FORM 3 NOTES

SECONDARY SCHOOL MATHEMATICS

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CHAPTER FOURTY FOUR

QUADRATIC EXPRESSION AND EQUATIONS

Specific Objectives
By the end of the topic the learner should be able to:

(a) Factorize quadratic expressions;

(b) Identify perfect squares;
(c) Complete the square;
(d) Solving quadratic equations by completing the square;
(e) Derive the quadratic formula;
(f) Solve quadratic equations using the formula;
(g) Form and solve quadratic equations from roots and given situations;
(h) Make tables of values from a quadratic relation;
(i) Draw the graph of a quadratic relation;
(j) Solve quadratic equations using graphs;
(k) Solve simultaneous equations (one linear and one quadratic) analytically and graphically;
(1) Apply the knowledge of quadratic equations to real life situations.

Content
(a) Factorization of quadratic expressions
(b) Perfect squares
(c) Completion of the squares
(d) Solution of quadratic equations by completing the square

−𝑏±√𝑏 2 −4𝑎𝑐
(e) Quadratic formula x = -b ±
2𝑎
(f) Solution of quadratic equations using the formula.
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(g) Formation of quadratic equations and solving them

(h) Tables of values for a given quadratic relation
(i) Graphs of quadratic equations
(j) Simultaneous equation - one linear and one quadratic
(k) Application of quadratic equation to real life situation.

Perfect square
Expressions which can be factorized into two equal factors are called perfect squares.

Completing the square

Any quadratic expression can be simplified and written in the form 𝑎𝑥 2 𝑥 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 where a, b and c are
𝑏
constant and a is not equal to zero. We use the expression ( )2 = 𝐶 to make a perfect square.
2

We are first going to look for expression where coefficient of x = 1

Example
What must be added to 𝑥 2 + 10 x to make it a perfect square?

Solution
 Let the number to be added be a constant c.
 Then 𝑥 2 + 10x + c is a perfect square.
𝑏
 Using ( )2 = 𝐶
2
 (10 /2 )2 = c
 C = 25 (25 must be added)
Example
What must be added to 𝑥 2 + _ + 36 to make it a perfect square

Solution
 Let the term to be added be bx where b is a constant
 Then 𝑥 2 + bx +36 is a perfect square.
𝑏
 Using ( )2 = 36
2
𝑏
 = √36
2
𝑏
 = ±6 b =12 x or -12 x
2

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We will now consider the situations where a≠ 1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑡𝑜 𝑧𝑒𝑟𝑜 eg

4𝑥 2 − 12𝑥 + 9 = (2𝑥 − 6)2

9𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 1 = (3𝑥 + 1)2

𝑏
In the above you will notice that ( )2 = ac . We use this expression to make perfect squares where a is
2
not one and its not zero.

Example
What must be added to 25𝑥 2 + _ + 9 to make it a perfect square?

Solution
 Let the term to be added be bx.
 Then, 25𝑥 2 + bx + 9 is a perfect square.
𝑏
 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒 ( )2 = 25 𝑥 9.
2
𝑏
 ( )2 = 225
2
𝑏
 = ±15
2
 𝑠𝑜 𝑏 = 30 𝑜𝑟 − 30 The term to be added is thus30 𝑜𝑟 − 30.
Example
What must be added to _ - 40x + 25 to make it a perfect square?

Solution
 Let the term to be added be a𝑥 2
 Then 𝑎𝑥 2 - 40x + 25 is a perfect square.
𝑏
 Using ( )2 = 𝑎𝑐
2
−40 2
 ( ) = 25𝑎
2
 400 = 25𝑎
 𝑎 = 16 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑎𝑑𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑠 16𝑥 2

Solutions of quadratic equations by completing the square methods

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Example

Solve 𝑥 2 + 5x+ 1 = 0 by completing the square.

solution
𝑥 2 + 5x+ 1 = 0 Write original equation.
𝑥 + 5x = -1 Write the left side in the form 𝒙𝟐 + bx.
2
𝟓 𝟓 𝟓
𝑥 2 + 10x + ( )𝟐 = ( )𝟐 − 𝟏 Add ( )𝟐 to both sides
𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
𝟐𝟓 𝟐𝟏
𝑥2+ 10x + =
𝟒 𝟒
5 𝟐𝟏
( 𝑥 + )2 = Take square roots of each side and factorize the left side
2 𝟒
5 21
𝑥+ =±√ Solve for x.
2 4
5 4.583
= − ± Simplify
2 2
0.417 9.583
=− 𝑜𝑟 Therefore x = - 0.2085 or 4.792
2 2

𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑒𝑛𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑢𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑣𝑒 𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑐ℎ
Cannot be solved by factorization.

Example
Solve 2𝑥 2 + 4x+ 1 = 0 by completing the square

Solution
2𝑥 2 + 4x =-1 make cooeffiecient of 𝒙𝟐 one by dividing both sides by 2

𝑥 2 + 2x = -1/2
1
𝑥 2 + 2x + 1 = - + 1
2

Adding 1 to complete the square on the LHS

1
( 𝑥 + 1)2 =
2
1
𝑥 + 1 = ±√
2
𝑥 = −1 ± √0.5
= −1 ± 0.7071
𝑥 = 0.2929 𝑜𝑟 − 1.7071

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The quadratic formula

−𝒃 ± √𝒃𝟐 − 𝟒𝒂𝒄
𝟐𝒂
Example
Using quadratic formula solve 2𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 − 3 = 0

Solution
Comparing this equation to the general equation , 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0 we get;a =2 b =-5 c =-5
Substituting in the quadratic formulae
−𝒃±√𝒃𝟐 −𝟒𝒂𝒄
X=
𝟐𝒂

−𝟓±√𝟐𝟓 −𝟒 (𝟐)(−𝟑)
=
𝟐(𝟐)

5 ±√49
=
4

5 ±7
=
4

12 −2
= 𝑜𝑟
4 4

1
X = 3 or -
2

Formation of quadratic equations

Peter travels to his uncle’s home,30 km away from his place. He travels for two thirds of the journey before
the bicycle developed mechanical problems an he had to push it for the rest of the journey. If his cycling
speed is 10 km\h faster than his walking speed and he completes the journey in 3 hours 30 minutes,
determine his cycling speed .

Solution
Let Peters cycling speed be x km\ h , then his walking speed is (x-10 ) km/h.
2
Time taken in cycling = ( 𝑜𝑓 30 ) ÷ 𝑥
3

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20
= ℎ
𝑥
Time taken in walking = (30 – 20)÷( x -10 )
10
= ℎ
𝑥 − 10
20 10
Total time = ( + )h
𝑥 𝑥+10

20 10 1
Therefore ( + ) =3
𝑥 𝑥−10 3

20 10 10
( + )=
𝑥 𝑥 − 10 3

60(x-10) + 30 (x) = 10(x) (x-10)

10 𝑥 2 – 190x + 600 = 0

𝑥 2 - 19x + 60 = 0

19 ± √361 − 240
𝑥=
2
𝑥 = 15 𝑜𝑟 4
If his cycling speed is 4 km/h , then his walking speed is (4 -10 ) km/h, which gives – 6 km/[Link],
4 is not a realistic answer to this [Link] his cycling speed is 15 km/h.

Example
A posite two digit number is such that the product of the digit is [Link] the digits are reversed , the
number formed is greater than than the original number by 18. Find the number

Solution
Let the ones digit of the number be y and the tens digit be x,
Then , xy = 24…………..1
When the number is reversed, the ones digit is x and the tens digit is y.
Therefore;

(10y + x) – (10x +y) = 18

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9y- 9x = 18

𝑦 − 𝑥 = 2𝑦 = 𝑥 + 2 … … … … … . .2

Substituting 2 in equation 1 gives;

𝑥(𝑥 + 2) = 24

𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 24 = 0

−2 ± √42 − 96
𝑥=
2

𝑥 = 4 𝑜𝑟 − 6
Since the required number is positive x =4 and y = 4 + 2 =6
Therefore the number is 46

Graphs of quadratic functions

A quadratic function has the form y = ax2 + bx + c where a ≠ 0. The graph of a quadratic function isU-
shaped and is called a parabola. For instance, the graphs of y = 𝑥 2 and y = −𝑥 2 e
Shown below. The origin (0, 0) is the lowest point on the graph of y = 𝑥 2 and the highest point on the
graph of y =−𝑥 2 . The lowest or highest point on the graph of a quadratic function is called the vertex.
The graphs of y = 𝑥 2 and y =−𝑥 2 are symmetric about the y-axis, called the axis of symmetry. In general,
the axis of symmetry for the graph of a quadratic function is the vertical line through the vertex..

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Notes;

The graph of y =𝑥 2 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑠 𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑛𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑠 𝑜𝑟 𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑛 𝑢𝑝𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑠 and y =−𝑥 2 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑠 𝑢𝑝𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑠 or
𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑛 𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑛𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑠.

Example
Draw the graph of y =−2𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 1

Solution
Make a table showing corresponding value of x and y.

X -1 0 1 2 3
Y -8 -1 2 1 -4

Note ; To get the values replace the value of x in the equation to get the corresponding value of x

E. g y = -2 ( -1)2 + 5 (−1) − 1 = −8

y = -2 ( 0)2 + 5 (0) − 1 = −1

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Example
Draw the graph of y = 𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 + 2

x 0 1 2 3 5 7
y 2 -4 -8 -10 -8 2

Graphical solutions of simultaneous equations

We should consider simultaneous equation one of which is linear and the other one is quadratic.

Example
Solve the following simultaneous equations graphically:
𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 1
𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥

Solution
Corresponding values of x and y
x -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 x
y 9 4 1 0 1 4 9 y

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We use the table to draw the graph as shown below, on the same axis the line y = 5-2x is drawn. Points
where the line y =5 -2x and the curve 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 1 intersect give the solution. The points are (- 2, 9)
and (2,1).Therefore , when x = -2, y = 9 and when x = 2, y= 1
End of topic

Did you understand everything?

If not ask a teacher, friends or anybody and make sure you understand before going to
sleep!

Past KCSE Questions on the topic.

1. The table shows the height metres of an object thrown vertically upwards varies with the time t
seconds
The relationship between s and t is represented by the equations s = at2 + bt + 10 where b are
constants.

t 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
s 45.1

(a) (i) Using the information in the table, determine the values of a and b
(2 marks)
(ii) Complete the table (1 mark)
(b)(i) Draw a graph to represent the relationship between s and t (3 marks)
(ii) Using the graph determine the velocity of the object when t = 5 seconds
2. (a) Construct a table of value for the function y = x 2 – x – 6 for -3≤ x ≤ 4
(b) On the graph paper draw the graph of the function
Y=x2 – x – 6 for -3 ≤ x ≤4
(c) By drawing a suitable line on the same grid estimate the roots of the equation x2 + 2x
– 2 =0
3. (a) Draw the graph of y= 6+x-x2, taking integral value of x in -4 ≤ x ≤ 5. (The
grid is provided. Using the same axes draw the graph of y = 2 – 2x
(b) From your graphs, find the values of X which satisfy the simultaneous

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equations y = 6 + x - x2
y = 2 – 2x
(c) Write down and simplify a quadratic equation which is satisfied by the
values of x where the two graphs intersect.
4. (a) Complete the following table for the equation y = x 3 – 5x2 + 2x + 9
x -2 -1.5 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
x2 -3.4 -1 0 1 27 64 125

-5x2 -20 -11.3 -5 0 -1 -20 -45

2x -4 -3 0 2 4 6 8 10

9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 99
-8.7 9 7 -3

(b) On the grid provided draw the graph of y = x 3 – 5x2 + 2x + 9 for -2 ≤ x ≤ 5

(c) Using the graph estimate the root of the equation x 3 – 5x2 + 2 + 9 = 0 between x =
2 and x = 3
(d) Using the same axes draw the graph of y = 4 – 4x and estimate a solution to the
equation x2 – 5x2 + 6x + 5 =0
5. (a) Complete the table below, for function y = 2x2 + 4x -3
x -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2
2x2 32 8 2 0 2

4x - 3 -11 -3 5

y -3 3 13

(b) On the grid provided, draw the graph of the function y=2x 2 + 4x -3 for
-4 ≤ x ≤ 2 and use the graph to estimate the rots of the equation 2x 2+4x – 3 = 0 to 1 decimal
place. (2mks)
(c) In order to solve graphically the equation 2x2 +x -5 =0, a straight line must be drawn to
intersect the curve y = 2x2 + 4x – 3. Determine the equation of this straight line, draw the
straight line hence obtain the roots.
2x2 + x – 5 to 1 decimal place.
6. (a) (i) Complete the table below for the function y = x3 + x2 – 2x (2mks)

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x -3 -2.5 -2 -1.5 -1 -0.5 0 0.5 1 2 2.5

x3 15.63 -0.13 1

x2 4 0.25 6.25

-2x 1 -2

y 1.87 0.63 16.88

(ii) On the grid provided, draw the graph of y = x3 + x2 – 2x for the values of x in the
interval – 3 ≤ x ≤ 2.5
(iii) State the range of negative values of x for which y is also negative
(b) Find the coordinates of two points on the curve other than (0, 0) at which x- coordinate and
y- coordinate are equal
7. The table shows some corresponding values of x and y for the curve represented by Y = ¼ x3 -2

X -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
Y -8.8 -4 -2.3 -2 -1.8 0 4.8

On the grid provided below, draw the graph of y = ¼ x 2 -2 for -3 ≤ x ≤3. Use the graph to estimate
the value of x when y = 2
8. A retailer planned to buy some computers form a wholesaler for a total of Kshs 1,800,000. Before
the retailer could buy the computers the price per unit was reduced by Kshs 4,000. This reduction
in price enabled the retailer to buy five more computers using the same amount of money as
originally planned.
(a) Determine the number of computers the retailer bought
(b) Two of the computers purchased got damaged while in store, the rest were sold and the
retailer made a 15% profit Calculate the profit made by the retailer on each computer sold

9. The figure below is a sketch of the graph of the quadratic function y = k

( x+1) (x-2)

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Find the value of k

10. (a) Draw the graph of y= x2 – 2x + 1 for values -2 ≤ x ≤ 4
(b) Use the graph to solve the equations x 2 – 4= 0 and line y = 2x +5
11. (a) Draw the graph of y = x3 + x2 – 2x for -3≤ x ≤ 3 take scale of 2cm to
represent 5 units as the horizontal axis
(b) Use the graph to solve x3 + x 2 – 6 -4 = 0 by drawing a suitable linear graph on the same
axes.

12. Solve graphically the simultaneous equations 3x – 2y = 5 and 5x + y = 17

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CHAPTER FOURTY TWO

APPROXIMATION AND ERROR

Specific Objectives

By the end of the topic the learner should be able to:

(a) Perform various computations using a calculator;

(b) Make reasonable approximations and estimations of quantities incomputations and
measurements;
(c) Express values to a given number of significant figures;
(d) Define absolute, relative, percentage, round-off and truncation errors;
(e) Determine possible errors made from computations;
(f) Find maximum and minimum errors from operations.

Content
(a) Computing using calculators
(b) Estimations and approximations
(c) Significant figures
(d) Absolute, relative, percentage, round-off (including significant figures)and truncation errors
(e) Propagation of errors from simple calculations
(f) Maximum and minimum errors.

Approximation
Approximation involves rounding off and truncating numbers to give an estimation

Rounding off

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In rounding off the place value to which a number is to be rounded off must be stated. The digit occupying
the next lower place value is considered. The number is rounded up if the digit is greater or equal to 5 and
rounded down if it’s less than 5.
Example
Round off 395.184 to:
a. The nearest hundreds
b. Four significant figures
c. The nearest whole number
d. Two decimal places
Solution
a. 400
b. 395 .2
c. 395
d. 395.18

Truncating
Truncating means cutting off numbers to the given decimal places or significant figures, ignoring the rest.
Example
Truncate 3.2465 to
a. 3 decimal places
b. 3 significant figures
Solution
a. 3.246
b. 3.24

Estimation
Estimation involves rounding off numbers in order to carry out a calculation faster to get an approximate
answer .This acts as a useful check on the actual answer.
Example
152 𝑥 269
Estimate the answer to
32

Solution
150 𝑥 270
The answer should be close to = 1350
30

The exact answer is 1277.75. 1277.75 writen to 2 significant figures is 1300 which is close to the estimated
answer.
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ACCURACY AND ERROR

Absolute error
The absolute error of a stated measurement is half of the least unit of measurement used. When a
measurement is stated as 3.6 cm to the nearest millimeter ,it lies between 3.55 cm and 3.65 [Link] least
unit of measurement is milliliter, or 0.1 [Link] greatest possible error is 3.55 - 3.6 = -0.05 or 3.65 - 3.6 =
+ 0.05.
To get the absolute error we ignore the sign. So the absolute error is 0.05 thus,|-0.05| =| +0.05|= [Link]
a measurement is stated as 2.348 cm to the nearest thousandths of a centimeters (0.001) then the absolute
1
error is 𝑥 0.001 = 0.0005.
2

Relative error
𝑎𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒
Relative error =
𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠

Example
An error of 0.5 kg was found when measuring the mass of a [Link] the actual mass of the bull was found to
be [Link] th relative error
Solution
𝑎𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 05
Relative error = = 𝑘𝑔 = 0.0025
𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠 200

Percentage error
Percentage error = relative error x 100%
𝑎𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟
= 𝑥 100%
𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡
Example
The thickness of a coin is 0.20 cm.
a. The percentage error
b. What would be the percentage error if the thickness was stated as 0.2 cm ?

Solution
The smallest unit of measurement is 0.01
1
Absolute error = 𝑥 0.01 = 0.005
2

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0.005
Percentage error = 𝑥100%
0.20

= 2.5 %
The smallest unit of measurement is 0.1
1
Absolute error = 𝑥 0.1 = 0.05 𝑐𝑚
2
0.05
Percentage error = 𝑥 100%
0.2

= 25 %

Rounding off and truncating errors

An error found when a number is rounded off to the desired number of decimal places or significant figures,
for example when a recurring decimal 1.6̇ is rounded to the 2 significant figures, it becames 1.7 the rounde
off error is;
17 5 1
1.7 -1.6̇ = − =
10 3 30

Note;
5
1.6 converted to a fraction .
3

Truncating error
The error introduced due to truncating is called a truncation [Link] the case of 1.6 truncated to 2 S.F., the
6 2 1
truncated error is; |1.6 -1.6̇| = |1 − 1 | =
10 3 15

Propagation of errors
Addition and subtraction
What is the error in the sum of 4.5 cm and 6.1 cm, if each represent a measure measurement.
Solution
The limits within which the measurements lie are 4.45, i.e. ., 4.55 or 4.5 ± 0.005 and 6.05 to 6.15, i.e.
6.1±0.05.

The maximum possible sum is 4.55 + 6.15 =10.7cm

The minimum possible sum is 4.45 + 6.05 =10.5 cm
The working sum is 4.5 + 6.1 = 10.6
The absolute error = maximum sum – working sum

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=| 10.7 – 10.6 |
=0.10
Example
What is the error in the difference between the measurements 0.72 g and 0.31 g?
Solution
The measurement lie within 0.72 ± 0.005 and 0.31 ± 0.005 respectively the maximum possible difference
will be obtained if we substract the minimum value of the second measurement from the maximum value
of the first, i.e ;
0.725 – 0.305 cm
The minimum possible difference is 0.715 – 0.315 = [Link] working difference is 0.72 – 0.31 =0.41 ,
which has an absolute error of |0.420 -0.41| or |0.400 – 0.41| = 0.10. Since our working difference is 0.41,
we give the absolute error as 0.01 (to 2 s.f)

Note:
In both addition and subtraction, the absolute error in the answer is equal to the sum of the absolute errors
in the original measurements.

Multiplication
Example
A rectangular card measures 5.3 cm by 2.5 cm. find
a. The absolute error in the rea of the card
b. The relative error in the area of the cord
Solution
a.) The length lies within the limits 5.3 ± 0.05 𝑐𝑚
b.) The length lies within the limits 2.5 ± 0.05 𝑐𝑚
The maximum possible area is 2.55 x 5.35 =13.6425 𝑐𝑚2

The minimum possible area is 2.45 x 5.25 =12.8625 𝑐𝑚2

The working area is 5.3 x 2.5 = 13.25 𝑐𝑚2
Maximum area – working area = 13.6425 – 1325 = 0.3925.
Working area – minimum area = 13.25 – 12.8625 = 0.3875
We take the absolute error as the average of the two.
0.3925+0.3875
Thus, absolute error =
2

= 0.3900

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The same can also be found by taking half the interval between the maximum area and the minimum area
1
( 13.6425 − 12.8625) = 0.39
2
The relative error in the area is :
0.39
= 0.039 ( 𝑡𝑜 2 𝑆. 𝐹)
13.25

Division
Given 8.6 cm ÷ 3.4 𝑐𝑚.Find:
a. The absolute error in the quotient
b. The relative error in the quotient

Solution
a. 8.6 cm has limits 8.55 cm and 8.65 cm. 3.4 has limits 3.35 cm and 3.45 [Link] maximum possible
quotient will be given by the maximum possible value of the numerator and the smallest possible
value of the denominator, i.e.,

8.65
= 2.58 (to 3 s.f)
3.35
The minimum possible quotient will be given by the minimum possible value of the numerator ad
the biggest possible value of the denominator, i.e.

8.65
= 2.48 (to 3 s.f)
3.45
8.6
The working quotient is; = 2.53 (to 3 .f.)
3.4
The absolute error in the quotient is;
2.53 𝑥 2 .48 1
= X 0.10
2 2
= 0.050 ( 𝑡𝑜 2 𝑠. 𝑓)
b. Relative error in the working quotient ;
0.05 5
=
2.53 253

= 0.0197
= 0.020 (to 2 s.f )

Alternatively
0.05
Relative error in the numerator is = 0.00581
8.6
0.05
Relative error in the denominator is = 0.0147
3.4

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Sum of the relative errors in the numerator and denominator is

0.00581 + 0.0147 = 0.02051s
=0.021 to 2 S.F

End of topic

Did you understand everything?

If not ask a teacher, friends or anybody and make sure you understand before going to
sleep!

Past KCSE Questions on the topic.

1. (a) Work out the exact value of R = 1_________

0.003146 - 0.003130
(b) An approximate value of R may be obtained by first correcting each of the decimal in the
denominator to 5 decimal places
(i) The approximate value
(ii) The error introduced by the approximation
2. The radius of circle is given as 2.8 cm to 2 significant figures
(a) If C is the circumference of the circle, determine the limits between which C/π lies
(b) By taking ∏ to be 3.142, find, to 4 significant figures the line between which the circumference
lies.
3. The length and breadth of a rectangular floor were measured and found to be 4.1 m and 2.2 m
respectively. If possible error of 0.01 m was made in each of the measurements, find the:
(a) Maximum and minimum possible area of the floor
(b) Maximum possible wastage in carpet ordered to cover the whole floor
4. In this question Mathematical Tables should not be used
The base and perpendicular height of a triangle measured to the nearest centimeter
are 6 cm and 4 cm respectively.

Find
(a) The absolute error in calculating the area of the triangle
(b) The percentage error in the area, giving the answer to 1 decimal place

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5. By correcting each number to one significant figure, approximate the value of 788 x 0.006. Hence
calculate the percentage error arising from this approximation.
6. A rectangular block has a square base whose side is exactly 8 cm. Its height measured to the nearest
millimeter is 3.1 cm
Find in cubic centimeters, the greatest possible error in calculating its volume.
7. Find the limits within the area of a parallegram whose base is 8cm and height is 5 cm lies. Hence
find the relative error in the area
8. Find the minimum possible perimeter of a regular pentagon whose side is 15.0cm.
9. Given the number 0.237
(i) Round off to two significant figures and find the round off error
(ii) Truncate to two significant figures and find the truncation error
10. The measurements a = 6.3, b= 15.8, c= 14.2 and d= 0.00173 have maximum possible errors of 1%,
2%, 3% and 4% respectively. Find the maximum possible percentage error in ad/bc correct to 1sf.

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CHAPTER FOURTY THREE

TRIGONOMETRY

Specific Objectives
By the end of the topic the learner should be able to:

(a) Define and draw the unit circle;

(b) Use the unit circle to find trigonometric ratios in terms of co-ordinates of points for 0 < 9 <
360°;
(c) Find trigonometric ratios of negative angles;
(d) Find trigonometric ratios of angles greater than 360° using the unit circle;
(e) Use mathematical tables and calculators to find trigonometric ratios of angles in the range 0 <
9 < 360°;
(f) Define radian measure;
(g) Draw graphs of trigonometric functions; y = sin x, y = cos x and y ~ tan x using degrees and
radians;
(h) Derive the sine rule;
(i) Derive the cosine rule;
(j) Apply the sine and cosine rule to solve triangles (sides, angles and area),
(k) Apply the knowledge of sine and cosine rules in real life situations.

Content
(a) The unit circles
(b) Trigonometric rations from the unit circle
(c) Trigonometric ratios of angles greater than 360° and negative angles
(d) Use of trigonometric tables and calculations
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(e) Radian measure

(f) Simple trigonometric graphs
(g) Derivation of sine and cosine rule
(h) Solution of triangles
(i) Application of sine and cosine rule to real situation.

