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1992 Paper 2 Q1
D: 1600.0 B: 1500.0

Find the limit, as \(n\rightarrow\infty,\) of each of the following. You should explain your reasoning briefly. \begin{alignat*}{4} \mathbf{(i)\ \ } & \dfrac{n}{n+1}, & \qquad & \mathbf{(ii)\ \ } & \dfrac{5n+1}{n^{2}-3n+4}, & \qquad & \mathbf{(iii)\ \ } & \dfrac{\sin n}{n},\\ \\ \mathbf{(iv)\ \ } & \dfrac{\sin(1/n)}{(1/n)}, & & \mathbf{(v)}\ \ & (\arctan n)^{-1}, & & \mathbf{(vi)\ \ } & \dfrac{\sqrt{n+1}-\sqrt{n}}{\sqrt{n+2}-\sqrt{n}}. \end{alignat*}


Solution:

  1. \begin{align*} \lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{n}{n+1} &= \lim_{n \to \infty} \left (1 - \frac{1}{n+1} \right ) \\ &\underbrace{=}_{\text{sum of limits}} \lim_{n \to \infty} 1 - \lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{1}{n+1}\\ &= 1 \end{align*}
  2. \begin{align*} \lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{5n+1}{n^2-3n+4} &= \lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{5/n + 1/n^2}{1-3/n+ 4/n^2} \\ &\underbrace{=}_{\text{ratio of limits}} \frac{\displaystyle \lim_{n \to \infty}(5/n + 1/n^2)}{\displaystyle \lim_{n \to \infty}(1-3/n+ 4/n^2)} \\ &= \frac{0}{1} = 0 \end{align*}
  3. \begin{align*} && \lvert \frac{\sin n}{n} \rvert &\leq \frac{1}{n} \quad \quad (n \geq 1) \\ \Rightarrow && \lim_{n \to \infty} \lvert \frac{\sin n}{n} \rvert &\leq \lim_{n \to \infty}\frac{1}{n} \\ &&&= 0\\ \Rightarrow && \lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{\sin n}{n} &= 0 \end{align*}
  4. First note that \(\displaystyle \lim_{x \to 0} \frac{\sin x}{x} \to 1\), then \(\frac1n\) is a sequence converging to zero, therefore \(\frac{\sin 1/n}{1/n}\) also must tend to \(1\).
  5. Note that \(\lim_{x \to \infty} \tan^{-1} x = \frac{\pi}{2}\) and since \(n\) is a sequence tending to infinity we must have \(\lim_{n \to \infty} \tan^{-1} n = \frac{\pi}{2}\)
  6. \begin{align*} \lim_{n \to \infty} \dfrac{\sqrt{n+1}-\sqrt{n}}{\sqrt{n+2}-\sqrt{n}} &= \lim_{n \to \infty} \dfrac{\frac{1}{\sqrt{n+1}+\sqrt{n}}}{\frac{2}{\sqrt{n+2}+\sqrt{n}}} \\ &= \frac12 \lim_{n \to \infty} \dfrac{\sqrt{n+2}+\sqrt{n}}{\sqrt{n+1}+\sqrt{n}}\\ &= \frac12 \lim_{n \to \infty} \dfrac{\sqrt{1+2/n}+\sqrt{1}}{\sqrt{1+1/n}+\sqrt{1}}\\ &= \frac12 \end{align*}

1992 Paper 2 Q2
D: 1600.0 B: 1516.0

Suppose that \(y\) satisfies the differential equation \[ y=x\frac{\mathrm{d}y}{\mathrm{d}x}-\cosh\left(\frac{\mathrm{d}y}{\mathrm{d}x}\right).\tag{*} \] By differentiating both sides of \((*)\) with respect to \(x\), show that either \[ \frac{\mathrm{d}^{2}y}{\mathrm{d}x^{2}}=0\qquad\mbox{ or }\qquad x-\sinh\left(\frac{\mathrm{d}y}{\mathrm{d}x}\right)=0. \] Find the general solutions of each of these two equations. Determine the solutions of \((*)\).


