𝑫𝑬 and 𝑪𝑬 respectively, by the midpoint theorem,
𝟏
𝑪𝑫 = 𝑹𝑺 … … … (𝟒)
𝟐
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
∴ 𝑨𝑩 + 𝑩𝑪 + 𝑪𝑫 + 𝑫𝑨 = 𝑷𝑸 + 𝑸𝑹 + 𝑹𝑺 + 𝑺𝑷
𝟐 𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
𝟏
= (𝑷𝑸 + 𝑸𝑹 + 𝑹𝑺 + 𝑺𝑷)
𝟐
𝟐(𝑨𝑩 + 𝑩𝑪 + 𝑪𝑫 + 𝑫𝑨) = 𝑷𝑸 + 𝑸𝑹 + 𝑹𝑺 + 𝑺𝑷
Hence, the perimeter of 𝑨𝑩𝑪𝑫 is 𝟐 times the perimeter of 𝑷𝑸𝑹𝑺

Topic: Calculus (Differentiation)
A curve is such that
𝒅𝟐 𝒚
= 𝟒𝒆%𝟐𝒙
𝒅𝒙𝟐
𝒅𝒚
Given that = 𝟑 when 𝒙 = 𝟎 and the curve passes through the point (𝟐, 𝒆%𝟒 ),
𝒅𝒙
(a) find the equation of the curve
(b) find the coordinates of the stationary point of the curve and determine the nature of this
stationary point
[S4 CHIJTPSS P2/2011 PRELIM Qn 9]
Solution
(a) From the 𝟐nd derivative,

𝒅𝟐 𝒚
x 𝒅𝒙 = x 𝟒𝒆%𝟐𝒙 𝒅𝒙
𝒅𝒙𝟐
𝒅𝒚
= −𝟐𝒆%𝟐𝒙 + 𝒄
𝒅𝒙
𝒅𝒚
𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 = 𝟑 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝒙 = 𝟎,
𝒅𝒙
𝟑 = −𝟐𝒆%𝟐(𝟎) + 𝒄
𝒄=𝟓
𝒅𝒚
= 𝟓 − 𝟐𝒆%𝟐𝒙
𝒅𝒙
From the 𝟏st derivative,

𝒅𝒚
x 𝒅𝒙 = x 𝟓 − 𝟐𝒆%𝟐𝒙 𝒅𝒙
𝒅𝒙
𝒚 = 𝟓𝒙 + 𝒆%𝟐𝒙 + 𝒄
Since the curve passes through the point (𝟐, 𝒆%𝟒 ),

𝒆%𝟒 = 𝟓(𝟐) + 𝒆%𝟐(𝟐) + 𝒄
𝒄 = −𝟏𝟎
∴ 𝒚 = 𝟓𝒙 + 𝒆%𝟐𝒙 − 𝟏𝟎

(b) At the stationary point,
𝒅𝒚
=𝟎
𝒅𝒙
𝟓 − 𝟐𝒆%𝟐𝒙 = 𝟎
𝟓
𝒆%𝟐𝒙 =
𝟐
𝟓
−𝟐𝒙 = 𝐥𝐧 U V
𝟐
𝟏 𝟓
𝒙 = − 𝐥𝐧 U V
𝟐 𝟐
𝟏 𝟓
𝐇𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝒙 = − 𝐥𝐧 U V 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐞
𝟐 𝟐
𝟏 𝟓 𝟏 𝟓
𝒚 = 𝟓 U− 𝐥𝐧 U VV + 𝒆%𝟐<%𝟐 𝐥𝐧<𝟐>> − 𝟏𝟎
𝟐 𝟐
𝟓 𝟓 𝟓
= − 𝐥𝐧 U V + − 𝟏𝟎
𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
𝟓 𝟓 𝟏
= − 𝐥𝐧 U V − 𝟕
𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
𝟏 𝟓 𝟓 𝟓 𝟏
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭 = U− 𝐥𝐧 U V , }− 𝐥𝐧 U V − 𝟕 ~V
𝟐 𝟐 𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
To determine the nature, we shall use the 𝟐nd derivative test

𝒅𝟐 𝒚 𝟏 𝟓
𝟐 ´ = 𝟒𝒆%𝟐<%𝟐 𝐥𝐧<𝟐>>
𝒅𝒙 𝒙F%𝟏 𝐥𝐧<𝟓>
𝟐 𝟐
= 𝟏𝟎 > 𝟎
Hence, the stationary point is a minimum point

A vessel in the shape of an inverted right pyramid has a square base with side 𝟏𝟐 𝐜𝐦 and
perpendicular height 𝟗 𝐜𝐦. Water is poured into the vessel at a rate of 𝟒 𝐜𝐦𝟑 𝐬%𝟏
(a) Show that the volume of water, 𝑽 𝐜𝐦𝟑 , where 𝒙 𝐜𝐦 is the depth of water in the vessel is
𝟏𝟔 𝟑
𝑽= 𝒙
𝟐𝟕
(b) Find the rate of change of the depth of water at 𝒙 = 𝟑

(c) Hence or otherwise, show that the rate of change of the surface area in contact with the water,
when the depth of the water is 𝟑 𝐜𝐦 is
𝟒√𝟏𝟑
𝐜𝐦𝟐 𝐬%𝟏
𝟑
[S4 SCGS P2/2011 PRELIM Qn 7]
Solution
(a) Let the length of the water surface be 𝒓 𝐜𝐦
Using similar triangles and common side ratio,

𝒓 𝒙
=
𝟏𝟐 𝟗
𝟒
𝒓= 𝒙
𝟑
𝟏 𝟐
∴ 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝑽 = 𝒓 𝒉
𝟑
𝟏 𝟒 𝟐
= U 𝒙V (𝒙)
𝟑 𝟑
𝟏𝟔 𝟑
= 𝒙
𝟐𝟕

