Copium High School

2023 TRIAL EXAMINATION

Mathematics Extension 2
“The beauty of mathematics is only shown to its patient followers.”

- Maryam Mirzakhani

General
• Reading time – 10 minutes
Instructions
• Working time – 3 hours
• Write using black pen
• Draw diagrams using pencil
• Calculators approved by NE SA may be used

Total marks:
Section I – 10 marks (pages 3–6)
100
• Attempt Questions 1–10
• Allow about 15 minutes for this section

Section II – 90 marks (pages 6–12)

• Attempt Questions 11–16
• Allow about 2 hours 45 minutes for this section
 Preface
This paper was a project made for fun in supporting our grade for the upcoming
HSC. Questions were made and chosen to have interesting certain concepts
outside the scope of a normal Extension 2 syllabus, but scaffolded in a way
such that Extension 2 students could still approach these ideas. Bear in mind
the paper will be slightly more challenging than a normal trial paper.
Thus even if you do not finish the paper under time, we encourage trying the
problems afterwards and enjoying the process of actively discussing with peers.
A solution document will also be written, and so if you could not solve a problem,
reading the solutions and considering the thought process behind the implications
is also encouraged. We believe this would allow students to benefit the most
from this paper and serve as good preparation for the harder questions to come
in Extension 2.
Solutions will have certain remarks and additional interesting information for
students who want further reading, so feel free to check these out. Hope you
enjoy the paper!

Acknowledgements
The questions in this paper are mostly originally made by us, while some were
found from various sources. We thank modelmat, the maker of this LaTeX exam
template, and Limerence, who modified this template, as it made formatting the
paper professionally much easier. We also thank the teachers who helped us edit
the paper and gave us important feedback on the wording of questions.

Daniel Seo & Sizhe Pan

–2–
Section I
10 marks
Attempt Questions 1–10
Allow about 15 minutes for this section
Use the multiple-choice answer sheet.

1 Given that positive numbers a, b, c satisfy a + 2b + 3c = 6, which of the

following expressions have the largest maximum value?

A. a2 bc

B. abc

C. ab2 c

D. ab2 c2

2 Evaluate: Z 1
ln(x + 1)
dx
0 ln(2 + x − x2 )

A. 1
1
B. 2

C. ln 2
ln 2
D. 2

3 Let a, b, x, y be non-zero real numbers satisfying (x + yi)2 = a + bi. Which

of the following is always true?

A. xy = b
√
a2 +b2 +a
B. y2 = 2
√
x2 ( a2 +b2 +a)2
C. y2
= b2

√
y2 ( a2 +b2 +a)2
D. x2
= b2

–3–
4 A particle moves in simple harmonic motion centred at the origin with
period π and amplitude 1. Find the maximum possible numerical value of
ẍ + ẋ + x, where ẍ, ẋ, x are the acceleration, velocity and displacement of
the particle respectively.
√
A. 2
√
B. 10

C. 3
√
D. 13

5 Find the number of pairs of positive integer solutions (m, n) satisfying

mn + 5m = 3n + 21

A. 1

B. 2

C. 3

D. 4

6 The line l has the vector equation

   
1 4
r = 0 + λ 3
  
˜ 2 0

Consider an interval on the line l where −1 ≤ λ ≤ 0.  

5
What is the shortest distance from the interval to the point  −3 ?
−10

A. 13
q
B. 4 62
5

√
C. 4 13

D. 14

–4–


7 Complex numbers z, ω satisfy Re 1
z+ω
= 3 and |z| = |ω| = 1. Which of
the following is equal to zω+1
z+ω
?

A. 6

B. 3 + 3i

C. 3 − 3i

D. 9

8 M is the midpoint of BC in △ABC. Which of the following is equal to

−→ −→
|AB|2 + |AC|2 ?
−−→ −−→
A. |AM |2 + 2|BC|2
−−→ −−→
|BM |2
B. 2|AM |2 + 2

−−→ −−→
C. |AM |2 + 2|BM |2
−−→ −
−→
|BC|2
D. 2|AM |2 + 2

9 Consider the following statement for positive integers a, b:

“If 3 divides a − b then 3 divides a3 − b3 .”
Which of the following is always true?

A. The statement is correct and its converse is incorrect.

B. The statement is incorrect and its converse is correct.

C. The statement is incorrect and its converse is incorrect.

D. The statement is correct and its converse is correct.

10 Let z1 , z2 , z3 be three distinct complex numbers. It is known that the three

points representing these complex numbers lie on a line not passing through
the origin. Which of the following is always true about the circle Γ passing
through z11 , z12 , z13 ?

A. The origin lies on Γ.

B. The origin lies strictly inside Γ.

C. The origin lies strictly outside Γ.

D. A combination of A, B, C may occur depending on the location of

z1 , z 2 , z 3 .

–5–
Section II
90 marks
Attempt Questions 11–16
Allow about 2 hours for this section
Start a new page for each new question. Show full working out.

