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1999 Paper 3 Q5
D: 1700.0 B: 1516.0

The sequence \(u_0\), \(u_1\), \(u_2\), ... is defined by $$ u_0=1,\hspace{0.2in} u_1=1, \quad u_{n+1}=u_n+u_{n-1} \hspace{0.2in}{\rm for}\hspace{0.1in}n \ge 1\,. $$ Prove that $$ u^2_{n+2} + u^2_{n-1} = 2( u^2_{n+1} + u^2_n ) \,. $$ Using induction, or otherwise, prove the following result: \[ u_{2n} = u^2_n + u^2_{n-1} \quad \mbox{ and }\quad u_{2n+1} = u^2_{n+1} - u^2_{n-1} \] for any positive integer \(n\).


Solution: Claim: \(u^2_{n+2} + u^2_{n-1} = 2( u^2_{n+1} + u^2_n )\) Proof: (By Induction). (Base Case): \(n = 1\) \begin{align*} && LHS &= u_{n+2}^2 + u_{n-1}^2 \\ &&&= u_3^2 + u_0^2 \\ &&&= 3^2 + 1^2 = 10\\ && RHS &= 2(u_{n+1}^2+u_n^2) \\ &&&= 2(2^2 + 1^2) \\ &&&= 10 \end{align*} Therefore the base case is true. (Inductive hypothesis) Suppose \(u^2_{n+2} + u^2_{n-1} = 2( u^2_{n+1} + u^2_n )\) is true for some \(n = k\), ie \(u^2_{k+2} + u^2_{k-1} = 2( u^2_{k+1} + u^2_k )\), the consider \(n = k+1\) \begin{align*} && LHS &= u_{k+1+2}^2 + u_{k+1-1}^2 \\ &&&= (u_{k+1}+u_{k+2})^2+u_k^2 \\ &&&= u_{k+2}^2+u_{k+1}^2+ u_k^2 + 2u_{k+1}u_{k+2} \\ &&&= u_{k+2}^2+u_{k+1}^2+ u_k^2 + 2u_{k+1}(u_{k+1}+u_k) \\ &&&= u_{k+2}^2 + u_{k+1}^2+u_k^2+2u_{k+1}^2+2u_{k+1}u_k \\ &&&= u_{k+1}^2+2u_{k+1}^2+ u_{k+1}^2+u_k^2+2u_{k+1}u_k \\ &&&= u_{k+2}^2+2u_{k+1}^2+ (u_{k+1}+u_k)^2 \\ &&&= u_{k+2}^2+2u_{k+1}^2+ u_{k+2}^2 \\ &&&=2(u_{k+2}^2+u_{k+1}^2) \\ &&&= RHS \end{align*} Therefore it is true for \(n = k+1\). Therefore by the principle of mathematical induction it is true for all \(n \geq 1\) Claim: $ u_{2n} = u^2_n + u^2_{n-1} \quad \mbox{ and }\quad u_{2n+1} = u^2_{n+1} - u^2_{n-1} $ Proof: Notice that \(\begin{pmatrix}u_{n+1} \\ u_n \end{pmatrix}= \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 1 \\ 1 & 0 \end{pmatrix}^n \begin{pmatrix}1 \\1 \end{pmatrix}\), in particular \begin{align*} && \begin{pmatrix}u_{n}& u_{n-1} \\ u_{n-1} & u_{n-2} \end{pmatrix}&= \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 1 \\ 1 & 0 \end{pmatrix}^{n} \\ \Rightarrow && \begin{pmatrix}u_{2n}& u_{2n-1} \\ u_{2n-1} & u_{2n-2} \end{pmatrix}&= \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 1 \\ 1 & 0 \end{pmatrix}^{2n} \\ &&&= \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 1 \\ 1 & 0 \end{pmatrix}^{n} \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 1 \\ 1 & 0 \end{pmatrix}^{n} \\ &&&=\begin{pmatrix}u_{n}& u_{n-1} \\ u_{n-1} & u_{n-2} \end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}u_{n}& u_{n-1} \\ u_{n-1} & u_{n-2} \end{pmatrix}\\ &&&= \begin{pmatrix}u_{n}^2+u_{n-1}^2& u_{n-1}(u_n+u_{n-2}) \\ u_{n-1}(u_n+u_{n-2}) & u_{n-1}^2+u_{n-2}^2 \end{pmatrix} \end{align*} Therefore \(u_{2n} = u_{n}^2+u_{n-1}^2\) and \(u_{2n+1} = u_n(u_{n+1}+u_{n-1}) =(u_{n+1}-u_{n-1})(u_{n+1}-u_{n-1}) = u_{n+1}^2-u_{n-1}^2\)