The unit circle

It is circle of unit radius and centre O (0, 0).

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𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 00 − 900 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡 𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑡

𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 900 − 1800 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑡

𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 1800 − 2700 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑟𝑑 𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑡

𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 2700 − 3600 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑡ℎ 𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑡

An angle measured anticlockwise from positive direction of x – axis is positive. While an angle measured
clockwise from negative direction of x – axis is negative.

In general, on a unit circle

I. cos 𝜃 0 = 𝑥 𝑐𝑜 − 𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑝.
II. sin 𝜃 0 = 𝑦 𝑐𝑜 − 𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑝.
𝑦 𝑐𝑜−𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑝 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
III. tan 𝜃 0 = .=
𝑥 𝑐𝑜−𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑝 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃

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Trigonometric ratios of negative angles

In general

I. sin(−00 ) = −𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
II. cos(−00 ) = 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
III. tan( − 00 ) = −𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃

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Use of calculators
Example
Use a calculator to find

I. Tan 300
Solution

 Key in tan
 Key in 30
 Screen displays 0.5773502
 Therefore tan 300 = 0.5774
To find the inverse of sine cosine and tangent

 Key in shift
 Then either sine cosine or tangent
 Key in the number
Note;
Always consult the manual for your calculator. Because calculators work differently

Radians
One radian is the measure of an angle subtended at the centre by an arc equal in length to the radius of the
circle.
Because the circumference of a circle is 2πr, there are 2π radians in a full circle. Degree measure and radian
measure are therefore related by the equation 360° = 2π radians, or 180° = π radians.
The diagram shows equivalent radian and degree measures for special angles from 0° to 360° (0 radians to
2π radians).You may find it helpful to memorize the equivalent degree and radian measures of special
angles in the first quadrant. All other special angles are just multiples of these angles.

Example

Convert 1250 into radians

Solution
3600
If 1𝑐 = = 57.29
2𝜋

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125
Therefore 1250 = = 2.182 to 4 S.F
57.29

Example
Convert the following degrees to radians, giving your answer in terms 𝜋.

600
Solution

3600 = 2𝜋 𝑐
Therefore
2𝜋
600 = ( 𝑥 60)𝑐
360

𝜋
= ( )𝐶
3
Example
What is the length of the arc that that subtends an angle of 0.6 radians at the centre of a circle of radius 20
cm.
Solution

1𝑐 𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 20 𝑐𝑚
𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒 0.6𝑐 𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 20 × 0.6 𝑐𝑚 = 12 𝑐𝑚

Simple trigonometric graphs

Graphs of y=sin x
The graphs can be drawn by choosing a suitable value of x and plotting the values of y against
theCorresponding values of x.

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The black portion of the graph represents one period of the function and is called one cycle of the sine
curve.
Example

Sketch the graph of y = 2 sin x on the interval [–𝜋, 4𝜋].

Solution:
Note that y = 2 sin x = 2(sin x) indicates that the y-values for the key points will have twice the magnitude
of those on the graph of y = sin x.

x 𝜋/2 𝜋 3𝜋 2𝜋
Y=2sin x 2 0 -2 0
To get the values of y substitute the values of x in the equation y =2sin x as follows
y=2 sin (360) because 2 𝝅 is equal to 36𝟎𝟎

Note;
 You can change the radians into degrees to make work simpler.
 By connecting these key points with a smooth curve and extending the curve in both directions
over the interval [–𝜋, 4𝜋], you obtain the graph shown in below.

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Example

Sketch the graph of y = cos x for 00 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 3600 using an interval of300

Solution:
The values of x and the corresponding values of y are given in the table below

x 00 300 600 900 1200 1500 1800 2100 2400

Y=cos 1 0.8660 0.5 0 -0.5 -0.8660 -1 -0.8660 -0.5
x

x 2700 3000 3300 3600

Y=cosx 0 0.5 0.8660 1

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Graph of tangents
Note;
 As the value of x approaches 900 and 2700 tan x becames very large
 Hence the graph of y =tan x approaches the lines x =900 𝑎𝑛𝑑 2700 without touching them.
 Such lines are called asymptotes

Solution of triangles
Sin rule
𝑎 𝑏 𝑐
If a circle of radius R is circumscribed around the triangle ABC ,then = = =2R.
sin 𝐴 sin 𝐵 sin 𝐶

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The sine rule applies to both acute and obtuse –angled triangle.

Example
Solve triangle ABC, given that CAB =42.90 , c= 14.6 cm and a =11.4 cm
Solution
To solve a triangle means to find the sides and angles not given

𝑎 𝑐
=
sin 𝐴 sin 𝐶
11.4 14.6
=
sin 42.9 sin 𝐶
14.6 𝑠𝑖𝑛42.9
Sin c = = 0.8720
11.4

Therefore c =60.690
Note;
The sin rule is used when we know
 Two sides and a non-included angle of a triangle
 All sides and at least one angle
 All angles and at least one side.

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Cosine rule

𝑎2 = 𝑏 2 + 𝑐 2 − 2𝑏𝑐 cos 𝐴 𝑂𝑅 𝑏 2 = 𝑎2 + 𝑐 2 − 2 𝑎𝑐 cos 𝐵

Example
Find AC in the figure below, if AB= 4 cm , BC = 6 cm and ABC =780

Solution

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Using the cosine rule

𝑏 2 + 𝑐 2 − 2 𝑎𝑐 cos 𝐵
𝑏 2 = 𝑎2 + 𝑐 2 − 2 𝑎𝑐 cos 𝐵
𝑏 2 = 42 + 62 − 2 𝑥 4 𝑥 6 cos 780
= 16 + 36 – 48 cos 780
= 52 – 9.979
= 42.02 cm
Note;
The cosine rule is used when we know
 Two sides and an included angle
 All three sides of a triangle

End of topic

Did you understand everything?

If not ask a teacher, friends or anybody and make sure you understand before going to
sleep!

Past KCSE Questions on the topic.

1. Solve the equation

Sin 5 θ = -1 for 00 ≤ 0 ≤ 1800
2 2
2. Given that sin θ = 2/3 and is an acute angle find:
(a) Tan θ giving your answer in surd form
(b) Sec2 θ
3. Solve the 1
equation 2 sin2(x-300) = cos 600 for – 1800 ≤ x ≤ 1800
4. Given that sin (x + 30)0 = cos 2x0for 00, 00 ≤ x ≤900 find the value of x. Hence find the value of cos
2
3x0.
5. Given that sin a =1 where a is an acute angle find, without using
√5
Mathematical tables

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(a) Cos a in the form of a√b, where a and b are rational numbers
(b) Tan (900 – a).
6. Give that xo is an angle in the first quadrant such that 8 sin2 x + 2 cos x -5=0
Find:
a) Cos x
b) tan x
7. Given that Cos 2x0 = 0.8070, find x when 00 ≤ x ≤ 3600
8 The figure below shows a quadrilateral ABCD in which AB = 8 cm, DC = 12 cm, < BAD = 45 0, <
CBD = 900 and BCD = 300.

Find:
(a) The length of BD
(b) The size of the angle ADB

9. The diagram below represents a school gate with double shutters. The shutters are such opened
through an angle of 630.

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The edges of the gate, PQ and RS are each 1.8 m

Calculate the shortest distance QS, correct to 4 significant figures

10…The figure below represents a quadrilateral piece of land ABCD divided into three triangular
plots. The lengths BE and CD are 100m and 80m respectively. Angle ABE = 300ACE = 450 and
 ACD = 1000

(a) Find to four significant figures:

(i) The length of AE
(ii) The length of AD
(iii) The perimeter of the piece of land

(b) The plots are to be fenced with five strands of barbed wire leaving an entrance of 2.8 m wide to
each plot. The type of barbed wire to be used is sold in rolls of lengths 480m. Calculate the number
of rolls of barbed wire that must be bought to complete the fencing of the plots.
11. Given that x is an acute angle and cos x = 2 5, find without using mathematical
5
tables or a calculator, tan ( 90 – x)0.

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12. In the figure below A = 620, B = 410, BC = 8.4 cm and CN is the bisector of ACB.

Calculate the length of CN to 1 decimal place.

13. In the diagram below PA represents an electricity post of height 9.6 m. BB and RC represents two
storey buildings of heights 15.4 m and 33.4 m respectively. The angle of depression of A from B
is 5.50 While the angle of elevation of C from B is 30.5 0 and BC = 35m.

(a) Calculate, to the nearest metre, the distance AB

(b) By scale drawing find,
(i) The distance AC in metres
(ii)  BCA and hence determine the angle of depression of A from C
More questions

1. Solve the equation: (2 mks)

Sin 5 X   1 for 0  X  180

0 0
2 2

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2. (a) Complete the table below, leaving all your values correct to 2 d.p. for the functions y = cos x
and y = 2cos (x + 30)0 (2 mks)
X0 00 600 1200 1800 2400 3000 3600 4200 4800 5400
cosX 1.00 -1.00 0.50

2cos(x+30) 1.73 -1.73 0.00

(b) For the function y = 2cos(x+30)0

State:
(i) The period (1 mk)
(ii) Phase angle (1 mk)
(c) On the same axes draw the waves of the functions y = cos x and y = 2cos(x+30) 0 for
00  x  540 0 . Use the scale 1cm rep 300 horizontally and 2 cm rep 1 unit vertically
(4 mks)

(d) Use your graph above to solve the inequality  

2 cos x  300  cos x (2 mks)

3. Find the value of x in the equation.

Cos(3x - 180o) = √3 in the range Oo < x < 180o (3 marks)
2
11
4. Given that tan   and ө is an acute angle, find without using tables cos (90 –ө)
60
(2mks)
5. Solve for ө if -¼ sin (2x + 30) = 0.1607, 0 ≤ө≥ 3600 (3mks)
6. Given that Cos  = 5/13 and that 2700 3600 , work out the value of Tan  + Sin  without using a calculator
or mathematical tables. (3 marks)
7. Solve for x in the range 00 x  1800
(4mks)
-8 sin2x – 2 cos x = -5.
8. If tan xo = 12/5 and x is a reflex angle, find the value of 5sin x + cos x without using a
calculator or mathematical tables
9. Find  given that 2 cos 3 -1 = 0 for 0o  360o
10. Without a mathematical table or a calculator, simplify: Cos300o x Sin120ogiving your answer in
Cos330o – Sin 405orationalized surd form.
11. Express in surds form and rationalize the denominator.
1
Sin 60o Sin 45o - Sin 45o

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12. Simplify the following without using tables;

Tan 45 + cos 45sin 60

CHAPTER FOURTY FOUR

SURDS
Specific Objectives
By the end of the topic the learner should be able to:
(a) Define rational and irrational numbers,
(b) Simplify expressions with surds;
(c) Rationalize denominators with surds.

Content
(a) Rational and irrational numbers
(b) Simplification of surds
(c) Rationalization of denominators.

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Rational and irrational numbers

Rational numbers
𝑝
A rational number is a number which can be written in the form , where p and q are integers and q≠
𝑞
[Link] integer’s p and q must not have common factors other than 1.
1 3
Numbers such as 2, , √4are examples of rational numbers .Recurring numbers are also rational numbers.
2 4

Irrational numbers
𝑝
Numbers that cannot be written in the form .Numbers such as 𝜋 √2√3 are irrational numbers.
𝑞

Surds
Numbers which have got no exact square roots or cube root are called surds e.g. √2
3 3
,√8 √28 , √16 𝑜𝑟 √36
The product of a surd and a rational number is called a mixed surd. Examples are ;
1
2√3 , 4√7 and √2
3

Order of surds

√3 , √6 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑑𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑤𝑜

3 3
√2 , √6 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑑𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑒𝑒
4 4
√2 , √64 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑑𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑓𝑜𝑢𝑟
Simplification of surds
A surd can be reduced to its lowest term possible, as follows ;
Example
Simplify

a) √18
b) √72
Solution

√18 = √9 𝑥 2

√9 × √2 = 3√2

√48 = √16 𝑥 3

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√16 × √3 = 4√3

Operation of surds
Surds can be added or subtracted only if they are like surds (that is, if they have the same value under the
root sign).
Example 1
Simplify the following.
i. 3 √2 + 5√2
ii. 8 √5 − 2√5

Solution

i. 3 √2 + 5√2 = 8 √2
ii. 8 √5 − 2√5 = 6√5
Summary
√2 + √2 Let a = √2

Therefore √2 + √2 = a + a
=2 a

But a = √2

Hence √2 + √2 = 2√2

Multiplication and Division of surds

Surds of the same order can be multiplied or divided irrespective of the number under the root sign.

Law 1: √a x √b = √ab When multiplying surds together, multiply their values together.

e.g.1 √3 x √12 = √ (3 x 12) = √36 = 6

e.g.2 √7 x √5 = √35

This law can be used in reverse to simplify expressions…

e.g.3 √12 = √2 x √6 or √4 x √3 = 2√3

√𝑎
Law 2:√a ÷ √b or = √(a/b) When dividing surds, divide their values (and vice versa).
√𝑏

e.g.1 √12 = √(12 ÷ 3) = √4 = 2

√3

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√6 √3
e.g.2 =
√8 √4

Law 3: √ (a2) or (√a) 2 = a When squaring a square-root, (or vice versa), the symbols cancel

Each other out, leaving just the base.

e.g.1 √122 = 12

e.g.2 √7 x √7 = √72 = 7

Note:
If you add the same surds together you just have that number of surds. E.g.
√2 + √2 + √2= 3√2
If a surd has a square number as a factor you can use law 1 and/or law 2 and work backwards to take that
out and simplify the surd. E.g. √500 = √100 x √5 = 10√5

Rationalization of surds
Surds may also appear in fractions. Rationalizing the denominator of such a fraction means finding an
equivalent fraction that does NOT have a surd on the bottom of the fraction (though it CAN have a surd on
the top!).
If the surd contains a square root by itself or a multiple of a square root, to get rid of it, you must multiply
BOTH the top and bottom of the fraction by that square root value.

e.g. 6 x √7 = 6√7
√7 x √7 7

e.g.2 6 + √2 x √3 = 6√3 + √2 x √3 = 6√3 + √6

2√3 x √3 2 x √3 x √3 6
i.e. 2 x 3

If the surd on the bottom involves addition or subtraction with a square root, to get rid of the square root
part you must use the ‘difference of two squares’ and multiply BOTH the top and bottom of the fraction by
the bottom surd’s expression but with the inverse operation.

e.g.3 7 x (2 - √2) = 14 - 7√2 = 14 - 7√2

2 + √2 x (2 - √2) 22 – (√2)2 2
i.e. 4 – 2

Notes on the ‘Difference of two squares’…

Squaring… (2 + √2)(2 + √2) = 2(2 + √2) + √2(2 + √2)

(ops the same) = 4 + 2√2 + 2√2 + √2√2
= 4 + 4√2 + 2 = 6 + √2 (still a surd)

Multiplying… (2 + √2)(2 - √2) = 2(2 - √2) + √2(2 - √2)

(opposite ops) = 4 - 2√2 + 2√2 - √2√2
= 4 (cancel out) - 2 = 2 (not a surd)

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In essence, as long as the operation in each brackets is the opposite, the middle terms will always cancel
each other out and you will be left with the first term squared subtracting the second term squared.
i.e. (5 + √7)(5 - √7)  52 – (√7)2 = 25 – 7 = 18

Example
Simplify by rationalizing the denominator

√2 + √3
√6 − √3
Solution

√2 + √3 √2 + √3 √6 + √3
= 𝑥
√6 − √3 √6 − √3 √6 + √3
√2(√6 + √3) + √3(√6 + √3 )
=
√6(√6 + √3) − √3(√6 + √3 )

√12 + √6 + √18 + √9
=
√36 + √18 − √18 − √9

√4 𝑥 √3 + √6 + √9 𝑥 √2 + √3
=
6−3
2√3 + √6 + 3√2 + 3
=
3
Note
If the product of the two surds gives a rational number then the product of the two surds gives conjugate
surds.

End of topic

Did you understand everything?

If not ask a teacher, friends or anybody and make sure you understand before going to
sleep!

Past KCSE Questions on the topic.

1. Without using logarithm tables, find the value of x in the equation

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Log x3 + log 5x = 5 log2 – log 2

5
2. Simplify (1 ÷ √3) (1 - √3)
Hence evaluate 1 to 3 s.f. given that √3 = 1.7321
1 + √3
3. If √14 - √ 14 = a√7 + b√2
√7-√2 √7+√2
Find the values of a and b where a and b are rational numbers.
4. Find the value of x in the following equation 49(x+1) + 7(2x) = 350
5. Find x if 3 log 5 + log x2 = log 1/125
6. Simplify as far as possible leaving your answer inform of a surd

1 - 1
√14 - 2 √3 √14 + 2 √3
7. Given that tan 750 = 2 + √3, find without using tables tan 150 in the form p+q√m, where p,
q and m are integers.
8. Without using mathematical tables, simplify

63 + 72
32 + 28
9. Simplify 3 + 1 leaving the answer in the form a + b c, where a, b and c 5 -2
5 are rational numbers

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CHAPTER FOURTY FIVE

FURTHER LOGARITHMS
Specific Objectives

By the end of the topic the learner should be able to:

(a) Derive logarithmic relation from index form and vice versa;
(b) State the laws of logarithms;
(c) Use logarithmic laws to simplify logarithmic expressions and solvelogarithmic equations;
(d) Apply laws of logarithms for further computations.
Content
(a) Logarithmic notation (eg. an=b, log ab=n)
(b) The laws of logarithms: log (AB) = log A + log B, log(A^B) = log A -log B and Log A n = n
x log A.
(c) Simplifications of logarithmic expressions
(d) Solution of logarithmic equations
(e) Further computation using logarithmic laws.

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If y  a x then we introduce the inverse function logarithm and define loga y  x

(Read as log base a of y equals x ).

In general y  a x  log a y  x

Where  means “implies and is implied by” i.e. it works both ways!

Note this means that, going from exponent form to logarithmic form:

102  100  log10 (100 )  2 102  0.01  log10 (0.01)  2

100  1  log10 (1)  0 25  32 

log 2 (32 )  5

log9 (3)  1 log8 ( 4)  2

1 2
92  3  2 83  4  3

And in going from logarithmic form to exponent form:

log10 (10)  1  101  10 log10 (0.001)  3 

103  0.001
log 2 (1)  0 
20  1 log3 (81)  4  34  81
log100 (10)  1  log5 (5 5 )  3 
1 3
2 100 2  10 2 52  5 5

Laws of logarithms
Product and Quotient Laws of Logarithms:

log a  M  N   log a M  log a N The Product Law

M 
log a    log a M  log a N The Quotient Law
N

Example.
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log 6 9  log 6 8  log 6 2

 log 6  72   log 6 2

 72 
 log 6    log 6  36 
 2
=2

The Power Law of Logarithms:

loga M n  n loga M

Example.
2log 5 + 2log 2

 log 52  log 22
 log 25  log 4

 log100  log10 100

=2

Logarithm of a Root

1
1
log b x  log b x
n
or log b n
x
log b x
n n

Example.
1
1 1 3
log 3 5
27  log 3 27 5
 log 3 27   3 
5 5 5
PROOF OF PROPERTIES
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Property Proof Reason for Step

1. logb b = 1 and logb 1 = 0 b1 0
Definition of logarithms
2.(product rule) a. Let logb x = m and logb y = n a. Setup
logb xy = logb x + logb y b. x = bm and y = b n b. Rewrite in exponent form
c. xy = bm * bn c. Multiply together
d. xy = b m + n d. Product rule for exponents
e. logb xy = m + n e. Rewrite in log form
f logb xy = logb x + logb f. Substitution

3. (quotient rule) a. Let logb x = m and logb y = n a. Given: compact form

x b. x = bm and y = b n b. Rewrite in exponent form
logb y = logb x - logb y
x bm
c. y = n
b c. Divide

x
d. y = bm-n d. Quotient rule for exponents

x
e. logb y =m-n e. Rewrite in log form

x
 f. Substitution
f. logb y logb x - logb

4. (power rule) a. Let m = logb x so x = bm a. Setup

logb xn = n logb x
b. xn = bmn b. Raise both sides to the nth
power
c. logb x n = mn
c. Rewrite as log
d. logb xn = n logb x
d. Substitute
5. Properties used to solve log
equations:

a. if bx = by, then x = y
a. This follows directly from the
properties for exponents.

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b. if logb x = logb y, then x = b. i. logb x - logb y = 0 b. i. Subtract from both sides

y
x
0
ii. logb y ii. Quotient rule

x
iii. y =b0
iii. Rewrite in exponent form
x

iv. y 1 so x = y

iv. b0 = 1

Solving exponential and logarithmic equations

By taking logarithms, and exponential equation can be converted to a linear equation and solved. We will
use the process of taking logarithms of both sides.

Example.

a) 4 x  12

log 4 x  log12
x log 4  log12

log12
x x = 1.792
log 4
Note;
A logarithmic expression is defined only for positive values of the argument. When we solve a logarithmic
equation it is essential to verify that the solution(s) does not result in the logarithm of a negative number.
Solutions that would result in the logarithm of a negative number are called extraneous, and are not valid
solutions.

Example.
Solve for x:

log5  x  1  log5  x  3  1  (the one becomes an exponent : 51 )

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log 5  x  1 x  3  5

x2  2 x  3  5  0

x2  2 x  8  0

 x  4  x  2   0  x  4, x  2  extraneous 

Verify:
log 5 (4  1)  log 5 (4  3)  1 log 5 ( 2  1)  log 5 ( 2  3)  1
log 5 5  log 5 1  1 log 5 ( 1)  log 5  5  not possible
1 0  1

Solving equations using logs

Examples

(i) Solve the equation 10 x  3.79

The definition of logs says if y  a x then loga y  x or y  a x  x  log a y

Hence 10 x  3.79  x  log10 3.79  0.57864 (to 5 decimal places)

Check 100.57864  3.79000 (to 5 decimal places)

In practice from 10 x  3.79 we take logs to base 10 giving

 
log10 10 x  log3.79 
x log10 10   log3.79 
x  0.57864

(ii) Solve the equation 32 x  56

 
log10 3 2 x  log10 56 
2 x log10 3  log10 56 
log10 56 
2x   3.66403 ...
log10 3
x  1.83201 ....

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Check 33  27 , 34  81, we want 32 x so the value of 2x lies between 3 and 4 or 3  2x  4 which

means x lies between 1.5 and 2. This tells us that x  1.83201... is roughly correct.

(iii) Solve the equation 4 x  3 x1

4 x  3 x 1
x log10 4  x  1 log10 3
 x log10 3  log10 3
x log10 4  x log10 3  log10 3
xlog10 4  log10 3  log10 3
log10 3
x  3.8188 ..
log10 4  log10 3

4 x  43.8188..  44  256 

Check  x 1  very close!
 3  34.8188..  35  243 
Note you could combine terms, giving,

log10 3 log10 3
x   3.8188 ..
log10 4  log10 3 log10 4 3 

(iv) Solve the equation 4 x 6  352 x

4 x  6  35  2 x
x  6log 4  5  2 x log 3
Take logs of both sides x log 4  6 log 4  5 log 3  2 x log 3
Expand brackets x log 4  2 x log 3  5 log 3  6 log 4
xlog 4  2 log 3  5 log 3  6 log 4
Collect terms
5 log 3  6 log 4
Factorise the left hand side x  -0.78825
log 4  2 log 3

divide
(Note you get the same answer by using the ln button on your calculator.)

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Check 4 x 6  40.788256  45.21175  1373 .368 and

352 x  352(.78825)  36.576498  1373.368

Notice that you could combine the log-terms in

5 log 3  6 log 4 log 35  4 6  

x
log 4  2 log 3
to give x 
log 4  3 2  
It does not really simplify things here but, in some cases, it can.

  
(v) Solve the equation 7 3x 1  2 52 x 1 
  
7 3 x 1  2 5 2 x  1 
log 7  x  1log 3  log 2  2 x  1log 5
Take logs of both sides log 7  x log 3  log 3  log 2  2 x log 5  log 5
Expand brackets x log 3  2 x log 5  log 2  log 5  log 7  log 3
Collect terms  7 
xlog 3  2 log 5  log 2  5 3

x log 3   log30 
25 7
Factorize left hand side log30  0.632023
7
x   0.686371
log 3   0.920819
25
simplify

divide

Check

LHS =  
7 3x 1  7  31.7 
7
2
3

7
9
(taking 31.7  32  9 )

RHS =  
2 52 x 1  2  50.4 
0 .4
5
2

2
5
1 (taking 5
0.4
 50.5  5  2.2... )

The values of LHS and RHS are roughly the same. A more exact check could be made using a calculator.

