THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG

Department of Mathematics
MATH1020 General Mathematics (Fall 2020)
Suggested solutions of final Exam

1. (12 pts) Solve the following equations.

(a) ln(x − 2) + ln(x + 3) = ln(x + 1).

1 π
(b) cos 3x cos 2x = sin 3x sin 2x + , where 0 ≤ x ≤ .
2 2

Solution:

(a)

ln(x − 2) + ln(x + 3) = ln(x + 1)

ln[(x − 2)(x + 3)] = ln(x + 1)
(x − 2)(x + 3) = x + 1
x2 − 7 = 0
√ √
x = 7 or x = − 7 (rejected).

(b)
1
cos 3x cos 2x = sin 3x sin 2x +
2
1
cos 3x cos 2x − sin 3x sin 2x =
2
1
cos 5x =
2
π π
5x = + 2nπ or 5x = − + 2nπ, n∈Z
3 3
π 2nπ π 2nπ
x= + or x = − + , n ∈ Z.
15 5 15 5
π
Since 0 ≤ x ≤ ,
2
π 7π 5π
x= , , .
15 15 15
 2

2. (12 pts) Determine whether each of the following series is convergent. Justify your
answers.
∞
X 3n − 1
(a) .
n=1
4n + 7
∞
X n4 + 4
(b) .
n=0
4n

Solution:
3n − 1
(a) Let an = for n ≥ 1. Since
4n + 7
1
3n − 1 3− n 3
lim an = lim = lim 7 = 6= 0,
n→∞ n→∞ 4n + 7 n→∞ 4 + 4
n

∞
X 3n − 1
it follows from the n-th term test that the series is divergent.
n=1
4n + 7
n4 + 4
(b) Let an = for n ≥ 0. Since
4n
an+1 (n + 1)4 + 4 4n
lim = lim ·
n→∞ an n→∞ 4n+1 n4 + 4
1 (1 + n1 )4 + n44
= lim ·
n→∞ 4 1 + n44
1
= < 1,
4
∞
X n4 + 4
it follows from the ratio test that the series is convergent.
n=0
4n
 3

3. (15 pts) Answer the following questions.

(a) Apply the partial fraction decomposition to the rational function
2
.
x3 −x
(b) Evaluate the following series or show that it is divergent.
∞
X 1
.
n=2
n3 −n

Solution:
(a) By partial fraction decomposition,
2 2 A B C
= = + + ,
x3 −x x(x − 1)(x + 1) x x−1 x+1
for some constants A, B and C. Multiplying both sides by x(x − 1)(x + 1), we
have
2 = A(x − 1)(x + 1) + Bx(x + 1) + Cx(x − 1).

Putting x → 0 : 2 = −A =⇒ A = −2
Putting x → 1 : 2 = 2B =⇒ B = 1
Putting x → −1 : 2 = 2C =⇒ C = 1.
Hence,
2 −2 1 1
= + + .
x3 − x x x−1 x+1
(b) For N ≥ 2, the partial sum SN is given by
N N
X 1 X1 2
3
= · 3
n=2
n − n n=2 2 n − n
N  
X 1 1 −2 1
= + + (by part (a))
n=2
2 n−1 n n+1
     
1 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 2 1
= − + + − + + − + + ···
2 1 2 3 2 3 4 3 4 5
     
1 2 1 1 2 1 1 2 1
+ − + + − + + − +
N −3 N −2 N −1 N −2 N −1 N N −1 N N +1
       
1 1 2 1 1 2 1
= − + + + − +
2 1 2 2 N N N +1
1 1 1
= − + .
4 2N 2(N + 1)
Therefore,
∞  
X 1 1 1 1 1
3
= lim SN = lim − + = .
n=2
n − n N →∞ N →∞ 4 2N 2(N + 1) 4
 4

4. (14 pts) Consider the line L : y = x − 4 and the point P (2, 2). Let A be the
x-intercept of L and B be the y-intercept of L.
−→
(a) Find the vector v = AP .
−→
(b) Find the vector u = AB.
(c) Find Proju v.
(d) Hence, find the point on L which is closest to the point P .

Solution:
−→
(a) A = (4, 0) and v = AP = (2, 2) − (4, 0) = (−2, 2).

−→
(b) B = (0, −4) and u = AB = (0, −4) − (4, 0) = (−4, −4).

(c)

v·u (−2, 2) · (−4, −4) 0

Proju v = u = (−4, −4) = (−4, −4) = (0, 0).
kuk2 (−4, −4) · (−4, −4) 32

(d) The point on L which is closest to the point P is given by

−→ −→
OA + Proj−→ AP = (4, 0) + (0, 0) = (4, 0).
AB
 5

5. (12 pts) Given f (x) = x2 − x + m, where m is a constant. Suppose a is a constant

with a 6= 1, f (log3 a) = m and log3 f (a) = 3.

(a) Find the values of a and m.

(b) Find the smallest value of f (log3 x) and its corresponding x value.

