STEP III, 2005 2

Section A: Pure Mathematics

π
1 Show that sin A = cos B if and only if A = (4n + 1) ± B for some integer n.
2
  √
Show also that  sin x ± cos x 6 2 for all values of x and deduce that there are no solutions
to the equation sin (sin x) = cos (cos x).

Sketch, on the same axes, the graphs of y = sin (sin x) and y = cos (cos x). Sketch, not on the
previous axes, the graph of y = sin (2 sin x).

dy xy
2 Find the general solution of the differential equation =− 2 , where a 6= 0 , and show
dx x + a2
2 2 2 2
that it can be written in the form y (x + a ) = c , where c is an arbitrary constant. Sketch
this curve.
d 2
Find an expression for (x + y 2 ) and show that
dx
d2 2 c2 8c2 x2
 
2
(x + y ) = 2 1 − + .
dx2 (x2 + a2 )2 (x2 + a2 )3

(i) Show 2
 that,cif 0 < c < a , the points on the curve whose distance from the origin is least
are 0 , ± .
a

(ii) If c > a2 , determine the points on the curve whose distance from the origin is least.

3 Let f (x) = x2 + px + q and g (x) = x2 + rx + s . Find an expression for f (g (x)) and hence
find a necessary and sufficient condition on a, b and c for it to be possible to write the quartic
expression x4 + ax3 + bx2 + cx + d in the form f (g (x)), for some choice of values of p, q, r
and s.

Show further that this condition holds if and only if it is possible to write the quartic expression
x4 + ax3 + bx2 + cx + d in the form (x2 + vx + w)2 − k, for some choice of values of v, w and k.

Find the roots of the quartic equation x4 − 4x3 + 10x2 − 12x + 4 = 0 .

 STEP III, 2005 3

4 The sequence un (n = 1, 2, . . .) satisfies the recurrence relation

un+1
un+2 = (kun − un+1 )
un
where k is a constant.

If u1 = a and u2 = b , where a and b are non-zero and b 6= ka , prove by induction that

b
u2n = u2n−1
a
u2n+1 = cu2n
for n > 1, where c is a constant to be found in terms of k, a and b. Hence express u2n and
u2n−1 in terms of a, b, c and n.

Find conditions on a, b and k in the three cases:

(i) the sequence un is geometric;

(ii) the sequence un has period 2;

(iii) the sequence un has period 4.

5 Let P be the point on the curve y = ax2 + bx + c (where a is non-zero) at which the gradient
is m. Show that the equation of the tangent at P is

(m − b)2
y − mx = c − .
4a

Show that the curves y = a1 x2 + b1 x + c1 and y = a2 x2 + b2 x + c2 (where a1 and a2 are non-

zero) have a common tangent with gradient m if and only if

(a2 − a1 )m2 + 2(a1 b2 − a2 b1 )m + 4a1 a2 (c2 − c1 ) + a2 b21 − a1 b22 = 0 .

Show that, in the case a1 6= a2 , the two curves have exactly one common tangent if and only
if they touch each other. In the case a1 = a2 , find a necessary and sufficient condition for the
two curves to have exactly one common tangent.
 STEP III, 2005 4

6 In this question, you may use without proof the results

 p 
4 cosh3 y − 3 cosh y = cosh(3y) and arcosh y = ln y + y 2 − 1 .

[ Note: arcoshy is another notation for cosh−1 y ]

Show that the equation x3 − 3a2 x = 2a3 cosh T is satisfied by 2a cosh 31 T and hence that, if

2 3 3 b  √ 1
3
c > b > 0, one of the roots of the equation x −3bx = 2c is u+ , where u = c + c − b2 3 .
u
Show that the other two roots of the equation x3 − 3bx = 2c are the roots of the quadratic
b
b2
equation x2 + u + x + u2 + 2 − b = 0 , and find these roots in terms of u, b and ω, where
√ u u
ω = 12 (−1 + i 3).

Solve completely the equation x3 − 6x = 6 .

1
Z Z
m
7 Show that if du = F(u) + c , then dx = F(xm ) + c , where m 6= 0.
u f (u) x f (xm )
Find:
1
Z
(i) dx ;
xn − x

1
Z
(ii) √ dx .
xn+ x2

8 In this question, a and c are distinct non-zero complex numbers. The complex conjugate of
any complex number z is denoted by z ∗ .

Show that
|a − c|2 = aa∗ + cc∗ − ac∗ − ca∗
and hence prove that the triangle OAC in the Argand diagram, whose vertices are represented
by 0, a and c respectively, is right angled at A if and only if 2aa∗ = ac∗ + ca∗ .
a
Points P and P ′ in the Argand diagram are represented by the complex numbers ab and ∗ ,
b
where b is a non-zero complex number. A circle in the Argand diagram has centre C and
passes through the point A, and is such that OA is a tangent to the circle. Show that the
point P lies on the circle if and only if the point P ′ lies on the circle.
a
Conversely, show that if the points represented by the complex numbers ab and ∗ , for some
b
non-zero complex number b with bb∗ 6= 1 , both lie on a circle centre C in the Argand diagram
which passes through A, then OA is a tangent to the circle.
 STEP III, 2005 5

Section B: Mechanics

9 Two particles, A and B, move without friction along a horizontal line which is perpendicular to
a vertical wall. The coefficient of restitution between the two particles is e and the coefficient
of restitution between particle B and the wall is also e, where 0 < e < 1. The mass of
particle A is 4em (with m > 0), and the mass of particle B is (1 − e)2 m .

