### Vectors Question #3

This is a question a student sent me a few days back, and I shared with my class.

Find the Cartesian equation of the plane that is equidistant of the $xy$ plane and $xz$ plane.

The following should aid students to visualise.

Sidenote: I think Vectors is a very important topic for 9758 as its applications are wide. Students should do their best to understand the topic. I will share a few more applied questions next week when I have time.

### A little reminder to students doing Calculus now

When $\frac{dy}{dx} = 0$, it implies we have a stationary point.

To determine the nature of the stationary point, we can do either the first derivative test or the second derivative.

The first derivative test:

Students should write the actual values of $\alpha^-, \alpha, \alpha^+$ and $\frac{dy}{dx}$ in the table.

We use this under these two situations:
1. $\frac{d^2y}{dx^2}$ is difficult to solve for, that is, $\frac{dy}{dx}$ is tough to be differentiated
2. $\frac{d^2y}{dx^2} = 0$

The second derivative test:

Other things students should take note is concavity and drawing of the derivative graph.

### Vectors Question #2

If $c = |a| b + |b| a$, where $a$ , $b$ and $c$ are all non-zero vectors, show that $c$ bisects the angle between $a$ and $b$.

### Things to note for 9758 H2 Mathematics

It has been awhile since the A’levels. We talked and met up with several of our students. Some students are working and some are preparing their Personal Statements for overseas University Applications.

A few of them also remarked that they wish they put more efforts into studying A’levels.  An advice to this year JC2 – Do not wait till it is too late.

Students should also have a clear understanding of their syllabus, especially their scheme of exam. I still have JC2s this year who get stunned by the applications questions I threw at them (P.S. Aside from spending time with family, I wrote many sets of applied questions.). You may read more about your syllabus here. Or see the following images.

How much practice or emphasis your school put on this, is up to them. But it is clear that application takes up 25% of your marks. The entire syllabus can be found here.

PLEASE DON’T WALK INTO THE EXAM HALL BLUR BLUR…

### Release of A’levels Results 2016

For students who took A’levels in 2016, please note that information for the release of A’levels Results 2016 can be found in the following!

Release of A’levels 2016

Grade Profile (i.e. Number of As you need to get into courses for)

SMU

NTU

NUS

P.S. Results does not define you. When one door closes, another opens.

### Checklist for Vectors

Many schools have been doing vectors recently. Thought I’ll share a little summary/ checklist I have done for my students.

Basic Concepts

• Operations on Vectors
• Scalar multiplication
• Dot Product (Scalar)
1. a • a = |a|2
2. If a ⊥ b, then a • b = 0
3. a • b = b • a
• Cross Product (Vector)
1. a × a = 0
2. a × b = − b × a
• Unit Vectors
• Parallel Vectors ( a = k)
• Collinear Vectors ( Parallel with a common point )
• Ratio Theorem ( Found in MF26)
• Midpoint Theorem
• Directional Cosines
• Angles between two Vectors
• Length of Projection
• Perpendicular Distance

Lines

• Equations
• Vector Form ( : r = a + λb, λ∈ ℜ )
• Parametric Form
• Cartesian Form
• Line & Line
• Parallel ( Directions are parallel to each other. )
• Same ( Same Equations )
• Intersecting ( There is a unique solution for λ and μ. )
• Skewed ( Not parallel AND not Intersecting. )
• Angle between two lines ( Angle between their directions )
• Point & Line
• Foot of Perpendicular
• Perpendicular (Shortest) distance
• Point on Line

Planes

• Equations
• Parametric Form ( π r = a + λb + μc, λ, μ ∈ ℜ )
• Scalar Product Form ( r • n = a • n  = d )
• Cartesian Form
• Point & Plane
• Foot of Perpendicular
• Perpendicular (Shortest) distance
• Distance from O to Plane
• Point on Plane
• Reflection of Point
• Line & Plane
• Relationships
1. Parallel
• Line intersects Plane entirely ( Infinite Solutions )
• Do not intersect ( No Solution )
2. Not Parallel
• Intersects at a point ( One Solution )
• Intersection Point
• Angle between Line & Plane
• Reflection of Line
• Plane & Plane
• Relationships
1. Parallel
• Same ( Infinite Solutions )
• Do not intersect ( No Solution )
2. Not Parallel
• Intersects at a line ( Infinite Solutions )
• Intersection Line ( Use of GC )
• Angle between two Planes ( Angle between their normals )

### Random Questions from 2016 Prelims #12

HCI/1/6

A group of boys want to set up a camping tent. They lay down a rectangular tarp OABC on the horizontal ground with OA = 3 m and AB = 1.5 m and secure the points D and E vertically above O and B respectively, such that .

