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2016 Paper 1 Q3
D: 1500.0 B: 1487.6

In this question, \(\lfloor x \rfloor\) denotes the greatest integer that is less than or equal to \(x\), so that (for example) \(\lfloor 2.9 \rfloor = 2\), \(\lfloor 2\rfloor = 2\) and \(\lfloor -1.5 \rfloor = -2\). On separate diagrams draw the graphs, for \(-\pi \le x \le \pi\), of:

(i) \(y = \lfloor x \rfloor\); (ii) \(y=\sin\lfloor x \rfloor\); (iii) \(y = \lfloor \sin x\rfloor\); (iv) \(y= \lfloor 2\sin x\rfloor\).
In each case, you should indicate clearly the value of \(y\) at points where the graph is discontinuous.


Solution:

  1. TikZ diagram
  2. TikZ diagram
  3. TikZ diagram
  4. TikZ diagram

1991 Paper 1 Q6
D: 1500.0 B: 1484.8

Criticise each step of the following arguments. You should correct the arguments where necessary and possible, and say (with justification) whether you think the conclusion are true even though the argument is incorrect.

  1. The function \(g\) defined by \[ \mathrm{g}(x)=\frac{2x^{3}+3}{x^{4}+4} \] satisfies \(\mathrm{g}'(x)=0\) only for \(x=0\) or \(x=\pm1.\) Hence the stationary values are given by \(x=0\), \(\mathrm{g}(x)=\frac{3}{4}\) and \(x=\pm1,\) \(\mathrm{g}(x)=1.\) Since \(\frac{3}{4}<1,\) there is a minimum at \(x=0\) and maxima at \(x=\pm1.\) Thus we must have \(\frac{3}{4}\leqslant\mathrm{g}(x)\leqslant1\) for all \(x\).
  2. \({\displaystyle \int(1-x)^{-3}\,\mathrm{d}x=-3(1-x)^{-4}}\quad\) and so \(\quad{\displaystyle \int_{-1}^{3}(1-x)^{-3}\,\mathrm{d}x=0.}\)


Solution:

  1. \begin{align*} && g(x) &= \frac{2x^3+3}{x^4+4} \\ \Rightarrow && g'(x) &= \frac{6x^2(x^4+4) - (2x^3+3)(4x^3)}{(x^4+4)^2} \\ &&&= \frac{-2x^6-12x^3+24x^2}{(x^4+4)} \\ &&&= \frac{-2x^2(x^4+6x-12)}{(x^4+4)} \end{align*} So \(g'(x)\) is not \(0\) for \(x = \pm 1\). We can also note that \(g(-1) = \frac1{5} \neq 1\) Even if the other turning point was \(1\), we would also need to check the behaviour as \(x \to \pm \infty\). We can also note that \(g(-1) = \frac{1}{5} < \frac34\) so the conclusion is also not true.
  2. There are several errors. \[ \int (1-x)^{-3} \d x = \underbrace{\frac{1}{4}}_{\text{correct constant}}(1-x)^{-4} + \underbrace{C}_{\text{constant of integration}} \] We cannot integrate through the asymptote at \(1\). There is a sense in which we could argue \(\displaystyle \int_{-1}^3 (1-x)^{-3} \d x = 0\), specifically using Cauchy principal value \begin{align*} \mathrm {p.v.} \int_{-1}^3 (1-x)^{-3} &=\lim_{\epsilon \to 0} \left [ \int_{-1}^{1-\epsilon} (1-x)^{-3} \d x+ \int_{1+\epsilon}^{3} (1-x)^{-3} \d x\right] \\ &=\lim_{\epsilon \to 0} \left [ \left[ \frac14 (1-x)^{-4}\right]_{-1}^{1-\epsilon}+ \left[ \frac14 (1-x)^{-4}\right]_{1+\epsilon}^3\right] \\ &=\lim_{\epsilon \to 0} \left [ \frac14 \epsilon^{-4}-\frac14 \frac1{2^4} + \frac14 \frac1{2^4} - \frac14 \epsilon^{-4} \right] \\ &= \lim_{\epsilon \to 0} 0 \\ &= 0 \end{align*} However, in many normal ways of treating this integral it would be undefined.

1987 Paper 1 Q8
D: 1500.0 B: 1500.0

Explain why the use of the substitution \(x=\dfrac{1}{t}\) does not demonstrate that the integrals \[ \int_{-1}^{1}\frac{1}{(1+x^{2})^{2}}\,\mathrm{d}x\quad\mbox{ and }\quad\int_{-1}^{1}\frac{-t^{2}}{(1+t^{2})^{2}}\,\mathrm{d}t \] are equal. Evaluate both integrals correctly.


Solution: When we apply the substitution \(x = \frac1{t}\), \(t\) runs from \(-1 \to -\infty\) as \(x\) goes from \(-1 \to 0\). Then it runs from \(\infty \to 1\) as \(x\) runs from \(0 \to 1\). So we would be able to show that: \[ \int_{-1}^{1}\frac{1}{(1+x^{2})^{2}}\,\mathrm{d}x = \int_{-1}^{-\infty}\frac{-t^{2}}{(1+t^{2})^{2}}\,\mathrm{d}t + \int_{\infty}^1 \frac{-t^{2}}{(1+t^{2})^{2}}\,\mathrm{d}t \] Let \(x = \tan u, \d x = \sec^2 u \d u\) \begin{align*} \int_{-1}^1 \frac1{(1+x^2)^2} \d x &= \int_{u = -\pi/4}^{u = \pi/4} \frac{\sec^2 u}{(1+\tan^2 u)^2} \d u \\ &= \int_{u = -\pi/4}^{u = \pi/4} \frac{1}{\sec^2 u} \d u \\ &= \int_{-\pi/4}^{\pi/4} \cos^2 u \d u \\ &= \int_{-\pi/4}^{\pi/4} \frac{1 + \cos 2 u}{2} \d u \\ &= \left [ \frac{2u + \sin 2u}{4} \right]_{-\pi/4}^{\pi/4} \\ &= \frac{\pi}{4} + \frac{1}{2} \end{align*} Let \(t = \tan u, \d t = \sec^2 u \d u\) \begin{align*} \int_{-1}^1 \frac{-t^2}{(1+t^2)^2} \d x &= \int_{u = -\pi/4}^{u = \pi/4} \frac{-\tan^2 u \sec^2 u}{(1+\tan^2 u)^2} \d u \\ &= -\int_{u = -\pi/4}^{u = \pi/4} \frac{\tan^2 u}{\sec^2 u} \d u \\ &= -\int_{-\pi/4}^{\pi/4} \sin^2 u \d u \\ &= -\int_{-\pi/4}^{\pi/4} \frac{1 - \cos 2 u}{2} \d u \\ &= -\left [ \frac{2u - \sin 2u}{4} \right]_{-\pi/4}^{\pi/4} \\ &= \frac{1}{2}-\frac{\pi}{4} \end{align*}