Solution: \begin{align*} && y & =x\frac{\mathrm{d}y}{\mathrm{d}x}-\cosh\left(\frac{\mathrm{d}y}{\mathrm{d}x}\right) \\ \Rightarrow && \frac{\d y}{\d x} &= \frac{\d y}{\d x} + x\frac{\d ^2 y}{\d x^2} - \sinh \left ( \frac{\d y}{\d x} \right) \frac{\d^2 y}{\d x^2} \\ \Rightarrow && 0 &= \frac{\d^2 y}{\d x^2} \left ( x - \sinh \left ( \frac{\d y}{\d x}\right)\right) \end{align*} Therefore \(\frac{\d^2y}{\d x^2} = 0\) or \( x - \sinh \left ( \frac{\d y}{\d x}\right) = 0\) as required. \begin{align*} && \frac{\d ^2 y}{\d x^2} &= 0 \\ \Rightarrow && y &= ax + b \\ \\ && 0 &= x - \sinh \left ( \frac{\d y}{\d x}\right) \\ \Rightarrow && \frac{\d y}{\d x} &= \sinh^{-1} (x) \\ \Rightarrow && y &= x \sinh^{-1} x - \sqrt{x^2+1} + C \end{align*} Since it is necessary the solution satisfies one of those equations, we just need to check if either of these types of solutions work for our differential equation, ie \begin{align*} && ax + b &\stackrel{?}{=} ax - \cosh(a) \\ \Rightarrow && b &= -\cosh(a) \\ \Rightarrow && y &= ax -\cosh(a) \\ \\ && x \sinh^{-1} x - \sqrt{x^2+1} + C &\stackrel{?}{=} x\sinh^{-1} x - \cosh ( \sinh^{-1} x) \\ &&&= \sinh^{-1} x -\sqrt{x^2+1} \\ \Rightarrow && C &= 0 \end{align*} Therefore the general solutions are, \(y = ax - \cosh(a)\) and \(y = x \sinh^{-1} x - \sqrt{x^2+1}\)

1992 Paper 2 Q3
D: 1600.0 B: 1485.7

In the figure, the large circle with centre \(O\) has radius \(4\) and the small circle with centre \(P\) has radius \(1\). The small circle rolls around the inside of the larger one. When \(P\) was on the line \(OA\) (before the small circle began to roll), the point \(B\) was in contact with the point \(A\) on the large circle.

TikZ diagram
Sketch the curve \(C\) traced by \(B\) as the circle rolls. Show that if we take \(O\) to be the origin of cartesian coordinates and the line \(OA\) to be the \(x\)-axis (so that \(A\) is the point \((4,0)\)) then \(B\) is the point \[ (3\cos\phi+\cos3\phi,3\sin\phi-\sin3\phi). \] It is given that the area of the region enclosed by the curve \(C\) is \[ \int_{0}^{2\pi}x\frac{\mathrm{d}y}{\mathrm{d}\phi}\,\mathrm{d}\phi, \] where \(B\) is the point \((x,y).\) Calculate this area.

1992 Paper 2 Q4
D: 1600.0 B: 1500.0

\(\lozenge\) is an operation which take polynomials in \(x\) to polynomials in \(x\); that is, given a polynomial \(\mathrm{h}(x)\) there is another polynomial called \(\lozenge\mathrm{h}(x)\). It is given that, if \(\mathrm{f}(x)\) and \(\mathrm{g}(x)\) are any two polynomials in \(x\), the following are always true:

  1. \(\lozenge(\mathrm{f}(x)\mathrm{g}(x))=\mathrm{g}(x)\lozenge\mathrm{f}(x)+\mathrm{f}(x)\lozenge\mathrm{g}(x),\)
  2. \(\lozenge(\mathrm{f}(x)+\mathrm{g}(x))=\lozenge\mathrm{f}(x)+\lozenge\mathrm{g}(x),\)
  3. \(\lozenge x=1\)
  4. if \(\lambda\) is a constant then \(\lozenge(\lambda\mathrm{f}(x))=\lambda\lozenge\mathrm{f}(x).\)
Show that, if \(\mathrm{f}(x)\) is a constant (i.e., a polynomial of degree zero), then \(\lozenge\mathrm{f}(x)=0.\) Calculate \(\lozenge x^{2}\) and \(\lozenge x^{3}.\) Prove that \(\lozenge\mathrm{h}(x)=\dfrac{\mathrm{d}}{\mathrm{d}x}(\mathrm{h}(x))\) for any polynomial \(\mathrm{h}(x)\).


