H2 Math (9740) JC2 MSM: EQUATIONS

1 The first four terms of a sequence are given by T1 = 1, T2 = 2, T3 = 4 and T4 = 8 . Given

that Tr is a cubic polynomial in r, find Tr in terms of r. [4]

[2011/PJC/Prelim II/1]
[Solution]
Let sequence, Tr = ar 3 + br 2 + cr + d
then a +b + c + d =1
8a + 4b + 2c + d = 2
27 a + 9b + 3c + d = 4
64a + 16b + 4c + d = 8
1 1 4
Using GC: a = , b = − , c = , d = 0
6 2 3

1 3 1 2 4
Tr = r − r + r
6 2 3

1
H2 Math (9740) JC2 MSM: EQUATIONS

2 A Sumo wrestler would like to have fish fillet, salad and fries for breakfast. As he is
on a special diet, he must make sure that his intake (in grams) of protein,
carbohydrates and fats per meal is in the ratio of 4:8:3. The table below shows the
nutritional breakdown for one serving of each item.

Protein Carbohydrates Fats

(in grams) (in grams) (in grams)
Fish Fillet 150 60 25
Salad with dressing 15 30 5
Fries 5 250 110
Calculate the ratio of the servings of fish fillet, salad and fries that the wrestler should
take. [2009/NJC/Prelim II/2]
[Solution]
Let x, y, z be the number of servings of fish fillet, salad and fries.

150x + 15y + 5z = 4k

60x + 30y + 250z = 8k

25x + 5y + 110z = 3k where k is a constant.

150X + 15Y + 5Z = 4

60X + 30Y + 250Z = 8

x y z
25X + 5Y + 110Z = 3 , where X = , Y = and Z =
k k k

Solving matrix or simultaneous equations

X = 0.02, Y = 0.06, Z =0.02

Thus, ratio is 1:3:1

2
H2 Math (9740) JC2 MSM: EQUATIONS

3 The diagram below shows the cross-section of a single track tunnel entrance for
steam-engine in a model train system. The elliptical entrance of the tunnel can be
modelled by the equation
x 2 + Ay 2 + By + C = 0 .

The highest point of the tunnel entrance is 7 cm directly above the origin at ground
level. The track, mounted on track bed PS, is centred about the origin. A train carrying
containers which measured 2 cm wide may stack goods as high as 6.8 cm.

Solve for the constants A, B and C, to 4 decimal places. Hence find the length of the
widest part of the tunnel, to the nearest 0.1 cm. [6]

2 cm

7 cm
6.8 cm

P O S Ox

4.3cm [2008/ACJC/Prelim II/2]

[Solution]

x 2 + Ay 2 + By + C = 0
Sub (2.15, 0) , C = −2.152 = −4.6225
2
Sub (1, 6.8) , 1 + 6.8 A + 6.8 B + C = 0
46.24 A + 6.8 B = 3.6225

Sub (0, 7) , 49 A + 7 B + C = 0
49 A + 7 B = 4.6225
Solving, A = 0.6381827731 = 0.6382 (4 dec pl)
B = −3.806922269 = −3.8069 (4 dec pl)
x + 0.63818 y 2 − 3.8069 y − 4.6225 = 0
2

x 2 + 0.63818( y 2 − 5.9653 y ) − 4.6225 = 0

x 2 + 0.63818[( y − 2.9826) 2 − 8.8961] − 4.6225 = 0
x 2 + 0.63818( y − 2.9826) 2 = 10.300
When y = 2.9826, x 2 = 10.300 ∴ x = 3.2093
Widest part of tunnel is 6.4 cm (to 1 d.p.)

3
H2 Math (9740) JC2 MSM: EQUATIONS

4 A piece of alloy made from gold, silver and bronze weighs 136 g. A second piece of
alloy weighs 323 g and contains the same amount of gold, twice as much silver, and
three times as much bronze as the first piece. A third piece of alloy weighs 238 g and
contains 4 times as much gold, one third as much silver, and same amount of bronze
as the second piece. Find the respective amounts of gold, silver and bronze used in the
first piece of alloy. [3]
[2009/RJC/Promo/1]
[Solution]
Let x , y and z be the respective amounts (in grams) of gold, silver and bronze used
in the first piece of alloy. Then

x + y + z = 136
x + 2 y + 3z = 323
4 x + 23 y + 3z = 238

Use calculator to obtain x = 5 , y = 75 , z = 56 .

So the first piece of alloy uses 5 g of gold, 75 g of silver, 56 g of bronze.