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Logarithmic equations and expressions

Consider the following equations
𝑙𝑜𝑔3 81 = 𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑥 8 = 3
The value of x in each case is established as follows
𝑙𝑜𝑔3 81 = 𝑥
Therefore 3𝑥 = 81
3𝑥 = 34
X =4
𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑥 8 = 3
𝑥3 = 8
𝑥 3 = 23
𝑥=2
Example
Solve 𝑙𝑜𝑔6 2
Solution
Let 𝑙𝑜𝑔6 2 = t. then 6𝑡 = 2
Introducing logarithm to base 10 on both sides

log 6𝑡 = log 2

t log 6 = log 2
𝑙𝑜𝑔2
𝑡=
𝑙𝑜𝑔6
0.3010
𝑡=
0.7782
𝑡 = 0.3868

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Therefore 𝑙𝑜𝑔6 2 = 0.3868

Example
22𝑥 + 3(2𝑥 ) − 4 = 0
Taking logs on both sides cannot help in getting the value of x, since 22𝑥 + 3(2𝑥 ) cannot be combined into
a single expression. However if we let 2𝑋 = 𝑦 then the equation becomes quadratic in y.
Solution
Thus, let 2𝑋 = 𝑦…………….. (1)
Therefore 𝑦 2 + 3𝑦 − 4 = 0 … … … … … … … (2)
(𝑦 + 4)(𝑦 − 1) = 0
𝑦 = −4 𝑜𝑟 𝑦 = 1
Substituting for y in equation (1);
Let 2𝑋 = −4 or let 2𝑋 = 1
There is no real value of x for which 2𝑋 = −4 hence 2𝑋 = 1
𝑥=0
Example
Solve for x in (𝑙𝑜𝑔10 𝑥)2 = 3 − 𝑙𝑜𝑔10 𝑥 2
Solution
Let 𝑙𝑜𝑔10 𝑥 = 𝑡 … … … … … … … … … . (1)
Therefore 𝑡 2 = 3 − 2𝑡
𝑡 2 + 2 𝑡 − 3 = 0 solve the quadratic equation using any method

𝑡 2 + 3𝑡 − 𝑡 − 3 = 0
𝑡(𝑡 + 3) − 1(𝑡 − 3) = 0
(𝑡 − 1)(𝑡 + 3) = 0
𝑡 = 1 𝑜𝑟 𝑡 = −3
Substituting for t in the equation (1).
𝑙𝑜𝑔10 𝑥 = 1 𝑜𝑟 𝑙𝑜𝑔10 𝑥 = −3
101 = 1 𝑜𝑟 10−3 = x

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1
𝑥 = 10 𝑜𝑟
1000
Note;
1
𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏 =
𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎 𝑏

End of topic

Did you understand everything?

If not ask a teacher, friends or anybody and make sure you understand before going to
sleep!

Past KCSE Questions on the topic.

1. Solve for (𝑙𝑜𝑔3 𝑥)2 – ½ 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 𝑥 = 3/2

2. Find the values of x which satisfy the equation 52x – 6 (5x) + 5 =0

3. Solve the equation

Log (x + 24) – 2 log 3 = log (9-2x)
4. Find the value of x in the following equation 49 (x+1) + 7(2x) = 350
5. Find x if 3 log 5 + log x 2 = log 1/125
6. Without using logarithm tables, find the value of x in the equation
Log x3 + log 5x = 5 log2 – log 2
5
7. Given that P = 3y express the questions 32y -1) + 2 x 3(y-1) = 1 in terms of P
8. Hence or otherwise find the value of y in the equation: 3(2y-1) + 2 x 3(y-1) =1

CHAPTER FOURTY SIX

COMMERCIAL ARITHMETIC II

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Specific Objectives

By the end of the topic the learner should be able to:

(a) Define principal, rate and time in relation to interest;
(b) Calculate simple interest using simple interest formula;
(c) Calculate compound interest using step by step method;
(d) Derive the compound interest formula;
(e) Apply the compound interest formula for calculating interest;
(f) Define appreciation and depreciation;
(g) Use compound interest formula to calculate appreciation and depreciation;
(h) Calculate hire purchase;
(i) Calculate income tax given the income tax bands.
Content
(a) Principal rate and time
(b) Simple interest
(c) Compound interest using step by step method
(d) Derivation of compound interest formula
(e) Calculations using the compound interest formula
(f) Appreciation and depreciation
(g) Calculation of appreciation and depreciation using the compound interestformula
(h) Hire purchase
(i) Income tax.

Simple interest
Interest is the money charged for the use of borrowed money for a specific period of time. If money is
borrowed or deposited it earns interest, Principle is the sum of money borrowed or deposited P, Rate is the
ratio of interest earned in a given period of time to the principle.
The rate is expressed as a percentage of the principal per annum (P.A).When interest is calculated using
only the initial principal at a given rate and time, it is called simple interest (I).
Simple interest formulae

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𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑥 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑥 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒

Simple interest =
100

Example
Franny invests ksh 16,000 in a savings account. She earns a simple interest rate of 14%, paid annually on
1
her investment. She intends to hold the investment for 1 years. Determine the future value of the
2
investment at maturity.

Solution
𝑃𝑅𝑇
I=
100
14 3
= sh. 16000 x 𝑥
100 2
= sh 3360
Amount = P + I
= sh.16000 + sh 3360
= sh.19360
Example
1
Calculate the rate of interest if sh 4500 earns sh 500 after 1 years.
2

Solution
From the simple interest formulae
𝑃𝑅𝑇
I=
100

100 𝑋 𝐼
R= =
𝑃𝑋𝑇

P = sh 4500
I = sh 500
1
T = 1 years
2
100 𝑥 500
Therefore R = 3
4500 𝑥 2

R 7.4 %
Example

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Esha invested a certain amount of money in a bank which paid 12% p.a. simple interest. After 5 years, his
total savings were sh [Link] the amount of money he invested initially.
Solution
Let the amount invested be sh P
T = 5 years
R = 12 % p.a.
A =sh 5600
But A = P + I
12
Therefore 5600 = P + P X 𝑋5
100

= P + 0.60 P
= 1.6 P
5600
Therefore p =
1.6

= sh 3500

Compound interest
Suppose you deposit money into a financial institution, it earns interest in a specified period of time. Instead
of the interest being paid to the owner it may be added to (compounded with) the principle and therefore
also earns interest. The interest earned is called compound interest. The period after which its compounded
to the principle is called interest period.
The compound interest maybe calculated annually, semi-annually, quarterly, monthly etc. If the rate of
compound interest is R% p.a and the interest is calculated n times per year, then the rate of interest per
𝑅
period is ( ) %
𝑛

Example
Moyo lent ksh.2000 at interest of 5% per annum for 2 years. First we know that simple interest for 1 st year
and 2nd year will be same
i.e. = 2000 x 5 x 1/100 = Ksh. 100
Total simple interest for 2 years will be = 100 + 100 = ksh. 200
In Compound Interest (C I) the first year Interest will be same as of Simple Interest (SI) i.e. Ksh.100. But
year II interest is calculated on P + SI of 1 st year i.e. on ksh. 2000 + ksh. 100 = ksh. 2100.
So, year II interest in Compound Interest becomes
= 2100 x 5 x 1/100 = Ksh. 105

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So it is Ksh. 5 more than the simple interest. This increase is due to the fact that SI is added to the principal
and this ksh. 105 is also added in the principal if we have to find the compound interest after 3 years. Direct
formula in case of compound interest is
𝑟 t
A = P (1 + )
100

Where A = Amount
P = Principal
R = Rate % per annum
T = Time
A = P + CI
𝑟
P (1 + ) t = P + CI
100

Types of Question:
Type I: To find CI and Amount
Type II: To find rate, principal or time
Type III: When difference between CI and SI is given.
Type IV: When interest is calculated half yearly or quarterly etc.
Type V: When both rate and principal have to be found.

Type 1
Example
Find the amount of ksh. 1000 in 2 years at 10% per annum compound interest.
Solution.
A = P (1 + r/100)t
=1000 (1 + 10/100)2
= 1000 x 121/100
=ksh. 1210
Example
Find the amount of ksh. 6250 in 2 years at 4% per annum compound interest.
Solution.
A = P (1 + r/100) t
= 6250 (1 + 4/100)2
=6250 x 676/625
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= ksh. 6760
Example
What will be the compound interest on ksh 31250 at a rate of 4% per annum for 2 years?

Solution.
CI = P (1 + r/100) t - 1
=31250 { (1 + 4/100)2 - 1}
=31250 (676/625 - 1)
=31250 x 51/625 = ksh. 2550
Example
A sum amounts to ksh. 24200 in 2 years at 10% per annum compound interest.
Find the sum ?
Solution.
A = P (1 + r/100)t
24200 = P (1 + 10/100)2
= P (11/10)2
= 24200 x 100/121
= ksh. 20000

Type II
Example.
The time in which ksh. 15625 will amount to ksh. 17576 at 45 compound interest is?
Solution
A = P (1 + r/100)t
17576 = 15625 (1 + 4/100)t
17576/15625 = (26/25)t
(26/25)t = (26/25)3
t = 3 years

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Example
The rate percent if compound interest of ksh. 15625 for 3 years is Ksh. 1951.
Solution.
A = P + CI
= 15625 + 1951 = ksh. 17576
A = P (1 + r/100)t
17576 = 15625 (1 + r/100)3
17576/15625 = (1 + r/100)3
(26/25)3 = (1 + r/100)3
26/25 = 1 + r/100
26/25 - 1 = r/100
1/25 = r/100
r = 4%

Type IV
1. Remember
When interest is compounded half yearly then Amount = P (1 + R/2) 2t
-----------
100
I.e. in half yearly compound interest rate is halved and time is doubled.
2. When interest is compounded quarterly then rate is made ¼ and time is made 4 times.
Then A = P [(1+R/4)/100]4t
3. When rate of interest is R1%, R2%, and R3% for 1st, 2nd and 3rd year respectively; then A = P (1 +
R1/100) (1 + R2/100) (1 + r3/100)

Example
Find the compound interest on ksh.5000 at 205 per annum for 1.5 year compound half yearly.
Solution.

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When interest is compounded half yearly

Then Amount = P [(1 +R/2)/100]2t
Amount = 5000 [(1 + 20/2)/100]3/2
= 5000 (1 + 10/100)3
=5000 x 1331/1000
= ksh 6655
CI = 6655 - 5000 = ksh. 1655
e.g.
Find compound interest ksh. 47145 at 12% per annum for 6 months, compounded quarterly.
Solution.
As interest is compounded quarterly
A =[ P(1 + R/4)/100)]4t
A = 47145 [(1 + 12/4)/100] ½ x 4
= 47145 (1 + 3/100)2
= 47145 x 103/100 x 103/100
= ksh. 50016.13
CI = 50016.13 - 47145
= ksh. 2871.13
Example
Find the compound interest on ksh. 18750 for 2 years when the rate of interest for 1 st year is 45 and for 2nd
year 8%.

Solution.
A = P (1 + R1/100) (1 + R1/100)
= 18750 * 104/100 * 108/100
=ksh. 21060
CI = 21060 - 18750
= ksh. 2310

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Type V
Example
The compound interest on a certain sum for two years is ksh. 52 and simple interest for the same period at
same rate is ksh.50 find the sum and the rate.
Solution.
We will do this question by basic concept. Simple interest is same every year and there is no difference
between SI and CI for 1st year. The difference arises in the 2 nd year because interest of 1st year is added in
principal and interest is now charged on principal + simple interest of 1st year.
So in this question
2 year SI = ksh. 50
1 year SI = ksh. 25
Now CI for 1st year = 52 - 25 = Rs.27
This additional interest 27 -25 = ksh. 2 is due to the fact that 1st year SI i.e. ksh. 25 is added in principal. It
means that additional ksh. 2 interest is charged on ksh. 25. Rate % = 2/25 x 100 = 8%
Shortcut:
Rate % = [(CI - SI)/ (SI/2)] x 100
= [(2/50)/2] x 100
2/25 x 100
=8%
P = SI x 100/R x T = 50 x 100/8 x 2
= ksh. 312.50
Example
A sum of money lent CI amounts in 2 year to ksh. 8820 and in 3 years to ksh. 9261. Find the sum and rate
%.
Solution.
Amount after 3 years = ksh. 9261
Amount after 2 years = ksh. 8820
By subtracting last year’s interest ksh. 441
It is clear that this ksh. 441 is SI on ksh. 8820 from 2 nd to 3rd year i.e. for 1 year.
Rate % = 441 x 100/8820 x 1
=5 %
Also A = P (1 + r/100)t

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8820 = P (1 + 5/100)2
= P (21/20)2
P = 8820 x 400/441
= ksh. 8000

Appreciation and Depreciation

Appreciation is the gain of value of an asset while depreciation is the loss of value of an asset.
Example
An iron box cost ksh 500 and every year it depreciates by 10% of its value at the beginning of that that year.
What will its value be after value 4 years?

Solution
10
Value after the first year = sh (500 - x 500)
100

= sh 450
10
Value after the second year = sh (450 - x 450)
100

= sh 405
10
Value after the third year = sh (405 - x 405)
100

= sh 364.50
10
Value after the fourth year = sh (364.50 - x 364.50)
100

= sh 328.05
In general if P is the initial value of an asset, A the value after depreciation for n periods and r the rate of
depreciation per period.
𝑟 𝑛
A=P ( 𝐼 − )
100

Example
A minibus cost sh [Link] to wear and tear, it depreciates in value by 2 % every month. Find its value
after one year,
Solution
𝑟 𝑛
A=P ( 𝐼 − )
100

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Substituting P= 400,000 , r = 2 , and n =12 in the formula ;

A =sh.400000 (1- 0.02)12
=sh.400, 000(0.98)12
= sh.313700
Example
The initial cost of a ranch is sh.5000, [Link] the end of each year, the land value increases by 2%.What
will be the value of the ranch at the end of 3 years?
Solution
2 3
The value of the ranch after 3 years =sh 5000, 000(1 + )
100

= sh. 5000000(1.02)3
= sh 5,306,040

Hire Purchase
Method of buying goods and services by instalments. The interest charged for buying goods or services on
credit is called carrying charge.
Hire purchase = Deposit + (instalments x time)
Example
Aching wants to buy a sewing machine on hire purchase. It has a cash price of ksh [Link] can pay a cash
price or make a down payment of sh 2250 and 15 monthly instalments of sh.550 each. How much interest
does she pay under the instalment plan?

Solution
Total amount of instalments = sh 550 x 15
= sh 8250
Down payment (deposit) = sh 2250
Total payment = sh (8250 + 2250)
= sh 10500
Amount of interest charged = sh (10500-7500)
= sh3000
Note;
Always use the above formula to find other variables.

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Income tax
Taxes on personal income is income tax. Gross income is the total amount of money due to the individual
at the end of the month or the year.
Gross income = salary + allowances / benefits
Taxable income is the amount on which tax is levied. This is the gross income less any special benefits on
which taxes are not levied. Such benefits include refunds for expenses incurred while one is on official
duty.
In order to calculate the income tax that one has to pay, we convert the taxable income into Kenya pounds
K£ per annum or per month as dictated by the by the table of rates given.
Relief
 Every employee in kenya is entitled to an automatic personal tax relief of sh.12672 p.a (sh.1056
per month)
 An employee with a life insurance policy on his life, that of his wife or child, may make a tax claim
on the premiums paid towards the policy at sh.3 per pound subject to a maximum claim of sh .3000
per month.
Example
Mr. John earns a total of K£12300 [Link] how much tax he should pay per [Link] the tax
table below.

Income tax K£ per annum Rate (sh per pound)

1 -5808 2
5809 - 11280 3
11289 - 16752 4
16753 - 22224 5
Excess over 22224 6

Solution
His salary lies between £ 1 and £[Link] highest tax band is therefore the third band.
For the first £ 5808, tax due is sh 5808 x 2 = sh 11616
For the next £ 5472, tax due is sh 5472 x 2 = sh 16416
Remaining £ 1020, tax due sh. 1020 x 4 = sh 4080 +
Total tax due sh 32112

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Less personal relief of sh.1056 x 12 = sh.12672 -

Sh 19440
Therefore payable p.a is sh.19400.
Example
Mr. Ogembo earns a basic salary of sh 15000 per [Link] addition he gets a medical allowance of sh 2400
and a house allowance of sh [Link] the tax table above to calculate the tax he pays per year.
Solution
Taxable income per month = sh (15000 + 2400 + 12000)
= sh.29400
12
Converting to K£ p.a = K£ 29400 x
20

= K£ 17640
Tax due
First £ 5808 = sh.5808 x 2 = sh.11616
Next £ 5472 = sh.5472 x 3 = sh.16416
Next £ 5472 = sh.5472 x 4 = sh.21888
Remaining £ 888 = sh.888 x 5 = sh 4440 +
Total tax due sh 54360
Less personal relief sh 12672 -
Therefore, tax payable p.a sh41688

PAYE
In Kenya, every employer is required by the law to deduct income tax from the monthly earnings of his
employees every month and to remit the money to the income tax department. This system is called Pay As
You Earn (PAYE).

Housing
If an employee is provided with a house by the employer (either freely or for a nominal rent) then 15% of
his salary is added to his salary (less rent paid) for purpose of tax calculation. If the tax payer is a director
and is provided with a free house, then 15% of his salary is added to his salary before taxation.
Example

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Mr. Omondi who is a civil servant lives in government house who pays a rent of sh 500 per month. If his
salary is £9000 p.a, calculate how much PAYE he remits monthly.
Solution
Basic salary £ 9000
15
Housing £ 𝑥 9000 = £1350
100

Less rent paid = £ 300

£ 1050 +
Taxable income £ 10050

Tax charged;
First £ 5808, the tax due is sh.5808 x 2 = sh 11616
Remaining £ 4242, the tax due is sh 4242 x 3 = sh 12726 +
Sh 24342
Less personal relief Sh 12672
Sh 11670
11670
PAYE = sh
12

= sh 972.50
Example
Mr. Odhiambo is a senior teacher on a monthly basic salary of Ksh. [Link] top of his salary he gets a
house allowance of sh 12000, a medical allowance of Ksh.3060 and a hardship allowance of Ksh 3060 and
a hardship allowance of [Link] has a life insurance policy for which he pays Ksh.800 per month and
claims insurance relief.
i. Use the tax table below to calculate his PAYE.
Income in £ per month Rate %
1 - 484 10
485 - 940 15
941 - 1396 20
1397 - 1852 25
Excess over 1852 30

ii. In addition to PAYEE the following deductions are made on his pay every month
a) WCPS at 2% of basic salary
b) HHIF ksh.400
c) Co – operative shares and loan recovery Ksh 4800.

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Solution
a) Taxable income = Ksh (16000 + 12000 +3060 +4635)
= ksh 35695
𝐾£ 35695
Converting to K£ =
20

= K£ 1784.75
Tax charged is:
10
First £ 484 = £484 x = £ 48.40
100

15
Next £ 456 = £456 x = £ 68.40
100
10
Next £ 456 = £456 x = £ 91.20
100
25
Remaining £ 388 = £388 x = £ 97.00.
100

Total tax due = £305.00

= sh 6100
800
Insurance relief = sh 𝑥 3 = sh 120
20

Personal relief = sh 1056 +

Total relief sh 1176

Tax payable per month is sh 6100

Sh 1176 –
Sh 4924
Therefore, PAYE is sh 4924.
Note;
For the calculation of PAYE, taxable income is rounded down or truncated to the nearest whole number.
If an employee’s due tax is less than the relief allocated, then that employee is exempted from PAYEE
b) Total deductions are
2
Sh ( 𝑥 16000 + 400 + 4800 + 800 + 4924 ) = 𝑠ℎ 11244
100

Net pay = sh (35695 – 11244)

= sh 24451

End of topic

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Did you understand everything?

If not ask a teacher, friends or anybody and make sure you understand before going to
sleep!

Past KCSE Questions on the topic.

1. A business woman opened an account by depositing Kshs. 12,000 in a bank on 1 st July 1995. Each
subsequent year, she deposited the same amount on 1 st July. The bank offered her 9% per annum
compound interest. Calculate the total amount in her account on
(a) 30th June 1996
(b) 30th June 1997
2. A construction company requires to transport 144 tonnes of stones to sites A and
B. The company pays Kshs 24,000 to transport 48 tonnes of stone for every 28
km. Kimani transported 96 tonnes to a site A, 49 km away.
(a) Find how much he paid
(b) Kimani spends Kshs 3,000 to transport every 8 tonnes of stones to site.
Calculate his total profit.
(c) Achieng transported the remaining stones to sites B, 84 km away. If she made 44% profit,
find her transport cost.
3. The table shows income tax rates

Monthly taxable pay Rate of tax Kshs in 1 K£

1 – 435 2
436 – 870 3
871-1305 4
1306 – 1740 5
Excess Over 1740 6

A company employee earn a monthly basic salary of Kshs 30,000 and is also given taxable
allowances amounting to Kshs 10, 480.
(a) Calculate the total income tax
(b) The employee is entitled to a personal tax relief of Kshs 800 per month.
Determine the net tax.

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(c) If the employee received a 50% increase in his total income, calculate the
corresponding percentage increase on the income tax.
4. A house is to be sold either on cash basis or through a loan. The cash price is Kshs.750, 000. The
loan conditions area as follows: there is to be down payment
of 10% of the cash price and the rest of the money is to be paid through a loan
at 10% per annum compound interest.
A customer decided to buy the house through a loan.
a) (i) Calculate the amount of money loaned to the customer.
(ii) The customer paid the loan in 3 year’s. Calculate the total amount
paid for the house.
b) Find how long the customer would have taken to fully pay for the house
if she paid a total of Kshs 891,750.
5. A businessman obtained a loan of Kshs. 450,000 from a bank to buy a matatu valued at the same
amount. The bank charges interest at 24% per annum compound quarterly
a) Calculate the total amount of money the businessman paid to clear the loan in 1 ½ years.
b) The average income realized from the matatu per day was Kshs. 1500. The matatu worked
for 3 years at an average of 280 days year. Calculate the total income from the matatu.
c) During the three years, the value of the matatu depreciated at the rate of 16% per annum.
If the businessman sold the matatu at its new value, calculate the total profit he realized by
the end of three years.
6. A bank either pays simple interest as 5% p.a or compound interest 5% p.a on deposits. Nekesa
deposited Kshs P in the bank for two years on simple interest terms. If she had deposited the same
amount for two years on compound interest terms, she would have earned Kshs 210 more.
Calculate without using Mathematics Tables, the values of P
7. (a) A certain sum of money is deposited in a bank that pays simple interest at
a certain rate. After 5 years the total amount of money in an account is Kshs 358 400. The
interest earned each year is 12 800
Calculate
(i) The amount of money which was deposited (2mks)
(ii) The annual rate of interest that the bank paid (2mks)
(b) A computer whose marked price is Kshs 40,000 is sold at Kshs 56,000 on hire purchase
terms.
(i) Kioko bought the computer on hire purchase term. He paid a deposit of 25% of the hire
purchase price and cleared the balance by equal monthly installments of Kshs 2625.
Calculate the number of installments (3mks)

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(ii) Had Kioko bought the computer on cash terms he would have been allowed a discount of
12 ½ % on marked price. Calculate the difference between the cash price and the hire
purchase price and express as a percentage of the cash price
(iii) Calculate the difference between the cash price and hire purchase price and express it as a
percentage of the cash price.
8. The table below is a part of tax table for monthly income for the year 2004

Monthly taxable income Tax rate percentage

In ( Kshs) (%) in each shillings

Under Kshs 9681 10%

From Kshs 9681 but under 18801 15%

From Kshs 18801 but 27921 20%

In the tax year 2004, the tax of Kerubo’s monthly income was Kshs 1916.
Calculate Kerubo’s monthly income
9. The cash price of a T.V set is Kshs 13, 800. A customer opts to buy the set on hire purchase terms
by paying a deposit of Kshs 2280.
If simple interest of 20 p. a is charged on the balance and the customer is required to repay by 24
equal monthly installments. Calculate the amount of each installment.
10. A plot of land valued at Ksh. 50,000 at the start of 1994.
Thereafter, every year, it appreciated by 10% of its previous years value find:
(a) The value of the land at the start of 1995
(b) The value of the land at the end of 1997

11. The table below shows Kenya tax rates in a certain year.

Income K £ per annum Tax rates Kshs per K £

1- 4512 2

4513 - 9024 3

9025 - 13536 4

13537 - 18048 5

18049 - 22560 6

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Over 22560 6.5

In that year Muhando earned a salary of Ksh. 16510 per month. He was entitled to a monthly tax
relief of Ksh. 960
Calculate
(a) Muhando annual salary in K £
(b) (i) The monthly tax paid by Muhando in Ksh
14. A tailor intends to buy a sewing machine which costs Ksh 48,000. He borrows the money from a
bank. The loan has to be repaid at the end of the second year. The bank charges an interest at the
rate of 24% per annum compounded half yearly. Calculate the total amount payable to the bank.

15. The average rate of depreciation in value of a water pump is 9% per annum. After three complete
years its value was Ksh 150,700. Find its value at the start of the three year period.

1. A water pump costs Ksh 21600 when new, at the end of the first year its value depreciates by
25%. The depreciation at the end of the second year is 20% and thereafter the rate of
depreciation is 15% yearly. Calculate the exact value of the water pump at the end of the fourth
year.