Solution: Claim: If \(f(x) = c\) then \(\lozenge f(x) = 0\) Proof: Consider \(g(x) = x\) then \begin{align*} (1) && \lozenge(f(x)g(x)) &= g(x) \lozenge f(x) + f(x) \lozenge g(x) \\ \Rightarrow && \lozenge(c x) &= x \lozenge f(x) + c \lozenge x \\ (4) && \lozenge(c x) &= c \lozenge x \\ \Rightarrow && 0 &= x \lozenge f(x) \\ \Rightarrow && \lozenge f(x) &= 0 \end{align*} \begin{align*} (1) && \lozenge(x^2) &= x \lozenge x + x \lozenge x \\ (3) &&&= 2 x \cdot 1 \\ &&&= 2x \\ \\ (1) && \lozenge (x^3) &= x^2 \lozenge x + x \lozenge (x^2) \\ &&&= x^2 \cdot \underbrace{1}_{(3)} + x \cdot\underbrace{ 2x}_{\text{previous part}} \\ &&&= 3x^2 \end{align*} Claim: \(\lozenge h(x) = \frac{\d }{\d x} ( h(x))\) for any polynomial \(h\). Proof: (By (strong) induction on the degree of \(h\)). Base case: True, we proved this in the first part of the question. Inductive step: Assume true for all polynomials of degree less than or equal to \(k\). Then consider \(n = k+1\). We can write \(h(x) = ax^{k+1} + h_k(x)\) where \(h_k(x)\) is a polynomial of degree less than or equal to \(k\). Then notice: \begin{align*} && \lozenge (h(x)) &= \lozenge (ax^{k+1} + h_k(x)) \\ (2) &&&= \lozenge (ax^{k+1})+ \lozenge (h_k(x)) \\ &&&=\underbrace{a\lozenge (x^{k+1})}_{(4)}+ \underbrace{\frac{\d}{\d x} (h_k(x))}_{\text{inductive hypothesis}}\\ &&&= a \underbrace{\left (x \lozenge x^k + x^k \lozenge x \right)}_{(1)} + \frac{\d}{\d x} (h_k(x)) \\ &&&= a \left ( x \cdot \underbrace{k x^{k-1}}_{\text{inductive hyp.}} + x^k \cdot \underbrace{1}_{(3)} \right) + \frac{\d}{\d x} (h_k(x)) \\ &&&= (k+1)a x^k + \frac{\d}{\d x} (h_k(x)) \\ &&&= \frac{\d }{\d x} \left ( ax^{k+1} + h_k(x) \right) \\ &&&= \frac{\d }{\d x} (h(x)) \end{align*} Therefore since our statement is true for \(n=0\) and if it is true for \(n=k\) it is true for \(n=k+1\) by the principle of mathematical induction it is true for all \(n \geq 0\)

1992 Paper 2 Q5
D: 1577.1 B: 1470.1

Explain what is meant by the order of an element \(g\) of a group \(G\). The set \(S\) consists of all \(2\times2\) matrices whose determinant is \(1\). Find the inverse of the element \(\mathbf{A}\) of \(S\), where \[ \mathbf{A}=\begin{pmatrix}w & x\\ y & z \end{pmatrix}. \] Show that \(S\) is a group under matrix multiplication (you may assume that matrix multiplication is associative). For which elements \(\mathbf{A}\) is \(\mathbf{A}^{-1}=\mathbf{A}\)? Which element or elements have order 2? Show that the element \(\mathbf{A}\) of \(S\) has order 3 if, and only if, \(w+z+1=0.\) Write down one such element.