Question 11 (13 marks)

(a) i. Expand and simplify (− cos(x + y + z)) in terms of cos and sin of 1
x, y, z.

ii. Hence, using appropriate substitutions, prove for real numbers a, b 2

and c:
(ab + bc + ac − 1)2 ≤ (a2 + 1)(b2 + 1)(c2 + 1)

(b) Using the substitution x = u1 , or otherwise, show that 2

Z ∞
1 1
p dx = π
1 x (x − 1)(3x + 1) 3

(c) i. Prove that z = 1

z
if and only if |z| = 1. 2

ii. For complex numbers a, b, c satisfying |a| = |b| = |c| = 1, find all 2
possible values of
abc + a + b + c
ab + bc + ca + 1
as a, b, c vary along the unit circle.

(d) The line ℓ has vector equation r = λs, where

˜ ˜
√ √ √
s = (cos θ + 3)i + 2 sin θj + (cos θ − 3)k
˜ ˜ ˜ ˜
and λ ∈ R.

i. Let line m have vector equation u = µ(ai + bj + ck) where µ ∈ R and 2

˜ √ ˜ ˜ 2˜
a, b, c ∈ R are constants satisfying a2 + b2 + c = 1. Find the angle
between lines ℓ and m in terms of a, b, c and θ.

ii. Hence, prove there exists a fixed line m passing through the origin 2
such that the angle between m and ℓ is always 16 π as θ varies.

–6–
Question 12 (16 marks)

(a) A dilation is defined as a transformation of a complex number z represented

by f (z) = az + b for a ∈ R, a ̸= 0 and b ∈ C.

i. Prove that the triangle with vertices represented by the complex 2

numbers z1 , z2 , z3 is similar to its dilated triangle with vertices
f (z1 ), f (z2 ), f (z3 ).

ii. Let there be two loci γ, δ described by the cartesian equations 2

γ : y = ax2 + bx + c

δ : y = x2 + bx + ac
Let two triangles be defined having vertices on γ with x = at , ua , av as
well as δ with x = t, u, v. Using part i., prove the two triangles are
similar.

(b) Two points A and B lie on a horizontal ground. A particle P1 undergoes 4

projectile motion from point A towards B at an acute angle of elevation
α and simultaneously a particle P2 is projected from point B towards A
at an angle of elevation β. Given that the two particles collide in the air
at a horizontal distance of b from B, and the collision occurs after P1 has
attained its maximum height of h, show that

2h cot β < b < 4h cot β

(c) For the following question, you may assume the following:
a1 + a2 + a3 + · · · + an−1 + an √
≥ n a1 a2 a3 . . . an−1 an (Do NOT prove this.)
n
for positive real numbers a1 , a2 , a3 , . . . , an .

i. Prove for positive real numbers a, b, c 3

a b c 3
+ + ≥
b+c c+a a+b 2

ii. Prove for positive real numbers a, b that a7 + b7 ≥ a5 b2 + a2 b5 . 2

iii. Hence using a suitable substitution, or otherwise, find the minimum 3

value of
a3 b3 c3
+ +
b+c c+a a+b
for positive real numbers a, b, c and abc = 1.

–7–
Question 13 (14 marks)

(a) For integers n ≥ 0 let

Z π
2
In = e−x (sin x)n dx
0

i. For integers n ≥ 2, prove that 3

1

−e− 2 + n(n − 1)In−2
π
In =
n2 +1

ii. Find the maximum value of xe−x for x ≥ 0. 1

iii. Hence prove for integers n ≥ 2 3

1
In <
e

iv. Prove by contradiction that if a, b, c, d are positive real numbers such 1

that a ≥ c and b ≥ d, then ab + cd ≥ ad + bc.

v. Prove that if a continuous function f (x) is defined for 0 ≤ x ≤ π

2
, 1
then Z π Z π
2 4
π 
f (x)dx = f (x) + f − x dx
0 0 2

vi. For integers n ≥ 0, let 3

Z π
2
Jn = e−x (cos x)n dx.
0

Using part iv. and v., or otherwise, prove that Jn ≥ In for all n ≥ 0.

vii. For integers n ≥ 2, prove Jn − In ≤ Jn−2 − In−2 . 2

–8–
Question 14 (16 marks)

(a) A tetromino tile is a tile that can be formed by gluing together four unit
square tiles, edge to edge. For each positive integer n, consider a bathroom
whose floor is in the shape of a 2 × 2n rectangle. Let Tn be the number of
ways to tile this bathroom floor with tetromino tiles. For example, T2 = 4
since there are four ways to tile a 2 × 4 rectangular bathroom floor with
tetromino tiles, as shown below.

i. Let Fn be the Fibonacci sequence, defined as Fn+2 = Fn+1 + Fn for 2

n ≥ 0, and F0 = 1, F1 = 1. Prove for positive integers n:

Fn2 + Fn−3
2 2
= 2(Fn−1 2
+ Fn−2 ).

ii. If the tetromino covering the leftmost 2 × 1 column of the 2 × 2n 1

rectangle is a 2 × 2 square, explain why the number of ways to tile
the rectangle is now Tn−1 .

iii. If the leftmost 2×1 column is covered by two horizontal 1×4 rectangles 1
instead, explain why the number of ways to tile the rectangle is Tn−2 .

iv. It is given that if the leftmost column of the 2×2n rectangle is covered 3
by an L-shaped tetromino, the number of ways to tile the rectangle
is 2(T0 + T1 + . . . + Tn−2 ) (do NOT prove this.) Hence, prove that
for positive integers n ≥ 3,

Tn − 2Tn−1 − 2Tn−2 + Tn−3 = 0

v. Hence, prove by mathematical induction that Tn = Fn2 for all positive 2

integers n.