1999 Paper 3 Q6
D: 1700.0 B: 1516.0

A closed curve is given by the equation $$ x^{2/n} + y^{2/n} = a^{2/n} \eqno(*) $$ where \(n\) is an odd integer and \(a\) is a positive constant. Find a parametrization \(x=x(t)\), \(y=y(t)\) which describes the curve anticlockwise as \(t\) ranges from \(0\) to \(2\pi\). Sketch the curve in the case \(n=3\), justifying the main features of your sketch. The area \(A\) enclosed by such a curve is given by the formula $$ A= {1\over 2} \int_0^{2\pi} \left[ x(t) {\d y(t)\over \d t} - y(t) {\d x(t)\over \d t} \right] \,\d t \,. $$ Use this result to find the area enclosed by (\(*\)) for \(n=3\).

1999 Paper 3 Q7
D: 1680.5 B: 1516.0

Let \(a\) be a non-zero real number and define a binary operation on the set of real numbers by $$ x*y = x+y+axy \,. $$ Show that the operation \(*\) is associative. Show that \((G,*)\) is a group, where \(G\) is the set of all real numbers except for one number which you should identify. Find a subgroup of \((G,*)\) which has exactly 2 elements.


Solution: Claim: \(*\) is associative. Proof: Then \(x*(y*z) = x*(y+z+ayz) = x + (y+z+ayz) + ax(y+z+ayz) = x + y + z + a(yz + xy + zx) + a^2xyz\) and \((x*y)*z = (x+y+axy)*z = (x+y+axy) + z+ a(x+y+axy)z = x + y + z + a(yz + xy + zx) + a^2xyz\) so \(x*(y*z) = (x*y)*z\) and we are done. Let \(G = \mathbb{R} \setminus \{-\frac1{a} \}\) In order to show that \((G, *)\) is a group we need to check:

  1. closure \(x*y = x + y + axy\) is a real number
  2. associativity we have already checked
  3. identity \(x*0 = x + 0 + 0 = x = 0*x\), so \(0\) is an identity
  4. inverses \(x*\left ( \frac{-x}{1+ax} \right ) = x - \frac{x}{1+ax} + ax \frac{-x}{1+ax} = \frac{x +ax^2 - x - ax^2}{1+ax} = 0\) so \(x\) has an identity, assuming \(1+ax \neq 0\) which is true for everything in our set
Consider the set \(\{0, \frac{-2}{a} \}\). Then \(\frac{-2}{a} * \frac{-2}{a} = \frac{-4}{a} + a \frac{4}{a^2} = 0\), so this is a group of order \(2\)

1999 Paper 3 Q8
D: 1700.0 B: 1516.0

The function \(y(x)\) is defined for \(x\ge0\) and satisfies the conditions \[ y=0 \mbox{ \ \ and \ \ } \frac{\d y}{\d x}=1 \mbox{ \ \ at \(x=0\)}. \] When \(x\) is in the range \(2(n-1)\pi< x <2n\pi\), where \(n\) is a positive integer, \(y(t)\) satisfies the differential equation $$ {\d^2y \over \d x^2} + n^2 y=0. $$ Both \(y\) and \(\displaystyle \frac{\d y}{\d x} \) are continuous at \(x=2n\pi\) for \(n=0,\; 1,\;2,\; \ldots\;\).

