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2011 Paper 1 Q11
D: 1516.0 B: 1516.0

A thin non-uniform bar \(AB\) of length \(7d\) has centre of mass at a point \(G\), where \(AG=3d\). A light inextensible string has one end attached to \(A\) and the other end attached to \(B\). The string is hung over a smooth peg \(P\) and the bar hangs freely in equilibrium with \(B\) lower than~\(A\). Show that \[ 3\sin\alpha = 4\sin\beta\,, \] where \(\alpha\) and \(\beta\) are the angles \(PAB\) and \(PBA\), respectively. Given that \(\cos\beta=\frac45\) and that \(\alpha\) is acute, find in terms of \(d\) the length of the string and show that the angle of inclination of the bar to the horizontal is \(\arctan \frac17\,\).

2011 Paper 1 Q12
D: 1500.0 B: 1470.2

I am selling raffle tickets for \(\pounds1\) per ticket. In the queue for tickets, there are \(m\) people each with a single \(\pounds1\) coin and \(n\) people each with a single \(\pounds2\) coin. Each person in the queue wants to buy a single raffle ticket and each arrangement of people in the queue is equally likely to occur. Initially, I have no coins and a large supply of tickets. I stop selling tickets if I cannot give the required change.

  1. In the case \(n=1\) and \(m\ge1\), find the probability that I am able to sell one ticket to each person in the queue.
  2. By considering the first three people in the queue, show that the probability that I am able to sell one ticket to each person in the queue in the case \(n=2\) and \(m\ge2\) is \(\dfrac{m-1}{m+1}\,\).
  3. Show that the probability that I am able to sell one ticket to each person in the queue in the case \(n=3\) and \(m\ge3\) is \(\dfrac{m-2}{m+1}\,\).


Solution:

  1. The only way you wont be able to sell to them is if they are first, ie \(\frac1{m+1}\)
  2. If \(n=2\), the the only way you fail to sell to them is if one comes first or they both appear before two people with pound coins, ie \(2\) or \(122\). These have probabilities \(\frac{2}{m+2}\) and \(\frac{m}{m+2} \cdot \frac{2}{m+1} \frac{1}{m} = \frac{2}{(m+1)(m+2)}\). Therefore the total probability you don't sell all the tickets is \(\frac{2}{m+2}\left ( 1 + \frac{1}{m+1} \right) = \frac{2}{m+2} \frac{m+2}{m+1} = \frac{2}{m+1}\). Therefore the probability you do sell all the tickets is \(1 - \frac{2}{m+1} = \frac{m-1}{m+1}\)
  3. The only ways to fail when \(n=3\) are: \(2\), \(122\), or if all three \(2\)s appear before three \(1\)s. this can happen in \(11222\), \(12122\) These happen with probability: \begin{align*} 2: && \frac{3}{m+3} \\ 122: && \frac{m}{m+3} \cdot \frac{3}{m+2} \cdot \frac{2}{m+1} \\ 11222: && \frac{m(m-1) 6}{(m+3)(m+2)(m+1)m(m-1)} \\ 12122: && \frac{m(m-1) 6}{(m+3)(m+2)(m+1)m(m-1)} \\ \end{align*} Therefore the total probability is: \begin{align*} P &= \frac{1}{(m+3)(m+2)(m+1)} \left (3(m+2)(m+1)+6m + 12 \right) \\ &= \frac{1}{(m+3)(m+2)(m+1)} \left (3(m+1)(m+2) \right) \\ &= \frac{3}{m+1} \end{align*} and the result follows

2011 Paper 1 Q13
D: 1484.0 B: 1471.5

In this question, you may use without proof the following result: \[ \int \sqrt{4-x^2}\, \d x = 2 \arcsin (\tfrac12 x ) + \tfrac 12 x \sqrt{4-x^2} +c\,. \] A random variable \(X\) has probability density function \(\f\) given by \[ \f(x) = \begin{cases} 2k & -a\le x <0 \\[3mm] k\sqrt{4-x^2} & \phantom{-} 0\le x \le 2 \\[3mm] 0 & \phantom{-}\text{otherwise}, \end{cases} \] where \(k\) and \(a\) are positive constants.