CHAPTER FOURTY SEVEN

CIRCLES, CHORDS AND TANGENTS

Specific Objectives

By the end of the topic the learner should be able to:

(a) Calculate length of an arc and a chord;
(b) Calculate lengths of tangents and intersecting chords;
(c) State and use properties of chords and tangents;
(d) Construct tangent to a circle,
(e) Construct direct and transverse common tangents to two circles;
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(f) Relate angles in alternate segment;

(g) Construct circumscribed, inscribed and escribed circles;
(h) Locate centroid and orthocentre of a triangle;
(i) Apply knowledge of circles, tangents and chords to real life situations.
Content
(a) Arcs, chords and tangents
(b) Lengths of tangents and intersecting chords
(c) Properties of chords and tangents
(d) Construction of tangents to a circle
(e) Direct and transverse common tangents to two circles
(f) Angles in alternate segment
(g) Circumscribed, inscribed and escribed circles
(h) Centroid and orthocentre
(i) Application of knowledge of tangents and chords to real life situations.

Length of an Arc

The Arc length marked red is given by ;

𝜃
𝑥 2𝜋𝑟.
360
Example
Find the length of an arc subtended by an angle of 2500 at the centre of the circle of radius 14 cm.
Solution

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𝜃
Length of an arc = 𝑥 2𝜋𝑟
360
250 22
= 𝑥2𝑥 𝑥 14 = 61.11 𝑐𝑚
360 7

Example
The length of an arc of a circle is 11.0 [Link] the radius of the circle if an arc subtended an angle of 900 at
the centre .
Solution
𝜃
Arc length = 𝑥 2𝜋𝑟 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝜃 = 900
360
90 22
Therefore 11 = 𝑥2𝑥 𝑥 𝑟
360 7

𝑟 = 7.0 𝑐𝑚

Example
Find the angle subtended at the centre of a circle by an arc of 20 cm, if the circumference of the circle is 60
cm.
Solution
𝜃
= 𝑥 2𝜋𝑟 = 20
360

But 2𝜋𝑟 = 60 𝑐𝑚
𝜃
Therefore, 𝑥 60 = 20
360

360
𝜃 = 20 𝑥
60
𝜃 = 1200
Chords
Chord of a circle: A line segment which joins two points on a circle. Diameter: a chord which passes through
the center of the circle. Radius: the distance from the center of the circle to the circumference of the circle

Perpendicular bisector of a code

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A perpendicular drawn from the centre of the circle to a chord bisects the chord.

Note;
 Perperndicular drawn from the centre of the circle to chord bisects the cord ( divides it into two
equal parts)
 A straight line joining the centre of a circle to the midpoint of a chord is perpendicular to the chord.

The radius of a circle centre O is 13 [Link] the perpendicular distance from O to the chord, if AB is 24
cm.

Solution
OC bisects chord AB at C
Therefore, AC =12 cm
In ∆𝐴𝑂𝐶 ,O𝐶 2 = 𝐴𝑂2 − 𝐴𝐶 2
= 132 − 122 = 25
Therefore
, OM =√25 = 5 cm

Parallel chords
Any chord passing through the midpoints of all parallel chords of a circle is a diameter

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Example
In the figure below CD and AB are parallel chords of a circle and 2 cm apart. If CD = 8 cm and AB= 10
cm, find the radius of the circle

Solution
 Draw the perpendicular bisector of the chords to cut them at K and L .
 Join OD and OC
 In triangle ODL,
 DL = 4 cm and KC =5 cm
 Let OK = X cm
 Therefore ( 𝑥 + 22 ) + 42 = 𝑟 2
In triangle OCK;

 𝑥 2 + 52 = 𝑟 2
 Therefore ( 𝑥 + 22 ) + 42 = 𝑥 2 + 52
 𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 20) + 42 = 𝑥 2 + 52
 4𝑥 + 20 = 25
 4x = 5
1
 X= 1
4
Using the equation 𝑥 2 + 52 = 𝑟 2
5
𝑟 2 = ( )2 + 52
4
25
= + 25
16
425
=
16

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425
𝑟=√ = 5.154 cm
16

Intersecting chords
𝐷𝐸 𝐸𝐵
In general = 𝑜𝑟 𝐷𝐸 × 𝐸𝐶 = 𝐸𝐵 × 𝐴𝐸
𝐴𝐸 𝐸𝐶

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Example
In the example above AB and CD are two chords that intersect in a circle at Given that AE = 4 cm, CE =5
cm and DE = 3 cm, find AB.

Solution
Let EB = x cm
4×𝑥 =5 ×3
4𝑥 = 15
𝑥 = 3.75 𝑐𝑚
Since AB = AE + EB
AB = 4 + 3.75
= 7.75 cm

Equal chords.
 Angles subtended at the centre of a circle by equal chords are equals
 If chords are equal they are equidistant from the centre of the circle

Secant
A chord that is produced outside a circle is called a secant
𝐵𝐶 𝐶𝐷
= 𝑂𝑅 𝐵𝐶 × 𝐶𝐴 = 𝐶𝐷 × 𝐸𝐶
𝐸𝐶 𝐶𝐴

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Example
Find the value of AT in the figure below. AR = 4 cm, RD = 5 cm and TC = 9 cm.
Solution

AC x AT = 𝐴𝑂 𝑥 𝐴𝑅
(x + 9) x = (5 + 4) 4

𝑥 2 + 9𝑥 = 36

𝑥 2 + 9𝑥 − 36 = 0
(x + 12) (x- 3) = 0
Therefore, x = - 12 or x = 3
𝑥 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑏𝑒 𝑎 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑥 = 3 𝑐𝑚

Tangent and secant

Tangent
A line which touches a circle at exactly one point is called a tangent line and the point where it touches the
circle is called the point of contact
Secant
A line which intersects the circle in two distinct points is called a secant line (usually referred to as a
secant).The figures below A shows a secant while B shows a tangent .

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A B
Construction of a tangent

 Draw a circle of any radius and centre O.

 Join O to any point P on the circumference
 Produce OP to a point P outside the circle
 Construct a perpendicular line SP through point P
 The line is a tangent to the circle at P as shown below.

Note;
 The radius and tangent are perpendicular at the point of contact.
 Through any point on a circle , only one tangent can be drawn
 A perpendicular to a tangent at the point of contact passes thought the centre of the circle.

Example
In the figure below PT = 15 cm and PO = 17 cm, calculate the length of PQ.

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Solution

𝑂𝑇 2 = 𝑂𝑃2 − 𝑃𝑇 2

= 172 − 152

= 64
OT = 8 cm

Properties of tangents to a circle from an external point

If two tangents are drawn to a circle from an external point

 They are equal

 They subtend equal angles at the centre
 The line joining the centre of the circle to the external point bisects the angle between the tangents

Example
The figure below represents a circle centre O and radius 5 cm. The tangents PT is 12 cm long. Find: a.) OP
b.) Angle TP𝑇 1

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Solution
a.) Join O to P
𝑂𝑃2 = 𝑂𝐶 2 − 𝑃𝐶 2 (𝑝𝑦𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑔𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑚)
𝑂𝑃2 = 52 + 122

= 25 + 144
= 169
𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒, 𝑂𝑃 = 13 𝑐𝑚
b.) <𝑇𝑃𝑇 1 = 2 𝑇𝑃𝑂( 𝑃𝑂 𝑏𝑖𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡 < 𝑇𝑃𝑇 1 )
<OTP = 900
∆𝑇𝑃𝑂 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑡 𝑇
12
cos < 𝑇𝑃𝑂 = = 0.9231
13
Therefore, <TPO = 22.620
Hence <𝑇𝑃𝑇 1 = 22.620 × 2
= 45. 240
Two tangent to a circle
Direct (exterior) common tangents Transverse or interior common tangents

Tangent Problem
The common-tangent problem is named for the single tangent segment that’s tangent to two circles. Your
goal is to find the length of the tangent. These problems are a bit involved, but they should cause you little
difficulty if you use the straightforward three-step solution method that follows.

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The following example involves a common external tangent (where the tangent lies on the same side of
both circles). You might also see a common-tangent problem that involves a common internal tangent
(where the tangent lies between the circles). No worries: The solution technique is the same for both.
Given the radius of circle A is 4 cm and the radius of circle Z is 14 cm and the distance between the two
circles is 8 cm.
Here’s how to solve it:

1.)Draw the segment connecting the centers of the two circles and draw the two radii to the points of
tangency (if these segments haven’t already been drawn for you).
Draw line AZ and radii AB and ZY.
The following figure shows this step. Note that the given distance of 8 cm between the circles is the distance
between the outsides of the circles along the segment that connects their centers.

2.) From the center of the smaller circle, draw a segment parallel to the common tangent till it hits the radius
of the larger circle (or the extension of the radius in a common-internal-tangent problem).

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You end up with a right triangle and a rectangle; one of the rectangle’s sides is the common tangent. The
above figure illustrates this step.
3.)You now have a right triangle and a rectangle and can finish the problem with the Pythagorean Theorem
and the simple fact that opposite sides of a rectangle are congruent.

The triangle’s hypotenuse is made up of the radius of circle A, the segment between the circles, and the
radius of circle Z. Their lengths add up to 4 + 8 + 14 = 26. You can see that the width of the rectangle equals
the radius of circle A, which is 4; because opposite sides of a rectangle are congruent, you can then tell that
one of the triangle’s legs is the radius of circle Z minus 4, or 14 – 4 = 10.
You now know two sides of the triangle, and if you find the third side, that’ll give you the length of the
common tangent.
You get the third side with the Pythagorean Theorem:

(Of course, if you recognize that the right triangle is in the 5 : 12 : 13 family, you can multiply 12 by 2 to
get 24 instead of using the Pythagorean Theorem.)Because opposite sides of a rectangle are congruent, BY
is also 24, and you’re done.

Now look back at the last figure and note where the right angles are and how the right triangle and the
rectangle are situated; then make sure you heed the following tip and warning.

Note the location of the hypotenuse. In a common-tangent problem, the segment connecting the centers of
the circles is always the hypotenuse of a right triangle. The common tangent is always the side of a
rectangle, not a hypotenuse.

In a common-tangent problem, the segment connecting the centers of the circles is never one side of a right
angle. Don’t make this common mistake.

HOW TO construct a common exterior tangent line to two circles

In this lesson you will learn how to construct a common exterior tangent line to two circles in a plane such
that no one is located inside the other using a ruler and a compass.

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Problem 1
For two given circles in a plane such that no one is located inside the other, to construct the common
exterior tangent line using a ruler and a compass.

Solution

We are given two circles in a plane such that no one is located inside the other (Figure 1a).
We need to construct the common exterior tangent line to the circles using a ruler and a compass.

First, let us analyze the problem and make a sketch (Figures 1a and 1b). Let AB be the common
tangent line to the circles we are searching for.
Let us connect the tangent point A of the first circle with its center P and the tangent point B of the
second circle with its center Q (Figure 1a and 1b).

Then the radii PA and QB are both perpendicular to the tangent line AB (lesson A tangent line to a
circle is perpendicular to the radius drawn to the tangent point under the topic Circles and their properties
). Hence, theradii PA and QB are parallel.

Figure 1a. To the Problem 1

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Figure 1b. To the solution of the Problem 1

Figure 1c. To the construction step 3

Next, let us draw the straight line segment CQ parallel to AB through the point Q till the intersection
with the radius PA at the point C (Figure 1b). Then the straight line CQ is parallel to AB. Hence, the
quadrilateral CABQ is a parallelogram (moreover, it is a rectangle) and has the opposite sides QB and
CA congruent. The point C divides the radius PA in two segments of the length 𝑟2 (CA) and 𝑟1 − 𝑟2
(PC). It is clear from this analysis that the straight line QC is the tangent line to the circle of the radius
𝑟1 − 𝑟2 with the center at the point P (shown in red in Figure 1b).

It implies that the procedure of constructing the common exterior tangent line to two circles should be as
follows:
1) draw the auxiliary circle of the radius 𝑟1 − 𝑟2 at the center of the larger circle (shown in red in
Figure 1b);
2) construct the tangent line to this auxiliary circle from the center of the smaller circle (shown in red
in Figure 1b). In this way you will get the tangent point C on the auxiliary circle of the radius𝑟1 − 𝑟2 ;

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3) draw the straight line from the point P to the point C and continue it in the same direction till the
intersection with the larger circle (shown in blue in Figure 1b). The intersection point A is the tangent
point of the common tangent line and the larger circle. Figure 1c reminds you how to perform this step.
4) draw the straight line QB parallel to PA till the intersection with the smaller circle (shown in blue
in Figure 1b).
The intersection point B is the tangent point of the common tangent line and the smaller circle;
5) the required common tangent line is uniquely defined by its two points A and B.

Note that all these operations 1) - 4) can be done using a ruler and a compass. The problem is solved.

Problem 2
Find the length of the common exterior tangent segment to two given circles in a plane, if they have the
radii 𝑟1 and 𝑟2 and the distance between their centers is d.
No one of the two circles is located inside the other.

Solution
Let us use the Figure 1b from the solution to the previous Problem 1.
This Figure is relevant to the Problem 2. It is copied and reproduced
in the Figure 2 on the right for your convenience.
figure 2

It is clear from the solution of the Problem 1 above that the common
exterior tangent segment |AB| is congruent to the side |CQ| of the
quadrilateral (rectangle) CABQ.

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From the other side, the segment CQ is the leg of the right-angled
triangle DELTAPCQ. This triangle has the hypotenuse's measure d and
the other leg's measure 𝑟1 − 𝑟2 . Therefore, the length of the common
exterior tangent segment |AB| is equal to

|AB| =√𝑑 2 − (𝑟1 − 𝑟2 )2

Note that the solvability condition for this problem is d >𝑟1 − 𝑟2 .

It coincides with the condition that no one of the two circles lies inside the other.

Example 1
Find the length of the common exterior tangent segment to two given circles in a plane, if their radii are 6
cm and 3 cm and the distance between their centers
is 5 cm.

Solution
Use the formula (1) derived in the solution of the Problem 2.
According to this formula, the length of the common exterior tangent segment to the two given circles is
equal to

√52 − (6 − 3)2 = √52 − 32 = √25 − 9

= 4 cm

Answer.
The length of the common exterior tangent segment to the two given circles is 4 cm

Contact of circles
Two circle are said to touch each other at a point if they have a common tangent at that point.
Point T is shown by the red dot.

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Internal tangent externally tangent

Note;
 The centers of the two circles and their point of contact lie on a straight line
 When two circles touch each other internally, the distance between the centers is equal to the
difference of the radii i.e. PQ= TP-TA
 When two circles touch each other externally, the distance between the centers is equal to the sum
of the radii i.e. OR =TO +TR
.

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Alternate Segment theorem

The angle which the chord makes with the tangent is equal to the angle subtended by the same chord in the
alternate segment of the circle.

Angle a = Angle b

Note;
The blue line represents the angle which the chord CD makes with the tangent PQ which is equal to the
angle b which is subtended by the chord in the alternate segment of the circle.

Illustrations

 Angle s = Angle t
 Angle a = Ange b 𝑤𝑒 𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑔𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑚 <

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Tangent – secant segment length theorem

If a tangent segment and secant segment are drawn to a circle from an external point, then the square of the
length of the tangent equals the product of the length of the secant with the length of its external segment.

(𝑇𝑉)2 = 𝑇𝑊. 𝑇𝑋
Example
In the figure above ,TW=10 cm and XW = 4 cm. find TV
Solution
(𝑇𝑉)2 = 𝑇𝑊. 𝑇𝑋

(𝑇𝑉)2 = 10 × 6 ( 𝑡𝑥 = 𝑡𝑤 − 𝑥𝑤)

=√16
TV = 4 𝑐𝑚

Circles and triangles

Inscribed circle

 Construct any triangle ABC.

 Construct the bisectors of the three angles
 The bisectors will meet at point I
 Construct a perpendicular from O to meet one of the sides at M
 With the centre I and radius IM draw a circle
 The circle will touch the three sides of the triangle ABC
 Such a circle is called an inscribed circle or in circle.
 The centre of an inscribed circle is called the incentre

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Circumscribed circle

 Construct any triangle ABC.

 Construct perpendicular bisectors of AB , BC, and AC to meet at point O.
 With O as the centre and using OB as radius, draw a circle
 The circle will pass through the vertices A , B and C as shown in the figure below

Escribed circle

 Construct any triangle ABC.

 Extend line BA and BC
 Construct the perpendicular bisectors of the two external angles produced
 Let the perpendicular bisectors meet at O
 With O as the centre draw the circle which will touch all the external sides of the triangle

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Note;
Centre O is called the ex-centre
AO and CO are called external bisectors.

End of topic

Did you understand everything?

If not ask a teacher, friends or anybody and make sure you understand before going to
sleep!

Past KCSE Questions on the topic.

1. The figure below represents a circle a diameter 28 cm with a sector subtending an angle of 75 0 at
the centre.

Find the area of the shaded segment to 4 significant figures

(a) <PST

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2. The figure below represents a rectangle PQRS inscribed in a circle centre 0 and radius 17 cm. PQ
= 16 cm.

Calculate
(a) The length PS of the rectangle
(b) The angle POS
(c) The area of the shaded region
3. In the figure below, BT is a tangent to the circle at B. AXCT and BXD are
straight lines. AX = 6 cm, CT = 8 cm, BX = 4.8 cm and XD = 5 cm.

Find the length of

(a) XC
(b) BT
4. The figure below shows two circles each of radius 7 cm, with centers at X and Y. The circles touch
each other at point Q.

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Given that <AXD = <BYC = 1200 and lines AB, XQY and DC are parallel, calculate the area of:
a) Minor sector XAQD (Take π 22/7)
b) The trapezium XABY
c) The shaded regions.
5. The figure below shows a circle, centre, O of radius 7 cm. TP and TQ are tangents to the circle at
points P and Q respectively. OT =25 cm.

Calculate the length of the chord PQ

6. The figure below shows a circle centre O and a point Q which is outside the circle

O
Q

Using a ruler and a pair of compasses, only locate a point on the circle such that angle OPQ = 90 o

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7. In the figure below, PQR is an equilateral triangle of side 6 cm. Arcs QR, PR and PQ arcs of circles
with centers at P, Q and R respectively.

Calculate the area of the shaded region to 4 significant figures

8. In the figure below AB is a diameter of the circle. Chord PQ intersects AB at N. A tangent to the
circle at B meets PQ produced at R.

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Given that PN = 14 cm, NB = 4 cm and BR = 7.5 cm, calculate the length of:
(a) NR
(b) AN

CHAPTER FOURTY EIGHT

MATRICES
Specific Objectives

By the end of the topic the learner should be able to:

(a) Define a matrix;
(b) State the order of a matrix;
(c) Define a square matrix;
(d) Determine compatibility in addition and multiplication of matrices;
(e) Add matrices;
(f) Multiply matrices;
(g) Identify matrices;
(h) Find determinant of a 2 x 2 matrix;
(i) Find the inverse of a 2 x 2 matrix;
(j) Use matrices to solve simultaneous equations.

Content
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(a) Matrix
(b) Order of a matrix
(c) Square matrix
(d) Compatibility in addition and multiplication of matrices
(e) Multiplication of a matrix by a scalar
(f) Matrix multiplication
(g) Identify matrix
(h) Determinant of a 2 x 2 matrix
(i) Inverse of a 2 x 2 matrix
(j) Singular matrix
(k) Solutions of simultaneous equations in two unknowns.

(i)

Introduction

A matrix is a rectangular arrangement of numbers in rows and columns. For instance, matrix A below has
two rows and three columns. The dimensions of this matrix are 2 x 3 (read “2 by 3”). The numbers in a
matrix are its entries. In matrix A, the entry in the second row and third column is 5.
6 2 −1
A= [ ]
−2 0 𝟓
Some matrices (the plural of matrix) have special names because of their dimensions or entries.

Order of matrix
Matrix consist of rows and columns. Rows are the horizontal arrangement while columns are the vertical
arrangement.
Order of matrix is being determined by the number of rows and columns. The order is given by stating the
number of rows followed by columns.

Note;
If the number of rows is m and the number of columns n, the matrix is of order 𝑚 × 𝑛.
E.g. If a matrix has m rows and n columns, it is said to be order mn.

2 0 3 6
e.g.  3 4 7 0 is a matrix of order 34.
 1 9 2 5
 

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 1 0 2
e.g. 2 1 5 is a matrix of order 3.
1 3 0 
 

e.g.
2 3 4 is a 23 matrix.
 1 8 5

2
e.g. 7 is a 31 matrix.
3
 
Elements of matrix
The element of a matrix is each number or letter in the matrix. Each element is locating by stating its
position in the row and the column.

 2 0 3 6
 
For example, given the 3 x 4 matrix 3 4 7 0
1 9 2 5

 The element 1 is in the third row and first column.

 The element 6 is in the first row and forth column.
Note;
A matrix in which the number of rows is equal to the number of columns is called a square matrix.
 1 0 2
2 1 5
1 3 0 
 

a 1
a2  an  Is called a row matrix or row vector.

 b1 
b2 
 Is called a column matrix or column vector.
 
bn 

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2
7 Is a column vector of order 31.
3
 
2 3 4 is a row vector of order 13.
Two or more matrices re equal if they are of the same order and their corresponding elements are equal.
𝑎 𝑐 3 4
Thus, if [ ]=[ ] then, a = 3, b =4 and d=5.
𝑐 𝑑 1 5
Addition and subtraction of matrices
Matrices can be added or subtracted if they are of the same order. The sum of two or more matrices is
obtained by adding corresponding elements. Subtraction is also done in the same way.
Example

2 5 1 3
𝑖𝑓 𝐴 = [ ] 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐵 = [ ] 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑 ∶
0 7 6 2
1.) A + B 2.) A – B
Solution
2 5 1 3 2+1 5+3 3 8
1.) A+B =[ ]+[ ]=[ ]= [ ]
0 7 6 2 0+6 7+2 6 9

2 5 1 3 2−1 5−3 1 2
2.) A - B =[ ]+[ ]=[ ]= [ ]
0 7 6 2 0−6 7−2 −6 5

Example
3 2 1 2 4 1 8 0 2 3−2+8 2−4+0 1−1+2
[0 4 5] - [1 2 0] + [1 3 5] = [0 − 1 + 1 4 − 2 + 3 5 − 0 + 5]
1 3 2 5 9 6 2 1 6 1−5+2 3−9+1 2−6+ 6
9 −2 2
=[ 0 5 10]
−2 −5 2

Note;
After arranging the matrices you must use BODMAS
1
2 7
[ ] + [5]
4 9
6
The matrix above cannot be added because they are not of the same
1
2 7
order[ ] 𝑖𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑒𝑟 2 𝑥 2 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑒 [5] 𝑖𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑒𝑟 3 𝑥1
4 9
6

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Matrix multiplication
To multiply a matrix by a number, you multiply each element in the matrix by the number.
Example
−2 0
3[ ]
4 −7
solution
−2(3) 0(3) −6 0
=[ ]= [ ]
4 (3) −7(3) 12 −21

Example
1 −2 −4 5
-2[ 0 3 ] + [ 6 −8]
−4 5 −2 6
Solution
−2 4 −4 5
[0 −6 ] + [ 6 −8]
8 −10 −2 6
−6 9
=[ 6 −14]
6 −4
Example
A woman wanted to buy one sack of potatoes, three bunches of bananas and two basket of onion. She went
to kikuyu market and found the prices as sh 280 for the sack of potatoes ,sh 50 for a bunch of bananas and
sh 100 for a basket of onions. At kondelee market the corresponding prices were sh 300, sh 48 and sh 80.
a.) Express the woman’s requirements as a row matrix
b.) Express the prices in each market as a column matrix
c.) Use the matrices in (a) and (b) to find the total cost in each market

Solution
a.) Requirements in matrix form is (1 3 2)
280
b.) Price matrix for Kikuyu market is [ 50 ]
100

300
Price matrix for kondelee market [ 48 ]
80
c.) Total cost in shillings at Kikuyu Market is;

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280
(1 3 2)[ 50 ]= (1 x 280 + 3 x 50 +2 x 100) = (630)
100

Total cost in shillings at Kondelee Market is;

300
(1 3 2 )[ 48 ] = ( 1 x 300 + 3 x 48 + 2 x 80) =(604)
80
The two results can be combined into one as shown below
280 300
(1 3 2)[ 50 48 ] = (630 604)
100 80
Note;
The product of two matrices A and B is defined provided the number of columns in A is equal to the number
of rows in B.
If A is an m x n matrix and B is an n x p matrix, then the product AB is an m a p matrix.
A X B = AB
mXn nXp=mX p
Each time a row is multiplied by a column
Example
−2 3
−1 3
Find AB if A =[ 1 −4] and B=[ ]
−2 4
6 0

Solution
Because A is a 3 x 2 matrix and B is a 2 x 2 matrix, the product AB is defined and is a 3 x 2 matrix. To write
the elements in the first row and first column of AB, multiply corresponding elements in the first row of A
and the first column of B. Then add. Use a similar procedure to write the other entries of the product.

−𝟐 𝟑
−𝟏 3
AB=[ 1 −4] [ ]
−𝟐 4
6 0
(−𝟐)(−𝟏) + (𝟑)(−𝟐) (−2)(3) + (3)(4)
=[ (1)(−1) + (−4)(−2) (1)(3) + (−4)(4)]
(−6)(−1) + (0)(−2) (6)(3) + (0)(4)

−4 6
=[ 7 −13]
−6 18

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Identity matrix
For matrices, the identity matrix or a unit matrix is the matrix that has 1’s on the main diagonal and 0’s
elsewhere. The main diagonal is the one running from top left to bottom right .It is also called leading or
principle diagonal. Examples are;
𝟏 0 0
𝟏 0
I=[ ] 𝐼 = [0 𝟏 0]
0 𝟏
0 0 𝟏
2 X 2 identity matrix 3 x 3 identity matrix
If A is any n x n matrix and I is the n x n identity matrix, then IA = A and AI = A.