  1. Find \(y(x)\) for \(0\le x \le 2\pi\).
  2. Show that \(y(x) = \frac12 \sin 2x \) for \(2\pi\le x\le 4\pi\), and find \(y(x)\) for all \(x\ge0\).
  3. Show that $$ \int_0^\infty y^2 \,\d x = \pi \sum_{n=1}^\infty {1\over n^2} \,. $$

1999 Paper 3 Q9
D: 1700.0 B: 1470.3

The gravitational force between two point particles of masses \(m\) and \(m'\) is mutually attractive and has magnitude $$ {G m m' \over r^2}\,, $$ where \(G\) is a constant and \(r\) is the distance between them. A particle of unit mass lies on the axis of a thin uniform circular ring of radius \(r\) and mass \(m\), at a distance \(x\) from its centre. Explain why the net force on the particle is directed towards the centre of the ring and show that its magnitude is $$ {G m x \over (x^2 + r^2)^{3/2}} \,. $$ The particle now lies inside a thin hollow spherical shell of uniform density, mass \(M\) and radius \(a\), at a distance \(b\) from its centre. Show that the particle experiences no gravitational force due to the shell. %Explain without calculation the effect on this result if %the shell has finite thickness \(x\).

1999 Paper 3 Q10
D: 1700.0 B: 1484.0

A chain of mass \(m\) and length \(l\) is composed of \(n\) small smooth links. It is suspended vertically over a horizontal table with its end just touching the table, and released so that it collapses inelastically onto the table. Calculate the change in momentum of the \((k+1)\)th link from the bottom of the chain as it falls onto the table. Write down an expression for the total impulse sustained by the table in this way from the whole chain. By approximating the sum by an integral, show that this total impulse is approximately \[ {\textstyle \frac23} m \surd(2gl) \] when \(n\) is large.

1999 Paper 3 Q11
D: 1700.0 B: 1500.0

Calculate the moment of inertia of a uniform thin circular hoop of mass \(m\) and radius \(a\) about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the hoop through a point on its circumference. The hoop, which is rough, rolls with speed \(v\) on a rough horizontal table straight towards the edge and rolls over the edge without initially losing contact with the edge. Show that the hoop will lose contact with the edge when it has rotated about the edge of the table through an angle \(\theta\), where \[ \cos\theta = \frac 12 +\frac {v^2}{2ag}. \] %Give the corresponding result for a smooth hoop and table.

1999 Paper 3 Q12
D: 1700.0 B: 1500.0

In the game of endless cricket the scores \(X\) and \(Y\) of the two sides are such that \[ \P (X=j,\ Y=k)=\e^{-1}\frac{(j+k)\lambda^{j+k}}{j!k!},\] for some positive constant \(\lambda\), where \(j,k = 0\), \(1\), \(2\), \(\ldots\).

  1. Find \(\P(X+Y=n)\) for each \(n>0\).
  2. Show that \(2\lambda \e^{2\lambda-1}=1\).
  3. Show that \(2x \e^{2x-1}\) is an increasing function of \(x\) for \(x>0\) and deduce that the equation in (ii) has at most one solution and hence determine \(\lambda\).
  4. Calculate the expectation \(\E(2^{X+Y})\).


Solution:

  1. \begin{align*} && \mathbb{P}(X+Y = n) &= \sum_{i = 0}^n \mathbb{P}(X = i, Y = n-i) \\ &&&= \sum_{i = 0}^n e^{-1} \frac{n \lambda^n}{i! (n-i)!} \\ &&&=e^{-1} n \lambda^n \sum_{i = 0}^n\frac{1}{i! (n-i)!} \\ &&&=\frac{e^{-1} n}{n!} \lambda^n \sum_{i = 0}^n\frac{n!}{i! (n-i)!} \\ &&&= \frac{n\lambda^n}{e n!} 2^n \\ &&&= \frac{n (2 \lambda)^n}{e \cdot n!} \end{align*}
  2. \begin{align*} && 1 &= \sum_{n = 0}^{\infty} \mathbb{P}(X+Y =n ) \\ &&&= \sum_{n = 0}^{\infty}\frac{n (2 \lambda)^n}{e \cdot n!} \\ &&&= \sum_{n = 1}^\infty \frac{ (2 \lambda)^n}{e \cdot (n-1)!} \\ &&&= \frac{2 \lambda}{e}\sum_{n = 0}^\infty \frac{ (2 \lambda)^n}{n!} \\ &&&= \frac{2 \lambda}{e} e^{2\lambda} \\ &&&= 2 \lambda e^{2\lambda - 1} \end{align*} \\
  3. Consider \(f(x) = 2xe^{2x-1}\), then \begin{align*} && f'(x) &= 2e^{2x-1} + 2xe^{2x-1} \cdot 2 \\ &&&= e^{2x-1} (2 + 4x) > 0 \end{align*} Therefore \(f(x)\) is an increasing function of \(x\), which means \(f(x) = 1\) has at most one solution for \(\lambda\). Therefore \(\lambda = \frac12\)
  4. \begin{align*} \mathbb{E}(2^{X+Y}) &= \sum_{n = 0}^\infty \mathbb{P}(X+Y = n) 2^n \\ &= \sum_{n = 1}^\infty \frac{1}{e(n-1)!} 2^{n} \\ &= \frac{2}{e} \sum_{n=0}^\infty \frac{2^n}{n!} \\ &= \frac{2}{e} e^2 \\ &= 2e \end{align*}