  1. Find, in terms of \(a\), the mean of \(X\).
  2. Let \(d\) be the value of \(X\) such that \(\P(X> d)=\frac1 {10}\,\). Show that \(d < 0\) if \(2a> 9\pi\) and find an expression for \(d\) in terms of \(a\) in this case.
  3. Given that \(d=\sqrt 2\), find \(a\).


Solution: First notice that \begin{align*} && 1 &= \int_{-a}^2 f(x) \d x \\ &&&= 2ka + k\pi \\ \Rightarrow && k &= (\pi + 2a)^{-1} \end{align*}

  1. \(\,\) \begin{align*} && \E[X] &= \int_{-a}^2 x f(x) \d x\\ &&&= \int_{-a}^0 2kx \d x + k\int_0^{2} x\sqrt{4-x^2} \d x\\ &&&= \left [kx^2 \right]_{-a}^0 +k \left [-\frac13(4-x^2)^{\frac32} \right]_0^2 \\ &&&= -ka^2 + \frac83k \\ &&&= \frac{\frac83-a^2}{\pi + 2a} \end{align*}
  2. Consider \(\mathbb{P}(X < 0)\) then \(d < 0 \Leftrightarrow \mathbb{P}(X < 0) > \frac{9}{10}\) \begin{align*} && \frac{9}{10} &< \mathbb{P}(X < 0) \\ &&&= \int_{-a}^0 2k \d x \\ &&&= \frac{2a}{\pi+2a} \\ \Leftrightarrow && 9\pi &< 2a \\ \\ && \frac{9}{10} &= \int_{-a}^d 2k \d x \\ &&&= \frac{2(d+a)}{\pi + 2a} \\ \Rightarrow && 9\pi &= 2a + 20d \\ \Rightarrow && d &= \frac{2a-9\pi}{20} \end{align*}
  3. Suppose \(d=\sqrt 2\) then \begin{align*} && \frac1{10} &= \int_{\sqrt{2}}^2 f(x) \d x \\ &&&= \int_{\sqrt{2}}^2 k\sqrt{4-x^2} \d x \\ &&&= k\left [ 2 \sin^{-1} \tfrac12 x + \tfrac12 x \sqrt{4-x^2}\right]_{\sqrt{2}}^2 \\ &&&= k\left (\pi -\frac{\pi}{2} - 1 \right) \\ \Rightarrow && \pi + 2a &= 5\pi - 10 \\ \Rightarrow && a &= 2\pi-5 \end{align*}

2011 Paper 2 Q1
D: 1600.0 B: 1500.0

  1. Sketch the curve \(y=\sqrt{1-x} + \sqrt{3+x}\;\). Use your sketch to show that only one real value of \(x\) satisfies \[ \sqrt{1-x} + \sqrt{3+x} = x+1\,, \] and give this value.
  2. Determine graphically the number of real values of \(x\) that satisfy \[ 2\sqrt{1-x} = \sqrt{3+x} + \sqrt{3-x}\;. \] Solve this equation.


Solution:

  1. TikZ diagram
    Clearly the only solution is \(x = 1\)
  2. TikZ diagram
    There is clearly only one solution, with \(x \approx -2\) \begin{align*} && 4(1-x) &= 6+2\sqrt{9-x^2} \\ && -2x-1 &=\sqrt{9-x^2} \\ \Rightarrow && 4x^2+4x+1 &= 9-x^2 \\ \Rightarrow && 0 &= 5x^2+4x-8 \\ &&x&= \frac{-2\pm 2\sqrt{11}}{5} \\ \Rightarrow && x &= -\left ( \frac{2+2\sqrt{11}}{5} \right) \end{align*}

2011 Paper 2 Q2
D: 1600.0 B: 1516.0

Write down the cubes of the integers \(1, 2, \ldots , 10\). The positive integers \(x\), \(y\) and \(z\), where \(x < y\), satisfy \[ x^3+y^3 = kz^3\,, \tag{\(*\)} \] where \(k\) is a given positive integer.