Determinant matrix
The determinant of a matrix is the difference of the products of the elements on the diagonals.
Examples
The determinant of A, det A or |A| is defined as follows:

a11 b12
(a) If n=2, det A   a11a 22  b12 b21
b21 a 22

Example
1 3
Find the determinant [ ]
2 5
Solution
Subtract the product of the diagonals
1 x 5 – 2 x 3 = 5 – 6 = -1
Determinant is -1

Inverse of a matrix
Two matrices of order n x n are inverse of each other if their product (in both orders) is theidentity matrix
of the same order n x n. The inverse of A is written as 𝐴−1
Example
3 −1 2 1
Show that B= [ ]𝐴= [ ]
−5 2 5 3
Solution
3 −1 2 1
AB=[ ][ ]
−5 2 5 3
2 𝑋3 + 1 𝑥 − 5 2𝑥−1+1+2
=[ ]
5𝑥3+3𝑥−5 5𝑥−1+3𝑥2

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1 0
=[ ]=𝐼
0 1
3 −1 2 1
BA=[ ][ ]
−5 2 5 3
1 0
=[ ]=𝐼 AB=BA=I. Hence, A is the inverse of B
0 1
Note;
To get the inverse matrix

 Find the determinant of the matrix. If it is zero, then there is no inverse

 If it is non zero, then;
 Interchange the elements in the main diagonal
 Reverse the signs of the element in the other diagonals
 Divide the matrix obtained by the determinant of the given matrix

In summary
𝑎 𝑏
The inverse of the matrix A = [ ] is
𝑐 𝑑
1 𝑑 −𝑏 1 𝑑 −𝑏
𝐴−1 = [ ]= =[ ] 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑑 − 𝑐𝑏 ≠ 0
|𝐴| −𝑒 𝑎 𝑎𝑑−𝑐𝑏 −𝑒 𝑎

Example
3 1
Find the inverse of A=[ ]
4 2
Solution
1
1 1 2 1 −
2 −1 −1 2]
𝐴−1 = [ ]= [ ]=[
6 − 4 −4 3 2 −4 3 3
−2
2
Check
You can check the inverse by showing that A𝐴−1
1 1
3 1 1 −2 𝟏 0 1 −
2 3 1 𝟏 0
[ ][ 3 ]=[ ] And [ 3 ][ ]=[ ]
4 2 −2 0 𝟏 −2 4 2 0 𝟏
2 2

Solutions of simultaneous linear equations using matrix

Using matrix method solve the following pairs of simultaneous equation

𝑥 + 2𝑦 = 4

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3𝑥 − 5𝑦 = 1
Solution
1 2 𝑥 4
( ) (𝑦 ) = ( )
3 −5 1

1 2
( ) 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑥 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑜𝑢 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠
3 −5
4
( ) 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑥
𝑦

1 2
We need to calculate the inverse of A = ( )
3 −5
1 −5 −2 1 −5 −2
𝐴− =(1)(−5)−(2)(3) ( )=− ( )
−3 1 11 −3 1
1 −5 −2 4
Hence 𝐴− 𝐵 = − ( )( )
11 −3 1 1
1 −22
=− ( )
11 11
2
=( )
1
Hence the value of x = 2 and the value of y = 1 is the solution of the simultaneous equation

End of topic

Did you understand everything?

If not ask a teacher, friends or anybody and make sure you understand before going to
sleep!

Past KCSE Questions on the topic

1. A and B are two matrices. If A = 1 2 find B given that A2 = A + B

4 3
2. Given that A= 1 3 , B= 3 1 , C = p 0 and AB =BC, determine the value of P

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5 3 5 -1 0 q
3. A matrix A is given by A = x 0
5 y
a) Determine A2

b) If A2 = 1 0 , determine the possible pairs of values of x and y

4. (a) 0 of
Find the inverse 1 the matrix 9 8

7 6
(b) In a certain week a businessman bought 36 bicycles and 32 radios for total of Kshs 227
280. In the following week, he bought 28 bicycles and 24 radios for a total of Kshs 174
960. Using matrix method, find the price of each bicycle and each radio that he bought

(c) In the third week, the price of each bicycle was reduced by 10% while the price of each
radio was raised by 10%. The businessman bought as many bicycles and as many radios
as he had bought in the first two weeks.
Find by matrix method, the total cost of the bicycles and radios that the businessman bought
in the third week.

5. Determine the inverse T-1 of the matrix 1 2

1 -1
Hence find the coordinates to the point at which the two lines x + 2y=7 and x-y=1

6. Given that A = 0 -1 and B = -1 0

3 2 2 -4
Find the value of x if
(i) A – 2x = 2B
(ii) 3x – 2A = 3B
(iii) 2A – 3B = 2x
7. Find the non- zero value of k for which k + 1 2 is an inverse.
4k 2k
8. A clothes dealer sold 3 shirts and 2 trousers for Kshs. 840 and 4 shirts and 5 trousers for Kshs 1680.
Form a matrix equation to represent the above information. Hence find the cost of 1 shirt and the
cost of 1 trouser.

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CHAPTER FOURTY NINE

FORMULAE AND VARIATION

Specific Objectives

By the end of the topic the learner should be able to:

a) Rewrite a given formula by changing its subject
b) Define direct, inverse, partial and joint variations
c) Determine constants of proportionality
d) Form and solve equations involving variations
e) Draw graphs to illustrate direct and inverse proportions
f) Use variations to solve real life problems

Content
a.) Change of the subject of a formula
b.) Direct, inverse, partial and joint variation
c.) Constants of proportionality
d.) Equations involving variations
e.) Graphs of direct and inverse proportion
f.) Formation of equations on variations based on real life situations

Formulae
A Formula is an expression or equation that expresses the relationship between certain quantities.

For Example𝐴 = 𝜋𝑟 2 is the formula to find the area of a circle of radius r units.

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From this formula, we can know the relationship between the radius and the area of a circle. The area of a
circle varies directly as the square of its radius. Here 𝜋 is the constant of variation.

Changing the subject of a formulae

Terminology
In the formula
C =𝜋d
Subject: C Rule: multiply 𝜋by diameter

The variable on the left, is known as the subject: What you are trying to find.
The formula on the right, is the rule, that tells you how to calculate the subject.
So, if you want to have a formula or rule that lets you calculate d, you need
to make d, the subject of the formula.
This is changing the subject of the formula from C to d.

So clearly in the case above where

C = 𝜋d

We get C by multiplying 𝜋by the diameter

To calculate d, we need to divide the Circumference C by 𝜋
𝐶
So d = and now we have d as the subject of the formula.
𝜋

Method:
A formula is simply an equation, that you cannot solve, until you replace the letters with their
values (numbers). It is known as a literal equation.
To change the subject, apply the same rules as we have applied to normal equations.
1. Add the same variable to both sides.
2. Subtract the same variable from both sides.
3. Multiply both sides by the same variable.
4. Divide both sides by the same variable.
5. Square both sides
6. Square root both sides.

Examples:
Make the letter in brackets the subject of the formula
x+p=q[x]
(subtract p from both sides)
x=q–p

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y−r=s[y]
(add r to both sides)
y=s+r

P = RS [ R ]
(divide both sides by S)

𝑃
S=
𝑅

𝐴
=L [A]
𝐵
(multiply both sides by B)
A = LB

2w+ 3 = y [ w ]
(subtract 3 from both sides)
2w = y −3
(divide both sides by 2)
𝑦−3
W=
2

1
P= Q [Q]
3
(multiply both sides by 3− get rid of fraction)
3P = Q

2
T= k[k]
5
(multiply both sides by 5− get rid of fraction)
5T = 2k
(divide both sides by 2)
5𝑇 5𝑇 5
=k Note that: is the same as 𝑇
2 2 2

A =𝜋𝑟 2 r [ r ]
(divide both sides by p)
𝐴 𝐴
= 𝑟 2 (square root both sides) √ =𝑟
𝜋 𝜋

1
L = h −t [ h ]
2
(multiply both sides by 2)
2L = h −t
(add t to both sides)
2L + t = h

Example
𝑑−𝑥
Make d the subject of the formula G=√
𝑑−1
Solution

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Squaring both sides

𝑑−𝑥
𝐺2 =
𝑑−1
Multiply both sides by d-1
𝐺 2 (𝑑 − 1) = 𝑑 − 𝑥
Expanding the L.H.S
𝑑 𝐺2 − 𝐺2 = 𝑑 − 𝑥
Collecting the terms containing d on the L.H.S
𝑑 𝐺2 − 𝑑 = 𝐺2 − 𝑥
Factorizing the L.H.S
𝑑 (𝐺 2 − 1) = 𝐺 2 − 𝑥
Dividing both sides by

(𝐺 2 − 1)
𝐺2 − 𝑥
𝑑= 2
𝐺 −1

Variation
In a formula some elements which do not change (fixed) under any condition are called constants while the
ones that change are called variables. There are different types of variations.

 Direct Variation, where both variables either increase or decrease together

 Inverse or Indirect Variation, where when one of the variables increases, the other one decreases
 Joint Variation, where more than two variables are related directly
 Combined Variation, which involves a combination of direct or joint variation, and indirect
variation

Examples

 Direct: The number of money I make varies directly (or you can say varies proportionally) with
how much I work.
 Direct: The length of the side a square varies directly with the perimeter of the square.
 Inverse: The number of people I invite to my bowling party varies inversely with the number of
games they might get to play (or you can say is proportional to the inverse of).
 Inverse: The temperature in my house varies indirectly (same as inversely) with the amount of
time the air conditioning is running.
 Inverse: My school marks may vary inversely with the number of hours I watch TV.

Direct or Proportional Variation

When two variables are related directly, the ratio of their values is always the same. So as one goes up, so
does the other, and if one goes down, so does the other. Think of linear direct variation as a “y = mx” line,
where the ratio of y to x is the slope (m). With direct variation, the y-intercept is always 0 (zero); this is
how it’s defined.

Direct variation problems are typically written:

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→ y= kx where k is the ratio of y to x (which is the same as the slope or rate).

Some problems will ask for that k value (which is called the constant of variation or constant of
proportionality ); others will just give you 3 out of the 4 values for x and y and you can simply set up a
ratio to find the other value.

Remember the example of making ksh 1000 per week (y = 10x)? This is an example of direct variation,
since the ratio of how much you make to how many hours you work is always constant.

Direct Variation Word Problem:

The amount of money raised at a school fundraiser is directly proportional to the number of people who
attend. Last year, the amount of money raised for 100 attendees was $2500. How much money will be
raised if 1000 people attend this year?

Solution:

Let’s do this problem using both the Formula Method and the Proportion Method:

Formula method Explanation

Proportional method Explanation

Direct Square Variation Word Problem

Again, a Direct Square Variation is when y is proportional to the square of x, or .

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Example

If yvaries directly with the square ofx, and if y = 4 when x= 3, what is y when x= 2?

Solution:

Let’s do this with the formula method and the proportion method:

Formulae method notes

Proportional method Notes

Example

The length (l) cm of a wire varies directly as the temperature 𝑇 0 [Link] length of the wire is 5 cm when the
temperature is 650 𝑐.Calculate the length of the wire when the temperature is 690 c.

Solution

l𝛼𝑇

Therefore l =Kt

Substituting l =5 when T= 650 𝑐.

5 =k x 65

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5 1
K= =
65 13

1
Therefore l = 𝑇
13

When t = 69

1 4
L= 𝑥69 = 5 𝑐𝑚
13 13

Direct variation graph

Inverse or Indirect Variation

Inverse or Indirect Variation is refers to relationships of two variables that go in the opposite
direction. Let’s supposed you are comparing how fast you are driving (average speed) to how fast you get
to your [Link] faster you drive the earlier you get to your work. So as the speed increases time reduces
and vice versa .

So the formula for inverse or indirect variation is:

𝑘
→ y= or K =xy where k is always the same number or constant.
𝑥

(Note that you could also have an Indirect Square Variation or Inverse Square Variation, like we saw
𝑘
above for a Direct Variation. This would be of the form→ y = 2 or k= 𝑥 2 𝑦 .)
𝑥

Inverse Variation Word Problem:

So we might have a problem like this:

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The value of yvaries inversely with x, and y = 4 when x = 3. Find x

when y = 6.

The problem can also be written as follows:

Let = 3, = 4, and = 6. Let yvary inversely as x. Find .

Solution:

We can solve this problem in one of two ways, as shown. We do these methods when we are given any
three of the four values for x and y.

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Product Rule Method:

Inverse Variation Word Problem:

For the club, the number of tickets Moyo can buy is inversely proportional to the price of the tickets. She
can afford 15 tickets that cost $5 each. How many tickets can she buy if each cost $3?

Solution:

Let’s use the product method:

Example

If 16 women working 7 hours day can paint a mural in 48 days, how many days will it take 14 women
working 12 hours a day to paint the same mural?

Solution:

The three different values are inversely proportional; for example, the more women you have, the less days
it takes to paint the mural, and the more hours in a day the women paint, the less days they need to complete
the mural:

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Joint Variation and Combined Variation

Joint variation is just like direct variation, but involves more than one other variable. All the variables are
directly proportional, taken one at a time. Let’s do a joint variation problem:

Supposed x varies jointly with y and the square root of z. When x = –18 and y = 2, then z = 9. Find y when
x = 10 and z = 4.

Combined variation involves a combination of direct or joint variation, and indirect variation. Since these
equations are a little more complicated, you probably want to plug in all the variables, solve for k, and then
solve back to get what’s missing. Here is the type of problem you may get:

(a) yvaries jointly as x and w and inversely as the square of z. Find the equation of variation when
y = 100, x = 2, w = 4, and z = 20.

(b) Then solve for y when x = 1, w = 5, and z = 4.

Solution:

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Example

The volume of wood in a tree (V) variesdirectly as the height (h) and inversely as the square of the girth
(g). If the volume of a tree is 144 cubic meters when the height is 20 meters and the girth is 1.5 meters,
what is the height of a tree with a volume of 1000 and girth of 2 meters?

Solution:

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Example

The average number of phone calls per day between two cities has found to be jointly proportional to the
populations of the cities, and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the two
cities. The population of Charlotte is about 1,500,000 and the population of Nashville is about 1,200,000,
and the distance between the two cities is about 400 miles. The average number of calls between the cities
is about 200,000.

(a) Find the k and write the equation of variation.

(b) The average number of daily phone calls between Charlotte and Indianapolis (which has a population
of about 1,700,000) is about 134,000. Find the distance between the two cities.

Solution:

It may be easier if you take it one step at a time:

Math’s Explanation

Example
A varies directly as B and inversely as the square root of C. Find the percentage change in A when B is
decreased by 10 % and C increased by 21%.
Solution
𝐵
A= K … … … … … … … … … (1)
√𝐶
A change in B and C causes a change in A
𝐵1
𝐴1 = 𝐾 … … … … … … … … … . (2)
√𝐶1
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90
𝐵1 = 𝐵
100
= 0.9𝐵

121
𝐶1 = 𝐶
100
= 1.21C
Substituting 𝐵1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐶1 𝑖𝑛 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 (2)

0.9𝐵
𝐴1 = 𝐾
√1.21𝐶
0.9 𝐵
= (𝐾 )
1.1 √𝐶
9
= 𝐴
11
𝐴1− 𝐴
Percentage change in A = − 100%
𝐴
9
𝐴
=11 − 100%
𝐴
2
= - 18 %
11
2
Therefore A decreases 18 %
11

Partial variation
The general linear equation y =mx +c, where m and c are constants, connects two variables x and [Link] such
case we say that y is partly constant and partly varies as x.
Example
A variable y is partly constant and partly varies as if x = 2 when y=7 and x =4 when y =11, find the equation
connecting y and x.
Solution
The required equation is y = kx + c where k and c are constants
Substituting x = 2 ,y =7 and x =4, y =11 in the equation gives ;
7 =2k +c …………………..(1)
11 = 4k +c …………………(2)
Subtracting equation 1 from equation 2 ;
4=2k
Therefore k =2
Substituting k =2 in the equation 1 ;
C =7 – 4
C =3
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Therefore the equation required is y=2x +3

End of topic

Did you understand everything?

If not ask a teacher, friends or anybody and make sure you understand before going to
sleep!

Past KCSE Questions on the topic.

1. The volume Vcm3 of an object is given by

V = 2 π r31 – 2
3 sc2

Express in term of π r, s and V

2. Make V the subject of the formula
T = 1 m (u2 – v2)
2
3. Given that y =b – bx2 make x the subject
cx2 – a
4. Given that log y = log (10n) make n the subject
5. A quantity T is partly constant and partly varies as the square root of S.
i. Using constants a and b, write down an equation connecting T and S.
ii. If S = 16, when T = 24 and S = 36 when T = 32, find the values of the
constants a and b,
6. A quantity P is partly constant and partly varies inversely as a quantity q, given that p = 10 when q
= 1.5 and p = 20, when q = 1.25, find the value of p when q= 0.5
7. Make y the subject of the formula p = xy

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x-y
8. Make P the subject of the formula
P2 = (P – q) (P-r)
9. The density of a solid spherical ball varies directly as its mass and inversely as the cube of its radius
When the mass of the ball is 500g and the radius is 5 cm, its density is 2 g per cm 3
Calculate the radius of a solid spherical ball of mass 540 density of 10g per cm3
10. Make s the subject of the formula

√P = r 1 – as2
11. The quantities t, x and y are such that t varies directly as x and inversely as the square root of y.
Find the percentage in t if x decreases by 4% when y increases by 44%
12. Given that y is inversely proportional to x n and k as the constant of proportionality;
(a) (i) Write down a formula connecting y, x, n and k
(ii) If x = 2 when y = 12 and x = 4 when y = 3, write down two expressions for k in
terms of n.
Hence, find the value of n and k.
(b) Using the value of n obtained in (a) (ii) above, find y when x = 5 1/3

13. The electrical resistance, R ohms of a wire of a given length is inversely proportional to the square
of the diameter of the wire, d mm. If R = 2.0 ohms when d = 3mm. Find the vale R when d = 4 mm.

14. The volume Vcm3 of a solid depends partly on r and partly on r where rcm is one of the dimensions
of the solid.
When r = 1, the volume is 54.6 cm3 and when r = 2, the volume is 226.8 cm3
(a) Find an expression for V in terms of r
(b) Calculate the volume of the solid when r = 4
(c) Find the value of r for which the two parts of the volume are equal

15. The mass of a certain metal rod varies jointly as its length and the square of its radius. A rod 40 cm
long and radius 5 cm has a mass of 6 kg. Find the mass of a similar rod of length 25 cm and radius
8 cm.

16. Make x the subject of the formula

P= xy

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z+x
17. The charge c shillings per person for a certain service is partly fixed and partly inversely
proportional to the total number N of people.
(a) Write an expression for c in terms on N
(b) When 100 people attended the charge is Kshs 8700 per person while for 35 people the
charge is Kshs 10000 per person.
(c) If a person had paid the full amount charge is refunded. A group of people paid but ten
percent of organizer remained with Kshs 574000.
Find the number of people.

18. Two variables A and B are such that A varies partly as B and partly as the square root of B given
that A=30, when B=9 and A=16 when B=14, find A when B=36.

19. Make p the subject of the formula

A= -EP
√P2 + N

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CHAPTER FIFTY

SEQUENCE AND SERIES

Specific Objectives

By the end of the topic the learner should be able to:

(a) Identify simple number patterns;
(b) Define a sequence;
(c) Identify the pattern for a given set of numbers and deduce the general rule;
(d) Determine a term in a sequence;
(e) Recognize arithmetic and geometric sequences;
(f) Define a series;
(g) Recognize arithmetic and geometric series (Progression);
(h) Derive the formula for partial sum of an arithmetic and geometric series(Progression);
(i) Apply A.P and G.P to solve problems in real life situations.
Content
(a) Simple number patterns
(b) Sequences
(c) Arithmetic sequence
(d) Geometric sequence
(e) Determining a term in a sequence
(f) Arithmetic progression (A.P)
(g) Geometric progression (G.P)
(h) Sum of an A.P
(i) Sum of a G.P (exclude sum to infinity)
(j) Application of A.P and G.P to real life situations.

Introduction
Sequences and Series are basically just numbers or expressions in a row that make up some sort of a
pattern; for example, Monday, Tuesday, Wenesday, …, Friaday is a sequence that represents the days
of the week. Each of these numbers or expressions are called terms or elements of the sequence.
Sequences are the list of these items, separated by commas, and series are the sum of the terms of a
sequence.

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Example
Sequence Next two terms

1, 8, 27, - , - Every term is cubed .The next two terms are43 = 64 , 53 = 125
3, 7, 11, 15 - , - , every term is 4 more than the previous one. To get the next term add 4
15 + 4 = 19, 19 +4 =23
1 2 3
, , , −, − On the numerator, the next term is 1 more than the previous one, and the
2 4 8
4 5
denominator, the next term is multiplied by 2 the next two terms are ,
16 32

Example

For the 𝑛𝑡ℎ term of a sequence is given by 2n + 3, Find the first, fifth, twelfth terms
Solution
First term, n = 1 substituting (2 x 1 +3 =5)
Fifth term, n = 5 substituting (2 x 5 +3 =13)
Twelfth term, n = 12 substituting (2 x 12 +3 =27)

Arithmetic and geometric sequence

Arithmetic sequence.
Any sequence of a number with common difference is called arithmetic sequence
To decide whether a sequence is arithmetic, find the differences of consecutive terms. If each differences
are not constant,the it is arithmetic sequence
Rule for an arithmetic sequence
The nth term of an arithmetic sequence with first term 𝑎1 and common difference d is given by:
𝑎𝑛 =𝑎1 + (n - 1)d

Example Illustrations

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Example
Write a rule for the nth term of the sequence 50, 44, 38, 32, . . . . Then find 𝑎20 .
Solution
The sequence is arithmetic with first term 𝑎1 = 50 and common difference
d = 44 - 50 = -6. So, a rule for the nth term is:

𝑎𝑛 = 𝒂𝟏 + (n - 1)d Write general rule.

= 50 + (n - 1)(-6) Substitute for a1 and d.
= 56 - 6n Simplify.
The 20th term is 𝑎1 = 56 - 6(20) = -64.

Example
The 20 th term of arithmetic sequence is 60 and the 16 th term is [Link] the first term and the common
difference.

Solution
𝑎 + (20 − 1)𝑑 = 60

𝑎 + 19𝑑 = 60 … … … … . . (1)

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𝑎 + (16 − 1)𝑑 = 20
𝑎 + (15)𝑑 = 20 … … … … . . (2)
(1) – (2) gives
4d = 40
d= 10
𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒂 + 𝟏𝟓 𝒅 = 𝟐𝟎

Therefore a + 15 x 10 =20
a + 150 = 20
a = -130
Hence, the first term is – 130 and the common difference is 10.
Example
Find the number of terms in the sequence – 3 , 0 , 3 …54
Solution
The n th term is a + ( n – 1)d
a = -30 , d =3
n th term = 54
therefore - 3 + ( n – 1) = 54
3 (n – 1 ) = 57
𝒏 − 𝟏 = 𝟏𝟗
𝒏 = 𝟐𝟎

Arithmetic series/ Arithmetic progression A.P

The sum of the terms of a sequence is called a series. If the terms of sequence are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, when written
with addition sign we get arithmetic series
1+2+3+4+5
The general formulae for finding the sum of the terms is
𝑛
𝑠𝑛 = [2𝑎 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑]
2
Note;
If th first term (a) and the last term l are given , then
𝑛
𝑠𝑛 = [𝑎 + 𝑙]
2

Example
The sum of the first eight terms of an arithmetic Progression is [Link] the third term is 17, find the sum of
the first six terms
Solution
8
𝑠8 = [2𝑎 + (8 − 1)𝑑]
2
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= 4( 2a + 7d )
So , 8a + 28d = 220…………………….1
The third term is a + (3 – 1)d = a + 2d =17 …………….2
Solving 1 and 2 simultaneously;
8a + 28 d =220 …………1
8a + 16 d = 136 …………2
12 d = 84
𝑑=7
Substituting d =7 in equation 2 gives a = 3
Therefore,
6
𝑠6 = [2𝑎 + (6 − 1)7]
2
= 3(6 x 35)
= 3 x 41
= 123

Geometric sequence
It is a sequence with a common [Link] ratio of any term to the previous term must be constant.
Rule for Geometric sequence is;
The nth term of a geometric sequence with first term a1 and common ratio r is given by:
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 𝑛−1

Example
Given the geometric sequence 4 , 12 ,36 ……find the 4 th , 5th and the n th terms
Solution
The first term , a =4
The common ratio , r =3
Therefore the 4th term = 4 x 34−1
= 4 x 33
= 108
The 5th term = 5 x 34−1

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= 5 x 33
= 324
The 𝑛𝑡ℎ term =4 x 3𝑛−1

Example
The 4th term of geometric sequence is 16 . If the first term is 2 , find;
 The common ration
 The seventh term
Solution
The common ratio
The first term, a = 2

The 4th term is 2 x 𝑟 4−1 = 16

Thus, 2 𝑟 3 = 16

𝑟 3 = 8 (𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑜𝑡ℎ 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑠 𝑏𝑦 2)

𝑟 = 2 (𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑗𝑒𝑡 𝑏𝑦 𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑏𝑜𝑡ℎ 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑠 𝑏𝑦2)

The common ratio is 2

The seventh term =𝑎𝑟 6 = 2 𝑥 26 = 128

Geometric series
The series obtained by the adding the terms of geometric sequence is called geometric series or geometric
progression G.P
The sum 𝑆𝑛 of the first n terms of a geometric series with common ratio r > 1 is:
𝑎 (𝑟 𝑛 − 1)
𝑆𝑛 =
𝑟−1
The sum 𝑆𝑛 of the first n terms of a geometric series with common ratio r < 1 is:
𝑎 (1 − 𝑟 𝑛 )
𝑆𝑛 =
1−𝑟
Example
Find the sum of the first 9 terms of G.P. 8 + 24 + 72 +…

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Solution
24
𝑎 = 8 ,𝑟 = =3
8
𝑎 (39 − 1)
𝑆𝑛 =
3−1
8 (19683 − 1)
=
2
= 78728
Example
The sum of the first three terms of a geometric series is 26 .If the common ratio is 3 , find the sum of the
first six terms.
Solution
𝑠3 = 26 , 𝑟 = 3 𝑛 = 3
𝑎 (33 − 1)
26 =
3−1

𝑎 (27−1)
=
2
26 𝑥 2
a
= =2
26

2 (36 − 1)
𝑆6 =
2
(2 𝑥 728)
= = 728
2
End of topic

Did you understand everything?