(b) Since we are finding the rate of change of the depth of the water, we are looking for:
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝑽
= ×
𝒅𝒕 𝒅𝑽 𝒅𝒕
𝒅𝑽 𝟏𝟔 𝟐
= 𝒙
𝒅𝒙 𝟗
𝒅𝒙 𝟏
∴ · = ×𝟒
𝟏𝟔
𝒅𝒕 𝒙F𝟑 9 (𝟑)𝟐 :
𝟗
𝟏
= 𝐜𝐦/𝐬
𝟒
(c) To find the exposed surface area,
𝟏 𝒓 𝟐
𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐚 𝑨 = 𝟒 ¹ (𝒓) ®›9 : + 𝒙𝟐 ¯º
𝟐 𝟐
𝟐
⎡ 𝟒 ⎤
⎢𝟏 𝟒 ⎛Á 9𝟑 𝒙: 𝟐
⎞⎥
= 𝟒 ⎢ U 𝒙V ⎜ ® ¯ + 𝒙 ⎟⎥
𝟐 𝟑 𝟐
⎢ ⎥
⎣ ⎝ ⎠⎦
𝟖 𝟏𝟑
= U 𝒙V ®› 𝒙𝟐 ¯
𝟑 𝟗
𝟖√𝟏𝟑𝒙𝟐
=
𝟗
𝒅𝑨 𝟏𝟔√𝟏𝟑𝒙
=
𝒅𝒙 𝟗
𝒅𝑨 𝒅𝑨 𝒅𝒙
= ×
𝒅𝒕 𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒕
𝒅𝑨 7𝟏𝟔√𝟏𝟑8(𝟑) 𝟏
∴ · =W XU V
𝒅𝒕 𝒙F𝟑 𝟗 𝟒
𝟒√𝟏𝟑
= 𝐜𝐦𝟐 𝐬%𝟏 (𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐧)
𝟑

The diagram shows the graphs of 𝒚 = 𝟐𝒙𝟐 − 𝟕𝒙 + 𝟑 and 𝒚 = 𝐥𝐧(𝟖 − 𝟐𝒙) for 𝟎 < 𝒙 < 𝟑. 𝑺 is a point on
𝒚 = 𝐥𝐧(𝟖 − 𝟐𝒙) and 𝑻 is a point vertically below 𝑺, on 𝒚 = 𝟐𝒙𝟐 − 𝟕𝒙 + 𝟑. The distance between 𝑺 and
𝑻 is denoted by 𝑳
(a) Express 𝑳 in terms of 𝒙
(b) Show that
𝒅𝑳 𝟏
= 𝟕 − 𝟒𝒙 −
𝒅𝒙 𝟒−𝒙
(c) Hence, find the maximum value of 𝑳 as 𝒙 varies
[S4 TKSS P1/2012 PRELIM Qn 7]
Solution
(a) 𝑳 = 𝐥𝐧(𝟖 − 𝟐𝒙) − (𝟐𝒙𝟐 − 𝟕𝒙 + 𝟑)

= 𝐥𝐧(𝟖 − 𝟐𝒙) − 𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝟕𝒙 − 𝟑
(b) From the equation of 𝑳,

𝒅𝑳 𝟏
= (−𝟐) − 𝟒𝒙 + 𝟕
𝒅𝒙 𝟖 − 𝟐𝒙
𝟏
= 𝟕 − 𝟒𝒙 − (𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐧)
𝟒−𝒙

(c) Since we are looking for the maximum value of 𝑳,
𝒅𝑳
=𝟎
𝒅𝒙
𝟏
𝟕 − 𝟒𝒙 − =𝟎
𝟒−𝒙
𝟏
𝟕 − 𝟒𝒙 =
𝟒−𝒙
(𝟕 − 𝟒𝒙)(𝟒 − 𝒙) = 𝟏
𝟒𝒙𝟐 − 𝟐𝟑𝒙 + 𝟐𝟕 = 𝟎
−(−𝟐𝟑) ± <(−𝟐𝟑)𝟐 − 𝟒(𝟒)(𝟐𝟕)
𝒙=
𝟐(𝟒)
𝟐𝟑 ± √𝟗𝟕
=
𝟖
𝟐𝟑 − √𝟗𝟕 𝟐𝟑 + √𝟗𝟕
𝒙= 𝐨𝐫 𝒙= (𝐫𝐞𝐣)
𝟖 𝟖
𝟐
𝟐𝟑 − √𝟗𝟕 𝟐𝟑 − √𝟗𝟕 𝟐𝟑 − √𝟗𝟕
∴ 𝑳 = 𝐥𝐧 ®𝟖 − 𝟐 … †¯ − 𝟐 … † + 𝟕… †−𝟑
𝟖 𝟖 𝟖
= 𝟒. 𝟔𝟓𝟐𝟔𝟒 …
= 𝟒. 𝟔𝟓 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐬
To show maximum value,

𝒅𝟐 𝑳 𝟏
´ = −𝟒 +
𝟐
𝒅𝒙 𝒙F𝟐𝟑%√𝟗𝟕 (𝟒 − 𝒙)𝟐
𝟖
𝟏
= −𝟒 + 𝟐
𝟐𝟑 − √𝟗𝟕
É𝟒 − … 𝟖 †Ê
= −𝟑. 𝟖𝟏𝟗𝟖𝟔𝟎 … < 𝟎
𝒅𝟐 𝑳
𝐇𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 < 𝟎, 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐱𝐢𝐦𝐮𝐦 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞
𝒅𝒙𝟐

Water is leaking from a cylindrical task of radius 𝟐𝟎 𝐜𝐦 at the rate of 𝟐𝟓𝟎𝟎 𝐜𝐦𝟑 /𝐬 and fresh water is
added at a rate of 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐜𝐦𝟑 /𝐬. Find the rate at which the water level in the tank is decreasing
Solution
Since there is a leakage as water is being added,

𝒅𝑽
𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐭 = 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟎 − 𝟐𝟓𝟎𝟎
𝒅𝒕
= −𝟓𝟎𝟎 𝐜𝐦𝟑 /𝐬
𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝑽 = 𝝅𝒓𝟐 𝒉

When 𝒓 = 𝟐𝟎,
𝑽 = 𝝅(𝟐𝟎)𝟐 𝒉
= 𝟒𝟎𝟎𝝅𝒉
𝒅𝑽
= 𝟒𝟎𝟎𝝅
𝒅𝒉
𝒅𝒉 𝒅𝒉 𝒅𝑽
= ×
𝒅𝒕 𝒅𝑽 𝒅𝒕
𝟏
= × (−𝟓𝟎𝟎)
𝟒𝟎𝟎𝝅
= −𝟎. 𝟑𝟗𝟕𝟖𝟖𝟕 …
= −𝟎. 𝟑𝟗𝟖 𝐜𝐦/𝐬
Hence, the water level is falling at 𝟎. 𝟑𝟗𝟖 𝐜𝐦/𝐬