  1. In the case \(x+y =k\), show that \[ z^3 = k^2 -3kx+3x^2\,. \] Deduce that \((4z^3 - k^2)/3\) is a perfect square and that \(\frac14 {k^2} \le z^3 < k^2\,\). Use these results to find a solution of \((*)\) when \(k=20\).
  2. By considering the case \(x+y = z^2\), find two solutions of \((*)\) when \(k=19\).


Solution: \begin{array}{c|c} n & n^3 \\ \hline 1 & 1 \\ 2 & 8 \\ 3 & 27 \\ 4 & 64 \\ 5 & 125 \\ 6 & 216 \\ 7 & 343 \\ 8 & 512 \\ 9 & 729 \\ 10 & 1000 \\ \end{array}

  1. \(\,\) \begin{align*} && x^3 + y^3 &= kz^3 \\ \Rightarrow &&k(x^2-xy+y^2)&=kz^3 \\ \Rightarrow && z^3 &= (x+y)^2-3xy \\ &&&= k^2-3x(k-x) \\ &&&= k^2-3xk+3x^2 \\ \\ \Rightarrow && \frac{4z^3-k^2}{3} &= \frac{4(k^2-3xk+3x^2)-k^2}{3} \\ &&&= \frac{3k^2-12xk+12x^2}{3} \\ &&&= k^2-4xk+4x^2 \\ &&&= (k-2x)^2 \end{align*} Therefore \(\frac{4z^3-k^2}{3}\) is a perfect square and so \(4z^3 \geq k^2 \Rightarrow z^3 \geq \frac14k^2\). Clearly \(kz^3 < x^3+3x^2y+3xy^2+y^3 = k^3 \Rightarrow z^3 < k^2\), therefore \(\frac14 k^2 \leq z^3 < k^2\) Therefore if \(k = 20\), \(100 \leq z^3 < 400 \Rightarrow z \in \{ 5, 6,7\}\). Mod \(3\) it is clear that \(4z^3-k^2\) is not divisible by \(3\) for \(z = 5,6\) therefore \(z = 7\) \begin{align*} && 343 &= 3x^2-60x+400 \\ \Rightarrow && 0 &= 3x^2-60x+57 \\ \Rightarrow && 0 &= x^2-20x+19 \\ \Rightarrow && x &= 1,19 \end{align*} Therefore a solution is \(1^3 + 19^3 = 20 \cdot 7^3\)
  2. When \(x+y = z^2\) we must have \begin{align*} && x^3 + y^3 &= kz^3 \\ \Rightarrow &&(x^2-xy+y^2)&=kz \\ \Rightarrow && kz &= (x+y)^2-3xy \\ &&&= z^4-3x(z^2-x)\\ &&&= z^4-3xz^2+3x^2 \\ \Rightarrow && 0 &= 3x^2-3z^2x+z^4-kz \\ \\ \Rightarrow && 0 &\leq \Delta = 9z^4-12(z^4-kz) \\ &&&=12kz-3z^4 \\ \Rightarrow && z^3 &\leq 4k \end{align*} If \(k = 19\) this means \(z \leq 4\) \begin{array}{c|c|c|c} z & 19z^3 & x & y \\ \hline 1 & 19 & - & - \\ 2 & 152 & 3 & 5 \\ 3 & 513 & 1 & 8 \end{array} So two solutions are \(1^3+8^3 = 19 \cdot 3^3\) and \(3^3+5^3=19 \cdot 2^3\)

2011 Paper 2 Q3
D: 1600.0 B: 1500.0

In this question, you may assume without proof that any function \(\f\) for which \(\f'(x)\ge 0\) is increasing; that is, \(\f(x_2)\ge \f(x_1)\) if \(x_2\ge x_1\,\).