Assume that the tent takes the shape as shown above with 6 triangular surfaces and a rectangular base. The point O is taken as the origin and the unit vectors i, j and k are taken to be in the direction of , and respectively.

(i) Show that the line DE can be expressed as $r = 2k+\lambda(2i+j), \lambda \in \mathbb{R}$.

(ii) Find the Cartesian equation of the plane ADE.

(iii) Determine the acute angle between the planes ADE and OABC. Hence, or otherwise, find the acute angle between the planes ADE and CDE.

Note: Question can be made harder and trickier should Origin, O be placed in the center of the base OACB.

### Random Questions from 2016 Prelims #10

PJC P2 Q1

The complex numbers a and b are given by $2 + 3i$ and $-4-5i$ respectively.

(i) On a single Argand diagram, sketch the loci
(a) $|2z-a-b| = |a-b|$
(b) $0 \le \text{arg}(z-b) \le \text{arg}(a - b)$

(ii) Find the range of $\text{arg}(z)$ where $z$ is the complex number that satisfies the relationships in part (i)

### 2016 A-level H1 Mathematics (8864) Paper 1 Suggested Solutions

All solutions here are SUGGESTED. KS will hold no liability for any errors. Comments are entirely personal opinions.

As these workings and answers are rushed out asap, please pardon me for my mistakes and let me know if there is any typo. Many thanks.
I’ll try my best to attend to the questions as there is H2 Math Paper 2 coming up.

Question 1
(i)
$\frac{d}{dx} [2 \text{ln}(3x^2 +4)]$

$= \frac{12x}{3x^2+4}$

(ii)
$\frac{d}{dx} [\frac{1}{2(1-3x)^2}]$

$= \frac{6}{2(1-3x)^3}$

$= \frac{3}{(1-3x)^3}$

Question 2

$2e^{2x} \ge 9 - 3e^x$

$2u^2 + 3u - 9 \ge 0$

$(2u-3)(u+3) \ge 0$

$\Rightarrow u \le -3 \text{~or~} u \ge \frac{3}{2}$

$e^x \le -3$ (rejected since $e^x > 0$) or $e^x \ge \frac{3}{2}$

$\therefore x \ge \text{ln} \frac{3}{2}$

Question 3
(i)

(ii)
Using GC, required answer $= -1.606531 \approx -1.61$ (3SF)

(iii)
When $x = 0.5, y = 0.35653066$

$y - 0.35653066 = \frac{-1}{-1.606531}(x-0.5)$

$y = 0.622459 x +0.04530106$

$y = 0.622 x + 0.0453$ (3SF)

(iv)

$\int_0^k e^{-x} -x^2 dx$

$= -e^{-x} - \frac{x^3}{3} \bigl|_0^k$

$= -e^{-k} - \frac{k^3}{3} + 1$

Question 4
(i)
$y = 1 + 6x - 3x^2 -4x^3$

$\frac{dy}{dx} = 6 - 6x - 12x^2$

Let $\frac{dy}{dx} = 0$

$6 - 6x - 12x^2 = 0$

$1 - x - 2x^2 = 0$

$2x^2 + x - 1 = 0$

$x = -1 or \frac{1}{2}$

When $x =-1, y = -4$

When $x = \frac{1}{2}, y = 2.75$

Coordinates $= (-1, -4) \text{~or~} (0.5, 2.75)$

(ii)
$\frac{dy}{dx} = 6 - 6x - 12x^2$

$\frac{d^2y}{dx^2} = - 6 - 24x$

When $x = -1, \frac{d^2y}{dx^2} = 18 > 0$. So $(-1, -4)$ is a minimum point.

When $x = 0.5, \frac{d^2y}{dx^2} = -18 \textless 0$. So $(0.5, 2.75)$ is a maximum point.