The diagram shows a solid which consists of a pyramid fixed onto a prism. The base of the pyramid
is an isosceles trapezium 𝑨𝑩𝑪𝑫 , where 𝑨𝑩 = 𝑪𝑫 = 𝟏𝟕𝒙 𝐦 , 𝑩𝑪 = 𝟑𝒙 𝐦 and 𝑨𝑫 = 𝟏𝟗𝒙 𝐦 . The
vertical height of the pyramid is 𝟐𝟔𝒙 𝐦 and the height of the prism is 𝒉 𝐦. The total surface area of
the 𝟒 triangular sides of the pyramid is 𝟓𝟗𝟐𝒙𝟐 𝐦𝟐
(a) Express 𝒉 in terms of 𝒙, given that the total surface area is
𝟕𝟐𝟖
𝑨 = 𝟕𝟓𝟕 𝒙𝟐 + 𝐦𝟐
𝟑√𝒙𝟑
(b) Show that the volume of the solid, 𝑽 𝐦𝟑 , is given by
𝟕𝟏𝟓
𝑽 = 𝟏𝟒𝟑𝟎𝒙𝟑 +
√𝒙
(c) Given that 𝒙 and 𝒉 can vary, find the value of 𝒙 for which 𝑽 has a stationary value and
determine whether this value of 𝑽 is maximum or a minimum
Solution
(a) 𝑨 = 𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚(𝟒 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬) + 𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚(𝟒 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬) + 𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚(𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐳𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝑭𝑮𝑯𝑰)
𝟏 𝟏𝟗𝒙 − 𝟑𝒙 𝟐
= 𝟓𝟗𝟐𝒙𝟐 + (𝟏𝟕𝒙 + 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟏𝟕𝒙 + 𝟏𝟗𝒙)𝒉 + (𝟏𝟗𝒙 + 𝟑𝒙) ®›(𝟏𝟕𝒙)𝟐 − U V ¯
𝟐 𝟐
𝟏
= 𝟓𝟗𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝟓𝟔𝒙𝒉 + (𝟐𝟐𝒙)(𝟏𝟓𝒙)
𝟐
= 𝟕𝟓𝟕𝒙𝟐 + 𝟓𝟔𝒙𝒉
𝟕𝟐𝟖
𝟕𝟓𝟕𝒙𝟐 + = 𝟕𝟓𝟕𝒙𝟐 + 𝟓𝟔𝒙𝒉
𝟑√𝒙𝟑
𝟕𝟐𝟖
𝒉=
𝟑(𝟓𝟔𝒙)√𝒙𝟑
𝟏𝟑
=
𝟑√𝒙𝟓

(b) 𝑽 = 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞(𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐦) + 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞(𝐩𝐲𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐝)
𝟏
= 𝟏𝟔𝟓𝒙𝟐 (𝒉) + (𝟏𝟔𝟓𝒙𝟐 )(𝟐𝟔𝒙)
𝟑
𝟏𝟑
= 𝟏𝟔𝟓𝒙𝟐 U V + 𝟏𝟒𝟑𝟎𝒙𝟑
𝟑√𝒙𝟓
𝟕𝟏𝟓
= 𝟏𝟒𝟑𝟎𝒙𝟑 + (𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐧)
√𝒙
𝟏
(c) 𝑽 = 𝟏𝟒𝟑𝟎𝒙𝟑 + 𝟕𝟏𝟓𝒙%𝟐
𝒅𝑽 𝟕𝟏𝟓 %𝟑
= 𝟒𝟐𝟗𝟎𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙 𝟐
𝒅𝒙 𝟐
Since 𝑽 has a stationary value,

𝒅𝑽
=𝟎
𝒅𝒙
𝟕𝟏𝟓 %𝟑
𝟒𝟐𝟗𝟎𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙 𝟐=𝟎
𝟐
𝟕𝟏𝟓 %𝟑
𝟒𝟐𝟗𝟎𝒙𝟐 = 𝒙 𝟐
𝟐
𝟕 𝟏
𝒙𝟐 =
𝟏𝟐
𝟐
𝟏 𝟕
𝒙=U V
𝟏𝟐
To determine the nature, we shall use the 𝟐nd derivative test

𝒅𝟐 𝑽 𝟏 %𝟓
´ 𝟐 = 𝟖𝟓𝟖𝟎𝒙 + 𝟓𝟑𝟔 𝒙 𝟐
𝟐
𝒅𝒙 𝒙F< 𝟏 >𝟕 𝟒
𝟏𝟐
𝟓
𝟐 𝟐 %𝟐
𝟏 𝟕 𝟏 𝟏 𝟕
= 𝟖𝟓𝟖𝟎 U V + 𝟓𝟑𝟔 ¹U V º
𝟏𝟐 𝟒 𝟏𝟐
= 𝟕𝟑𝟖𝟐. 𝟐𝟑𝟒𝟓 … > 𝟎
𝒅𝟐 𝑽
𝐇𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 > 𝟎, 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐮𝐦 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞
𝒅𝒙𝟐

A curve has the equation 𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙), where 𝒙 > 𝟎 and
𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑
𝒇(𝒙) =
𝟒 + 𝟑𝒙
(a) Obtain an expression for 𝒇Z (𝒙)

(b) Find the equation of the normal to the curve at the point where the curve crosses the 𝒙-axis
(c) Determine, with explanation, whether 𝒇(𝒙) is an increasing or decreasing function
(d) Showing full workings, determine whether the gradient of the curve is an increasing or
decreasing function
[S4 FMS(S) P2/2014 PRELIM Qn 7]
Solution
(a) To find 𝒇Z (𝒙)

(𝟒 + 𝟑𝒙)(𝟐) − (𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑)(𝟑)
𝒇Z (𝒙) =
(𝟒 + 𝟑𝒙)𝟐
𝟖 + 𝟔𝒙 − 𝟔𝒙 + 𝟗
=
(𝟒 + 𝟑𝒙)𝟐
𝟏𝟕
=
(𝟒 + 𝟑𝒙)𝟐
(b) When the curve crosses the 𝒙-axis, 𝒚 = 𝟎

𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑
=𝟎
𝟒 + 𝟑𝒙
𝟑
𝒙=
𝟐
𝟏𝟕
𝒇Z (𝒙)|𝒙F𝟑 = 𝟐
𝟐 𝟑
…𝟒 + 𝟑 9𝟐:†
𝟒
=
𝟏𝟕
−𝟏
∴ 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥 =
𝟒
9𝟏𝟕:
𝟏𝟕
=−
𝟒
𝟏𝟕 𝟑
∴𝒚−𝟎=− U𝒙 − V
𝟒 𝟐
𝟏𝟕 𝟓𝟏
𝒚=− 𝒙+
𝟒 𝟖

