2015 HIGHER SCHOOL CERTIFICATE

EXAMINATION

Mathematics

General Instructions Total marks – 100

• Reading time – 5 minutes
Section I Pages 2–6
• Working time – 3 hours
• Write using black pen 10 marks
• Board-approved calculators may • Attempt Questions 1–10
be used • Allow about 15 minutes for this section
• A table of standard integrals is
Section II Pages 7–17
provided at the back of this paper
• In Questions 11–16, show 90 marks
relevant mathematical reasoning • Attempt Questions 11–16
and/‌or calculations • Allow about 2 hours and 45 minutes for this
section

2590
Section I

10 marks
Attempt Questions 1–10
Allow about 15 minutes for this section

Use the multiple-choice answer sheet for Questions 1–10.

1 What is 0.005 233 59 written in scientific notation, correct to 4 significant figures?

(A) 5.2336 × 10–2

(B) 5.234 × 10–2
(C) 5.2336 × 10–3
(D) 5.234 × 10–3

2 What is the slope of the line with equation 2x − 4y + 3 = 0 ?

(A) − 2

1
(B) −
2
1
(C)
2
(D) 2

3 The first three terms of an arithmetic series are 3, 7 and 11.

What is the 15th term of this series?

(A) 59
(B) 63
(C) 465
(D) 495

–2–
 5
4 The probability that Mel’s soccer team wins this weekend is .
7
2
The probability that Mel’s rugby league team wins this weekend is .
3
What is the probability that neither team wins this weekend?

2
(A)
21
10
(B)
21
13
(C)
21
19
(D)
21

5 Using the trapezoidal rule with 4 subintervals, which expression gives the approximate
area under the curve y = xe x between x = 1 and x = 3?

(A)
4
(
1 1
e + 6e1.5 + 4e 2 + 10e 2.5 + 3e3 )
(B)
4
(
1 1
e + 3e1.5 + 4e 2 + 5e 2.5 + 3e3 )
(C)
2
(
1 1
e + 6e1.5 + 4e 2 + 10e 2.5 + 3e3 )
(D)
2
(
1 1
e + 3e1.5 + 4e 2 + 5e 2.5 + 3e3 )

–3–
6 What is the value of the derivative of  y = 2 sin 3x – 3 tan x  at  x = 0?

(A) –1
(B)   0
(C)   3
(D) –9

7 The diagram shows the parabola  y = 4x − x 2  meeting the line  y = 2x  at (0, 0) and
(2, 4).
y y = 2x

(2, 4)

(0, 0) (4, 0)
x

y = 4x – x 2

Which expression gives the area of the shaded region bounded by the parabola and the
line?

2
⌠
(A) ⎮ x 2 − 2x dx
⌡0

2
⌠
(B) ⎮ 2x − x 2 dx
⌡0

4
⌠
(C) ⎮ x 2 − 2x dx
⌡0

4
⌠
(D) ⎮ 2x − x 2 dx
⌡0

–4–
8 The diagram shows the graph of  y = e x (1 + x).

−2
−1 O x

How many solutions are there to the equation  e x (1 + x) = 1 − x 2?

(A) 0
(B) 1
(C) 2
(D) 3

9 A particle is moving along the x‑axis. The graph shows its velocity v metres per second
at time t seconds.

O 4 t

When  t = 0  the displacement x is equal to 2 metres.

What is the maximum value of the displacement x ?

(A) 8 m
(B) 14 m
(C) 16 m
(D) 18 m

–5–
 2
10 The diagram shows the area under the curve y = from x = 1 to x = d.
x

O 1 d x

What value of d makes the shaded area equal to 2?

(A) e
(B) e + 1
(C) 2e
(D) e2

–6–
Section II

90 marks
Attempt Questions 11–16
Allow about 2 hours and 45 minutes for this section

Answer each question in the appropriate writing booklet. Extra writing booklets are available.

In Questions 11–16, your responses should include relevant mathematical reasoning and/ or
calculations.

Question 11 (15 marks) Use the Question 11 Writing Booklet.

(a) Simplify 4x − (8 − 6x). 1

(b) Factorise fully 3x 2 – 27. 2

8
(c) Express with a rational denominator. 2
2+ 7

1 1 1
(d) Find the limiting sum of the geometric series 1 − + − +!. 2
4 16 64

(e) ( )5
Differentiate e x + x . 2

(f) Differentiate y = (x + 4) ln x . 2

π
⌠4
(g) Evaluate ⎮ cos 2x dx . 2
⌡0

⌠ x
(h) Find ⎮ 2 dx. 2
⌡ x −3

–7–
Question 12 (15 marks) Use the Question 12 Writing Booklet.