5 The graph of y = f ( x ) passes through the points (1, 2 ) , ( −1,3) and ( 2, 2 ) . Given that
f ' ( x ) = 3ax 2 + 2bx + 2 , where a and b are constants, find f ( x ) . [4]

[2011/ACJC/Prelim II/1]
[Solution]
f ' ( x ) = 3ax 2 + 2bx + 2

⇒ f ( x ) = ax3 + bx 2 + 2 x + c

Curve passes through (1,2) ⇒ a + b + c = 0 − − − − − − − − − −(1)

Curve passes through (−1,3) ⇒ − a + b + c = 5 − − − − − − − − − − (2)

Curve passes through (2,2) ⇒ 8a + 4b + c = −2 − − − − − − − − − − (3)

5 31 8
a=− , b= , c=−
2 6 3

5 31 8
∴ f ( x ) = − x3 + x 2 + 2 x −
2 6 3

4
H2 Math (9740) JC2 MSM: EQUATIONS

6 An online shopper from Singapore (currency Singapore Dollar, symbol $) wants to

purchase a watch, a ring and a pair of shoes from web portals based in France (Euro,
€), UK (British Pound Sterling, £) and Japan (Japanese Yen, ¥) respectively using
credit cards from three banks.
Each bank imposes foreign exchange rates depending on the currencies in which the
purchases are made. Checks with the banks reveal that if she is to proceed with the
purchases, she would incur total credit bills listed in the table below:
Credit Card Foreign Exchange Rates Total bill in $
€/$ £/$ ¥/$
A 0.5501 0.4895 67.0933 1154.92
B 0.5321 0.4990 67.8542 1156.98
C 0.5674 0.4910 65.0450 1138.99
Given that she decides to purchase each of her items using the credit card which offers
the most favourable exchange rate, determine the total expenditure for her purchases,
to the nearest $. [5]
[2011/TJC/J1/Lecture Test]
[Solution]
Let €x, £y, ¥z be the cost of the watch, ring and shoes respectively.

1 1 1
Card A: x+ y+ z = 1154.92 -------(1)
0.5501 0.4895 67.0933

1 1 1
Card B: x+ y+ z = 1156.98 -------(2)
0.5321 0.4990 67.8542

1 1 1
Card C: x+ y+ z = 1138.99 -------(3)
0.5674 0.4910 65.0450

Using the GC, x = 250.06, y = 341.83, z = 135.02

Total expenditure
1 1 1
= ( 250.06 ) + ( 341.83) + (135.83)
0.5674 0.4990 67.8542
= $1127.74 ≈ $1128 (nearest $)

5
H2 Math (9740) JC2 MSM: EQUATIONS

7 The cubic curve C has a maximum point A and a minimum point B. The line segment
2
AB is the diameter of a circle with equation ( x − 5 ) + y 2 = 25 . Given that the
x-coordinate of B is 1, find the equation of C.
[2011/TJC/JCT/JC1/4]
[Solution]
Since AB is the diameter of the circle with centre (5, 0) and the x-coordinate of B is 1,
then the x-coordinate of A must be 9.

2
When x = 1, (1 − 5 ) + y 2 = 25 A
⇒ y = −3 or 3
Reject y = 3 because if B is the point
(1,3), then A will be lower than B which
is not possible since B is the minimum
point of the cubic curve.
Therefore, B has coordinates (1,−3) and
A has coordinates (9, 3).

Let y = ax3 + bx 2 + cx + d be the equation of C.

dy
∴ = 3ax 2 + 2bx + c .
dx
Since max and min pts are (9, 3) and (1, −3) respectively, we have
 243a + 18b + c = 0
729a + 81b + 9c + d = 3


 3a + 2b + c = 0
 a + b + c + d = −3

Using GC,
a = −0.0234, b = 0.352, c = −0.633, d = −2.70 (corr to 3 s.f.)
∴ y = −0.0234 x3 + 0.352 x 2 − 0.633 x − 2.70

6
H2 Math (9740) JC2 MSM: EQUATIONS

8 The usual selling price of a T-box game console, a Kinect sensor and a game DVD is
$499 in total. During the Great Singapore Sale, two companies, P and Q, offered the
following discounts to their customers:

Company Discounts given for each item Total price

T-box game Kinect sensor Game DVD after the
console discount
P 10% 15% 10% $439.15
Q 5% 25% 20% $426.30
The employees from Company P are offered a further 5% discount on the original
price of both the Kinect sensor and the Game DVD. Determine if this additional
discount will make it more attractive for the employees to purchase all the 3 items
from their own company than from Company Q.
[2011/AJC/Prelims I]
[Solution]
Let the price of a T-box console be $x, a Kinect sensor be $y and a Game DVD be $z.

x + y + z = 499
0.9 x + 0.85 y + 0.9 z = 439.15
0.95 x + 0.75 y + 0.8 z = 426.30

Using GC, x = 247 , y = 199 , z = 53

Employees of Company P will pay $[0.9(247)+0.8(199)+0.85(53)]

= $426.55 > $426.30.