(c) To determine if the function is increase or decreasing, we need to analyze 𝒇Z (𝒙)
𝟏𝟕
𝒇Z (𝒙) =
(𝟒 + 𝟑𝒙)𝟐
𝟏𝟕
𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 (𝟒 + 𝟑𝒙)𝟐 > 𝟎, >𝟎
(𝟒 + 𝟑𝒙)𝟐
Since 𝒇Z (𝒙) > 𝟎, 𝒇(𝒙) is an increasing function
(d) To determine if the gradient of the curve is increasing or decreasing,

𝒇Z (𝒙) = 𝟏𝟕(𝟒 + 𝟑𝒙)%𝟐
𝒇ZZ (𝒙) = −𝟑𝟒(𝟒 + 𝟑𝒙)%𝟑 (𝟑)

𝟏𝟎𝟐
=−
(𝟒 + 𝟑𝒙)𝟑
𝟏𝟎𝟐
𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 (𝟒 + 𝟑𝒙)𝟑 > 𝟎, − <𝟎
(𝟒 + 𝟑𝒙)𝟑
Since 𝒇ZZ (𝒙) < 𝟎, the gradient of the curve is a decreasing function

The figure below shows a weight oscillating at the end of a spring. The displacement from equilibrium
is given by the following equation
𝒚 = −𝟐𝒆%𝒕 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟒𝒕
It is known that 𝒚 is the displacement in centimetres, and 𝒕 is the time in seconds (𝒕 ≥ 𝟎)
In order for the spring to start oscillating, the weight has to be first pulled down to a displacement
of 𝒑 𝐜𝐦. The motion of the spring is commonly known as Damped Harmonic Motion and the graph of
the displacement from equilibrium is shown below
(a) State the value of 𝒑

(b) Show that
𝒅𝒚
= 𝟐𝒆%𝒕 (𝟒 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟒𝒕 + 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟒𝒕)
𝒅𝒕
(c) 𝑳 is the displacement from equilibrium after the initial weight pull. Find 𝑳
[S4 TKSS P2/2014 PRELIM 12]
Solution on the next page →

Solution
(a) To find the value of 𝒑, when 𝒕 = 𝟎

𝒚 = −𝟐𝒆%(𝟎) 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟒(𝟎)
= −𝟐
∴ 𝒑 = −𝟐
(b) 𝒚 = −𝟐𝒆%𝒕 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟒𝒕

𝒅𝒚
= (−𝟐𝒆%𝒕 )(−𝟒 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟒𝒕) + (𝟐𝒆%𝒕 )(𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟒𝒕)
𝒅𝒕
= 𝟐𝒆%𝒕 (𝟒 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟒𝒕 + 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟒𝒕) (𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐧)
(c) To find 𝑳, we need to find the initial maximum point of the curve
𝒅𝒚
=𝟎
𝒅𝒕
𝟐𝒆%𝒕 (𝟒 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟒𝒕 + 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟒𝒕) = 𝟎

𝟒 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟒𝒕 + 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟒𝒕 = 𝟎 𝐨𝐫 𝟐𝒆%𝒕 = 𝟎 (𝐍. 𝐀. )
𝟒 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟒𝒕 = − 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟒𝒕
𝟏
𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝟒𝒕 = −
𝟒
𝟏
𝟒
𝟏 𝟏
𝒕 = }𝝅 − 𝐭𝐚𝐧%𝟏 U V~
𝟒 𝟒
𝟏 %𝟏 <𝟏>? 𝟏 𝟏
∴ 𝑳 = −𝟐𝒆%𝟒9𝝅%𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝟒 𝐜𝐨𝐬 Í𝟒 } Í𝝅 − 𝐭𝐚𝐧%𝟏 U VÎ~Î
𝟒 𝟒
= 𝟎. 𝟗𝟒𝟎𝟓𝟐𝟑 …
= 𝟎. 𝟗𝟒𝟏 𝐜𝐦 (𝟑. 𝐬. 𝐟. )

Topic: Calculus (Integration)
The diagram shows the rectangle 𝑶𝑷𝑸𝑹 and part of the curve
𝟏𝟐
𝒚=
𝟔−𝒙
Given that 𝑹 is (𝟑, 𝟎),

(a) Find the exact area of region 𝑨
(b) Given that the area of region 𝑩 can be expressed as
𝟒
x 𝒇(𝒚) 𝒅𝒚
𝒌
Write down the value of 𝒌 and find 𝒇(𝒚)
[S4 ANDSS P2/2012 PRELIM Qn 12(a)]
Solution
(a) To find the area of 𝑨,

𝟑
𝟏𝟐
𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚 = x 𝒅𝒙
𝟎 𝟔−𝒙
3
= [−𝟏𝟐 𝐥𝐧(𝟔 − 𝒙)]
0
= [−𝟏𝟐 𝐥𝐧(𝟑) + 𝟏𝟐 𝐥𝐧 𝟔]
= 𝟏𝟐(𝐥𝐧(𝟐) + 𝐥𝐧(𝟑)) − 𝟏𝟐 𝐥𝐧(𝟑)
= 𝟏𝟐 𝐥𝐧 𝟐 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐬𝟐
(b) To find 𝒌, let 𝒙 = 𝟎

𝟏𝟐
𝒚=
𝟔−𝟎
=𝟐
∴𝒌=𝟐

𝟏𝟐
𝒚=
𝟔−𝒙
𝟔𝒚 − 𝒙𝒚 = 𝟏𝟐
𝒙𝒚 = 𝟔𝒚 − 𝟏𝟐
𝟔𝒚 − 𝟏𝟐
𝒙=
𝒚
𝟏𝟐
𝒇(𝒚) = 𝟔 −
𝒚
The diagram shows part of the curve 𝒚 = 𝒙𝟑 − 𝟏. The tangent at 𝑨(−𝟐, −𝟗) meets the curve again at
𝑪. Find the area of the region bounded by the two graphs
Solution
We first need to find the equation of the tangent line