Question 14 continues on page 9

–9–
(b) i. Let A and B be two distinct points on the unit circle of the Argand 3
diagram representing complex numbers a, b and let Z be an arbitrary
point representing complex number z.
Prove the complex number ω representing the foot of the perpendicular
from Z to AB is given by
1
ω = (a + b + z − abz)
2

Im
i
Z
•

−1 O 1 Re
•
A •
ω •
B
−i

ii. Let A represent the complex number 1 on the Argand diagram, and 4
let B, C represent complex numbers b and c respectively with |b| =
|c| = 1. Triangle ABC is acute and scalene. Let M be the midpoint of
BC and let P, Q represent the complex numbers p and q respectively
such that M P, M Q are perpendicular to AB, AC respectively.
Prove that the line passing through M and N , the midpoint of P Q,
is parallel to line AO, where O is the origin.

Im
C i
•
•Q

M N
• • A
•
−1 O 1 Re
•
• P
B
−i

End of Question 14

Please turn over

– 10 –
Question 15 (16 marks)

(a) i. The line ℓ has vector equation v = r + λu, λ ∈ R. If ℓ is tangent 2

˜ c,˜prove˜ using contradiction, ℓ is
at point r to a sphere with centre
˜
perpendicular to r − c. ˜
˜ ˜
ii. By using Pythagoras Theorem, or otherwise, prove that tangents from 1
a point to a sphere have equal length.

iii. Define the three lines 1

 
13
ℓ 1 : r 1 = λ1  3  λ1 ∈ R
˜ −4
 
5
ℓ2 : r2 = λ2 −12 λ2 ∈ R
˜ −5
 
11
ℓ 3 : r 3 = λ3 3  λ 3 ∈ R

˜ 8

Assume sphere S with centre c is tangent to ℓ1 , ℓ2 , ℓ3 . Explain why

the angles between c and each ˜of ℓ1 , ℓ2 , ℓ3 are equal.
˜
iv. By considering dot products, or otherwise, find the equation describing 2
the locus of c.
˜
(b) A particle moves in a straight line such that its displacement from a
fixed origin O at time t seconds is x metres and its velocity v ms−1 . Its
acceleration, a ms−2 , is a = 3(1 − x2 ) and the particle starts from O with
an initial velocity of 4 ms−1 .

i. Show that v 2 = 16 + 6x − 2x3 . 1

ii. Will the particle ever return to the origin? Justify your answer. 2

(c) i. By finding two expressions, one larger and one smaller than n2 +n+1, 2
prove that n2 +n+1 cannot be a perfect square for any positive integer
n.

ii. Prove for all positive integers n, that n4 + 2n3 + 2n2 + 2n + 1 cannot 1
be a perfect square.

iii. Prove that there are a finite number of primes numbers p such that 4
p3 − 4p + 9 is a perfect square.

– 11 –
Question 16 (15 marks)

(a) A particle of unit mass is launched from ground height with initial speed
1 ms−1 and launch angle θ where 0 <θ <π2 . In addition to experiencing
0
a downwards gravitational force of m newtons, it also experiences a
  −g  
ẋ ẋ
resistive force km in the opposite direction to its velocity, where
ẏ     ẏ
ẍ x
is the velocity of the particle. Let and be the acceleration and
ÿ y
displacement of the particle, respectively. Assume the particle’s vertical
velocity is positive for 0 < t < tm , zero at t = tm and negative for t > tm
until it hits the ground again.

i. Show that x = cos θ

k
(1 − e−kt ). 2

ii. Show that 1

g
e−ktm =
g + k sin θ

iii. Hence, assuming θ maximises y at time tm , if sin θ = n then prove 3

kn3 + 2gn2 − g = 0
You may assume that the above equation has exactly one solution for
0 < θ < π2 .

(b) i. Solve for complex numbers z such that z n = 1, where n is a positive 2

integer.

ii. Hence, if ω is the cube root of unity with smallest positive argument, 2
solve for z in the equation
z 6 + ωz 5 + ω 2 z 4 + z 3 + ωz 2 + ω 2 z + 1 = 0

(c) i. If f (x), g(x) are continuous functions defined on the interval [a, b], by 2
Rb
considering the expression a [tf (x) − g(x)]2 , prove
Z b 2 Z b  Z b 
f (x)g(x)dx ≤ 2
f (x) dx 2
g(x) dx
a a a

ii. The function

R 1 f (x) is defined on
R 1 the interval [0, 1] and f (x) ≥ 1 for all 3
2
real x. If 0 f (x)dx = 2 and 0 f (x) dx = 5, prove that
Z 1
f (x)3 dx ≥ 14
0

End of Paper

– 12 –