Solution: The order of an element \(g\) is the smallest positive number \(k\) such that \(g^k = e\). $\mathbf{A}^{-1} = \begin{pmatrix}z & -x\\ -y & w \end{pmatrix}$. Claim, \(S\) is a group. \begin{enumerate} \item (Closure) The product of two \(2\times2\) matrices is always a \(2\times 2\) matrix so we only need to check the determinant. Suppose \(\det(\mathbf{A}) = \det (\mathbf{B}) = 1\), then \(\det(AB) = \det(A)\det(B) = 1\), so our operation is closed \item (Associativity) Inherited from matrix multiplication \item (Identity) $\mathbf{I} =\begin{pmatrix}1 & 0\\ 1 & 1 \end{pmatrix}\( has determinant \)1$. \item (Inverses) The inverse is always fine since the matrix of cofactors always contains integers and the determinant is one, so we never end up with anything which isn't an integer. \end{itemize} If \(\mathbf{A}^-1 = \mathbf{A}\) then assuming $\mathbf{A} = \begin{pmatrix}a & b\\ c & d \end{pmatrix}\( then \)\mathbf{A}^{-1} = \begin{pmatrix}d & - b\\ -c & a \end{pmatrix}\( so we must have \)a=d, -b=b, -c=c\(, so \)b = c = 0\( and \)a = d\(. For the determinant to be \)1\( we must have \)ad = a^2 = 1\(, ie \)a = \pm 1\(. Therefore we must have \)\mathbf{A} = \begin{pmatrix}1 & 0\\ 0 & 1 \end{pmatrix}\( or \)\mathbf{A} = \begin{pmatrix}-1 & 0\\ 0 & -1 \end{pmatrix}$. For an element to have order \(2\) then \(\mathbf{A}^2 = \mathbf{I}\) ie, \(\mathbf{A} = \mathbf{A}^{-1}\) and \(\mathbf{A} \neq \mathbf{I}\) therefore the only element of order \(2\) is $\begin{pmatrix}-1 & 0\\ 0 & -1 \end{pmatrix}$. For an element to have order \(3\) we must have \(\mathbf{A}^2 = \mathbf{A}^{-1}\), ie $\begin{pmatrix}w^2 + xy & x(w+z)\\ y(w+z) & z^2 + xy \end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix}z & -x\\ -y & w \end{pmatrix}$. Therefore \(w^2 + xy = z, x(w+z) = -x, y(w+z) = -y, z^2+xy = w\). The second and third equations are satisfied iff \(w+z+1 = 0\) or \(x = 0\) and \(y = 0\), but if \(x = 0\) and \(y = 0\) then we aren't order \(3\), so we just need to check this is sufficient for the first and last equations. Since \(\det(\mathbf{A}) = 1\) we have \(wz =xy +1\), so the first and last equations are equivalent to \(w^2 + wz - 1 = z\) and \(x^2 + wz-1 = w\) which are equivalent to \(w(w+z) = z+1\) or \(w + z+ 1 = 0\) as required

1992 Paper 2 Q6
D: 1600.0 B: 1485.5

Sketch the graphs of \(y=\sec x\) and \(y=\ln(2\sec x)\) for \(0\leqslant x\leqslant\frac{1}{2}\pi\). Show graphically that the equation \[ kx=\ln(2\sec x) \] has no solution with \(0\leqslant x<\frac{1}{2}\pi\) if \(k\) is a small positive number but two solutions if \(k\) is large. Explain why there is a number \(k_{0}\) such that \[ k_{0}x=\ln(2\sec x) \] has exactly one solution with \(0\leqslant x<\frac{1}{2}\pi\). Let \(x_{0}\) be this solution, so that \(0\leqslant x_{0}<\frac{1}{2}\pi\) and \(k_{0}x_{0}=\ln(2\sec x_0)\). Show that \[ x_{0}=\cot x_{0}\ln(2\sec x_{0}). \] Use any appropriate method to find \(x_{0}\) correct to two decimal places. Hence find an approximate value for \(k_{0}\).