𝒚 = 𝒙𝟑 − 𝟏 … … … (𝟏)
𝒅𝒚
= 𝟑𝒙𝟐
𝒅𝒙
When 𝒙 = −𝟐
𝒅𝒚
· = 𝟑(−𝟐)𝟐
𝒅𝒙 𝒙F%𝟐
= 𝟏𝟐
𝒚 − (−𝟗) = 𝟏𝟐7𝒙 − (−𝟐)8

𝒚 = 𝟏𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏𝟓 … … … (𝟐)

Equation (𝟏) = Equation (𝟐),
𝒙𝟑 − 𝟏 = 𝟏𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏𝟓
𝒙𝟑 − 𝟏𝟐𝒙 − 𝟏𝟔 = 𝟎
(𝒙 − 𝟒)(𝒙 + 𝟐)𝟐 = 𝟎
𝒙=𝟒 𝐨𝐫 𝒙 = −𝟐
𝟒
𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚 = x (𝟏𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏𝟓) − (𝒙𝟑 − 𝟏) 𝒅𝒙
%𝟐
𝟒
= x 𝟏𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏𝟔 − 𝒙𝟑 𝒅𝒙
%𝟐
𝟒
𝟏
= }𝟔𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏𝟔𝒙 − 𝒙𝟒 ~
𝟒 %𝟐
𝟏 𝟏
= }U𝟔(𝟒)𝟐 + 𝟏𝟔(𝟒) − (𝟒)𝟒 V − U𝟔(−𝟐)𝟐 + 𝟏𝟔(−𝟐) − (−𝟐)𝟒 V~
𝟒 𝟒
= 𝟏𝟎𝟖 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐬𝟐

The diagram shows the graph of 𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙)
(a) Given that

𝟎
x 𝒇(𝒙) 𝒅𝒙 = 𝒑
%𝟑
𝟓
x 𝒇(𝒙) 𝒅𝒙 = 𝒒
𝟎
Evaluate the following, in terms of 𝒑 and/or 𝒒

(i)
𝟓
x 𝟑 𝒇(𝒙) 𝒅𝒙
%𝟑
(ii)
%𝟑
x 𝟏 − 𝒇(𝒙) 𝒅𝒙
𝟎
(b) Hence, find the area of the shaded region bounded by the curve 𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙) and the 𝒙-axis, in
terms of 𝒑 and/or 𝒒
[S4 ANDSS P2/2012 PRELIM Qn 12(b)]
Solution
(a) (i) To find the integral,

𝟓 𝟎 𝟓
x 𝟑 𝒇(𝒙) 𝒅𝒙 = 𝟑 Wx 𝒇(𝒙) 𝒅𝒙 + x 𝒇(𝒙) 𝒅𝒙X
%𝟑 %𝟑 𝟎
= 𝟑(𝒑 + 𝒒)

(ii) To find the integral,
%𝟑 𝟎
x 𝟏 − 𝒇(𝒙) 𝒅𝒙 = x 𝒇(𝒙) − 𝟏 𝒅𝒙
𝟎 %𝟑
𝟎 𝟎
= x 𝒇(𝒙) 𝒅𝒙 − x 𝟏 𝒅𝒙
%𝟑 %𝟑
0
= 𝒒 − [𝒙]
−𝟑
= 𝒒 − [𝟎 − (−𝟑)]
=𝒒−𝟑
(b) To find the area,

𝟎 𝟓
𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚 = x 𝒇(𝒙) 𝒅𝒙 + x 𝒇(𝒙) 𝒅𝒙
%𝟑 𝟎
= −𝒑 + 𝒒
Why must there be a negative sign beside 𝒑?

The area is under the 𝒙-axis, hence, when calculating the area using the integral, the
value will be negative. Hence, with the additional negative sign, it will force the value
of 𝒑 to become positive
Topic: Calculus (Differentiation & Integration)

(a) Differentiate the following with respect to 𝒙
𝒚 = 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝟑 𝒙
(b) Show that
𝐜𝐨𝐬𝟑 𝒙 = 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙 − 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝟐 𝒙
(c) Hence or otherwise, evaluate the following
𝝅
𝟐 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝟑 𝒙
x … † 𝒅𝒙
𝝅 𝟐
𝟔
Solution
(a) 𝒚 = 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝟑 𝒙
= 𝟑 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝟐 𝒙 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙

(b) 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝟑 𝒙 = 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙 − 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝟐 𝒙
𝐋𝐇𝐒 = 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝟑 𝒙
= 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙 (𝐜𝐨𝐬𝟐 𝒙)
= 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙 (𝟏 − 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝟐 𝒙)
= 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙 − 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝟐 𝒙
= 𝐑𝐇𝐒 (𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐧)
(c) Hence,
𝝅 𝝅
𝟐𝐜𝐨𝐬𝟑 𝒙 𝟏 𝟐
x … † 𝒅𝒙 = x 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝟑 𝒙 𝒅𝒙
𝝅 𝟐 𝟐 𝝅
𝟔 𝟔
𝝅
𝟏 𝟐
= x (𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙 − 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝟐 𝒙) 𝒅𝒙
𝟐 𝝅
𝟔
𝝅 𝝅
𝟏 𝟐 𝟐
= Ïx 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙 𝒅𝒙 − x 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝟐 𝒙 𝒅𝒙Ð
𝟐 𝝅 𝝅
𝟔 𝟔
𝝅 𝝅
𝟏 𝟐 𝟏 𝟐
= Ïx 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙 𝒅𝒙 − x 𝟑 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝟐 𝒙 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙 𝒅𝒙Ð
𝟐 𝝅 𝟑 𝝅
𝟔 𝟔
π 𝝅
𝟏 2 𝟏 𝟐
= Ñ[𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙] − [𝐬𝐢𝐧𝟑 𝒙] Ô
𝟐 𝝅 𝟑 𝝅
𝟔 𝟔
𝟏 𝝅 𝝅 𝟏 𝝅 𝝅
= ÍÕ𝐬𝐢𝐧 9 : − 𝐬𝐢𝐧 9 :Ö − Õ𝐬𝐢𝐧𝟑 9 : − 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝟑 9 :ÖÎ
𝟐 𝟐 𝟔 𝟑 𝟐 𝟔
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟕
= Í} ~ − } ~Î
𝟐 𝟐 𝟑 𝟖
𝟓
=
𝟒𝟖

(a) Differentiate the following with respect to 𝒙
(i)
(𝒆𝒙 )𝟒 𝒆%𝒙
𝒆𝒙"𝟏
(ii)
𝐥𝐧(𝐜𝐨𝐬𝟐 𝒙)
(b) Hence, or otherwise, find the following
𝟓
x − 𝟒𝒆𝟐𝒙"𝟏 − 𝟐 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝒙 𝒅𝒙
𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑
Solution
(a) (i) To differentiate the following, we first simplify the expression