If not ask a teacher, friends or anybody and make sure you understand before going to
sleep!

Past KCSE Questions on the topic.

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1. The first, the third and the seventh terms of an increasing arithmetic progression are three
consecutive terms of a geometric progression. In the first term of the arithmetic progression is 10
find the common difference of the arithmetic progression?
2. Kubai saved Ksh 2,000 during the first year of employment. In each subsequent year, he saved 15%
more than the preceding year until he retired.
(a) How much did he save in the second year?
(b) How much did he save in the third year?
(c) Find the common ratio between the savings in two consecutive years
(a) How many years did he take to save the savings a sum of Ksh 58,000?
(e) How much had he saved after 20 years of service?
3. In geometric progression, the first term is a and the common ratio is r. The sum of the first two
terms is 12 and the third term is 16.
(a) Determine the ratio ar2
a + ar
(b) If the first term is larger than the second term, find the value of r.
4. (a) The first term of an arithmetic progression is 4 and the last term is 20. The
Sum of the term is 252. Calculate the number of terms and the common differences of the
arithmetic progression
(b) An Experimental culture has an initial population of 50 bacteria. The population increased
by 80% every 20 minutes. Determine the time it will take to have a population of 1.2
million bacteria.
5. Each month, for 40 months, Amina deposited some money in a saving scheme. In the first month
she deposited Kshs 500. Thereafter she increased her deposits by Kshs. 50 every month.
Calculate the:
a) Last amount deposited by Amina
b) Total amount Amina had saved in the 40 months.
6. A carpenter wishes to make a ladder with 15 cross- pieces. The cross- pieces are to diminish
uniformly in length from 67 cm at the bottom to 32 cm at the top.
Calculate the length in cm, of the seventh cross- piece from the bottom

7. The second and fifth terms of a geometric progression are 16 and 2 respectively. Determine the
common ratio and the first term.

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8. The eleventh term of an arithmetic progression is four times its second term. The sum of the first
seven terms of the same progression is 175
(a) Find the first term and common difference of the progression
(b) Given that pth term of the progression is greater than 124, find the least
value of P
9. The nth term of sequence is given by 2n + 3 of the sequence
(a) Write down the first four terms of the sequence
(b) Find sn the sum of the fifty term of the sequence
(c) Show that the sum of the first n terms of the sequence is given by
Sn = n2 + 4n
Hence or otherwise find the largest integral value of n such that Sn <725

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CHAPTER FIFTY ONE

BINOMIAL EXPANSION
Specific Objectives

By the end of the topic the learner should be able to:

(a) Expand binomial expressions up to the power of four by multiplication;
(b) Building up - Pascal's Triangle up to the eleventh row;
(c) Use Pascal's triangle to determine the coefficient of terms in a binomialexpansions up to the
power of 10;
(d) Apply binomial expansion in numerical cases.
Content
(a) Binomial expansion up to power four
(b) Pascal's triangle
(c) Coefficient of terms in binomial expansion
(d) Computation using binomial expansion
(e) Evaluation of numerical cases using binomial expansion.

A binomial is an expression of two terms

Examples

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(a + y), a + 3, 2a + b
It easy to expand expressions with lower power but when the power becomes larger, the expansion or
multiplication becomes tedious. We therefore use pascal triangle to expand the expression without
multiplication.
We can use Pascal triangle to obtain coefficients of expansions of the form( a + b)𝑛

Pascal triangle

1 (𝑎 + 𝑏)0 = 1
1 1 ( 𝑎 + 𝑏)1 = 1𝑎 + 1𝑏
1 2 1 ( 𝑎 + 𝑏)2 = 1𝑎2 + 2𝑎𝑏 + 𝑏 2
1 3 3 1 ( 𝑎 + 𝑏)3 = 1𝑎3 + 3𝑎2 𝑏 + 3𝑎𝑏 2 + 1𝑏 3
1 4 6 4 1 ( 𝑎 + 𝑏)4 = 1𝑎4 + 4𝑎3 𝑏 + 6𝑎2 𝑏 2 + 4𝑎𝑏 3 + 1𝑏 4
Note;
 Each row starts with 1
 Each of the numbers in the next row is obtained by adding the two numbers on either side of it in
the preceding row
 The power of first term (a ) decreases as you move to right while the powers of the second term (b
) increases as you move to the right
Example

Expand (p +𝑞)5
Solution
The terms without coefficients are;

𝑝 5 , 𝑝 4 𝑞 , 𝑝 3 𝑞 2 , 𝑝 2 𝑞3 𝑝𝑞 4 𝑞 5
From Pascal triangle, the coefficients when n =5 are; 1 5 10 10 5 1

Therefore (p +𝑞)5 =
𝑝 5 + 5𝑝 4 𝑞 + 10 𝑝 3 𝑞 2 + 10 𝑞 2 𝑞 3 + 5 𝑝𝑞 4 + 𝑞 5

Example

Expand (x−𝑦)7
Solution

(x−𝑦)7 = (𝑥 − (−𝑦)7
The terms without the coefficient are;

𝑥 7 𝑥 6 (−𝑦)𝑥 5 (−𝑦)2 𝑥 4 (−𝑦)3 𝑥 3 (−𝑦)4 𝑥 2 (−𝑦)5 𝑥(−𝑦)6 𝑦 7

From Pascal triangle, the coefficients when n =7 are;
1 7 21 35 35 21 7 1

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Therefore (x−𝑦)7 =
𝑥 7 − 7𝑥 6 𝑦 + 21 𝑥 5 𝑦 2 − 35 𝑥 4 𝑦 3 + 35 𝑥 3 𝑦 4 − 21 𝑥 2 𝑦 5 + 7 𝑥𝑦 6 − 𝑦 7

Note;
When dealing with negative signs, the signs alternate with the positive sign but first start with the negative
sign.

Applications to Numeric cases

Use binomial expansion to evaluate (1.02)6 𝑡𝑜 4 𝑆. 𝐹
Solution
(1.02) = (1+0.02)

Therefore (1.02)6 = (1+ 0.02)6

The terms without coefficients are

16 15 (0.02)1 14 (0.02)2 13 (0.02)3 12 (0.02)4 11 (0.02)5 (0.02)7

From Pascal triangle, the coefficients when n =6 are;
1 6 15 20 15 6 1
Therefore;

(1.02)6 =

1 + 6 (0.02) + 15 (0.02)2 + 20(0.02)3 + 15(0.02)4 + 6(0.02)5 + (0.02)6

=1 + 0.12 + 0.0060 + 0.00016 + 0.0000024 + 0.0000000192 + 0.000000000064
=1.1261624
=1.126 (4 S.F)

Note;
To get the answer just consider addition of up to the 4 th term of the expansion. The other terms are too small
to affect the answer.
Example

Expand (1 + 𝑥)9 up to the term 𝑥 3 .Use the expansion to estimate (0.98)9 correct to 3 decimal places.
Solution

(1 + 𝑥)9
The terms without the coefficient are;

19 18 ( 𝑥 )17 𝑥 2 16 (𝑥)3 15 (𝑥)4

From Pascal triangle, the coefficients when n =9 are;
1 9 36 84 126 126 84 36 9 1

Therefore (1 + 𝑥)9 = 1 + 9x + 36𝑥 2 + 84 𝑥 3 ………………..

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(0.98)8 = 1 + 9 𝑥 (−0.02) + 36 + (−0.02)2 + 84 (−0.02)3

= 1 – 0.18 + 0.0144 – 0.000672
= 0.833728
= 0.834 ( 3 D.P)
Example
1
Expand (1 + )10 𝑢𝑝𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚 𝑖𝑛 𝑥 3 in ascending powers of hence find the value of (0.005)10 correct
2
to four decimal places.
Solution

1 1 2 1 3
= 1 + 10 ( 𝑥) + 45 ( 𝑥) + 120 ( 𝑥)
2 2 2
1 1 2 1 3
= 1 + 10 × 𝑥 + 45 × 𝑥 + 120 × 𝑥
2 4 8

45 2
=1 + 5𝑥 + 𝑥 + 15𝑥 3
4

(1.005)10 = (1 + 0.005)10
1
Here 𝑥 = 0.005
2

𝑥 = 0.010
Substituting for x = 0.01 in the expansion
10
1 45
(1 + (0.01)) = 1 + 5 × 0.01 + × (0.01)2 + 15(0.01)3
2 4

= 1 + 0.05 +0.001125 +0.000015

= 1.051140
= 1.0511 (4 decimal places)

End of topic

Did you understand everything?

If not ask a teacher, friends or anybody and make sure you understand before going to
sleep!

Past KCSE Questions on the topic.

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1. (a) Write down the simplest expansion ( 1 + x)6

(b) Use the expansion up to the fourth term to find the value of (1.03) 6 to the nearest one
thousandth.
2. Use binomial expression to evaluate (0.96)5 correct to 4 significant figures.
3. Expand and simplify (3x – y)4 hence use the first three terms of the expansion to proximate the
value of (6 – 0.2)4
4. Use binomial expression to evaluate
2 + 15+ 2 - 15
√2 √2
5
5. (a) Expand the expression 1 + 1x in ascending powers of x, leaving
2
the coefficients as fractions in their simplest form.
6. (a) Expand (a- b)6
(b) Use the first three terms of the expansion in (a) above to find the approximate value of
(1.98)6
7. Expand (2 + x)5 in ascending powers of x up to the term in x 3 hence approximate the value of
(2.03)5 to 4 s.f

8. (a) Expand (1 + x)5

Hence use the expansion to estimate (1.04)5 correct to 4 decimal places
(b) Use the expansion up to the fourth term to find the value of (1.03) 6 to the nearest one
thousandth.
9. Expand and Simplify (1-3x)5 up to the term in x3
Hence use your expansion to estimate (0.97)5 correct to decimal places.
10. Expand (1 + a)5
Use your expansion to evaluate (0.8)5 correct to four places of decimal

11. (a) Expand (1 + x)5

(b) Use the first three terms of the expansion in (a) above to find the approximate value of
(0.98)5

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CHAPTER FIFTY TWO

COMPOUND PROPRTION AND RATES

OF WORK

Specific Objectives

By the end of the topic the learner should be able to:

(a) Solve problems involving compound proportions using unitary and ratiomethods;
(b) Apply ratios and proportions to real life situations;
(c) Solve problems involving rates of work.
Content
(a) Proportional parts
(b) Compound proportions
(c) Ratios and rates of work
(d) Proportions applied to mixtures.

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Introduction
Compound proportions
The proportion involving two or more quantities is called compound proportion. Any four quantities a , b ,
c and d are in proportion if;
𝑎 𝑐
=
𝑏 𝑑
Example
Find the value of a that makes 2, 5, a and 25 to be in proportion;
Solution
Since 2 , 5 ,a , and 25 are in proportion

2 𝑎
=
5 25
5𝑎 = 2 𝑥 25
2 𝑥 25
𝑎=
5
𝑎 = 10

Continued proportions
In continued proportion, all the ratios between different quantities are the same; but always remember that
the relationship exists between two quantities for example:

P : Q Q : R R : S

10: 5 16 : 8 4 : 2

Note that in the example, the ratio between different quantities i.e. P:Q, Q:R and R:S are the same i.e. 2:1
when simplified.

Continued proportion is very important when determining the net worth of individuals who own the same
business or even calculating the amounts of profit that different individual owners of a company or business
should take home.

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Proportional parts
𝑎
In general, if n is to be divided in the ratio a: b: c, then the parts of n proportional to a, b, c are ×
𝑎+𝑏+𝑐
𝑏 𝑐
𝑛 , × 𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 × 𝑛 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑦
𝑎+𝑏+𝑐 𝑎+𝑏+𝑐

Example
Omondi, Joel, cheroot shared sh 27,000 in the ratio [Link] respectively. How much did each get?
Solution
The parts of sh 27,000 proportional to 2, 3, 4 are
2
× 27,000 = 𝑠ℎ 6000 → 𝑂𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑖
9
3
× 27,000 = 𝑠ℎ 6000 → 𝐽𝑜𝑒𝑙
9
4
× 27,000 = 𝑠ℎ 6000 → 𝐶ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑡
9

Example
Three people – John, Debby and Dave contributed ksh 119, 000 to start a company. If the ratio of the
contribution of John to Debby was 12:6 and the contribution of Debby to Dave was 8:4, determine the
amount in dollars that every partner contributed.

Solution
Ratio of John to Debby’s contribution = 12:6 = 2:1

Ratio of Debby to Dave’s contribution = 8:4 = 2:1

As you can see, the ratio of the contribution of John to Debby and that of Debby to Dave is in continued
proportion.
𝐽𝑜ℎ𝑛 𝐷𝑒𝑏𝑏𝑦 2
Hence = =
𝐷𝑒𝑏𝑏𝑦 𝐷𝑎𝑣𝑒 1

To determine the ratio of the contribution between the three members, we do the calculation as follows:

John: Debby: Dave

12 : 6
8 : 4

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We multiply the upper ratio by 8 and the lower ratio by 6, thus the resulting ratio will be:

John: Debby: Dave

96: 48 : 24
=4: 2 : 1
The total ratio = 7

The contribution of the different members can then be found as follows:

4
John 𝑥 𝑘𝑠ℎ 119, 000 = 𝑘𝑠ℎ 68,000
7
2
Debby 𝑥 𝑘𝑠ℎ 119, 000 = 𝑘𝑠ℎ 34,000
7
1
Dave 𝑥 𝑘𝑠ℎ 119, 000 = 𝑘𝑠ℎ 17,000
7

John contributed ksh 68, 000 to the company while Debby contributed ksh 34, 000 and Dave contributed
ksh 17, 000
Example 2
You are presented with three numbers which are in continued proportion. If the sum of the three numbers
is 38 and the product of the first number and the third number is 144, find the three numbers.
Solution
Let us assume that the three numbers in continued proportion or Geometric Proportion are a, ar and a𝑟 2
where a is the first number and r is the rate.

a+ar+a𝑟 2 = 38 ………………………….. (1)

The product of the 1st and 3rd is
a × a𝑟 2 = 144
Or
(ar)2 = 144………………………………..(2)
If we find the square root of (a𝑟)2 , then we will have found the second number:

√(a𝑟)2 =√144
𝑎𝑟 = 12
Since the value of the second number is 12, it then implies that the sum of the first and the third number is
26.
We now proceed and look for two numbers whose sum is 26 and product is 144.

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Clearly, the numbers are 8 and 18.

Thus, the three numbers that we were looking for are 8, 12 and 18.
Let us work backwards and try to prove whether this is actually true:

8 + 12 + 18 = 18
What about the product of the first and the third number?

8 × 18 = 144
What about the continued proportion
𝑎 𝑎𝑟 2
= 2=
𝑎𝑟 𝑎𝑟 3
The numbers are in continued proportion
Example
Given that x: y =2:3, Find the ratio (5x – 4y): (x + y).
Solution
Since x: y =2: 3
𝑥 𝑦
= = 𝑘,
2 3
𝑥 = 2𝑘 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦 = 3𝑘

(5x – 4y): (x + y) = (10k – 12 k) :( 2k + 3 k)

=-2k: 5k

= - 2: 5

Example
𝑎 𝑐 𝑎−3𝑏 𝑐−3𝑑
If = ,show that = .
𝑏 𝑑 𝑏−3𝑎 𝑑−3𝑐

Solution

𝑎 𝑐 𝑎 𝑏
= → =
𝑏 𝑑 𝑐 𝑑
𝑎 𝑏
= =𝑘
𝑏 𝑑

𝑎 = 𝑘𝑐 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏 = 𝑘𝑑

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𝑎−3𝑏
Substituting kc for a and kd for b in the expression
𝑏−3𝑎

𝑘𝑐 − 3 𝑘𝑑 𝑘 (𝑐 − 3𝑑)
=
𝑘𝑑 − 3 𝑘𝑑 𝑘(𝑑 − 3𝑐)

𝑐 − 3𝑑
𝑑 − 3𝑐

𝑎−3𝑏 𝑐−3𝑑
Therefore expression =
𝑏−3𝑎 𝑑−3𝑐

Rates of work and mixtures

Examples
195 men working 10 hour a day can finish a job in 20 days. How many men employed to finish the job in
15 days if they work 13 hours a day.
Solution:
Let x be the no. of men required
Days hours Men
20 10 195
15 13 x

20 x 10 x 195 = 15 × 13 × 𝑥
20 × 10 × 195
𝑥= 200 𝑚𝑒𝑛
15 × 13
Example
Tap P can fill a tank in 2 hrs, and tap Q can fill the same tank in 4 hrs. Tap R can empty the tank in 3 hrs.
a) If tap R is closed, how long would it take taps P and Q to fill the tank?
b) Calculate how long it would take to fill the tank when the three taps P, Q and R. are left running?

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Solution
1
a) Tap P fills of the tank in 1 h.
2
1
Tap Q fills of the tank in 1 h.
4
1
Tap R empties of the tank in 1 h.
3
1 1 3
In one hour, P and Q fill + = 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑘
2 4 4
3
Therefore 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑖𝑠 𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 1 ℎ.
4

4 4 3
Time taken to fill the tank ( ) = ( ÷ ) ℎ
4 4 4

4
= ℎ
3
3 1
b) In 1 h, P and Q fill of tank while R empties of the tank.
4 3
1 1 1 5
When all taps are open ,( + − = )of the tank is filled in 1 hour.
2 4 3 12
5
𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑖𝑠 𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 1 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟.
12
12 12 5
𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑘 =( ÷ ) ×1ℎ
12 12 12
2
=2 ℎ
5
Example
In what proportion should grades of sugars costing sh.45 and sh.50 per kilogram be mixed in order to
produce a blend worth sh.48 per kilogram?

Solution
Method 1
Let n kilograms of the grade costing sh.45 per kg be mixed with 1 kilogram of grade costing sh.50 per kg.
Total cost of the two blends is sh.(45𝑛 + 50)
The mass of the mixture is (𝑛 + 1) 𝑘𝑔

Therefore total cost of the mixture is (𝑛 + 1)48

45n + 50 = 48 (n +1)
45n + 50 = 48 n + 48
50 = 3n + 48
2 = 3n

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2
𝑛=
3
2
The two grades are mixed in the proportion ∶ 1 = 2 ∶ 3
3

Method 2
Let x kg of grade costing sh 45 per kg be mixed with y kg of grade costing sh.50 per kg. The total cost will
be sh.(45x + 50 y)
45𝑥+50𝑦
Cost per kg of the mixture is sh.
𝑥+𝑦

45𝑥 + 50𝑦
= 48
𝑥+𝑦
45𝑥 + 50𝑦 = 48(𝑥 + 𝑦)

45𝑥 + 50𝑦 = 48𝑥 + 48𝑦

2𝑦 = 3𝑥

𝑥 2
=
𝑦 3

The proportion is x : y = 2:3

End of topic

Did you understand everything?

If not ask a teacher, friends or anybody and make sure you understand before going to
sleep!

Past KCSE Questions on the topic.

1. Akinyi bought and beans from a wholesaler. She then mixed the maize and beans the ratio 4:3 she
brought the maize as Kshs. 12 per kg and the beans 4 per kg. If she was to make a profit of 30%
what should be the selling price of 1 kg of the mixture?

2. A rectangular tank of base 2.4 m by 2.8 m and a height of 3 m contains 3,600 liters of water initially.
Water flows into the tank at the rate of 0.5 litres per second

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Calculate the time in hours and minutes, required to fill the tank
3. A company is to construct a parking bay whose area is 135m 2. It is to be covered with concrete slab
of uniform thickness of 0.15. To make the slab cement. Ballast and sand are to be mixed so that
their masses are in the ratio 1: 4: 4. The mass of m 3 of dry slab is 2, 500kg.
Calculate
(a) (i) The volume of the slab
(ii) The mass of the dry slab
(iii) The mass of cement to be used
(b) If one bag of the cement is 50 kg, find the number of bags to be purchased
(a) If a lorry carries 7 tonnes of sand, calculate the number of lorries of sand
to be purchased.
4. The mass of a mixture A of beans and maize is 72 kg. The ratio of beans to maize
is 3:5 respectively
(a) Find the mass of maize in the mixture
(b) A second mixture of B of beans and maize of mass 98 kg in mixed with A. The final ratio
of beans to maize is 8:9 respectively. Find the ratio of beans to maize in B
5. A retailer bought 49 kg of grade 1 rice at Kshs. 65 per kilogram and 60 kg of grade II rice at Kshs
27.50 per kilogram. He mixed the tow types of rice.
(a) Find the buying price of one kilogram of the mixture
(b) He packed the mixture into 2 kg packets
(i) If he intends to make a 20% profit find the selling price per packet
(ii) He sold 8 packets and then reduced the price by 10% in order to attract customers.
Find the new selling price per packet.
(iii) After selling 1/3 of the remainder at reduced price, he raised the price so as to realize
the original goal of 20% profit overall. Find the selling price per packet of the
remaining rice.
6. A trader sells a bag of beans for Kshs 1,200. He mixed beans and maize in the ration 3: 2. Find how
much the trader should he sell a bag of the mixture to realize the same profit?
7. Pipe A can fill an empty water tank in 3 hours while, pipe B can fill the same tank in 6 hours, when
the tank is full it can be emptied by pipe C in 8 hours. Pipes A and B are opened at the same time
when the tank is empty.
If one hour later, pipe C is also opened, find the total time taken to fill the tank
8. A solution whose volume is 80 litres is made 40% of water and 60% of alcohol. When litres of
water are added, the percentage of alcohol drops to 40%
(a) Find the value of x
(b) Thirty litres of water is added to the new solution. Calculate the percentage

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(c) If 5 litres of the solution in (b) is added to 2 litres of the original solution, calculate in the
simplest form, the ratio of water to that of alcohol in the resulting solution
9. A tank has two inlet taps P and Q and an outlet tap R. when empty, the tank can be filled by tap P
alone in 4 ½ hours or by tap Q alone in 3 hours. When full, the tank can be emptied in 2 hours by
tap R.
(a) The tank is initially empty. Find how long it would take to fill up the tank
(i) If tap R is closed and taps P and Q are opened at the same time
(2mks)
(ii) If all the three taps are opened at the same time
(b) The tank is initially empty and the three taps are opened as follows
P at 8.00 a.m
Q at 8.45 a.m
R at 9.00 a.m
(i) Find the fraction of the tank that would be filled by 9.00 a.m
(ii) Find the time the tank would be fully filled up

10. Kipketer can cultivate a piece of land in 7 hrs while Wanjiru can do the same work in 5 hours. Find
the time they would take to cultivate the piece of land when working together.

11. Mogaka and Ondiso working together can do a piece of work in 6 days. Mogaka, working alone,
takes 5 days longer than Onduso. How many days does it take Onduso to do the work alone.

12. Wainaina has two dairy farms A and B. Farm A produces milk with 3 ¼ percent fat and farm B
produces milk with 4 ¼ percent fat.
(a) (i) The total mass of milk fat in 50 kg of milk from farm A and 30kg
of milk from farm B.
(ii) The percentage of fat in a mixture of 50 kg of milk A and 30 kg of milk from B
(b) Determine the range of values of mass of milk from farm B that must be used in a 50 kg
mixture so that the mixture may have at least 4 percent fat.

13. A construction firm has two tractors T1 and T2. Both tractors working together can complete the
work in 6 days while T1 alone can complete the work in 15 days. After the two tractors had worked
together for four days, tractor T1 broke down.
Find the time taken by tractor T2 complete the remaining work.

