Mathematical Methods

Units 1 and 2
Written Examination 2 (Technology Active)

ArulananthamAnujan Anandakumar

November 16, 2024

Student Information

Student’s Name:

Class: Date:

Reading Time: 15 minutes

Writing Time: 1 hour
Total Marks: 80 marks

Instructions to Students:

• All questions must be answered in the spaces provided

• Read each question carefully

• You may use a CAS calculator for this examination

• Show all necessary working

• Round numerical answers to 3 decimal places unless otherwise

stated

1
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1 Multiple Choice 20 marks

2x+1
1. The equation 9x2 −3x−5
= 0 has solution

A. x = 1
B. x = 2
C. x = 3
D. x = 4
E. x = 5

2. Which of the following lines is perpendicular to 5x + 9y = 8?

A. 9x + 5y = 8
B. 9x − 5y = 8
C. 5x − 9y = 8
D. − 95 x + y = 8
9
E. − 95 x + y = 8
5

3. The midpoint of the line segment joining the points (−3, 1) and (1, −1) is

A. (2, 4)
B. (−1, 0)
C. (−2, 0)
D. (0, −1)
E. (−4, 1)

4. The equation x2 − 4x = −2 has

A. no solution
B. one solution
C. two irrational solutions
D. two rational solutions
E. one rational solution and one irrational solution

5. The values of x for which x2 − 4x > 0 are given by

A. x ∈ (0, 4)
B. x ∈ [0, 4)
C. x ∈ (0, 4]
D. x ∈ (−∞, 0) ∪ (4, ∞)
E. x ∈ (−∞, 0] ∪ [4, ∞)

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Mathematical Methods Page 3

6. Consider the graph of y = a(x + b)2 + c shown below.

For this function, a, b and c are constants and

A. a > 0, b > 0 and c > 0

B. a > 0, b < 0 and c > 0
C. a < 0, b > 0 and c > 0
D. a < 0, b < 0 and c > 0
E. a < 0, b > 0 and c < 0

7. The rule for the graph shown could be

1
A. y = x+1
+3
1
B. y = − x−3 + 1
1
C. y = − x+1 + 3
1
D. y = x−3
−1
1
E. y = − x+1 − 3

8. Which of the following relations is not a function?

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Mathematical Methods Page 4

A. {(x, y) : y = 2x, 0 ≤ x ≤ 5}
B. {(1, 2), (−1, 2), (3, 8)}
C. y = x2 + 2x + 8
D. y = x3
E. {(x, y) : x2 = 16 − y, 0 ≤ x ≤ 4}

9. The range of the function f : [1, 5) → R, f (x) = (x − 2)2 + 1 is

A. [1, 10)
B. [2, 10)
C. (1, 10]
D. [2, 10]
E. [1, 5)

10. The graph of the function f is shown below. The rule for f could be

A. y = (x − a)3 + a
B. y = −(x + a)3 + a
C. y = (x + a)3 − a
D. y = −(x − a)3 − a
E. y = (x − a)3 − a

11. When the polynomial p(x) = 2x3 + 3x2 + kx + 30 is divided by x + 3, the remainder
is 12. The value of k is

A. −33
B. −5
C. −3
D. 5
E. 21

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Mathematical Methods Page 5

12. The graph of y = x2 is dilated by a factor of 2 from the y axis and translated so that
its turning point is moved to the point (−7, 3). The equation of the transformed
graph is

A. y = (2x + 7)2 − 3
B. y = (2(x − 7))2 − 3
C. y = ( x−7
2
)2 − 3
D. y = 2(x + 7)2 − 3
E. y = 21 (x − 7)2 − 3

13. Given g : R → R, g(x) = (3 − x)(x − 8), then g(x) < 0 when

A. x ∈ (0, 3) ∪ (8, ∞)
B. x ∈ (−∞, 0) ∪ (3, 8)
C. x ∈ (−3, 0) ∪ (8, ∞)
D. x ∈ (−∞, −3) ∪ (0, 8)
E. x ∈ (−3, 0) ∪ (3, 8)

14. 1 + 3 log2 (2) expressed in the form log2 (b) is

A. log2 (8)
B. log2 (15)
C. log2 (16)
D. log2 (42)
E. log2 (56)

15. The function g(x) = log5 (3x − 1) has a

1
A. horizontal asymptote at x = 3
1
B. vertical asymptote at x = 3
C. horizontal asymptote at y = − 13
D. vertical asymptote at y = − 31
1
E. vertical asymptote at y = 3

16. A large kettle contains water at an initial temperature of 96°C. The water cools
slowly, and after 2.5 hours, the temperature of the water has dropped to 49°C.
The temperature T °C of the water in the kettle is described by the equation T =
Ae−kt + 10 where t is the number of hours that the water cools for.
What are the values of A and k?