Solution:

(a) First of all,

f (log3 a) = m
2
(log3 a) − (log3 a) + m = m
(log3 a)(log3 a − 1) = 0
log3 a = 0 or log3 a = 1
a = 1 (rejected) or a = 3.

Secondly,

log3 f (a) = 3
f (3) = 33
32 − 3 + m = 27
m = 21.

Hence, a = 3 and m = 21.

(b) By completing the square,

f (log3 x) = (log3 x)2 − (log3 x) + 21

 2
1 83
= log3 x − + .
2 4
83
That means f (log3 x) ≥ for any x > 0. Moreover,
4
83 1 √
f (log3 x) = ⇐⇒ log3 x = ⇐⇒ x = 31/2 = 3.
4 2
83
Hence, the smallest value of f (log3 x) is and the corresponding value of x
√ 4
is 3.
 6

6. (15 pts) Let X be a discrete random variable with probability mass function


 0.2 if k = 0;

0.1 if k = 1;



f (k) = 0.4 if k = 2;

0.3 if k = 3;




0 otherwise.

(a) Find the probability that X > 1.

(b) Find the mean of X.
(c) Find the variance of X.
(d) Let a, b be constant. Express the mean and variance of the random variable
aX + b in terms of a and b.

Solution:

(a)

P (X > 1) = f (2) + f (3) = 0.4 + 0.3 = 0.7.

(b)
X
E(X) = xf (x) = 0(0.2) + 1(0.1) + 2(0.4) + 3(0.3) + 0 = 1.8.
x

(c)
X
E(X 2 ) = x2 f (x) = 02 (0.2) + 12 (0.1) + 22 (0.4) + 32 (0.3) + 0 = 4.4.
x

Hence,

V ar(X) = E(X 2 ) − (E(X))2 = 4.4 − (1.8)2 = 1.16.

Alternatively:

X
V ar(X) = E((X − µ)2 ) = (x − µ)2 f (x)
x
= (0 − 1.8) (0.2) + (1 − 1.8)2 (0.1) + (2 − 1.8)2 (0.4) + (3 − 1.8)2 (0.3)
2

= 1.16

(d)
E(aX + b) = aE(X) + b = 1.8a + b
V ar(aX + b) = a2 V ar(X) = 1.16a2
 7

7. (12 pts) Consider biased coins with faces head and tail. Suppose their probability
of landing a head is 0.3 when tossed.
(a) If four such biased coins are tossed, find the probability of landing no head.
(b) If seven such biased coins are tossed, find the probability of landing exactly
four tails.
(c) Suppose now that one of these biased coin is tossed repeatedly. Assuming that
the tosses are independent, what is the expected number of tosses until we get
a head?
Solution:
(a) Let

X = number of heads obtained when 4 such biased coins are tossed

Then, X ∼ B(4, 0.3). Hence,

P (X = 0) = C04 (0.3)0 (0.7)4 = 0.2401.

Alternatively:
The probability of not landing a head among the four biased coins is

(1 − 0.3)4 = 0.2401

(b) Let

Y = number of tails obtained when 7 such biased coins are tossed

Then, Y ∼ B(7, 0.7). Hence,

P (Y = 4) = C47 (0.7)4 (0.3)3 = 0.2268945

(c) Let

Z = number of tosses until we get a head (including the toss with a head)

Then, Z follows the geometric distribution with parameter p = 0.3. Hence,

1 10
Expected number of tosses = E(Z) = =
0.3 3
Alternatively:
Let

Z = number of tosses until we get a head (not including the toss with a head)

Then, Z follows the geometric distribution with parameter p = 0.3. Hence,

1 − 0.3
E(Z) =
0.3
1 − 0.3 10
and the expected number of tosses is +1=
0.3 3
 8

8. (14 pts) Prove the following identities:

3x x 2 sin x
(a) tan − tan = .
2 2 cos x + cos 2x
(b) sin 3x sin3 x + cos 3x cos3 x = cos3 2x.

Solution:

(a)
3x x
L.H.S. = tan − tan
2 2
3x x
sin 2 sin 2
= 3x −
cos 2 cos x2
sin 3x
2
cos x2 − sin x2 cos 3x
2
= x 3x
cos 2 cos 2
sin 3x − x2


2
= 1 3x x

3x x



2
cos 2
− 2
+ cos 2
+ 2
2 sin x
=
cos x + cos 2x
= R.H.S.

(b)

L.H.S.
= sin 3x sin3 x + cos 3x cos3 x
= (sin 3x sin x) sin2 x + (cos 3x cos x) cos2 x
1 1
= (cos (3x − x) − cos (3x + x)) sin2 x + (cos (3x − x) + cos (3x + x)) cos2 x
2 2
1 1
= cos 2x cos2 x + sin2 x + cos 4x cos2 x − sin2 x



2 2
1 1
2 cos2 2x − 1 cos 2x


= cos 2x +
2 2
= cos3 2x
= R.H.S.
 9

9. (14 pts) Answer the following questions.