No, it will not be more attractive for employees to purchase all the 3 items from own
company.

7
H2 Math (9740) JC2 MSM: EQUATIONS

9 The diagram below shows a portion of a quadratic curve y = f ( x ) . The area of the
19
shaded region bounded by the axes, the curve y = f ( x ) and the line x = 1 is units2.
6
 13   1
Given also that the curve passes through the points 1,  and  −2,  , determine the
 2  2
equation of the curve. y

y = f ( x)

O 1 x [2011/MJC/PrelimI/6b]

[Solution]
Let f ( x ) = ax 2 + bx + c

 13   1
Substitute 1,  and  −2,  into y = f ( x ) to obtain:
 2  2

13
a+b+c = ...... (1)
2

1
4a − 2b + c = ...... ( 2 )
2

1 19
∫ ( ax + bx + c ) dx =
2
0 6
1

 ax 
3 2
bx 19
=
 3 +
2
+ cx
 6
0

a b 19
+ +c = ...... ( 3)
3 2 6

Using G.C. to solve equations (1), (2) and (3)

1
a = 2, b = 4, c =
2

1
Therefore equation of the curve is y = 2 x 2 + 4 x +
2

8
H2 Math (9740) JC2 MSM: EQUATIONS

10 N is a three-digit positive number that is 26 times the sum of its digits. When the
digits of N are reversed, the new number is 198 more than N. Given that the digits
of N are 3 consecutive terms of an arithmetic progression, find N. [4]
[2014/MJC/mid year/1]
[Solution]
Let N be the 3-digit number abc, where a, b, c ∈ ℤ , 1 ≤ a, c ≤ 9 , 0 ≤ b ≤ 9 .

The 3 digits are consecutive terms of a GP:

By GC, a = 2, b = 3, c = 4. Thus N is the number 234.

Alternative solution
Let a be the first digit of N and d be the common difference between the digits.

Simplifying,

Using GC,

9
H2 Math (9740) JC2 MSM: EQUATIONS

11 In a petroleum refinery, 2 types of petrol: regular and premium, are obtained by

blending naphtha and reformed gasoline in a certain ratio.
The refinery processes 900 barrels of naphtha and 700 barrels of reformed gasoline
daily, with no left-over for both naphtha and reformed gasoline. These barrels of oil
will either undergo Process 1 to obtain regular petrol or Process 2 to obtain premium
petrol.
Process1
6 barrels of naphtha and 8 barrels of reformed gasoline are refined to produce 12
barrels of regular petrol.
Process 2
10 barrels of naphtha and 5 barrels of reformed gasoline are refined to produce 10
barrels of premium petrol.
Using the information above to show that the number of barrels of regular petrol
produced daily is 600.
The cost of oil is as follows:
Oil Naphtha Gasoline Regular Petrol Premium Petrol
Cost / barrel $130 $100 $250 $280
The company’s engineer, Simon, pointed out that the profit earned from sales of
premium petrol is lower than that of regular oil. Hence, he suggested that the price of
premium petrol should be adjusted to ensure that selling both petrol is equally
profitable.
(i) Showing your working clearly, justify that it is more profitable to sell one barrel
of regular petrol than selling one barrel of premium petrol. [3]
(ii) What should be the new price of the premium petrol to ensure that it is equally
profitable to sell it, compared to selling regular petrol? [2]
(iii) Explain whether the company will adopt Simon’s suggestion of a price
adjustment. [2]
[2009/VJC/J1MCT/3]
[Solution]
Let x and y be the number of barrels of regular and premium petrol respectively.
x y
× 6 + ×10 = 900
12 10
x y
× 8 + × 5 = 700
12 10
By GC : x = 600, y = 600
Thus, number of barrels of regular petrol produced daily is 600. (Shown)

10
H2 Math (9740) JC2 MSM: EQUATIONS

 6 × 130 + 8 × 100  1
(i) Profit for selling 1 barrel of regular petrol = $  250 −  = $118
 12  3

 10 × 130 + 5 × 100 
Profit for selling 1 barrel of premium petrol = $  280 −  = $100
 10 

∴ it is more profitable to sell 1 barrel of regular petrol.

(ii) Let $k be the new price of 1 barrel of premium petrol
10 × 130 + 5 × 100 1
k− = 118
10 3

1
⇒ k = 298
3
(iii) The company will not adopt as an increase in the price of premium petrol may
lead to customers switching to other brands and hence a decrease in revenue.

11