A. A = −80 and k = 0.29

B. A = 0.29 and k = −80
C. A = 0.32 and k = 86
D. A = 86 and k = 0.07

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Mathematical Methods Page 6

E. A = 86 and k = 0.32

17. The function f has rule f (x) = 2 log10 (3x). If f (5x) = log10 (y), then y is equal to

A. 30x
B. 12x
C. 225x2
D. 50x2
E. 1000x2

18. The set of solutions to the equation 25x − 7 × 5x + 12 = 0 is

A. (3, 4)
B. [−3, −4]
C. [log5 4, log5 3]
D. [1, log5 2]
E. [− log5 4, log5 3]

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Mathematical Methods Page 7

2 Extended Response 60 marks

2.1 Question 1
2
A function f : R → R, f (x) = (x−1)2
− 8 is given.

(a) Sketch the graph of y = f (x), labelling all axes intercepts with their coordinates
and all asymptotes with their equations. 3 marks

(b) Explain why f is not a one-to-one function. 1 mark

2
Let a new function g be defined by g : (−∞, a) → R, g(x) = (x−1)2
− 8.

(c) What is the largest value of a such that the function g is one-to-one? 1 mark

(d) Use formal function notation to state the inverse function g −1 , given the value of a
above. 2 marks

2.2 Question 3
The following dashed line is a graph of y = f (x).

(a) Let g(x) = −f (x).

Sketch and label the graph of y = g(x) on the axes below. 2 marks

(b) Let h(x) = f (x) + 2.

Sketch and label the graph of y = h(x) on the axes below. 2 marks

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Mathematical Methods Page 8

(c) Find the equation for f (x) in factorised form. 2 marks

(d) Hence write the equation for f (x) in the form f (x) = ax4 + bx3 + cx2 + dx + e. 1
mark
Let m(x) = f (x + 3).
(e) Describe the transformation that needs to occur to the graph of y = f (x) to produce
a graph of y = m(x). 1 mark
(f) Write the equation for m(x) in factorised form. 1 mark

2.3 Question 4
A chemical distributor wanted to reduce the cost of producing the cylindrical containers
that they use to distribute their product to consumers in. They wanted to use exactly
plastic with surface area of SA = 600 cm2 to construct each cylinder, but they did not
know the height or radius of each cylinder that would maximise the chemical carrying
capacity.

(a) State the formula for the surface area and for the volume of the cylinder in terms
of r and h. 1 mark

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Mathematical Methods Page 9

(b) Find h in terms of r. 2 marks

(c) Hence show V (r) = πr2 (300/πr − 2r). 1 mark

(d) Write the domain of possible r values that give plausible results for the volume. 1
mark

(e) What is the maximum volume for each cylinder? Give your answer correct to 1
decimal place. 1 mark

(f) What is the height of the cylinder when the volume is maximised? Give your answer
correct to 1 decimal place. 2 marks

2.4 Question 6
After an earthquake, an important building in Christchurch became unstable so an ar-
chitect was employed to build a parabolic support to help stabilise the façade during
rebuilding. The architect modelled the building on a set of axes with the x-axis rep-
resenting the ground. The support needed to attach to the building at two key weight
bearing points located at (1, 5) and (3, 5) on the building. It was also determined that it
should be anchored to the bedrock at (5, −3), where the negative y-value of −3 represents
3 metres under the surface. The architect decides to make the support in the shape of a
parabolic arch due to the stability of that shape.

(a) Find the rule that gives the parabolic shape of the support that passes through the
three key points. Express your answer in the form y = ax2 + bx + c. 1 mark

(b) Show that this rule can be expressed as y = −2(x − 6)2 + 6 in turning point form.
2 marks

(c) Find the coordinates of the points where the supports enter the soil in exact form.
2 marks

(d) The support will extend 9 metres horizontally. Sketch the support over the domain
[−3, 6]. Label the coordinates of all axes intercepts, the turning point and end
points. 3 marks
After construction, the architect decides to add an additional support cable, which
will follow the rule y = −2x + 6 and also be anchored somewhere underground.

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Mathematical Methods Page 10

(e) Find the coordinates of the two points that the cable can be connected to the
parabolic support. 2 marks

(f) Sketch the cable on the same set of axes above over the domain [−3, 6], labelling all
axes intercepts, end points and point of intersection between this and the parabola
with their coordinates. 2 marks

(g) Find the angle at which the cable enters the soil. Give your answer in degrees
correct to 1 decimal place. 2 marks
When the architects plans were reviewed it was suggested that the rule for the cable
should be changed to y = x3 + k.

(h) Find the values of k such that there would be at least one point at which the cable
could attach to the parabolic support. 2 marks

END OF EXAMINATION
Prepared by ArulananthamAnujan Anandakumar
Mathematical Methods Units 1 and 2

© 2024 ArulananthamAnujan Anandakumar