10
√

2 1
(a) Find the constant term and the coefficient of x in x− . You can leave
x
your answers in terms of factorials or binomial coefficients.
(b) Find
C0100 + C1100 + C2100 + ... + C100
100
.
(c) Let n be a positive integer. Find
C0n − C1n + C2n + ... + (−1)n Cnn .

Solution:
(a) By Binomial Theorem,
10 X 10 r X 10
√ √ 10−r
 
1 10 1 3r
x− = Cr ( x) − = Cr10 (−1)r x5− 2 .
x r=0
x r=0

For the constant term,

3r 10
5− = 0 =⇒ r = (rejected)
2 3
So, the constant term is 0.
For the x2 -term,
3r
5− = 2 =⇒ r = 2
2
So, the coefficient of x2 is C210 (−1)2 = 45.

Alternatively:
By Binomial Theorem,
10
√ √

1 1 10 45 120 210 252 210
x− = 10 − 17/2 + 7 − 11/2 + 4 − 5/2 + −120 x+45x2 −10x7/2 +x5
x x x x x x x x
Thus, the constant term is 0 and the coefficient of x2 is 45.
(b) By Binomial Theorem,
100
X 100
X
(1 + 1)100 = Cr100 (1)100−r (1)r = Cr100 .
r=0 r=0

Hence,
C0100 + C1100 + C2100 + ... + C100
100
= 2100 .
(c) By Binomial Theorem,
n
X n
X
n
(1 − 1) = Crn (1)n−r (−1)r = (−1)r Crn .
r=0 r=0

Hence,
C0n − C1n + C2n + ... + (−1)n Cnn = 0.
 10

10. (12 pts) Consider the set

S = {z ∈ C : (z − 1 − i)(z̄ − 1 + i) = 1}.

(a) Graph the set of complex number z ∈ S on the Argand diagram.

(b) For each of the following parts, find the complex number(s) z ∈ S with the
given property. No justification is required.
i. Arg(z) attains maximum.
ii. Arg(z) attains minimum.
iii. |z| attains minimum.

Solution:

(a) Notice that

1 = (z − 1 − i)(z̄ − 1 + i) = (z − 1 − i)(z − 1 − i) = |z − (1 + i)|2 .

In other words, S is a circle with radius 1 and center 1 + i.

(b) i. From the graph in part (a), Arg(z) attains maximum when z = i.
ii. From the graph in part (a), Arg(z) attains minimum when z = 1.
iii. From the graph in part (a), |z| attains maximum when
√
√  π π 2 + 2
z = (1 + 2) cos + i sin = (1 + i).
4 4 2
 11

11. (18 pts) Answer the following questions.

1+z
(a) Given |z| = 1 and z 6= 1. Show that is purely imaginary.
1−z
(b) Express (1 + i)1020 in the form of a + bi, where a, b are integers.
(c) Find all the roots, including complex roots, of z 3 + 3z 2 + 2z + 6 = 0.

Solution:
(a) Since |z| = 1 and z 6= 1, we have
1+z 1 + z 1 − z̄ 1 + z − z̄ − |z|2 z − z̄ 2Im(z)i
= · = 2
= 2
= .
1−z 1 − z 1 − z̄ |1 − z| |1 − z| |1 − z|2
1+z
Hence, is purely imaginary.
1−z
Alternatively:
Let z = a + ib. Then, a2 + b2 = 1 and a 6= 1. Hence,
1+z 1 + a + ib
=
1−z 1 − a − ib
(1 + a) + ib (1 − a) + ib
= ·
(1 − a) − ib (1 − a) + ib
(1 − a2 ) + i(1 + a)b + i(1 − a)b − b2
=
(1 − a)2 + b2
2b
= i·
(1 − a)2 + b2
which is purely imaginary.

Alternatively:
  "  #
1+z 1 1+z 1+z
< = +
1−z 2 1−z 1−z
 
1 1+z 1+z
= +
2 1−z 1−z
 
1 1+z 1+z
= +
2 1−z 1−z
1 (1 + z)(1 − z) + (1 + z)(1 − z)
=
2 (1 − z)(1 − z)
1 2 − 2zz
=
2 (1 − z)(1 − z)
1 2 − 2|z|2
=
2 (1 − z)(1 − z)
1 2 − 2(1)2
= =0
2 (1 − z)(1 − z)
 12

1+z
Hence, is purely imaginary.
1−z
√  π π
(b) Note that 1 + i = 2 cos + i sin . Hence, by DeMoivre’s Theorem,
4 4
√  π π 1020
(1 + i)1020 = 2 cos + i sin
4 4
= 2510 (cos(255π) + i sin(255π))
= 2510 (cos π + i sin π)
= −2510 .

(c) By inspection, z = −3 is a root. So, (z + 3) is a factor of the polynomial. By

long division,

z 3 + 3z 2 + 2z + 6 = 0
(z + 3)(z 2 + 2) = 0
z + 3 = 0 or z 2 + 2 = 0
√
z = −3 or z = ± 2i.
√ √
Hence, the roots of z 3 + 3z 2 + 2z + 6 = 0 are z = −3, 2i, − 2i.