1999 Paper 3 Q13
D: 1700.0 B: 1484.0

The cakes in our canteen each contain exactly four currants, each currant being randomly placed in the cake. I take a proportion \(X\) of a cake where \(X\) is a random variable with density function \[{\mathrm f}(x)=Ax\] for \(0\leqslant x\leqslant 1\) where \(A\) is a constant.

  1. What is the expected number of currants in my portion?
  2. If I find all four currants in my portion, what is the probability that I took more than half the cake?

1999 Paper 3 Q14
D: 1700.0 B: 1487.9

In the basic version of Horizons (H1) the player has a maximum of \(n\) turns, where \(n \ge 1\). At each turn, she has a probability \(p\) of success, where \(0 < p < 1\). If her first success is at the \(r\)th turn, where \(1 \le r \le n\), she collects \(r\) pounds and then withdraws from the game. Otherwise, her winnings are nil. Show that in H1, her expected winnings are $$ p^{-1}\left[1+nq^{n+1}-(n+1)q^n\right]\quad\hbox{pounds}, $$ where \(q=1-p\). The rules of H2 are the same as those of H1, except that \(n\) is randomly selected from a Poisson distribution with parameter \(\lambda\). If \(n=0\) her winnings are nil. Otherwise she plays H1 with the selected \(n\). Show that in H2, her expected winnings are $$ {1 \over p}{\left(1-{\e^{-{\lambda}p}}\right)} -{{\lambda}q}{\e^{-{\lambda}p}} \quad\hbox{pounds}. $$


Solution: \begin{align*} && \E[H1] &= \sum_{r=1}^n r \cdot \mathbb{P}(\text{first success on }r\text{th turn}) \\ &&&= \sum_{r=1}^n r \cdot q^{r-1}p \\ &&&= p\sum_{r=1}^n r q^{r-1} \\ \\ && \frac{1-x^{n+1}}{1-x} &= \sum_{r=0}^n x^r \\ \Rightarrow && \sum_{r=1}^n r x^{r-1} &= \frac{-(n+1)x^n(1-x) +(1-x^{n+1})}{(1-x)^2} \\ &&&= \frac{1-(n+1)x^n+nx^{n+1}}{(1-x)^2} \\ \\ && \E[H1] &= p\sum_{r=1}^n r q^{r-1} \\ &&&= p\frac{1-(n+1)q^n+nq^{n+1}}{(1-q)^2} \\ &&&= p^{-1}(1-(n+1)q^{n} + nq^{n+1}) \end{align*} Not that if \(n =0\) , the formula for \(\E[H1] = 0\). So \begin{align*} && \E[H2] &= \E[\E[H1|n=N]] \\ &&&= p^{-1}\E \left [ 1-(N+1)q^{N} + Nq^{N+1}\right] \\ &&&= p^{-1}\E \left [ 1-((1-q)N+1)q^{N} \right] \\ &&&= p^{-1}\left (1 - p\E[Nq^N] - G_{Po(\lambda)}(q) \right) \\ &&&= p^{-1}(1-e^{-\lambda(1-q)}) - \E[Nq^N] \\ &&&= p^{-1}(1-e^{-\lambda(1-q)}) - q\lambda e^{-\lambda(1-q)} \\ &&&= p^{-1}(1-e^{-\lambda p}) - q\lambda e^{-\lambda p} \end{align*}

1998 Paper 1 Q1
D: 1516.0 B: 1500.0

How many integers between \(10\,000\) and \(100\,000\) (inclusive) contain exactly two different digits? (\(23\,332\) contains exactly two different digits but neither of \(33\,333\) and \(12\,331\) does.)