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CHAPTER FIFTY THREE

GRAPHICAL METHODS
Specific Objectives
By the end of the topic the learner should be able to:
(a) Makes a table of values from given relations;
(b) Use the table of values to draw the graphs of the relations;
(c) Determine and interpret instantaneous rates of change from a graph;
(d) Interpret information from graphs;
(e) Draw and interpret graphs from empirical data;
(f) Solve cubic equations graphically;
(g) Draw the line of best fit;
(h) Identify the equation of a circle;
(i) Find the equation of a circle given the centre and the radius;
(j) Determine the centre and radius of a circle and draw the circle on acartesian plane.
Content
(a) Tables and graphs of given relations

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(b) Graphs of cubic equations

(c) Graphical solutions of cubic equations
(d) Average rate of change
(e) Instantaneous rate of change
(f) Empirical data and their graphs
(g) The line of best fit
(h) Equation of a circle
(i) Finding of the equation of a circle
(j) Determining of the centre and radius of a circle.

Introduction
These are ways or methods of solving mathematical functions using graphs.

Graphing solutions of cubic Equations

A cubic equation has the form
ax3 + bx2 + cx + d = 0
where a, b , c and d are constants
It must have the term in x3 or it would not be cubic (and so a ≠ 0), but any or all of b, c and d can be zero.
For instance,
x3 −6x2 +11x −6 = 0, 4x3 +57 = 0, x3 +9x = 0
are all cubic equations.
The graphs of cubic equations always take the following shapes.

3
2
1

-1 1 2 3 x
-1
-2
-3

Y =x3 −6x2 +11x −6 = 0.

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Notice that it starts low down on the left, because as x gets large and negative so does x3 and it finishes
higher to the right because as x gets large and positive so does x3. The curve crosses the x-axis three times,
once where x = 1, once where x = 2 and once where x = 3. This gives us our three separate solutions.
Example

(a) Fill in the table below for the function y = -6 + x + 4x2 + x3 for -4 x  2

x -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2

-6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6

x -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2

4x2 16 4

x3

(b) Using the grid provided draw the graph for y = -6 + x + 4x2 + x3 for -4 x  2
(c) Use the graph to solve the equations:-

-6 + x + 4x2 + x3 = 0
.x3 + 4x2 + x – 4 = 0

-2 + 4x2 + x3 = 0

Solution
The table shows corresponding values of x and y for y= -6 + x + 4x2 + x3

X -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2

-6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6

X -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2

4x2 64 36 16 4 0 4 16

X3 -64 -27 -8 -1 0 1 8

Y=-6+x+4x2+x3 -10 0 0 -4 -6 0 20

From the graph the solutions for x are x =-3 , x = -2, x = 1

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[Link] solve equation y = x3 + 4x2 + x -6 we draw a straight line from the diffrence of the two
equations and then we read the coordinates at the point of the intersetion of the curve and
the straight line
y = x3 + 4x2 + x -6
0 = x3 + 4x2 + x -4
y = -2 solutions 0.8 ,-1.5 and -3.2

x 1 0 -2
y = x3 + 4x2 + x – 6 y -3 -4 -8
0 = x3 + 4x2 + 0 – 2
y= x–4

y=-6 + 4x2 +x

y=x-4
Y=-2

c (i) solution 0.8

-1.5
And -3.2
Average Rate of change

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change in y
The average rate of change of y with respect to x

Defining the change in x

Average Rate of
Change
The notion of average rate of change can be used to describe the change in any variable with respect to
another. If you have a graph that represents a plot of data points of the form (x, y), then the average rate of
change between any two points is the change in the y value divided by the change in the x value.

Po
pu
lat
io
ni
n
mi
lli
on
s

Note;

 The rate of change of a straight ( the slop)line is the same between all points along the line
 The rate of change of a quadratic function is not constant (does not remain the same)
Example
The graph below shows the rate of growth of a plant,from the graph, the change in height between day 1
and day 3 is given by 7.5 cm – 3.8 cm = 3.7 cm.
3.7 𝑐𝑚
Average rate of change is = 1.85 𝑐𝑚 /𝑑𝑎𝑦
2 𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠

1.3 𝑐𝑚
The average rate of change for the next two days is = 0.65cm/day
2 𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠

Note;

 The rate of growth in the first 2 days was 1.85 cm/day while that in the next two days is only 0.65
cm /[Link] rates of change are represented by the gradients of the lines PQ and QR respectively.

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Number of days
The gradient of the straight line is 20 ,which is [Link] gradient represents the rate of distance
with time (speed) which is 20 m/s.

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Rate of change at an instant

We have seen that to find the rate of change at an instant ( particular point),we:

 Draw a tangent to the curve at that point

 Determine the gradient of the tangent
The gradient of the tangent to the curve at the point is the rate of change at that point.

Empirical graphs
An Empirical graph is a graph that you can use to evaluate the fit of a distribution to your data by drawing
the line of best fit. This is because raw data usually have some errors.
Example

The table below shows how length l cm of a metal rod varies with increase in temperature T ((0 𝑐).

Temperature O 1 2 3 5 6 7 8
Degrees C
Length cm 4.0 4.3 4.7 4.9 5.0 5.9 6.0 6.4

Solution

NOTE;

 There is a linear relation between length and temperature.

 We therefore draw a line of best fit that passes through as many points as possible.

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 The remaining points should be distributed evenly below and above the line

The line cuts the y – axis at (0, 4) and passes through the point (5, 5.5).Therefore, the gradient of the line
1.5
is = [Link] equation of the line is l =0.3T + 4.
5

Reduction of Non-linear Laws to Linear Form.

1
When we plot the graph of xy=k, we get a [Link] when we plot y against , w get a straight line whose
𝑥
gradient is [Link] same approach is used to obtain linear relations from non-linear relations of the form y=
𝑘𝑥 𝑛 .

Example
The table below shows the relationship between A and r

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r 1 2 3 4 5
A 3.1 12.6 28.3 50.3 78.5It is suspected that the relation is of
the form A=𝐾𝑟 2 .By drawing a
suitable graph,verify the law connecting A and r and determine the value of K.
Solution

If we plot A against 𝑟 2 ,we should get a straight line.

r 1 2 3 4 5
A 3.1 12.6 28.3 50.3 78.5

𝒓𝟐 1 4 9 16 25

Since the graph of A against 𝑟 2 is a straight line, the law A =k𝑟 2 [Link] gradient of this line is 3.1 to one
decimal place. This is the value of k.

Example

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From 1960 onwards, the population P of Kisumu is believed to obey a law of the form P =𝑘𝐴𝑡 ,Where k
and A are constants and t is the time in years reckoned from [Link] table below shows the population of
the town since 1960.

r 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990

p 5000 6080 7400 9010 10960 13330 16200

By plotting a suitable graph, check whether the population growth obeys the given law. Use the graph to
estimate the value of A.
Solution

The law to be tested is P=𝑘𝐴𝑡 .Taking logs of both sides we get log P =log(𝑘𝐴𝑡 ).Log P = log K + t log A,
which is in the form y = mx + Thus we plot log P against t.(Note that log A is a constant).The below shows
the corresponding values of t and log p.

r 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990

Log P 3.699 3.784 3.869 3.955 4.040 4.125 4.210

Since the graph is a straight line ,the law P =𝑘𝐴𝑡 holds.

Log A is given by the gradient of the straight [Link], log A = 0.017.
Hence,A = 1.04
Log k is the vertical intercept.
Hence log k =3.69
Therefore k = 4898

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Thus, the relationship is P = 4898 (1.04)𝑡

Note;
 Laws of the form y=𝑘𝐴𝑥 can be written in the linear form as: log y = log k + x log A (by taking
logs of both sides)
 When log y is plotted against x , a straight line is [Link] gradient is log A and the intercept is
log k.
 The law of the form y =𝑘𝑋𝑛 ,where k and n are constants can be written in linear form as;
 Log y =log k + n log x.
 We therefore plot log y is plotted against log x.
 The gradient of the line gives n while the vertical intercept is log k

Summary
2
For the law y = d + cx to be verified it is necessary to plot a graph of the variables in a modified

Form as follows y =d +𝑐𝑥 2 is compared with y = mx + c that is y =𝑐𝑥 2 + 𝑑

i.) Y is plotted on the y axis
ii.) 𝑥 2 is plotted on the x axis
iii.) The gradient is c
iv.) The vertical axis intercept is d

For the law y – a = 𝑏√𝑥to be verified it is necessary to plot a graph of the variables in a x
Modified form as follows
y – a = 𝑏√𝑥 , i.e. y = 𝑏√𝑥 + a which is compared with y = mx + c

i.) y should be plotted on the y axis

ii.) √𝑥 should be plotted on the x axis
iii.) The gradient is b
iv.) The vertical axis intercept is a

𝑓
For the law y – e = to be verified it is necessary to plot a graph of the variables in a
𝑥
𝑓 1
Modified form as follows. The law y – e = is f( ) + 𝑒 compared with y = mx + c.
𝑥 𝑥
i.) y should be plotted on the vertical axis
1
ii.) 𝑥
should be plotted on the horizontal axis
iii.) The gradient is f
iv.) The vertical axis intercept is e
2
For the law y – cx = bx to be verified it is necessary to plot a graph of the variables in a
𝑦
Modified form as follows. The law y – cx = b𝑥 2 is = b x + c compared with y = mx + c,
𝑥
𝑦
i.) should be plotted on y axis
𝑥
ii.) X should be plotted on x axis
iii.) The gradient is b

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iv.) The vertical axis intercept is c

𝑎
For the law y = + bx to be verified it is necessary to plot a graph of the variables in a ax
𝑥
𝑦 1
Modified form as follows. The law = a( 2) + 𝑏 compared with y = mx + c
𝑥 𝑥

𝑦
i.) 𝑥
should be plotted on the vertical axis
1
ii.) 𝑥2
should be plotted on the horizontal axis
iii.) The gradient is a
iv.) The vertical intercept is b

Equation of a circle
A circle is a set of all points that are of the same distance r from a fixed point. The figure below is a circle
centre ( 0,0) and radius 3 units

P ( x ,y ) is a point on the circle. Triangle PON is right – angled at N.

By Pythagoras’ theorem;
𝑂𝑁 2 + 𝑃𝑁 2 = 𝑂𝑃2
But ON = x, PN = y and OP =3 .Therefore, 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 32

Note;
The general equation of a circle centre ( 0 ,0 ) and radius r is 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 𝑟 2

Example
Find the equation of a circle centre (0, 0) passing through (3, 4)

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Solution
Let the radius of the circle be r
From Pythagoras theorem;
𝑟 = √32 𝑥 4 2

𝑟=5

Example
Consider a circle centre ( 5 , 4 ) and radius 3 units.

Solution
In the figure below triangle CNP is right angled at [Link] pythagoras theorem;
𝐶𝑁 2 + 𝑁𝑃2 = 𝐶𝑃2
But CN= ( x – 5), NP = (y – 4) and CP =3 units.

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Therefore,(𝑥 − 5)2 + (𝑦 − 4 )2 = 32 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑎 𝑐𝑖𝑟𝑐𝑙𝑒.

Note;
The equation of a circle centre ( a,b) and radius r units is given by;
(𝑥 − 𝑎)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑏)2 = (𝑟)2

Example
Find the equation of a circle centre (-2 ,3) and radius 4 units

Solution
General equation of the circle is (𝑥 − 𝑎)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑏)2 = 𝑟 2 .Therefore a = -2 b =3 and r = 4
(𝑥 − (−2))2 + (𝑦 − (3))2 = 42
(𝑥 + 2)2 + (𝑦 − 3)2 = 16

Example
Line AB is the diameter of a circle such that the co-ordinates of A and B are ( -1 ,1) and(5 ,1) respectively.
a.) Determine the centre and the radius of the circle
b.) Hence, find the equation of the circle

Solution
−1+5 1+1
a.) ( , ) = ( 2,1)
2 2
Radius =√(5 − 2)2 + (1 − 1)2
=√32 = 3
b.) Equation of the circle is ;
(𝑥 − 2)2 + (𝑦 − 1)2 = 32
(𝑥 − 2)2 + (𝑦 − 1)2 = 9

Example
The equation of a circle is given by 𝑥 2 - 6x +𝑦 2 + 4𝑦 − 3 = [Link] the centre and radius of the circle.

Solution
𝑥 2 - 6x +𝑦 2 + 4𝑦 = 3
Completing the square on the left hand side;
𝑥 2 - 6x + 9 + 𝑦 2 + 4𝑦 + 4 = 3 + 9 + 4
(𝑥 − 3 )2 + ( 𝑦 + 2)2 = 4 − 3 = 0
Therefore centre of the circle is (3,-2) and radius is 4 units. Note that the sign changes to opposite positive
sign becomes negative while negative sign changes to positive.

Example
Write the equation of the circle that has 𝐴(1, −6) and 𝐵(5, 2) as endpoints of a diameter.
Method 1: Determine the center using the Midpoint Formula:
1+5 −6+2
𝐶( , ) → 𝐶(3, −2)
2 2

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Determine the radius using the distance formula (center and end of diameter):

𝑟 = √(3 − 1)2 + (−2 + 6)2 = √4 + 16 = √20 = 2√5

Equation of circle is: (𝑥 − 3)2 + (𝑦 + 2)2 = 20

Method 2: Determine center using Midpoint Formula (as before): 𝐶(3, −2).

Thus, the circle equation will have the form (𝑥 − 3)2 + (𝑦 + 2)2 = 𝑟 2

Find 𝑟 2 by plugging the coordinates of a point on the circle in for 𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦.

Let’s use 𝐵(5, 2): 𝑟 2 = (5 − 3)2 + (2 + 2)2 = 22 + 42 = 4 + 16 = 20

Again, we get this equation for the circle: (𝑥 − 3)2 + (𝑦 + 2)2 = 20

End of topic

Did you understand everything?

If not ask a teacher, friends or anybody and make sure you understand before going to
sleep!

Past KCSE Questions on the topic.

1. The table shows the height metres of an object thrown vertically upwards varies with the time t
seconds
The relationship between s and t is represented by the equations s = at 2 + bt + 10 where b are
constants.

T 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

S 45.1 49.9 -80

(a) (i) Using the information in the table, determine the values of a and b
(ii) Complete the table
(b) (i) Draw a graph to represent the relationship between s and t
(ii) Using the graph determine the velocity of the object when t = 5 seconds
2. Data collected form an experiment involving two variables X and Y was recorded as shown in the
table below

x 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6

y -0.3 0.5 1.4 2.5 3.8 5.2

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The variables are known to satisfy a relation of the form y = ax3 + b where a and b are constants
(a) For each value of x in the table above, write down the value of x 3
(b) (i) By drawing a suitable straight line graph, estimate the values of a and b
(ii) Write down the relationship connecting y and x
3. Two quantities P and r are connected by the equation p = krn. The table of values
of P and r is given below.

P 1.2 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.5 4.5

R 1.58 2.25 3.39 4.74 7.86 11.5

a) State a liner equation connecting P and r.

b) Using the scale 2 cm to represent 0.1 units on both axes, draw a suitable
line graph on the grid provided. Hence estimate the values of K and n.
4. The points which coordinates (5,5) and (-3,-1) are the ends of a diameter of a circle centre A
Determine:
(a) The coordinates of A
The equation of the circle, expressing it in form x 2 + y2 + ax + by + c = 0
where a, b, and c are constants each computer sold
5. The figure below is a sketch of the graph of the quadratic function y = k
(x+1) (x-2)

Find the value of k

6. The table below shows the values of the length X ( in metres ) of a pendulum and the corresponding
values of the period T ( in seconds) of its oscillations obtained in an experiment.

X ( metres) 0.4 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6

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T ( seconds) 1.25 2.01 2.19 2.37 2.53

(a) Construct a table of values of log X and corresponding values of log T,

correcting each value to 2 decimal places
b) Given that the relation between the values of log X and log T approximate to a linear law
of the form m log X + log a where a and b are constants
(i) Use the axes on the grid provided to draw the line of best fit for the graph of log T
against log X.

(ii) Use the graph to estimate the values of a and b

(iii) Find, to decimal places the length of the pendulum whose period is 1 second.

7. Data collection from an experiment involving two variables x and y was recorded as shown in the
table below

X 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6

Y -0.3 0.5 1.4 2.5 3.8 5.2

The variables are known to satisfy a relation of the form y = ax3 + b where a and b
are constants
(a) For each value of x in the table above. Write down the value of x 3
(b) (i) By drawing s suitable straight line graph, estimate the values of a and b
(ii) Write down the relationship connecting y and x

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8. Two variables x and y, are linked by the relation y = ax n. The figure below shows part of the straight
line graph obtained when log y is plotted against log x.

Calculate the value of a and n

9. The luminous intensity I of a lamp was measured for various values of voltage v across it. The
results were as shown below

V(volts) 30 36 40 44 48 50 54

L (Lux ) 708 1248 1726 2320 3038 3848 4380

It is believed that V and l are related by an equation of the form l = aV n where a and n are constant.
(a) Draw a suitable linear graph and determine the values of a and n
(b) From the graph find
(i) The value of I when V = 52
(ii) The value of V when I = 2800
10. In a certain relation, the value of A and B observe a relation B= CA + KA2 where C and K are
constants. Below is a table of values of A and B

A 1 2 3 4 5 6

B 3.2 6.75 10.8 15.1 20 25.2

(a) By drawing a suitable straight line graphs, determine the values of C and K.
(b) Hence write down the relationship between A and B
(c) Determine the value of B when A = 7
11. The variables P and Q are connected by the equation P = ab q where a and b are constants. The value
of p and q are given below

P 6.56 17.7 47.8 129 349 941 2540 6860

Q 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

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(a) State the equation in terms of p and q which gives a straight line graph
(b) By drawing a straight line graph, estimate the value of constants a and b and give your
answer correct to 1 decimal place.

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CHAPTER FIFTY FOUR

PROBABILITY
Specific Objectives

By the end of the topic the learner should be able to:

(a) Define probability;
(b) Determine probability from experiments and real life situations;
(c) Construct a probability space;
(d) Determine theoretical probability;
(e) Differentiate between discrete and continuous probability;
(f) Differentiate mutually exclusive and independent events;
(g) State and apply laws of probability;
(h) Use a tree diagram to determine probabilities.
Content
(a) Probability
(b) Experimental probability
(c) Range of probability measure 0 ^ P (x) ^1
(d) Probability space
(e) Theoretical probability
(f) Discrete and continuous probability (simple cases only)
(g) Combined events (mutually exclusive and independent events)
(h) Laws of probability
(i) The tree diagrams.

Introduction
The likelihood of an occurrence of an event or the numerical measure of chance is called probability.

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Experimental probability
This is where probability is determined by experience or experiment. What is done or observed is the
experiment. Each toss is called a trial and the result of a trial is the outcome. The experimental probability
of a result is given by (the number of favorable outcomes) / (the total number of trials)
Example
A boy had a fair die with faces marked 1to6 .He threw this die up 50 times and each time he recorded the
number on the top face. The result of his experiment is shown below.

face 1 2 3 4 5 6
Number of 11 6 7 9 9 8
times a face
has shown
up

What is the experimental provability of getting?

a.)1 b.) 6
Solution
𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑎𝑣𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑠
a.) P(Event) =
𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑙𝑠

P(1)= 11/50
b.) P(4)= 9/50
Example
From the past records, out of the ten matches a school football team has played, it has won [Link]
many possible games might the school win in thirty matches ?.

Solution
P(winning in one math) = 7/10.
Therefore the number of possible wins in thirty matches = 7/10 x 30 = 21 matches

Range of probability Measure

If P(A) is the probability of an event A happening and P(A') is the probability of an event A not happening,
Then P(A')= 1 - P(A) and P(A') + P(A)= 1
Probability are expressed as fractions, decimals or percentages.

Probability space
A list of all possible outcomes is probability space or sample space .The coin is such that the head or tail
have equal chances of occurring. The events head or tail are said to be equally likely or eqiprobable.

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Theoretical probability
This can be calculated without necessarily using any past experience or doing any experiment. The
probability of an event happening #number of favorable outcomes /total number of outcomes.
Example
A basket contains 5 red balls, 4green balls and 3 blue balls. If a ball is picked at random from the basket,
find:
a.)The probability of picking a blue ball
b.) The probability of not picking a red ball

Solution
a.)Total number of balls is 12
The number of blue balls is 3
Solution
a.) therefore, P (a blue ball) =3/12
b.)The number of balls which are not red is 7.
Therefore P ( not a red ball)= 7/12

Example
A bag contains 6 black balls and some brown ones. If a ball is picked at random the probability that it is
black is [Link] the number of brown balls.
Solution
Let the number of balls be x
Then the probability that a black ball is picked at random is 6/x
Therefore 6/x = 0.25
x = 24
The total number of bald is 24
Then the number of brown balls is 24 - 6 =18

Note:
When all possible outcomes are count able, they are said to be discrete.

Types of probability
Combined Events
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These are probability of two or more events occurring

Mutually Exclusive Events

Occurrence of one excludes the occurrence of the other or the occurrence of one event depend on the
occurrence of the other.. If A and B are two mutually exclusive events, then ( A or B) = P (A) + P (B). For
example when a coin is tossed the result will either be a head or a tail.
Example
i.) If a coin is tossed ;
P(head) + P( tail)
1 1
= + =1
2 2
Note;
If [OR] is used then we add

Independent Events
Two events A and B are independent if the occurrence of A does not influence the occurrence of B and vice
versa. If A and B are two independent events, the probability of them occurring together is the product of
their individual probabilities .That is;
P (A and B) = P (A) x P(B)
Note;
When we use [AND] we multiply ,this is the multiplication law of probability.

Example
A coin is tosses twice. What is the probability of getting a tail in both tosses?
Solution
The outcome of the 2nd toss is independ of the outcome of the first .
Therefore;
P (T and T ) = P( T) X P( T)
1 1 1
= 𝑥 =
2 2 4

Example
A boy throws fair coin and a regular tetrahedron with its four faces marked 1,2,3 and [Link] the probability
that he gets a 3 on the tetrahedron and a head on the coin.
Solution

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These are independent events.

1 1
P (H) = , P(3) =
2 4

Therefore;
P (H and 3) = P (H) x P (3)
=½x¼
= 1/8

Example
A bag contains 8 black balls and 5 white [Link] two balls are drawn from the bag, one at a time,find the
probability of drawing a black ball and a white ball.
a.) Without replacement
b.) With replacement
Solution
a.) There are only two ways we can get a black and a white ball: either drawing a white then a black,or
drawing a black then a [Link] need to find the two probabilities;
P( W followed by B) = P (W and B)
8 5 10
= 𝑥 =
13 12 39
b.) P(B followed by W) = P (B and W)
5 8 10
𝑋 =
13 12 39
Note;
The two events are mutually exclusive, therefore.
P (W followed by B) or ( B followed by W )= P( W followed by B ) + P ( B followed by W)
= P (W and B) + P( B and W)
40 40 20
= + =
156 156 39

Since we are replacing, the number of balls remains 13.

Therefore;
5 8 40
P (W and B) = 𝑥 =
13 13 169

8 5 40
P ( B and W) = 𝑥 =
13 13 169

Therefore;
P [(W and B) or (B and W)] = P (W and B) + P (B and W)

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40 40 80
= 𝑥 =
169 169 169

Example
Kamau ,Njoroge and Kariuki are practicing archery .The probability of Kamau hitting the target is 2/5,that
of Njoroge hitting the target is ¼ and that of Kariuki hitting the target is 3/7 ,Find the probability that in
one attempt;
a.) Only one hits the target
b.) All three hit the target
c.) None of them hits the target
d.) Two hit the target
e.) At least one hits the target
Solution
a.) P(only one hits the target)
=P (only Kamau hits and other two miss) =2/5 x 3/5 x 4/7
= 6/35
P (only Njoroge hits and other two miss) = 1/4 x 3/5 x 4/7
= 3/35
P (only Kariuki hits and other two miss) = 3/7 x 3/5 x ¾
= 27/140
P (only one hits) = P (Kamau hits or Njoroge hits or Kariuki hits)
= 6/35 + 3/35 +27/140
= 9/20
b.) P ( all three hit) = 2/5 x 1/4 x 3/7
= 3/70
c.) P ( none hits) = 3/5 x 3/4 x 4/7
= 9/35
d.) P ( two hit the target ) is the probability of ;
Kamau and Njoroge hit the target and Kariuki misses = 2/5 x 3/7 x 4/7
Njoroge and Kariuki hit the target and Kamau misses = 1/4 x 3/7 x 3/5

Or

Kamau and Kariuki hit the target and Njoroge misses = 2/5 x 3/7 x 3/4
Therefore P (two hit target) = (2/5 x 1/4 x 4/7) + (1/4 x 3/7 x 3/5) + (2/5 x 3/7 x 3/4)
= 8/140 + 9/140 + 18/140
=¼
e.) P (at least one hits the target) = 1 – P ( none hits the target)
= 1 – 9/35

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= 26/35
Or

P (at least one hits the target) = 1 – P (none hits the target)
= 26/35
Note;
P (one hits the target) is different from P (at least one hits the target)

Tree diagram
Tree diagrams allows us to see all the possible outcomes of an event and calculate their [Link]
branch in a tree diagram represents a possible outcome .A tree diagram which represent a coin being tossed
three times look like this;

From the tree diagram, we can see that there are eight possible outcomes. To find out the probability of a
particular outcome, we need to look at all the available paths (set of branches).