(iii)

x-intercept $= (-1.59, 0) \text{~and~} (1, 0) \text{~and~} (-0.157, 0)$

(iv)
Using GC, $\int_0.5^1 y dx = 0.9375$

Question 5
(i)
Area of ABEDFCA $= \frac{1}{2}(2x)(2x)\text{sin}60^{\circ} - \frac{1}{2}(y)(y)\text{sin}60^{\circ}$

$2\sqrt{3} = \sqrt{3}x^2 - \frac{\sqrt{3}}{4}y^2$

$2 = x^2 - \frac{y^2}{4}$

$4x^2 - y^2 =8$

(ii)

Perimeter $= 10$

$4x+2y + (2x-y) = 10$

$6x + y = 10$

$y = 10 - 6x$

$4x^2 - (10-6x)^2 = 8$

$4x^2 - 100 +120x -36x^2 = 8$

$32x^2 -120x+108=0$

$x=2.25 \text{~or~} 1.5$

When $x=2.25, y = -3.5$ (rejected since $y >0$)

When $x=1.5, y = 1$

Question 6
(i)
The store manager has to survey $\frac{1260}{2400} \times 80 = 42$ male students and $\frac{1140}{2400} \times 80 = 38$ female students in the college. He will do random sampling to obtain the required sample.

(ii)
Stratified sampling will give a more representative results of the students expenditure on music annually, compared to simple random sampling.

(iii)
Unbiased estimate of population mean, $\bar{x} = \frac{\sum x}{n} = \frac{312}{80} = 3.9$

Unbiased estimate of population variance, $s^2 = \frac{1}{79}[1328 - \frac{312^2}{80}] = 1.40759 \approx 1.41$

Question 7
(i)
[Venn diagram to be inserted]

(ii)
(a)
$\text{P}(A \cup B) = \text{P}(A) + \text{P}(B) - \text{P}(A \cap B) = 0.8$
(b)
$\text{P}(A \cup B) - \text{P}(A \cap B) = 0.75$

(iii)
$\text{P}(A | B')$

$= \frac{\text{P}(A \cap B')}{\text{P}(B')}$

$= \frac{\text{P}(A) - \text{P}(A \cap B)}{1 - \text{P}(B)}$

$= \frac{0.6 - 0.05}{1-0.25}$

$= \frac{11}{15}$

Question 8
(i)
Required Probability $= \frac{1}{2} \times \frac{3}{10} \times \frac{2}{9} = \frac{1}{30}$

(ii)
Find the probability that we get same color. then consider the complement.

Required Probability $= 1 - \frac{1}{30} - \frac{1}{2} \times \frac{5}{10} \times \frac{4}{9} - \frac{1}{2} \times \frac{2}{10} \times \frac{1}{9} - \frac{1}{2} \times \frac{4}{6} \times \frac{3}{5} - \frac{1}{2} \times \frac{2}{6} \times \frac{1}{5} = \frac{11}{18}$

(iii)
$\text{P}(\text{Both~balls~are~red} | \text{same~color})$

$= \frac{\text{P}(\text{Both~balls~are~red~and~same~color})}{\text{P}(\text{same~color})}$

$= \frac{\text{P}(\text{Both~balls~are~red})}{\text{P}(\text{same~color})}$

$= \frac{1/30}{7/18}$

$= \frac{3}{35}$

Question 9
(i)
Let X denote the number of batteries in a pack of 8 that has a life time of less than two years.

$X \sim B(8, 0.6)$
(a)
Required Probability $=\text{P}(X=8) = 0.01679616 \approx 0.0168$

(b)
Required Probability $=\text{P}(X \ge 4) = 1 - \text{P}(X \le 3) = 0.8263296 \approx 0.826$

(ii)
Let Y denote the number of packs of batteries, out of 4 packs, that has at least half of the batteries having a lifetime of less than two years.

$Y \sim B(4, 0.8263296)$

Required Probability $=\text{P}(Y \le 2) = 0.1417924285 \approx 0.142$

(iii)
Let W denote the number of batteries out of 80 that has a life time of less than two years.

$W \sim B(80, 0.6)$

Since n is large, $np = 48 > 5, n(1-p)=32 >5$

$W \sim N(48, 19.2)$ approximately

Required Probability

$= \text{P}(w \ge 40)$

$= \text{P}(w > 39.5)$ by continuity correction

$= 0.9738011524$
$\approx 0.974$

Question 10
(i)
Let X be the top of speed of cheetahs.
Let $\mu$ be the population mean top speed of cheetahs.