Solution: First consider \(5\) digit numbers containing at most \(2\) non-zero digits. Then there are \(\binom{9}{2}\) ways to choose the two digits, and \(2^{5}-2\) different ways to arrange them, removing the ones which are all the same. Considering all the pairs including zero, there are \(9\) ways to choose the non-zero (first) digit. There are \(2^4-1\) remaining digits where not all the numbers are the same. Finally we must not forget \(100\,000\). Therefore there are \(\binom{9}{2}(2^5-2) +9\cdot(2^4-1) + 1 = 1216\)

1998 Paper 1 Q2
D: 1500.0 B: 1516.0

Show, by means of a suitable change of variable, or otherwise, that \[ \int_{0}^{\infty}\mathrm{f}((x^{2}+1)^{1/2}+x)\,{\mathrm d}x =\frac{1}{2} \int_{1}^{\infty}(1+t^{-2})\mathrm{f}(t)\,{\mathrm d}t. \] Hence, or otherwise, show that \[ \int_{0}^{\infty}((x^{2}+1)^{1/2}+x)^{-3}\,{\mathrm d}x =\frac{3}{8}. \]


Solution: \begin{align*} && t &= (x^2+1)^{1/2}+x \\ && 1&=t^2-2tx \\ && x &= \frac{t^2-1}{2t} = \frac12 \left (t - \frac1t\right) \\ && \frac{\d x}{\d t} &= \frac12 \left ( 1+ \frac{1}{t^2} \right) \\ \Rightarrow && \int_0^{\infty} f((x^2+1)^{1/2}+x) \d x &= \int_{t=1}^{t = \infty}f(t) \frac12(1 + t^{-2}) \d t\\ &&&= \frac12 \int_1^{\infty}(1+t^{-2})f(t) \d t \end{align*} \begin{align*} \int_{0}^{\infty}((x^{2}+1)^{1/2}+x)^{-3}\,{\mathrm d}x &= \frac12 \int_1^{\infty}(1+t^{-2})t^{-3} \d t \\ &= \frac12 \left [\frac{-1}{2}t^{-2}-\frac{1}{4}t^{-4} \right]_{1}^{\infty} \\ &= \frac12 \left ( \frac12 + \frac14\right) = \frac38 \end{align*}

1998 Paper 1 Q3
D: 1500.0 B: 1500.0

Which of the following statements are true and which are false? Justify your answers.

  1. \(a^{\ln b}=b^{\ln a}\) for all \(a,b>0\).
  2. \(\cos(\sin\theta)=\sin(\cos\theta)\) for all real \(\theta\).
  3. There exists a polynomial \(\mathrm{P}\) such that \(|\mathrm{P}(\theta)-\cos\theta|\leqslant 10^{-6}\) for all real \(\theta\).
  4. \(x^{4}+3+x^{-4}\geqslant 5\) for all \(x>0\).


Solution:

  1. True. \begin{align*} && \ln a \cdot \ln b &= \ln b \cdot \ln a \\ \Leftrightarrow && \exp ( \ln a \cdot \ln b) &= \exp ( \ln b \cdot \ln a) \\ \Leftrightarrow && \exp ( \ln a )^{\ln b} &= \exp ( \ln b )^{\ln a} \\ \Leftrightarrow && a^{\ln b} &= b^{\ln a} \\ \end{align*}
  2. False. Consider \(\theta = 0\). We'd need \(\cos 0 = 1 = \sin 1\), but \(0 < 1 < \frac{\pi}{2}\) so \(\sin 1 \neq 1\)
  3. False. If the polynomial has positive degree, then as \(n \to \infty\), \(\P(x) \to \pm \infty\), in particular it must be well outside the interval \([-1,1]\). Therefore it can't be within \(10^{-6}\) of \(\cos \theta\) which is confined to that interval. The only polynomial which is restricted to that range are constants, but then \(|\cos 0 - c| \leq 10^{-6}\) and \(|\cos \pi - c| \leq 10^{-6}\) \(2 = |1-(-1)| \leq |1-c| + |-1-c| \leq 2\cdot 10^{-6}\) contradiction.
  4. True. \begin{align*} && (x^2-x^{-2})^2 &\geq 0 \\ \Leftrightarrow && x^4-2+x^{-4} &\geq0 \\ \Leftrightarrow && x^4+3+x^{-4} &\geq 5 \\ \end{align*}