(𝒆𝒙 )𝟒 𝒆%𝒙
= 𝒆𝟒𝒙%𝒙%(𝒙"𝟏)
𝒆𝒙"𝟏
= 𝒆𝟐𝒙%𝟏
𝒅 𝟐𝒙%𝟏
∴ [𝒆 ] = 𝟐𝒆𝟐𝒙%𝟏
𝒅𝒙
(ii) To differentiate the following,

𝒅
𝒅 (𝐜𝐨𝐬𝟐 (𝒙))
𝟐
[𝐥𝐧(𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙)] = 𝒅𝒙
𝒅𝒙 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝟐 (𝒙)
𝟐 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙 (− 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙)
=
𝟐 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙
=−
𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙
= −𝟐
𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙
= −𝟐 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝒙
(b) Hence, to find the following

𝟓 𝟓
x − 𝟒𝒆𝟐𝒙"𝟏 − 𝟐 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝒙 𝒅𝒙 = 𝐥𝐧(𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑) − 𝟐𝒆𝟐𝒙"𝟏 + 𝐥𝐧(𝐜𝐨𝐬𝟐 𝒙) + 𝒄
𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑 𝟐

A curve has the equation
𝒚 = (𝟐𝒙 + 𝟐)√𝟐𝒙 − 𝟏
(a) Show the following first derivative, where 𝑘 is a constant and state the value of 𝑘
𝒅𝒚 𝒌𝒙
=
𝒅𝒙 √𝟐𝒙 − 𝟏
(b) Hence, evaluate the following

𝟏𝟑
𝟑𝒙
x 𝒅𝒙
𝟓 𝟐√𝟐𝒙 − 𝟏
[S4 SCSS P2/2015 PRELIM Qn 6]
Solution
(a) 𝒚 = (𝟐𝒙 + 𝟐)√𝟐𝒙 − 𝟏
𝒅𝒚 𝟏 𝟏
= (𝟐𝒙 + 𝟐) } (𝟐𝒙 − 𝟏)%𝟐 (𝟐)~ + 𝟐√𝟐𝒙 − 𝟏
𝒅𝒙 𝟐
𝟐𝒙 + 𝟐
= + 𝟐√𝟐𝒙 − 𝟏
√𝟐𝒙 − 𝟏
𝟐𝒙 + 𝟐 + 𝟐(𝟐𝒙 − 𝟏)
=
√𝟐𝒙 − 𝟏
𝟔𝒙
=
√𝟐𝒙 − 𝟏
𝒌=𝟔
(b) Hence,
𝟏𝟑
𝟑𝒙 𝟏 𝟏𝟑 𝟔𝒙
x 𝒅𝒙 = x 𝒅𝒙
𝟓 𝟐√𝟐𝒙 − 𝟏 𝟒 𝟓 √𝟐𝒙 − 𝟏
𝟏 𝟏𝟑
= ×(𝟐𝒙 + 𝟐)√𝟐𝒙 − 𝟏Ø𝟓
𝟒
𝟏
= Õ(𝟐(𝟏𝟑) + 𝟐)<𝟐(𝟏𝟑) − 𝟏 − (𝟐(𝟓) + 𝟐)<𝟐(𝟓) − 𝟏Ö
𝟒
𝟏
= ×𝟐𝟖√𝟐𝟓 − 𝟏𝟐√𝟗Ø
𝟒
= 𝟐𝟔

(a) Differentiate with respect to 𝒙
𝐥𝐧(𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙)
(b) Show that
𝒅
(𝒙 𝐜𝐨𝐭 𝒙) = 𝐜𝐨𝐭 𝒙 − 𝒙 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐜 𝟐 𝒙
𝒅𝒙
(c) Using the results from part (i) and (ii), show that
𝝅
𝟐 𝝅 𝟑𝝅𝟐 √𝟐
x 𝒙 𝐜𝐨𝐭 𝟐 𝒙 𝒅𝒙 = − − 𝐥𝐧
𝝅 𝟒 𝟑𝟐 𝟐
𝟒
Solution
(a) To differentiate the following,

𝒅
𝒅 [𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙]
[𝐥𝐧(𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙)] = 𝒅𝒙
𝒅𝒙 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙
𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙
=
𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙
= 𝐜𝐨𝐭 𝒙
(b) To show the following,

𝒅 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙
(𝒙 𝐜𝐨𝐭 𝒙) = 𝒙 9 : + 𝐜𝐨𝐭 𝒙
𝒅𝒙 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙
(𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙)(− 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙) − (𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙)(𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙)
= 𝒙… † + 𝐜𝐨𝐭 𝒙
𝐬𝐢𝐧𝟐 𝒙
−(𝐬𝐢𝐧𝟐 𝒙 + 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝟐 𝒙)
= 𝒙… † + 𝐜𝐨𝐭 𝒙
𝐬𝐢𝐧𝟐 𝒙
= −𝒙 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐜 𝟐 𝒙 + 𝐜𝐨𝐭 𝒙
= 𝐜𝐨𝐭 𝒙 − 𝒙 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐜 𝟐 𝒙 (𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐧)