$H_0: \mu = 95$

$H_1: \mu \neq 95$

Under $H_0, \bar{X} \sim N(95, \frac{4.1^2}{40})$

Test Statistic, $Z = \frac{\bar{X}-\mu}{\frac{4.1}{\sqrt{40}}} \sim N(0,1)$

Using GC, $p=0.0449258443 \textless 0.05 \Rightarrow H_0$ is rejected.

(ii)
$H_0: \mu = 95$

$H_1: \mu > 95$

For $H_0$ to be not rejected,

$\frac{\bar{x}-95}{\frac{4.1}{\sqrt{40}}} \textless 1.644853626$

$\bar{x} \textless 96.06 \approx 96.0$ (round down to satisfy the inequality)

$\therefore \{ \bar{x} \in \mathbb{R}^+: \bar{x} \textless 96.0 \}$

Question 11
(i)
[Sketch to be inserted]

(ii)
Using GC, $r = 0.9030227 \approx 0.903$ (3SF)

(iii)
Using GC, $y = 0.2936681223 x - 1.88739083$

$y = 0.294 x - 1.89$ (3SF)

(iv)
When $x = 16.9, y = 3.0756 \approx 3.08$(3SF)

Time taken $= 3.08$ minutes

Estimate is reliable since $x = 16.9$ is within the given data range and $|r|=0.903$ is close to 1.

(v)
Using GC, $r = 0.5682278 \approx 0.568$ (3SF)

(vi)
The answers in (ii) is more likely to represent since $|r|=0.903$ is close to 1. This shows a strong positive linear correlation between x and y.

Question 12
Let X, Y denotes the mass of the individual biscuits and its empty boxes respectively.

$X \sim N(20, 1.1^2)$

$Y \sim N(5, 0.8^2)$

(i)
$\text{P}(X \textless 19) = 0.181651 \approx 0.182$

(ii)
$X_1 + ... + X_12 + Y \sim N(245, 15.16)$

$\text{P}(X_1 + ... + X_12 + Y > 248) = 0.2205021 \approx 0.221$

(iii)
$0.6X \sim N(12, 0.66^2)$

$0.2Y \sim N(1, 0.16^2)$

Let $A=0.6X$ and $B = 0.2Y$

$A_1+...+A_12+B \sim N(145, 5.2528)$

$\text{P}(142 \textless A_1+...+A_12+B \textless 149) = 0.864257 \approx 0.864$

### 2016 A-level H2 Mathematics (9740) Paper 2 Suggested Solutions

All solutions here are SUGGESTED. KS will hold no liability for any errors. Comments are entirely personal opinions.

Numerical Answers (click the questions for workings/explanation)

Question 1: $0.0251 \text{~m/min}$
Question 2: $\frac{x^2}{2} \text{sin}nx + \frac{2x}{n^2} \text{cos}nx - \frac{2}{n^3} \text{sin}nx + C;~ a = 2 \text{~or~} 6;~ \pi (\frac{2}{5} - \text{ln} \frac{3}{\sqrt{5}})$
Question 3: $a + \frac{3}{4} - \text{sin}a - \text{cos}a + \frac{1}{4} \text{cos}2a;~ \frac{1}{4}(\pi + 1)^2$
Question 4: $z = 2.63 + 1.93i, ~ 3.37 + 0.0715i ;~8^{\frac{1}{6}}e^{i(-\frac{\pi}{12})}, ~8^{\frac{1}{6}}e^{i(-\frac{3 \pi}{4})}, ~8^{\frac{1}{6}}e^{i(\frac{7\pi}{12})};~ n=7$
Question 5: $\frac{11}{42};~ \frac{4}{11};~ \frac{4}{1029}$
Question 6: $60;~ 10;~ \{ \bar{x} \in \mathbb{R}, 0 \textless \bar{x} \le 34.8 \};~ \{ \alpha \in \mathbb{R}, 0 \textless \alpha \le 8.68 \}$
Question 7: $24;~ 576;~ \frac{1}{12};~ \frac{5}{12}$
Question 8: $r = -0.980;~ c = -17.5;~ d = 91.8;~ y = 85.9$
Question 9: $a = 7.41;~ p = 0.599 \text{~or~} 0.166;~ 0.792$
Question 10: $0.442;~ 0.151 ;~ 0.800;~ \lambda = 1.85$

MF15