(a) Find the solutions of 2 sin q = 1 for 0 ≤ q ≤ 2p . 2

(b) The diagram shows the rhombus OABC.

The diagonal from the point A(7, 11) to the point C lies on the line l1.

The other diagonal, from the origin O to the point B, lies on the line l2 which
x
has equation y = − .
3
1
y
A(7,11)

x NOT TO
y=− SCALE
3
O x
D
B
2

(i) Show that the equation of the line l1 is y = 3x – 10. 2

(ii) The lines l1 and l2 intersect at the point D. 2

Find the coordinates of D.

Question 12 continues on page 9

–8–
Question 12 (continued)

x2 + 3
(c) Find ƒ ′ ( x ) , where ƒ ( x ) = . 2
x −1

(d) For what values of k does the quadratic equation  x2 – 8x + k = 0  have real 2
roots?

x2 1
(e) The diagram shows the parabola y = with focus S ⎛0, ⎞ . A tangent to the
2 ⎝ 2⎠
1
parabola is drawn at  P ⎛ 1, ⎞ .
⎝ 2⎠

x2
y y=
2

NOT TO
SCALE
1 1
S 0, P 1,
2 2

O x

(i) Find the equation of the tangent at the point P. 2

(ii) What is the equation of the directrix of the parabola? 1

(iii) The tangent and directrix intersect at Q.

Show that Q lies on the y-axis. 1

(iv) Show that rPQS is isosceles. 1

End of Question 12

–9–
Question 13 (15 marks) Use the Question 13 Writing Booklet.

(a) The diagram shows rABC with sides  AB = 6 cm,  BC = 4 cm and  AC = 8 cm.

8 cm NOT TO
4 cm
SCALE

A B
6 cm

7
(i) Show that cos A = . 1
8
(ii) By finding the exact value of sin A, determine the exact value of the area 2
of rABC.

(b) (i) Find the domain and range for the function ƒ ( x ) = 9 − x 2 . 2

(ii) On a number plane, shade the region where the points (x, y) satisfy both 2
2
of the inequalities y ≤ 9 − x and y ≥ x.

(c) Consider the curve y = x3 − x2 − x + 3.

(i) Find the stationary points and determine their nature. 4

1 70 ⎞
(ii) Given that the point P ⎛ , lies on the curve, prove that there is a 2
⎝ 3 27 ⎠
point of inflexion at P.

(iii) Sketch the curve, labelling the stationary points, point of inflexion 2
and  y-intercept.

– 10 –
Question 14 (15 marks) Use the Question 14 Writing Booklet.

(a) In a theme park ride, a chair is released from a height of 110 metres and
falls vertically. Magnetic brakes are applied when the velocity of the chair
reaches −37 metres per second.

Release point

110 m

Magnetic brakes NOT TO

SCALE

The height of the chair at time t seconds is x metres. The acceleration of the
chair is given by x!! = −10 . At the release point, t = 0, x = 110 and x! = 0 .

(i) Using calculus, show that x = − 5t 2 + 110. 2

(ii) How far has the chair fallen when the magnetic brakes are applied? 2

Question 14 continues on page 12

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Question 14 (continued)

(b) Weather records for a town suggest that:

5
• if a particular day is wet (W), the probability of the next day being dry is
6
1
• if a particular day is dry (D), the probability of the next day being dry is .
2

In a specific week Thursday is dry. The tree diagram shows the possible
outcomes for the next three days: Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Friday Saturday Sunday

1 W
6
W 5
1
6 D
6
W
5 1 W
1 6 2
D 1
2
2 D

1 W
1 6
W 5
2 1
6 D
2
D
1 1 W
2 2
D 1
2 D

2
(i) Show that the probability of Saturday being dry is . 1
3
(ii) What is the probability of both Saturday and Sunday being wet? 2

(iii) What is the probability of at least one of Saturday and Sunday being dry? 1

Question 14 continues on page 13

– 12 –
Question 14 (continued)

(c) Sam borrows $100 000 to be repaid at a reducible interest rate of 0.6% per
month. Let $An be the amount owing at the end of n months and $M be the
monthly repayment.

(i) Show that A2 = 100 000 (1.006 )2 − M (1 + 1.006 ) . 1

⎛ (1.006 )n − 1 ⎞
(ii) Show that An = 100 000 (1.006 ) − M ⎜
n
. 2
⎝ 0.006 ⎟⎠

(iii) Sam makes monthly repayments of $780. 1

Show that after making 120 monthly repayments the amount owing is
$68 500 to the nearest $100.