    1. Let \(\f(x) =\sin x -x\cos x\). Show that \(\f(x)\) is increasing for \(0\le x \le \frac12\pi\,\) and deduce that \(\f(x)\ge 0\,\) for \(0\le x \le \frac12\pi\,\).
    2. Given that \(\dfrac{\d}{\d x} (\arcsin x) \ge1\) for \(0\le x< 1\), show that \[ \arcsin x\ge x \quad (0\le x < 1). \]
    3. Let \(\g(x)= x\cosec x\, \text{ for }0< x < \frac12\pi\). Show that \(\g\) is increasing and deduce that \[ ({\arcsin x})\, x^{-1} \ge x\,{\cosec x} \quad (0 < x < 1). \]
  1. Given that $\dfrac{\d}{\d x} (\arctan x)\le 1\text{ for }x\ge 0$, show by considering the function \(x^{-1} \tan x\) that \[ (\tan x)( \arctan x) \ge x^2 \quad (0< x < \tfrac12\pi). \]


Solution:

  1. Given \(\frac{\d}{\d x} (\arctan x) \leq 1\) we must have \(\frac{\d}{ \d x} (x-\arctan x) \geq 0\) for \(x \geq 0\), but since \( 0 - \arctan 0 = 0\) this means that \(x - \arctan x \geq 0\), ie \( \arctan x \geq x\) for \(x \geq 0\) \(g(x) = x^{-1} \tan x \Rightarrow g'(x) = -x^{-2}\tan x +x^{-1} \sec^2 x\). If we can show \(f(x) = x \sec ^2 x - \tan x\) is positive that would be great. However \(f'(x) = x 2 \tan x \sec^2 x \geq 0\) and \(f(0) = 0\) so \(f(x)\) is positive and \(g'(x)\) is positive and hence increasing, therefore \(g(x) \geq g(\arctan x) \Rightarrow \frac{\tan x}{x} \geq \frac{x}{\arctan x}\) from which the result follows.

2011 Paper 2 Q4
D: 1600.0 B: 1470.8

  1. Find all the values of \(\theta\), in the range \(0^\circ <\theta<180^\circ\), for which \(\cos\theta=\sin 4\theta\). Hence show that \[ \sin 18^\circ = \frac14\left( \sqrt 5 -1\right). \]
  2. Given that \[ 4\sin^2 x + 1 = 4\sin^2 2x \,, \] find all possible values of \(\sin x\,\), giving your answers in the form \(p+q\sqrt5\) where \(p\) and \(q\) are rational numbers.
  3. Hence find two values of \(\alpha\) with \(0^\circ <\alpha<90^\circ\) for which \[ \sin^23\alpha + \sin^25\alpha = \sin^2 6\alpha\,. \]

2011 Paper 2 Q5
D: 1600.0 B: 1484.0

The points \(A\) and \(B\) have position vectors \(\bf a \) and \(\bf b\) with respect to an origin \(O\), and \(O\), \(A\)~and~\(B\) are non-collinear. The point \(C\), with position vector \(\bf c\), is the reflection of \(B\) in the line through \(O\) and \(A\). Show that \(\bf c\) can be written in the form \[ \bf c = \lambda \bf a -\bf b \] where \(\displaystyle \lambda = \frac{2\,{\bf a .b}}{{\bf a.a}}\). The point \(D\), with position vector \(\bf d\), is the reflection of \(C\) in the line through \(O\) and \(B\). Show that \(\bf d\) can be written in the form \[ \bf d = \mu\bf b - \lambda \bf a \] for some scalar \(\mu\) to be determined. Given that \(A\), \(B\) and \(D\) are collinear, find the relationship between \(\lambda\) and \(\mu\). In the case \(\lambda = -\frac12\), determine the cosine of \(\angle AOB\) and describe the relative positions of \(A\), \(B\) and \(D\).

2011 Paper 2 Q6
D: 1600.0 B: 1500.7

For any given function \(\f\), let \[ I = \int [\f'(x)]^2 \,[\f(x)]^n \d x\,, \tag{\(*\)} \] where \(n\) is a positive integer. Show that, if \(\f(x)\) satisfies \(\f''(x) =k \f(x)\f'(x)\) for some constant \(k\), then (\(*\)) can be integrated to obtain an expression for \(I\) in terms of \(\f(x)\), \(\f'(x)\), \(k\) and \(n\).