1998 Paper 1 Q4
D: 1500.0 B: 1533.8

Prove that the rectangle of greatest perimeter which can be inscribed in a given circle is a square. The result changes if, instead of maximising the sum of lengths of sides of the rectangle, we seek to maximise the sum of \(n\)th powers of the lengths of those sides for \(n\geqslant 2\). What happens if \(n=2\)? What happens if \(n=3\)? Justify your answers.


Solution: We can always rotate the circle so that sides are parallel to the \(x\) and \(y\) axes. Therefore if one corner is \((a,b)\) the other coordinates are \((-a,b), (a,-b), (-a,-b)\) and the perimeter will be \(4(a+b)\). Therefore we wish to maximise \(4(a+b)\) subject to \(a^2+b^2 = \text{some constant}\). Notice that \(\frac{a+b}{2} \leq \sqrt{\frac{a^2+b^2}{2}}\) with equality when \(a = b\), therefore the maximum is a square. If \(n = 2\) then we are looking at \(2((2a)^2+(2b)^2) = 8(a^2+b^2)\) which is constant for all rectangles. If \(n=3\) we are maximising \(16(a^3+b^3) = 16(a^3+(c^2-a^2)^{3/2})\) which is maximised when \(a = 0, c\)

1998 Paper 1 Q5
D: 1484.0 B: 1529.9

  1. In the Argand diagram, the points \(Q\) and \(A\) represent the complex numbers \(4+6i\) and \(10+2i\). If \(A\), \(B\), \(C\), \(D\), \(E\), \(F\) are the vertices, taken in clockwise order, of a regular hexagon (regular six-sided polygon) with centre \(Q\), find the complex number which represents \(B\).
  2. Let \(a\), \(b\) and \(c\) be real numbers. Find a condition of the form \(Aa+Bb+Cc=0\), where \(A\), \(B\) and \(C\) are integers, which ensures that \[\frac{a}{1+i}+\frac{b}{1+2i}+\frac{c}{1+3i}\] is real.


Solution:

  1. TikZ diagram
    We are looking for \((10+2i) - (4+6i) = 6 - 4i\) rotated by \(\frac{\pi}{3}\) and then added to \(4+6i\), which is \begin{align*} (6-4i)(\cos \frac{\pi}{3} + i \sin \frac{\pi}{3}) &= (6-4i)\left(\tfrac12 +\tfrac{\sqrt{3}}2i\right) \\ &= 3+2\sqrt{3} + (3\sqrt{3}-2)i \end{align*}
  2. \begin{align*} &&& \frac{a}{1+i}+\frac{b}{1+2i}+\frac{c}{1+3i} &\in \mathbb{R} \\ \Longleftrightarrow && \frac{a}{1+i}+\frac{b}{1+2i}+\frac{c}{1+3i} &= \frac{a}{1-i}+\frac{b}{1-2i}+\frac{c}{1-3i} \\ && 0 &= a\left ( \frac{1}{1+i} - \frac{1}{1-i} \right)+ b\left ( \frac{1}{1+2i} - \frac{1}{1-2i} \right)+ c\left ( \frac{1}{1+3i} - \frac{1}{1-3i} \right) \\ &&&= a\left ( \frac{(1-i)-(1+i)}{1^2+1^2} \right) + b\left ( \frac{(1-2i)-(1+2i)}{1^2+2^2} \right) + c\left ( \frac{(1-3i)-(1+3i)}{1^2+3^2} \right) \\ &&&= -\frac{2i}{2}a-\frac{4i}{5}b-\frac{-6i}{10}c \\ \Longleftrightarrow && 0 &= a+\tfrac45b+\tfrac35c \end{align*}