Solution:

TikZ diagram
The red line is \(y = \ln (2 \sec x)\), blue is \(y = \sec x\). We can see that if the gradient is too small it never touches the red line. If it is large it will cross the red line twice in that interval. For some value it will be perfectly tangent. Since the line is tangent we must have \begin{align*} && y &= \ln (2 \sec x) \\ \Rightarrow && \frac{\d y}{ \d x} &= \frac{1}{2 \sec x} \cdot 2\sec x \tan x \\ &&&= \tan x \\ \Rightarrow && k_0 &=\tan x_0 \\ \Rightarrow && k_0 x_0 &= \ln(2 \sec x_0 ) \\ \Rightarrow && x_0 &= \cot x_0 \ln (2 \sec x_0) \end{align*} If \(f(x) =x- \cot x \ln (2 \sec x)\), then \(f'(x) =1 - 1+\ln(2\sec x) \cosec^2x = \ln(2 \sec x)\cosec^2x \) so we should look at \begin{align*} x_{n+1} &= x_n - \frac{f(x_n)}{f'(x_n)} \\ &= x_n - \frac{x_n- \cot x_n \ln (2 \sec x_n)}{\ln(2 \sec x_n)\cosec^2x_n } \\ &= x_n \left (1 - \frac{\sin^2 x_n}{\ln (2 \sec x_n)}\right) +\sin x_n \cos x_n \end{align*} \begin{array}{c|c} n & x_n \\ \hline 1 & \frac{\pi}{4} \\ 2 & 0.907701\ldots \\ 3 & 0.91439340\ldots \\ 4 & 0.914403867\ldots \\ 5 & 0.91440386\ldots \\ 6 & 0.91440386\ldots \\ \end{array} The sign change test shows that \(x_0 \approx 0.91\) and \(k_0 = \tan(x_0) \approx 1.30\)

1992 Paper 2 Q7
D: 1600.0 B: 1500.0

The cubic equation \[ x^{3}-px^{2}+qx-r=0 \] has roots \(a,b\) and \(c\). Express \(p,q\) and \(r\) in terms of \(a,b\) and \(c\).

  1. If \(p=0\) and two of the roots are equal to each other, show that \[ 4q^{3}+27r^{2}=0. \]
  2. Show that, if two of the roots of the original equation are equal to each other, then \[ 4\left(q-\frac{p^{2}}{3}\right)^{3}+27\left(\frac{2p^{3}}{27}-\frac{pq}{3}+r\right)^{2}=0. \]


Solution: \(p = a+b+c, q = ab+bc+ca, r = abc\)

  1. Suppose two roots are equal to each other, this means that one of the roots is also a root of the derivative. ie \begin{align*} && 0 &= x^3+qx - r \\ && 0 &= 3x^2+q \end{align*} have a common root, but this root must satisfy \(x^2 = -\frac{q}{3}\). Then \begin{align*} &&0 &= x^3 + qx - r \\ &&&= x^3 -3x^3 - r \\ &&&= -2x^3 -r \\ \Rightarrow && r^2 &= 4x^6 \\ &&&= 4 \left ( -\frac{q}{3}\right)^3 \\ \Rightarrow && 0 &= 27r^2+4q^3 \end{align*}
  2. Consider \(x = z + \frac{p}{3}\), then the equation is: \begin{align*} x^{3}-px^{2}+qx-r &= (z + \frac{p}{3})^3 - p(z + \frac{p}{3})^2 + q(z + \frac{p}{3}) - r \\ &= z^3 + pz^2 + \frac{p^2}{3}z + \frac{p^3}{27} - \\ &\quad -pz^2-\frac{2p^2}{3}z-\frac{p^3}{9} + \\ &\quad\quad qz + \frac{pq}{3} - r \\ &= z^3+\left (\frac{p^2}{3}-\frac{2p^2}{3}+q \right)z + \left (\frac{p^3}{27}-\frac{p^3}{9}+\frac{pq}{3}-r \right) \\ &= z^3+\left (-\frac{p^2}{3}+q \right)z + \left (-\frac{2p^3}{27}+\frac{pq}{3}-r \right) \\ \end{align*} Since this equation must also have repeated roots we must have: \begin{align*} 4\left (-\frac{p^2}{3}+q \right)^3 + 27 \left (-\frac{2p^3}{27}+\frac{pq}{3}-r \right)^2 = 0 \end{align*} which is exactly our desired result