Initially, A is moving towards the wall with speed (1 − e)v (where v > 0) and B is moving
away from the wall and towards A with speed 2ev. The two particles collide at a distance d
from the wall. Find the speeds of A and B after the collision.

When B strikes the wall, it rebounds along the same line. Show that a second collision will
take place, at a distance de from the wall.

Deduce that further collisions will take place. Find the distance from the wall at which the
nth collision takes place, and show that the times between successive collisions are equal.

10 Two thin discs, each of radius r and mass m, are held on a rough horizontal surface with their
πmg
centres a distance 6r apart. A thin light elastic band, of natural length 2πr and modulus ,
12
is wrapped once round the discs, its straight sections being parallel. The contact between the
elastic band and the discs is smooth. The coefficient of static friction between each disc and
the horizontal surface is µ, and each disc experiences a force due to friction equal to µmg
when it is sliding.

The discs are released simultaneously. If the discs collide, they rebound and a half of their
total kinetic energy is lost in the collision.

(i) Show that the discs start sliding, but come to rest before colliding, if and only if
2
3 < µ < 1.

(ii) Show that, if the discs collide at least once, their total kinetic energy just before the
first collision is 34 mgr(2 − 3µ).

4 5
(iii) Show that if 9 > µ2 > 27 the discs come to rest exactly once after the first collision.
 STEP III, 2005 6

11 A horizontal spindle rotates freely in a fixed bearing. Three light rods are each attached by
one end to the spindle so that they rotate in a vertical plane. A particle of mass m is fixed
to the other end of each of the three rods. The rods have lengths a, b and c, with a > b > c
and the angle between any pair of rods is 23 π. The angle between the rod of length a and the
vertical is θ, as shown in the diagram.

a
θ
2
c 3π
2
3π b

Find an expression for the energy of the system and show that, if the system is in equilibrium,
then √
(b − c) 3
tan θ = − .
2a − b − c
Deduce that there are exactly two equilibrium positions and determine which of the two
equilibrium positions is stable.

Show that, for the system to make complete revolutions, it must pass through its position of
stable equilibrium with an angular velocity of at least
r
4gR
,
a + b2 + c2
2

where 2R2 = (a − b)2 + (b − c)2 + (c − a)2 .

 STEP III, 2005 7

Section C: Probability and Statistics

12 Five independent timers time a runner as she runs four laps of a track. Four of the timers
measure the individual lap times, the results of the measurements being the random variables
T1 to T4 , each of which has variance σ 2 and expectation equal to the true time for the lap.
The fifth timer measures the total time for the race, the result of the measurement being the
random variable T which has variance σ 2 and expectation equal to the true race time (which
is equal to the sum of the four true lap times).

Find a random variable X of the form aT + b(T1 + T2 + T3 + T4 ), where a and b are constants
independent of the true lap times, with the two properties:

(1) whatever the true lap times, the expectation of X is equal to the true race time;

(2) the variance of X is as small as possible.

Find also a random variable Y of the form cT + d(T1 + T2 + T3 + T4 ), where c and d are
constants independent of the true lap times, with the property that, whatever the true lap
times, the expectation of Y 2 is equal to σ 2 .

In one particular race, T takes the value 220 seconds and (T1 + T2 + T3 + T4 ) takes the value
220.5 seconds. Use the random variables X and Y to estimate an interval in which the true
race time lies.

13 A pack of cards consists of n + 1 cards, which are printed with the integers from 0 to n.
A game consists of drawing cards repeatedly at random from the pack until the card printed
with 0 is drawn, at which point the game ends. After each draw, the player receives £1 if the
card drawn shows any of the integers from 1 to w inclusive but receives nothing if the card
drawn shows any of the integers from w + 1 to n inclusive.

(i) In one version of the game, each card drawn is replaced immediately and randomly in
the pack. Explain clearly why the probability that the player wins a total of exactly £3
is equal to the probability of the following event occurring: out of the first four cards
drawn which show numbers in the range 0 to w, the numbers on the first three are
non-zero and the number on the fourth is zero. Hence show that the probability that
w3
the player wins a total of exactly £3 is equal to .
(w + 1)4
Write down the probability that the player wins a total of exactly £r and hence find
the expected total win.

(ii) In another version of the game, each card drawn is removed from the pack. Show that
the expected total win in this version is half of the expected total win in the other
version.
 STEP III, 2005 8

14 In this question, you may use the result

Z ∞
tm m! (n − m)!
dt = ,
0 (t + k)n+2 (n + 1)! kn−m+1

where m and n are positive integers with n > m , and where k > 0 .

The random variable V has density function

C ka+1 xa
f (x) = (0 6 x < ∞) ,
(x + k)2a+2

(2a + 1)!
where a is a positive integer. Show that C = .
a! a!
Show, by means of a suitable substitution, that
Z v Z ∞
xa ua
2a+2
dx = du
k2 (u + k)2a+2
0 (x + k) v

and deduce that the median value of V is k. Find the expected value of V .

The random variable V represents the speed of a randomly chosen gas molecule. The time
s
taken for such a particle to travel a fixed distance s is given by the random variable T = .
V
Show that Z ∞
C ka+1 xa
P(T < t) = dx (∗)
s (x + k)2a+2
t

and hence find the density function of T . You may find it helpful to make the substitution
s
u = in the integral (∗).
x
Hence show that the product of the median time and the median speed is equal to the dis-
tance s, but that the product of the expected time and the expected speed is greater than s.