(c) Hence,
𝝅
𝟐
𝐋𝐇𝐒 = x 𝒙 𝐜𝐨𝐭 𝟐 𝒙 𝒅𝒙
𝝅
𝟒
𝝅
𝟐
= x 𝒙(𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐜 𝟐 𝒙 − 𝟏) 𝒅𝒙
𝝅
𝟒
𝝅
𝟐
= x 𝒙 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐜 𝟐 𝒙 − 𝒙 𝒅𝒙
𝝅
𝟒
𝝅 𝝅
𝟐 𝟐
𝟐
= x 𝒙 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐜 𝒙 𝒅𝒙 − x 𝒙 𝒅𝒙
𝝅 𝝅
𝟒 𝟒
𝝅 𝝅
𝟐 𝟐
𝟐
= − x 𝐜𝐨𝐭 𝒙 − 𝒙 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐜 𝒙 − 𝐜𝐨𝐭 𝒙 𝒅𝒙 − x 𝒙 𝒅𝒙
𝝅 𝝅
𝟒 𝟒
𝝅 𝝅 𝝅
𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
𝟐
= − x (𝐜𝐨𝐭 𝒙 − 𝒙 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐜 𝒙) 𝒅𝒙 + x 𝐜𝐨𝐭 𝒙 𝒅𝒙 − x 𝒙 𝒅𝒙
𝝅 𝝅 𝝅
𝟒 𝟒 𝟒
𝝅 𝝅
𝝅
𝟐 𝟐 𝟏 𝟐 𝟐
= −[𝒙 𝐜𝐨𝐭 𝒙] + [𝐥𝐧(𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙)] − } 𝒙 ~𝝅
𝝅 𝝅 𝟐
𝟒
𝟒 𝟒
𝝅 𝝅 𝝅 𝝅 𝝅 𝝅 𝟏 𝝅 𝟐 𝟏 𝝅 𝟐
= − Õ9 : 𝐜𝐨𝐭 9 : − 9 : 𝐜𝐨𝐭 9 :Ö + Õ𝐥𝐧 9𝐬𝐢𝐧 9 :: − 𝐥𝐧 9𝐬𝐢𝐧 9 ::Ö − } 9 : − 9 : ~
𝟐 𝟐 𝟒 𝟒 𝟐 𝟒 𝟐 𝟐 𝟐 𝟒
𝝅 √𝟐 𝟑𝝅𝟐
= − 9− : − 𝐥𝐧 … † −
𝟒 𝟐 𝟑𝟐
𝝅 𝟑𝝅𝟐 √𝟐
= − − 𝐥𝐧 … †
𝟒 𝟑𝟐 𝟐
= 𝐑𝐇𝐒 (𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐧)

Topic: Calculus (Kinematics)
A particle moves in a straight line so that 𝒕 𝐬 after leaving a fixed point 𝑶, its velocity, 𝒗 𝐦𝐬%𝟏 , is
given by
𝒗 = 𝟓(𝟏 − 𝒆𝟏%𝒕 )
(a) Find the value of 𝒕 when the particle is instantaneously at rest

(b) Find the distance travelled by the particle in the first 𝟐 seconds
(c) Find the acceleration of the particle when 𝒕 = 𝟐. 𝟓 𝐬
(d) State the value which 𝒗 approaches as 𝒕 becomes very large
Solution
(a) When the particle is instantaneously at rest, 𝒗 = 𝟎

𝟓(𝟏 − 𝒆𝟏%𝒕 ) = 𝟎
𝒆𝟏%𝒕 = 𝟏
𝟏−𝒕=𝟎
𝒕=𝟏
(b) To find the distance, we need to find the displacement equation by integration
x 𝒗 𝒅𝒕 = x 𝟓(𝟏 − 𝒆𝟏%𝒕 ) 𝒅𝒕
𝒔 = 𝟓𝒕 + 𝟓𝒆𝟏%𝒕 + 𝒄
When 𝒕 = 𝟎, 𝒔 = 𝟎
𝟓𝒆 + 𝒄 = 𝟎
𝒄 = −𝟓𝒆
𝒔 = 𝟓𝒕 + 𝟓𝒆𝟏%𝒕 − 𝟓𝒆
Distance travelled = ×𝟓(𝟐) + 𝟓𝒆𝟏%(𝟐) − 𝟓𝒆Ø − ×𝟓(𝟏) + 𝟓𝒆𝟏%(𝟏) − 𝟓𝒆Ø

𝟓
= 𝐦
𝒆

(c) To find the acceleration, we need to find the acceleration equation by differentiation
𝒅 𝒅
[𝒗] = [𝟓(𝟏 − 𝒆𝟏%𝒕 )]
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙
𝒂 = 𝟓𝒆𝟏%𝒕
When 𝒕 = 𝟐. 𝟓,
𝒂 = 𝟓𝒆𝟏%(𝟐.𝟓)
𝟏
= 𝟓𝒆%𝟏𝟐 𝐦𝐬%𝟐
(d) As 𝒕 becomes very large, 𝒆𝟏%𝒕 → 𝟎

∴ 𝒗 = 𝟓(𝟏 − 𝟎)
= 𝟓 𝐦𝐬%𝟏

The displacement, 𝑺 metres, of a toy car 𝒕 seconds after passing a fixed point 𝑶 is given by
𝝅 𝝅
𝑺 = 𝟑 𝐜𝐨𝐬 9𝒕 − : + 𝟐 𝐬𝐢𝐧 9𝒕 + :
𝟐 𝟑
(a) Express 𝑺 in the form √𝒂 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒕 + 𝒃 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒕, where 𝒂 and 𝒃 are constants
𝝅
(b) Using the result from part (a), express 𝑺 in the form 𝑹 𝐜𝐨𝐬(𝒕 − 𝜶), where 𝑹 > 𝟎 and 𝟎 < 𝜶 <
𝟐
(c) Hence, find
(i) the maximum displacement of the toy car and the earliest time at which it occurs
(ii) the value(s) of 𝒕 when the displacement of the toy car is 𝟑. 𝟓 metres, where 𝟑 < 𝒕 < 𝟏𝟎
[S4 CGSS P2/2012 PRELIM Qn 11]
Solution
(a) To express 𝑺,
𝝅 𝝅 𝝅 𝝅
𝑺 = 𝟑 Õ𝐜𝐨𝐬(𝒕) 𝐜𝐨𝐬 9 : + 𝐬𝐢𝐧(𝒕) 𝐬𝐢𝐧 9 :Ö + 𝟐 Õ𝐬𝐢𝐧(𝒕) 𝐜𝐨𝐬 9 : + 𝐜𝐨𝐬(𝒕) 𝐬𝐢𝐧 9 :Ö
𝟐 𝟐 𝟑 𝟑
𝟏 √𝟑
= 𝟑 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒕 + 𝟐 U 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒕V + 𝟐 … 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒕†
𝟐 𝟐
= √𝟑 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒕 + 𝟒 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒕
(b) From part (a),

𝟐
𝑹 = ™7√𝟑8 + (𝟒)𝟐
= √𝟏𝟗
𝟒
√𝟑
= 𝟏. 𝟏𝟔𝟐𝟏𝟓𝟖 …
= 𝟏. 𝟏𝟔 (𝟑. 𝐬. 𝐟. )
∴ 𝑺 = √𝟏𝟗 𝐜𝐨𝐬(𝒕 − 𝟏. 𝟏𝟔)
(c) (i) The maximum distance is √𝟏𝟗 𝐦 and the corresponding time is 𝟏. 𝟏𝟔 seconds