1992 Paper 2 Q8
D: 1600.0 B: 1484.0

Calculate the following integrals

  1. \({\displaystyle \int\frac{x}{(x-1)(x^{2}-1)}\,\mathrm{d}x}\);
  2. \({\displaystyle \int\frac{1}{3\cos x+4\sin x}\,\mathrm{d}x}\);
  3. \({\displaystyle \int\frac{1}{\sinh x}\,\mathrm{d}x}.\)


Solution:

  1. \begin{align*} \int\frac{x}{(x-1)(x^{2}-1)}\,\mathrm{d}x &= \int \frac{x}{(x-1)^2 (x+1)} \d x \\ &= \int \frac{1}{2(x-1)^2} + \frac{1}{4(x-1)} - \frac{1}{4(x+1)} \d x \\ &= -\frac12 (x-1)^{-1} + \frac14 \ln(x-1) - \frac14 \ln (x+1) + C \end{align*}
  2. \begin{align*} \int \frac{1}{3 \cos x + 4 \sin x } \d x &= \int \frac{1}{5 \cos (x - \cos^{-1}(3/5))} \d x \\ &= \frac15 \int \sec (x - \cos^{-1}(3/5)) \d x\\ &= \frac15 \left (\ln | \sec (x - \cos^{-1}(3/5)) + \tan (x - \cos^{-1}(3/5)) | \right) + C \end{align*}
  3. \begin{align*} \int \frac{1}{\sinh x} \d x &= \int \frac{2}{e^x - e^{-x}} \\ &= \int \frac{2e^x}{e^{2x}-1} \d x \\ &=\int \frac{e^x}{e^x-1} - \frac{e^x}{e^x+1} \d x \\ &= \ln (e^x - 1) + \ln (e^x+1) + C \end{align*}

1992 Paper 2 Q9
D: 1600.0 B: 1515.9

Let \(\mathbf{a},\mathbf{b}\) and \(\mathbf{c}\) be the position vectors of points \(A,B\) and \(C\) in three-dimensional space. Suppose that \(A,B,C\) and the origin \(O\) are not all in the same plane. Describe the locus of the point whose position vector \(\mathbf{r}\) is given by \[ \mathbf{r}=(1-\lambda-\mu)\mathbf{a}+\lambda\mathbf{b}+\mu\mathbf{c}, \] where \(\lambda\) and \(\mu\) are scalar parameters. By writing this equation in the form \(\mathbf{r}\cdot\mathbf{n}=p\) for a suitable vector \(\mathbf{n}\) and scalar \(p\), show that \[ -(\lambda+\mu)\mathbf{a}\cdot(\mathbf{b}\times\mathbf{c})+\lambda\mathbf{b}\cdot(\mathbf{c}\times\mathbf{a})+\mu\mathbf{c}\cdot(\mathbf{a}\times\mathbf{b})=0 \] for all scalars \(\lambda,\mu.\) Deduce that \[ \mathbf{a}\cdot(\mathbf{b}\times\mathbf{c})=\mathbf{b}\cdot(\mathbf{c}\times\mathbf{a})=\mathbf{c}\cdot(\mathbf{a}\times\mathbf{b}). \] Say briefly what happens if \(A,B,C\) and \(O\) are all in the same plane.


