Page 1 of 4

Eton Education Centre

A compilation of pure maths questions from JCs MYE papers 2010
Suitable for practice in preparation of Prelim exams
By Wee WS (wenshih.wordpress.com)

Answer all questions in 3 hours. Maximum marks is 100.

Q1 Dot products and geometrical application [ From a discussion forum ]
Prove that, if (c b).a = 0 and (c a).b = 0, then (b a).c = 0. Show that this can be
used to prove the geometrical result: the lines through the vertices of a triangle ABC
perpendicular to the opposite sides meet in a point. [5]

Q2 Formulation of DE [ DHS 10/JC 2 ]
A rare species of Maroon ants living in the Sahara desert reproduces at a rate that is
proportional to their population x (in thousands) at time t. In any month, 1800 will be
eaten by predators and 200 will die of natural causes.
(i) Given that there is no change in the population when it is 16000, show that
d 1
2
d 8
x
x
t
= . [2]
(ii) Solve the above differential equation, expressing x in terms of t. [3]

Q3 Method of differences [ NYJC 10/JC 2 modified ]
By considering
( ) ( )
1
1 1
1 1
r r
x x x x

, find
1
1
n
r
r
x
=

where n
+
and 0 1 x , . [3]
Hence find the value of x such that
1 1
1 1
3
1 1
r r
r r
x x

= =
| | | |
=
| |
+
\ \

for 2 x > . [3]

Q4 Loci [ HCI 10/JC 2 ]
Sketch, on an Argand diagram, the locus of points representing the complex number z
such that 4 4i 4 2 z = . [1]
(i) Another locus of points representing the complex number w satisfies the equation
14 6i w r + = , where r
+
. Find the range of values of r such that the loci of z
and w do not intersect. [3]
(ii) Find the minimum value of ( ) arg 14 6i z + . [3]

Q5 Mathematical induction [ AJC 10/JC 1 ]
Given that
( ) ( )
( )
1
1 2
1 !
r
n
n
r
r
S
r
=
+
=
+

, prove by mathematical induction that

( )
( )
1
1
1 !
n
n
S
n

= +
+

for all positive integers n. [4]
Hence evaluate
( )
( )
2
9
1
1 !
r
n
r
r
r
=

. [3]
Page 2 of 4
Q6 Recurrences/GP/summation [ TJC 10/JC 2 ]
A sequence
1 2 3
u , u , u ,... is such that
1
1 u = and
1
2 when is an even number,
2 when is an odd number.
n
n
n
u , n
u
u , n
+

=

+

(i) Show that
2 1 2
2
k k
u u

= for k
+
. [1]
It is given that
2 1 2
6
k k k
v u u

= + + for k
+
.
(ii) Show that the sequence
1 2 3
v , v , v ,... is a geometric progression with common ratio
equals to 2 and state the value of
1
v . [4]
(iii) By showing
50 25
1 1
150
r r
r r
u v
= =
=

, evaluate
50
1
r
r
u
=

. [3]

Q7 Tangents and normals [ MJC 10/JC 2 ]
The point P(
1 1
x , y ) lies on the curve
3
e
x
y = . The tangent to the curve at P cuts the x-axis
at a point A. Determine the coordinates of A in terms of
1
x . Deduce that any straight line
which passes through a given point (k, 0) on the x-axis and which cuts the curve
3
e
x
y =
twice, has a gradient greater than
3 1
3e
k+
. [8]

Q8 Solving DE by substitution/functions [ RI(JC) 10/JC 2 ]
Using the substitution
1 2
y
w x
= + , show that the differential equation
2
2
d 1 2
2
d
y
y
x x x
(
| |
= (
|
\
(

, 0 x <
may be reduced to the form

2
d 1
d
w
x x
= [3]
(i) Given that 3 y = when 1 x = show that the particular solution for y in terms of x
is
a
y x
x
= + , where a is a constant to be determined. [3]
(ii) Using the value of a found in (i), determine the largest exact value of b such that f is
a one-to-one function for
] (
x ,b where ( ) f
a
x x
x
= + . [3]

Page 3 of 4
Q9 Functions [ DHS 10/JC 2 ]
The function f is defined by
f : 1 0
1
a
x , x , a
x
>
+
.
(i) Show that
1
f

does not exist. [2]

(ii) If the domain of f is restricted to x k , state the least value of k such that f has an
inverse. Define
1
f

in a similar form. [3]

(iii) Hence, or otherwise, find the value(s) of x, in terms of a, such that the composite
function
2
f satisfies the equation ( )
2
f x x = . [3]

Q10 Lines and planes [ TJC 10/JC 2 ]
The plane has equation 3 10 x y cz + = , where c is a non-zero constant. Show that the
cosine of the acute angle between and the x-y plane is
2
10
c
c +
. [2]
The line l has equation
2
4 1
3
y
x , z

= = .
(i) Show that l is parallel to . [2]
(ii) Find, in terms of c, the shortest distance from l to . [3]
(iii) Find the cartesian equation of the plane which contains the z-axis and is
perpendicular to . [2]

Q11 Roots of unity [ NYJC 10/JC 2 ]
(i) Solve the equation ( )
5
5
1 z z + = , leaving your answers in the form ( ) i cot a b + ,
where a, b and are real constants to be determined. [4]
(ii) Let A be the point representing the root of (i) with the largest argument on an
Argand diagram. Show that the equation of the circle centred at the origin that
passes through A is
1 2
cosec
2 5
z
| |
=
|
\
. [2]
(iii) Let B be the point where the circle stated in (ii) cuts the positive real axis. Find
angle ABO. Hence, show that
sin
10
tan
20
1 cos
10

| |
|
| |
\
=
|
| |
\
+
|
\
. [4]



Page 4 of 4
Q12 Areas and volumes [ AJC 10/JC 2 modified, MJC 10/JC 2 ]
(a) With the aid of a sketch, identify the region bounded by the curves
1
5
x
y
x
+
=

,
2
4 4 3 0 y x + = and the axes. [2]
Find the exact area. [6]

(b) (i) Find e cos d
x
x x

. [3]
(ii) Show that
2
2
2
e cos d 2 e cos 2 d
x x
x x x x



=

. [2]
(iii) Hence, find the volume of the solid formed when the finite region bounded by
the curve e cos 1
x
y x

= + , the axes and the line x = is rotated through 4

right angles about the x-axis. Give your answer in an exact form. [5]