(ii) When 𝑺 = 𝟑. 𝟓 𝐦,
𝟑. 𝟓 = √𝟏𝟗 𝐜𝐨𝐬(𝒕 − 𝟏. 𝟏𝟔)
𝟑. 𝟓
𝐜𝐨𝐬(𝒕 − 𝟏. 𝟏𝟔) =
√𝟏𝟗
𝟑. 𝟓
𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝛄 = 𝐜𝐨𝐬%𝟏 U V
√𝟏𝟗
𝟒 𝟑. 𝟓 𝟒 𝟑. 𝟓
∴ 𝒕 − 𝐭𝐚𝐧%𝟏 U V = 𝐜𝐨𝐬%𝟏 U V 𝐨𝐫 𝒕 − 𝐭𝐚𝐧%𝟏 U V = 𝟐𝝅 − 𝐜𝐨𝐬%𝟏 U V
√𝟑 √𝟏𝟗 √𝟑 √𝟏𝟗
= 𝟏. 𝟖𝟎𝟎𝟕𝟏𝟖 (𝐫𝐞𝐣. ∵ 𝟑 < 𝐭 < 𝟏𝟎) = 𝟔. 𝟖𝟎𝟔𝟕𝟖𝟒 …
= 𝟔. 𝟖𝟏 𝐬 (𝟑. 𝐬. 𝐟. )
𝟒 𝟑. 𝟓
𝒕 − 𝐭𝐚𝐧%𝟏 U V = 𝟐𝝅 + 𝐜𝐨𝐬%𝟏 U V
√𝟑 √𝟏𝟗
= 𝟖. 𝟎𝟖𝟑𝟗𝟎𝟑 …
= 𝟖. 𝟎𝟖 𝐬 (𝟑. 𝐬. 𝐟. )


A-Math Practice Questions (July) (Full Solutions)

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JULY PRACTICE QUESTIONS 2021

ADDITIONAL MATHEMATICS 4049/01

Specimen Paper MARKING SCHEME

Candidates answer on separate writing paper

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST

Answer all questions.

Upon completion of solutions:

Each candidate have exactly 3 weeks to submit their solutions

Setter: Ong Kai Wen

Author: © Ong Kai Wen

Special Note from Tutor (Kaiwen):

Author: © Ong Kai Wen

[S4 MGS P1 2011 PRELIM Qn 8]

(a) Since 𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝒃𝒙 + 𝟐 is always positive, 𝒃𝟐 − 𝟒𝒂𝒄 < 𝟎

(𝒃)𝟐 − 𝟒(𝟐)(𝟐) < 𝟎

Hence, the largest integer value is 𝟑

Substitute Equation (𝟏) into Equation (𝟐),

Since the line is a tangent to the curve, 𝒃𝟐 − 𝟒𝒂𝒄 = 𝟎

𝟑𝟔𝒄𝟐 + 𝟒𝟖𝒄 + 𝟏𝟔 − 𝟑𝟐𝒄𝟐 − 𝟏𝟔𝟎 = 𝟎

Author: © Ong Kai Wen

[S4 PLMGS P1/2014 PRELIM Qn 1]

Substitute Equation (𝟏) into Equation (𝟐),

Since the line is tangent to the curve, 𝒃𝟐 − 𝟒𝒂𝒄 = 𝟎

Author: © Ong Kai Wen

Hence, find the range of values of 𝒙 for which

[S4 TSS P2/2015 PRELIM Qn 2]

(a) 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒑𝒙 − 𝒙 + 𝒑𝟐 + 𝟐 = 𝒙𝟐 + (𝒑 − 𝟏)𝒙 + (𝒑𝟐 + 𝟐)

Author: © Ong Kai Wen

Since it is shown earlier that 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒑𝒙 − 𝒙 + 𝒑𝟐 + 𝟐 is always positive, this implies that

Substitute Equation (𝟏) into Equation (𝟐),

Since the line cuts the curve at 𝟐 points, 𝒃𝟐 − 𝟒𝒂𝒄 > 𝟎

Author: © Ong Kai Wen

(𝒙 + 𝟏)√𝟒𝟎 = 𝒙√𝟓 + √𝟏𝟎

[S4 SPS P2/2012 Mock Paper Qn 2]

(𝒙 + 𝟏)√𝟒𝟎 = 𝒙√𝟓 + √𝟏𝟎

Author: © Ong Kai Wen

[S4 VS P1/2014 PRELIM Qn 2]

From Equation (𝟏),

From Equation (𝟐),

Substitute Equation (𝟑) into Equation (𝟒),

Author: © Ong Kai Wen

𝟐𝟐𝒙"𝟐 × 𝟓𝒙%𝟏 = 𝟖𝒙 × 𝟓𝟐𝒙

[S4 CHS P1/2015 PRELIM Qn 1]

𝟐𝟐𝒙"𝟐 × 𝟓𝒙%𝟏 = 𝟖𝒙 × 𝟓𝟐𝒙

[S4 HIHS P2/2015 PRELIM Qn 4]

We shall first prove that ∆𝑪𝑬𝑫 and ∆𝑩𝑫𝑨 are similar

By 𝐀𝐀𝐀 similarity test, ∆𝑪𝑬𝑫 and ∆𝑩𝑫𝑨 are similar

Author: © Ong Kai Wen

Author: © Ong Kai Wen

(c) Since 𝑪𝑬 = 7𝟑 + √𝟐8,

Author: © Ong Kai Wen

[S4 NHHS P1/2012 PRELIM Qn 5]

(a) Let 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟐𝒙𝟑 + 𝒂𝒙𝟐 + 𝒃𝒙 − 𝟑

Since 𝒇(𝒙) is divisible by (𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏),

Since 𝒇(𝒙) leave a remainder of −𝟏𝟓 when divided by (𝒙 − 𝟐),

Substitute Equation (𝟏) into Equation (𝟐),

Substitute 𝒃 = −𝟖 into Equation (𝟏),

Author: © Ong Kai Wen

𝒈(𝒙) = (𝒙 − 𝟑)(𝒙 + 𝟐)𝑸(𝒙) + 𝒂𝒙 + 𝒃

Substitute Equation (𝟏) into Equation (𝟐),

Substitute 𝒂 = 𝟐 into Equation (𝟏),

Author: © Ong Kai Wen

[S4 NHHS P2/2014 PRELIM Qn 1(a)]

(c) In diagram above