Solution: \(\mathbf{r}=(1-\lambda-\mu)\mathbf{a}+\lambda\mathbf{b}+\mu\mathbf{c} = \mathbf{a} + \lambda(\mathbf{b}-\mathbf{a})+\mu(\mathbf{c}-\mathbf{a})\) Therefore it is the plane through \(\mathbf{a}\) with direction vectors \(\mathbf{b}-\mathbf{a}\) and \(\mathbf{c}-\mathbf{a}\), ie it is the plane through \(\mathbf{a},\mathbf{b},\mathbf{c}\). The normal to this plane will be \((\mathbf{b}-\mathbf{a} ) \times (\mathbf{c}-\mathbf{a}) = \mathbf{b}\times \mathbf{c}-\mathbf{a} \times \mathbf{c}-\mathbf{b}\times \mathbf{a}\), so we must have: \begin{align*} && \mathbf{r} \cdot \left (\mathbf{b}\times \mathbf{c}-\mathbf{a} \times \mathbf{c}-\mathbf{b}\times \mathbf{a} \right) &= \mathbf{a} \cdot \left (\mathbf{b}\times \mathbf{c}-\mathbf{a} \times \mathbf{c}-\mathbf{b}\times \mathbf{a} \right) \\ &&&= \mathbf{a} \cdot (\mathbf{b}\times \mathbf{c}) \end{align*} Therefore, \begin{align*} && \mathbf{a} \cdot (\mathbf{b}\times \mathbf{c}) &= \mathbf{r} \cdot \left (\mathbf{b}\times \mathbf{c}-\mathbf{a} \times \mathbf{c}-\mathbf{b}\times \mathbf{a} \right) \\ &&&= \left ( (1-\lambda-\mu)\mathbf{a}+\lambda\mathbf{b}+\mu\mathbf{c} \right)\cdot \left (\mathbf{b}\times \mathbf{c}-\mathbf{a} \times \mathbf{c}-\mathbf{b}\times \mathbf{a} \right) \\ &&&= (1-\lambda- \mu) \mathbf{a}\cdot (\mathbf{b} \times \mathbf{c})-\lambda \mathbf{b}\cdot(\mathbf{a} \times \mathbf{c})-\mu \mathbf{c}\cdot(\mathbf{b} \times \mathbf{a}) \\ \Rightarrow && 0 &= (-\lambda- \mu) \mathbf{a}\cdot (\mathbf{b} \times \mathbf{c})-\lambda \mathbf{b}\cdot(\mathbf{a} \times \mathbf{c})-\mu \mathbf{c}\cdot(\mathbf{b} \times \mathbf{a}) \\ &&&= -(\lambda+ \mu) \mathbf{a}\cdot (\mathbf{b} \times \mathbf{c})+\lambda \mathbf{b}\cdot(\mathbf{c} \times \mathbf{a})+\mu \mathbf{c}\cdot(\mathbf{a} \times \mathbf{b}) \\ \end{align*} The result follows from setting \(\mu = 0, \lambda = 1\) and \(\mu = 1, \lambda = 0\). If they all lie in the same plane then the plane described is through the origin, and those values are all the same, but equal to \(0\).

1992 Paper 2 Q10
D: 1600.0 B: 1529.8

Let \(\alpha\) be a fixed angle, \(0 < \alpha \leqslant\frac{1}{2}\pi.\) In each of the following cases, sketch the locus of \(z\) in the Argand diagram (the complex plane):

  1. \({\displaystyle \arg\left(\frac{z-1}{z}\right)=\alpha,}\)
  2. \({\displaystyle \arg\left(\frac{z-1}{z}\right)=\alpha-\pi,}\)
  3. \(|\dfrac{z-1}{z}|=1.\)
Let \(z_{1},z_{2},z_{3}\) and \(z_{4}\) be four points lying (in that order) on a circle in the Argand diagram. If \[ w=\frac{(z_{1}-z_{2})(z_{3}-z_{4})}{(z_{4}-z_{1})(z_{2}-z_{3})} \] show, by considering \(\arg w\), that \(w\) is real.


Solution:

TikZ diagram
TikZ diagram
TikZ diagram
TikZ diagram
\begin{align*} \arg w &= \arg \frac{(z_{1}-z_{2})(z_{3}-z_{4})}{(z_{4}-z_{1})(z_{2}-z_{3})} \\ &= \arg \frac{(z_{1}-z_{2})(z_{3}-z_{4})}{(z_{2}-z_{3})(z_{4}-z_{1})} \\ &= \arg \frac{(z_{1}-z_{2})}{(z_{3}-z_{2})}\frac{(z_{3}-z_{4})}{(z_{1}-z_{4})} \\ &= \arg \frac{(z_{1}-z_{2})}{(z_{3}-z_{2})} + \arg \frac{(z_{3}-z_{4})}{(z_{1}-z_{4})}\\ &= \beta + \pi - \beta = \pi \end{align*} Therefore \(w\) is real