(iv) Immediately after making the 120th repayment, Sam makes a one-off 3
payment, reducing the amount owing to $48 500. The interest rate and
monthly repayment remain unchanged.

After how many more months will the amount owing be completely
repaid?

End of Question 14

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Question 15 (15 marks) Use the Question 15 Writing Booklet.

(a) The amount of caffeine, C, in the human body decreases according to the
equation

dC
= −0.14C,
dt

where C is measured in mg and t is the time in hours.

dC
(i) Show that C = Ae− 0.14t is a solution to = −0.14C, where A is 1
a constant. dt

When t = 0, there are 130 mg of caffeine in Lee’s body.

(ii) Find the value of A. 1

(iii) What is the amount of caffeine in Lee’s body after 7 hours? 1

(iv) What is the time taken for the amount of caffeine in Lee’s body to halve? 2

Question 15 continues on page 15

– 14 –
Question 15 (continued)

(b) The diagram shows rABC which has a right angle at C. The point D is the
midpoint of the side AC. The point E is chosen on AB such that AE = ED. The
line segment ED is produced to meet the line BC at F.

NOT TO
D SCALE

F C B

(i) Prove that rACB is similar to rDCF. 2

(ii) Explain why rEFB is isosceles. 1

(iii) Show that EB = 3AE. 2

(c) Water is flowing in and out of a rock pool. The volume of water in the pool at
time t hours is V litres. The rate of change of the volume is given by

dV
= 80sin ( 0.5t ) .
dt

At time  t = 0, the volume of water in the pool is 1200 litres and is increasing.

(i) After what time does the volume of water first start to decrease? 2

(ii) Find the volume of water in the pool when t = 3. 2

(iii) What is the greatest volume of water in the pool? 1

End of Question 15

– 15 –
Question 16 (15 marks) Use the Question 16 Writing Booklet.

(a) The diagram shows the curve with equation  y = x2 – 7x + 10. The curve
intersects the x-axis at points A and B. The point C on the curve has the same
y-coordinate as the y-intercept of the curve.

O A B x

(i) Find the x-coordinates of points A and B. 1

(ii) Write down the coordinates of C. 1

2
⌠

⌡0
(
(iii) Evaluate ⎮ x 2 − 7x + 10 dx.) 1

(iv) Hence, or otherwise, find the area of the shaded region. 2

Question 16 continues on page 17

– 16 –
Question 16 (continued)

(b) A bowl is formed by rotating the curve  y = 8 loge (x – 1) about the y-axis 3
for  0 ≤ y ≤ 6.
y

NOT TO
SCALE

O 2 x

Find the volume of the bowl. Give your answer correct to 1 decimal place.

(c) The diagram shows a cylinder of radius x and height y inscribed in a cone of
radius R and height H, where R and H are constants.

x H

1
The volume of a cone of radius r and height h is π r 2 h .
3
The volume of a cylinder of radius r and height h is pr 2h.

(i) Show that the volume, V, of the cylinder can be written as 3

H
V = π x 2 (R − x) .
R

(ii) By considering the inscribed cylinder of maximum volume, show that 4

4
the volume of any inscribed cylinder does not exceed of the volume
9
of the cone.

End of paper

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BLANK PAGE

– 18 –
BLANK PAGE

– 19 –
 STANDARD INTEGRALS

⌠ n 1 n+1
⎮ x dx = x , n ≠ −1; x ≠ 0, if n < 0
⌡ n +1

⌠ 1
⎮ x dx = ln x , x > 0
⌡

⌠ ax 1 ax
⎮ e dx = e , a≠0
⌡ a

⌠ 1
⎮ cos ax dx = sin ax , a ≠ 0
⌡ a

⌠ 1
⎮ sin ax dx = − cos ax , a ≠ 0
⌡ a

⌠ 2 1
⎮ sec ax dx = tan ax , a ≠ 0
⌡ a

⌠ 1
⎮ sec ax tan ax dx = a sec ax , a ≠ 0
⌡

⌠ 1 1 x
⎮ 2 dx = tan −1 , a ≠ 0
⌡ a + x2 a a

⌠ 1 x
⎮ dx = sin −1 , a > 0, − a < x < a
⌡ a
a2 − x 2

⌠
⎮
⌡ 2
x −a
1
2
dx ( )
= ln x + x 2 − a 2 , x > a > 0

⌠
⎮
⌡ 2
x +a
1
2
dx (
= ln x + x 2 + a 2 )
NOTE : ln x = loge x , x > 0

– 20 –
© 2015 Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards NSW