  1. Verify your result in the case \(\f(x) = \tan x\,\). Hence find \[ \displaystyle \int \frac{\sin^4x}{\cos^{8}x} \, \d x\;. \]
  2. Find \[ \displaystyle \int \sec^2x\, (\sec x + \tan x)^6\,\d x\;. \]


Solution: If \(f''(x) = kf(x)f'(x)\) then we can see \begin{align*} && I &= \int [\f'(x)]^2 \,[\f(x)]^n \d x \\ &&&= \int f'(x) \cdot f'(x) [f(x)]^n \d x \\ &&&= \left[ f'(x) \cdot \frac{[f(x)]^{n+1}}{n+1} \right] - \int f''(x) \frac{[f(x)]^{n+1}}{n+1} \d x \\ &&&= \frac{1}{n+1} \left (f'(x) [f(x)]^{n+1} - \int kf'(x) [f(x)]^{n+2} \d x \right) \\ &&&= \frac{1}{n+1} \left (f'(x) [f(x)]^{n+1} - k \frac{[f(x)]^{n+3}}{n+3} \right) +C\\ &&&= \frac{[f(x)]^{n+1}}{n+1} \left ( f'(x) - \frac{k[f(x)]^2}{n+3} \right) + C \end{align*}

  1. If \(f(x) = \tan x, f'(x) = \sec^2 x, f''(x) = 2 \sec^2 x \tan x = 2 \cdot f(x) \cdot f'(x)\), so \(\tan\) satisfies the conditions for the theorem. \begin{align*} && I &= \int \sec^4 x \tan^n x \d x \\ &&&= \left [\sec^2x \cdot \frac{\tan^{n+1} x}{n+1} \right] - \int 2 \sec^2 x \tan x \cdot \frac{\tan^{n+1} x}{n+1} \d x \\ &&&= \left [\sec^2x \cdot \frac{\tan^{n+1} x}{n+1} \right] - 2 \cdot \frac{\tan^{n+3} x}{(n+1)(n+3)} \\ \end{align*} So \begin{align*} && I &= \int \frac{\sin^4 x}{\cos^8 x} \d x \\ &&&= \int \tan^4 x \sec^4 x \d x \\ &&&= \int [\sec^2 x]^2 [\tan x]^4 \d x \\ &&&= \frac{\tan^{5}x}{5} \left ( \sec^2 x - \frac{2 \tan^2 x}{7} \right) + C \end{align*}
  2. \begin{align*} && I &= \int \sec^2x\, (\sec x + \tan x)^6\,\d x \\ &&&= \int (\sec x (\sec x + \tan x))^2 \cdot (\sec x + \tan x )^4 \d x \\ &&&= \frac{(\sec x + \tan x)^5}{5} \left ( \sec x (\sec x + \tan x) - \frac{(\sec x + \tan x)^2}{7} \right) + C \end{align*}

2011 Paper 2 Q7
D: 1600.0 B: 1500.0

The two sequences \(a_0\), \(a_1\), \(a_2\), \(\ldots\) and \(b_0\), \(b_1\), \(b_2\), \(\ldots\) have general terms \[ a_n = \lambda^n +\mu^n \text { \ \ \ and \ \ \ } b_n = \lambda^n - \mu^n\,, \] respectively, where \(\lambda = 1+\sqrt2\) and \(\mu= 1-\sqrt2\,\).

  1. Show that $\displaystyle \sum_{r=0}^nb_r = -\sqrt2 + \frac 1 {\sqrt2} \,a_{\low n+1}\,$, and give a corresponding result for \(\displaystyle \sum_{r=0}^na_r\,\).
  2. Show that, if \(n\) is odd, $$\sum_{m=0}^{2n}\left( \sum_{r=0}^m a_{\low r}\right) = \tfrac12 b_{n+1}^2\,,$$ and give a corresponding result when \(n\) is even.
  3. Show that, if \(n\) is even, $$\left(\sum_{r=0}^na_r\right)^{\!2} -\sum_{r=0}^n a_{\low 2r+1} =2\,,$$ and give a corresponding result when \(n\) is odd.