The sum of the probabilities for any set of branches is always 1.

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Also note that in a tree diagram to find a probability of an outcome we multiply along the branches and add
vertically.

The probability of three heads is:

P (H H H) = 1/2 × 1/2 × 1/2 = 1/8

P (2 Heads and a Tail) = P (H H T) + P (H T H) + P (T H H)

= 1/2 × 1/2 × 1/2 + 1/2 × 1/2 × 1/2 + 1/2 × 1/2 × 1/2

= 1/8 + 1/8 + 1/8

= 3/8
Example
Bag A contains three red marbles and four blue [Link] B contains 5 red marbles and three blue
marbles.A marble is taken from each bag in turn.

a.) What is the probability of getting a blue bead followed by a red

b.) What is the probability of getting a bead of each color
Solution
a.) Multiply the probabilities together
P( blue and red) =4/7 x 5/8 = 20/56
=5/14
b.) P(blue and red or red and blue) = P( blue and red ) + P (red and blue)
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= 4/7 x 5/8 + 3/7 x 3/8

= 20/56 + 9/56
=29/56
Example
The probability that Omweri goes to Nakuru is ¼ .If he goes to Nakuru, the probability that he will see
flamingo is ½ .If he does not go to Nakuru, the probability that he will see flamingo is 1/3 .Find the
probability that;
a.) Omweri will go to Nakuru and see a flamingo.
b.) Omweri will not go to Nakuru yet he will see a flamingo
c.) Omweri will see a flamingo
Solution
Let N stand for going to Nakuru ,N’ stand for not going to Nakuru, F stand for seeing a flamingo and F’
stand for not seeing a flamingo.

a.) P (He goes to Nakuru and sees a flamingo) = P(N and F)

= P(N) X P(F)
=¼ X½
= 1/8
b.) P( He does not go to Nakuru and yet sees a flamingo) =P( N’) X P( F)
= P (N’ and F)
= 3/4 X 1/3
=¼
c.) P ( He sees a flamingo) = P(N and F) or P ( N’ and F)
= P (N and F) + P (N’ and F)
= 1/8 + 1/4
= 3/8

End of topic

Did you understand everything?

If not ask a teacher, friends or anybody and make sure you understand before going to
sleep!

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Past KCSE Questions on the topic.

1. The probabilities that a husband and wife will be alive 25 years from now are 0.7 and 0.9
respectively.
Find the probability that in 25 years time,
(a) Both will be alive
(b) Neither will be alive
(c) One will be alive
(d) At least one will be alive
2. A bag contains blue, green and red pens of the same type in the ratio [Link] respectively. A pen is
picked at random without replacement and its colour noted
(a) Determine the probability that the first pen picked is
(i) Blue
(ii) Either green or red
(b) Using a tree diagram, determine the probability that
(i) The first two pens picked are both green
(ii) Only one of the first two pens picked is red.
3. A science club is made up of boys and girls. The club has 3 officials. Using a tree diagram or
otherwise find the probability that:
(a) The club officials are all boys
(b) Two of the officials are girls
4. Two baskets A and B each contain a mixture of oranges and limes, all of the same size. Basket A
contains 26 oranges and 13 limes. Basket B contains 18 oranges and 15 limes. A child selected a
basket at random and picked a fruit at a random from it.
(a) Illustrate this information by a probabilities tree diagram
(b) Find the probability that the fruit picked was an orange.
5. In form 1 class there are 22 girls and boys. The probability of a girl completing the secondary
education course is 3 whereas that of a boy is 2/3
(a) A student is picked at random from class. Find the possibility that,
(i) The student picked is a boy and will complete the course
(ii) The student picked will complete the course
(b) Two students are picked at random. Find the possibility that they are a boy
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and a girl and that both will not complete the course.
6. Three representatives are to be selected randomly from a group of 7 girls and 8
boys. Calculate the probability of selecting two girls and one boy.
7. A poultry farmer vaccinated 540 of his 720 chickens against a disease. Two months later, 5% of
the vaccinated and 80% of the unvaccinated chicken, contracted the disease. Calculate the
probability that a chicken chosen random contacted the disease.
8. The probability of three darts players Akinyi, Kamau, and Juma hitting the bulls eye are 0.2, 0.3
and 1.5 respectively.
(a) Draw a probability tree diagram to show the possible outcomes
(b) Find the probability that:
(i) All hit the bull’s eye
(ii) Only one of them hit the bull’s eye
(iii) At most one missed the bull’s eye
9. (a) An unbiased coin with two faces, head (H) and tail (T), is tossed three
times, list all the possible outcomes.
Hence determine the probability of getting:
(i) At least two heads
(ii) Only one tail
(b) During a certain motor rally it is predicted that the weather will be either dry (D) or wet (W). The
probability that the weather will be dry is estimated to be 7/10. The probability for a driver to
complete (C) the rally during the dry weather is estimated to be 5/6. The probability for a driver to
complete the rally during wet weather is estimated to be 1/10. Complete the probability tree diagram
given below.

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What is the probability that:

(i) The driver completes the rally?
(ii) The weather was wet and the driver did not complete the rally?
10. There are three cars A, B and C in a race. A is twice as likely to win as B while B is twice as likely
to win as c. Find the probability that.
a) A wins the race
b) Either B or C wins the race.
11. In the year 2003, the population of a certain district was 1.8 million. Thirty per cent of the
population was in the age group 15 – 40 years. In the same year, 120,000 people in the district
visited the Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) centre for an HIV test.
If a person was selected at random from the district in this year. Find the probability that the person
visited a VCT centre and was in the age group 15 – 40 years.
12. (a) Two integers x and y are selected at random from the integers 1 to 8. If the
same integer may be selected twice, find the probability that
(i) |x – y| = 2
(ii) |x – y| is 5 or more
(iii) x>y
(b) A die is biased so that when tossed, the probability of a number r showing up, is given by
p ® = Kr where K is a constant and r = 1, 2,3,4,5 and 6 (the number on the faces of the die
(i) Find the value of K
(ii) If the die is tossed twice, calculate the probability that the total
score is 11
13. Two bags A and B contain identical balls except for the colours. Bag A contains 4 red balls and 2
yellow balls. Bag B contains 2 red balls and 3 yellow balls.
(a) If a ball is drawn at random from each bag, find the probability that both balls are of the
same colour.
(b) If two balls are drawn at random from each bag, one at a time without replacement, find
the probability that:
(i) The two balls drawn from bag A or bag B are red
(ii) All the four balls drawn are red

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14. During inter – school competitions, football and volleyball teams from Mokagu high school took
part. The probability that their football and volleyball teams would win were 3/8 and 4/7 respectively.
Find the probability that
(a) Both their football and volleyball teams
(b) At least one of their teams won

15. A science club is made up of 5 boys and 7 girls. The club has 3 officials. Using a tree diagram or
otherwise find the probability that:
(a) The club officials are all boys
(b) Two of the officials are girls

16. Chicks on Onyango’s farm were noted to have either brown feathers brown or black tail feathers.
Of those with black feathers 2/3 were female while 2/5 of those with brown feathers were male.
Otieno bought two chicks from Onyango. One had black tail feathers while the other had brown
find the probability that Otieno’s chicks were not of the same gender
was
17. Three representatives are to be selected randomly from a group of 7 girls and 8 boys. Calculate the
probability of selecting two girls and one boy
18. The probability that a man wins a game is ¾. He plays the game until he wins. Determine the
probability that he wins in the fifth round.

19. The probability that Kamau will be selected for his school’s basketball team is ¼. If he is selected
for the basketball team. Then the probability that he will be selected for football is 1/3 if he is not
selected for basketball then the probability that he is selected for football is 4/5. What is the
probability that Kamau is selected for at least one of the two games?

20. Two baskets A and B each contains a mixture of oranges and lemons. Baskets A contains 26
oranges and 13 lemons. Baskets B contains 18 oranges and 15 lemons. A child selected a basket at
random and picked at random a fruit from it. Determine the probability that the fruit picked an
orange.

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CHAPTER FIFTY FIVE

VECTORS
Specific Objectives

By the end of the topic the learner should be able to:

(a) Locate a point in two and three dimension co-ordinate systems;
(b) Represent vectors as column and position vectors in three dimensions;
(c) Distinguish between column and position vectors;
(d) Represent vectors in terms of i, j , and k;
(e) Calculate the magnitude of a vector in three dimensions;
(f) Use the vector method in dividing a line proportionately;
(g) Use vector method to show parallelism;
(h) Use vector method to show collinearity;
(i) State and use the ratio theorem,
(j) Apply vector methods in geometry.
Content
(a) Coordinates in two and three dimensions
(b) Column and position vectors in three dimensions
(c) Column vectors in terms of unit vectors i, j , and k
(d) Magnitude of a vector
(e) Parallel vectors
(f) Collinearity
(g) Proportional division of a line

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(h) Ratio theorem

(i) Vector methods in geometry.

Vectors in 3 dimensions:
3 dimensional vectors can be represented on a set of 3 axes at right angles to each other (orthogonal), as
shown in the diagram.
Note that the z axis is the vertical axis.
To get from A to B you would move:
4 units in the x-direction, (x-component)
3 units in the y-direction, (y-component)
2 units in the z-direction. (z-component)

4
 
In component form: AB =  3 
2
 

 xB  x A 
 
In general: AB =  y B  y A  ,
z z 
 B A 

Column and position vectors

𝑝
In three dimensions, a displacement is represented b a column vector of the form (𝑞 ) where p,q and r are
𝑟
the changes in x,y,z directions respectively.
Example
7−3 4
The displacement from A ( 3, 1, 4 ) to B ( 7 ,2,6) is represented b the column vector,(2 − 1) = (1)
6−4 2
3
The position vector of A written as OA is (1) where O is the origin
4

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Addition of vectors in three dimensions is done in the same way as that in two dimensions.
Example
3 −2
If a = (−2) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏 = ( 8 )then
5 10
3 −2 9 −4 5
i.) 3a + 2b =3 (−2) + 2 ( 8 ) = (−6) + ( 16 ) = (10)
5 10 15 20 35

3 −2 12 1 13
1
ii.) 4a – ½ b = 4 (−2) − ( 8 ) = (−8) + (−4) = (−12)
2
5 10 20 −5 15

Column Vectors in terms of unit Vectors

0 0
In three dimension the unit vector in the x axis direction is = (1),that in the dirction of the y axis is (1)
0 0
0
while that in the direction of z – axis is (0).
1

Diagrammatic representation of the vectors.

1 0 0
Three unit vectors are written as ; i = (0) , 𝑗 = (1) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑘 (0)
0 0 1

5
Express vector (−2) in terms of the unit vector I , j and k
7

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Solution
5 5 0 0
(−2) = (0) + (−2) + (0)
7 0 0 7
1 0 0
5 (0) − 2 (1) + 7 (0)
0 0 1
=5i – 2j +7k

Note;
𝑎
The column vector (𝑏 )can be expressed as a i + b j + ck
𝑐

Magnitude of a 3 dimensional vector.

Given the vector AB = xi + y j + 2 k,then the magnitude of AB is written as |AB| = √𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2

|u|   xB  x A  2   y B  y A  2   z B  z A  2
This is the length of the vector.
Use Pythagoras’ Theorem in 3 dimensions.
AB2 = AR2 + BR2
= (AP2 + PR2) + BR2

=  xB  xA 2   yB  y A 2   zB  z A 2

and if u = AB then the magnitude of u, | u | = length of AB

Distance formula for 3 dimensions

 xB  x A   x
    u  x2  y 2  z 2
Recall that since: AB =  y B  y A  , then if u   y  then
z z  z
 B A   
Since x = 𝑥𝐵 − 𝑥𝐴 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦 = 𝑦𝐵 − 𝑦𝐴 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑧𝐵 − 𝑧𝐴

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Example:
1. If A is (1, 3, 2) and B is (5, 6, 4)

Find AB

 3
 
2. If u   2  Find u
 2
 

Solution

| AB |   5  12   6  32   4  2 2  42  32  22  29
a.)

u  32   2 2   2 2  9  4  4  17
b.)

Parallel vectors and collinearity

Parallel vectors
Two vectors are parallel if one is scalar multiple of the other.i.e vector a is a scalar multiple of b ,i.e .

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a =kb then the two vectors are parallel.

Note;
Scalar multiplication is simply multiplication of a regular number by an entry in the vector

Multiplying by a scalar

A vector can be multiplied by a number (scalar).e.g. multiply a by 3 is written as 3 [Link] 3a

has three times the length but is in the same direction as a .In column form, each component will be
multiplied by 3.
We can also take a common factor out of a vector in component form. If a vector is a scalar multiple of
another vector, then the two vectors are parallel, and differ only in magnitude. This is a useful test to see if
lines are parallel.
Example if
2 6
 12  3    
    a 1  then 3a   3 
v   16   v  4 4   3   9 
 4   1    
   

3a
a

Collinear Points
Points are collinear if one straight line passes through all the points. For three points A, B, C - if the line
AB is parallel to BC, since B is common to both lines, A, B and C are collinear.

Test for collinearity

Example
A is (0, 1, 2), B is (1, 3, –1) and C is (3, 7, –7) Show that A, B and C are collinear.

1  2 1
     
AB   2  BC   4  and BC  2 2   2 AB
 3   6   3 
     

AB and BC are scalar multiples, so AB is parallel to [Link] B is a common point, then A, B and C are
collinear.
In general the test of collinearity of three points consists of two parts
 Showing that the column vectors between any two of the points are parallel
 Showing that they have a point in common.

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Example
A (0,3), B (1,5) and C ( 4,11) are three given points. Show that they are collinear.
Solution
AB and BC are parallel if AB = kBC ,where k is a scalar
1 0 1 4 1 3
AB=( ) − ( ) = ( ) BC =( )−( )=( )
5 3 2 11 5 6
Therefore AB//BC and point B (1,5) is common. Therefore A,B,and C are collinear.
Example
Show that the points A (1,3,5) ,B( 4,12,20) and C are collinear.
Solution
Consider vectors AB and AC
4 1 3
AB = (12) − (13) = ( 9 )
20 5 15
3 1 2
AC =( 9 ) − (3) = ( 6 )
15 5 10
2 3
( 6 ) = 𝑘( 9 )
10 15

2
Hence k =
3
2
AC = 𝐴𝐵
3

Therefore AB//AC and the two vectors share a common point [Link] three points are thus collinear.
Example
In the figure above OA = a OB = b and OC = 3OB

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a.) Express AB and AC in terms of a and b

1
b.) Given that AM = ¾ AB and AN = 𝐴𝐶, Express OM and O in terms of a and b
2
c.) Hence ,show that OM and N are collinear
Solution
a.) AB = OA + OB
=-a+b
AC = - a + 3b

b.) OM =OA + AM
3
= OA + 𝐴𝐵
4
3
= a + (−𝑎 + 𝑏)
4
3 3
=a- 𝑎+ b
4 4
1 3
= 𝑎+ b
4 4

ON =OA +AN
1
=OA + AC
2
1
𝑎 + (−𝑎 + 3𝑏)
2
1 3
a=𝑎− a+ 𝑏
2 2
1 3
= 𝑎+ b
2 2

3 1 𝑘 3𝑘
c.) OM = 𝑘𝑂𝑁 𝑏 + 𝑎 = 𝑎 + 𝑏
4 4 2 2
Comparing the coefficients of a;
1 𝑘
=
4 2

1
𝑘=
2
1
Thus, OM = ON.
2

Thus two vectors also share a common point ,O .Hence, the points are collinear.
Proportional Division of a line
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In the figure below, the line is divided into 7 equal parts

The point R lies 4/7 of the ways along PQ if we take the direction from P to Q to be positive, we say
R divides PQ internally in the ratio 4 : 3..

If Q to P is taken as positive,then R divides QP internally in the ratio 3 : 4 .Hence,QR : RP = 3 : 4 or ,4

QR = 3RP.

External Division
In internal division we look at the point within a given interval while in external division we look at points
outside a given interval,
In the figure below point P is produced on AB

The line AB is divided into three equal parts with BP equal to two of these parts. If the direction from A to
B is taken as positive, then the direction from P to B is negative.
Thus AP : PB = 5 : -[Link] this case we say that P divides AB externally in the ratio 5 : -2 or P divides AB in
the ratio 5 : -2.

Points, Ratios and Lines

Find the ratio in which a point divides a line.

Example:
The points A(2, –3, 4), B(8, 3, 1) and C(12, 7, –1) form a straight line. Find the ratio in which B divides
AC. Solution
C (12, 7, -1)
 82   6 
B (8, 3, 1)    
AB  b  a   3 3    6 
 14   3 
   
A (2, -3, 4)
 128   4 
   
BC  c b   73    4 
 11   2 
   

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2 2
    AB 3
AB  3  2  and BC  2  2  So,  or AB : BC = 3 : 2
 1  1 BC 2
   

B divides AC in ratio of 3 : 2

Points dividing lines in given ratios.

Example:
P divides AB in the ratio 4:3. If A is (2, 1, –3) and B is (16, 15, 11), find the co-ordinates of P.

3 B (16, 15, 11)

4 P

A (2, 1, -3)

Solution:

AP 4
 so 3 AP  4 PB
PB 3

 3(p – a) = 4(b – p)
3p – 3a = 4b – 4p
7p = 4b + 3a
1
p  4b3a 
7

  16   2    64   6    70   10 
1      1      1    
p   4  15   3  1    7   60    2    7  63    9 
7   11   3     44   9    35  5
             

Points dividing lines in given ratios externally.

Example:
Q divides MN externally in the ratio of 3:2. M is (–3, –2, –1) and N is (0, –5, 2).Find the co-ordinates of Q.
Note that QN is shown as –2 because the two line segments are MQ and QN, and QN is in the opposite
direction to MQ.

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Q MQ 3
 so  2 MQ  3QN
3 QN 2
-2
N (0, -5, 2)  –2(q – m) = 3(n – q)
–2q + 2m = 3n – 3q
M (-3, -2, -1)
q = 3n – 2m

 0  3   0   6   6 
         
q  3  5   2  2    15    4    11
 2  1   6   2   8 
         

P is P(10, 9, 5)

The Ration Theorem

The figure below shows a point S which divides a line AB in the ratio m : n

Taking any point O as origin, we can express s in terms of a and b the positon vectors of a and b
respectively.
OS = OA + AS
𝑚
But AS = 𝐴𝐵
𝑚+𝑛
𝑚
Therefore, OS = OA + 𝐴𝐵
𝑚+𝑛
𝑚
Thus S = a + ( −𝑎 + 𝑏)
𝑚+𝑛

𝑚 𝑚
=a- 𝑎 + 𝑏
𝑚+𝑛 𝑚+𝑛

𝑚 𝑚
= (1 - )𝑎 + 𝑏
𝑚+𝑛 𝑚+𝑛

𝑚+𝑛−𝑚 𝑚
=( )𝑎 + 𝑏
𝑚+𝑛 𝑚+𝑛

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𝑛 𝑚
= 𝑎 + 𝑏
𝑚+𝑛 𝑚+𝑛

This is called the ratio theorem. The theorem states that the position vectors s of a point which
divides a line AB in the ratio m: n is given by the formula;
𝑛 𝑚
S= 𝑎+ 𝑏, where a and b are positon vectors of A and B respectively. Note that the sum
𝑚+𝑛 𝑚+𝑛
𝑛 𝑚
of co-ordinates 𝑎𝑛𝑑 =1
𝑚+𝑛 𝑚+𝑛
Thus ,in the above example if the ratio m : n = 5 : 3
Then m = 5 and n = 3
3 3
OR = 𝑎+ 𝑏
5+3 5+3
3 3
Thus ,r = a + 𝑏
8 8

Example
A point R divides a line QR externally in the ratio 7 : 3 .If q and r are position vectors of point Q and R
respectively, find the position vector of p in terms of q and r.
Solution
We take any point O as the origin and join it to the points Q, R and P as shown below

QP: PR = 7: -3
Substituting m =7 and n = -3 in the general formulae;
−3 7
OP = 𝑞 + 𝑟
7+(−3) 7+( −3)

−3 7
P= 𝑞 + 𝑟
4 4

Vectors can be used to determine the ratio in which a point divides two lines if they intersect

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Example
In the below OA = a and OB = B.A point P divides OAin the ratio 3:1 and another point O divides AB in
the ratio 2 : 5 .If OQ meets BP at M Determine:
a.) OM : MQ
b.) BM : MP

Let OM : MQ = k : ( 1 – k) and BM –MP = n : ( 1 – n )

Using the ratio theorem
5 2
OQ = 𝑎 + 𝑏
7 7
OM= 𝑘𝑂𝑄
5 2
= 𝑘 ( 𝑎 + 𝑏)
7 7
Also by ratio theorem;
OM = n OP +( 1 – n ) OB
3
But OP = a
4
3
Therefore , OM = n ( 𝑎) + ( 1 − 𝑛)𝑏
4

Equating the two expressions;

5 2 3
𝑘 ( 𝑎 + 𝑏) = 𝑛 ( 𝑎) + ( 1 − 𝑛 )𝑏
7 7 4
Comparing the co-efficients
5 3
𝑘 = 𝑛 … … … . .1
7 4
2
𝑘 = 1 − 𝑛 … … ..2
7

21 10
𝑘= 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑛 =
25 13
10 3
𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜 𝐵𝑀 ∶ 𝑀𝑃 = ∶
13 13

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= 10: 3

End of topic

Did you understand everything?

If not ask a teacher, friends or anybody and make sure you understand before going to
sleep!

Past KCSE Questions on the topic

1. The figure below is a right pyramid with a rectangular base ABCD and VO as the height. The
vectors AD= a, AB = b and DV = v

a) Express
(i) AV in terms of a and c

(ii) BV in terms of a, b and c

(b) M is point on OV such that OM: MV=3:4, Express BM in terms of a, b and c.

Simplify your answer as far as possible

2. In triangle OAB, OA = a OB = b and P lies on AB such that AP: BP = 3.5

(b) Find the terms of a and b the vectors

(i) AB
(ii) AP
(iii) BP

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(iv) OP
(c) Point Q is on OP such AQ = -5 + 9
8a 40b

Find the ratio OQ: QP

3. The figure below shows triangle OAB in which M divides OA in the ratio 2: 3 and N divides OB
in the ratio 4:1 AN and BM intersect at X

(a) Given that OA = a and OB = b, express in terms of a and b:

(i) AN

(ii) BM

(b) If AX = s AN and BX = tBM, where s and t are constants, write two expressions

for OX in terms of a,b s and t

Find the value of s

Hence write OX in terms of a and b

4. The position vectors for points P and Q are 4 I + 3 j + 6 j + 6 k respectively. Express vector PQ in
terms of unit vectors I, j and k. Hence find the length of PQ, leaving your answer in simplified surd
form.

5. In the figure below, vector OP = P and OR =r. Vector OS = 2r and OQ = 3/2p.

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a) Express in terms of p and r (i) QR and (ii) PS

b) The lines QR and PS intersect at K such that QK = m QR and PK = n PS, where m and n
are scalars. Find two distinct expressions for OK in terms of p,r,m and n. Hence find the
values of m and n.

c) State the ratio PK: KS

6. Point T is the midpoint of a straight line AB. Given the position vectors of A and T are i-j + k and
2i+ 1½ k respectively, find the position vector of B in terms of i, j and k

7. A point R divides a line PQ internally in the ration 3:4. Another point S, divides the line PR
externally in the ration 5:2. Given that PQ = 8 cm, calculate the length of RS, correct to 2 decimal
places.

8. The points P, Q, R and S have position vectors 2p, 3p, r and 3r respectively, relative to an origin
O. A point T divides PS internally in the ratio 1:6

(a) Find, in the simplest form, the vectors OT and QT in terms p and r

(b) (i) Show that the points Q, T, and R lie on a straight line

(ii) Determine the ratio in which T divides QR

9. Two points P and Q have coordinates (-2, 3) and (1, 3) respectively. A translation map point P to
P’ (10, 10)

(b) Find the coordinates of Q’ the image of Q under the translation

(c) The position vector of P and Q in (a) above are p and q respectively given that mp – nq = -12
9

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Find the value of m and n

10. Given that q i + 1/3 j + 2/3 k is a unit vector, find q

11. In the diagram below, the coordinates of points A and B are (1, 6) and (15, 6) respectively). Point
N is on OB such that 3 ON = 2 OB. Line OA is produced to L such that OL = 3 OA

(a) Find vector LN

(b) Given that a point M is on LN such that LM: MN = 3: 4, find the coordinates of M

(c) If line OM is produced to T such that OM: MT = 6:1

(i) Find the position vector of T

(ii) Show that points L, T and B are collinear

12. In the figure below, OQ = q and OR = r. Point X divides OQ in the ratio 1: 2 and Y divides OR in
the ratio 3: 4 lines XR and YQ intersect at E.

(a) Express in terms of q and r

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(i) XR

(ii) YQ

(b) If XE = m XR and YE = n YQ, express OE in terms of:

(i) r, q and m

(ii) r, q and n

(c) Using the results in (b) above, find the values of m and n.

13. Vector q has a magnitude of 7 and is parallel to vector p. Given that

p= 3 i –j + 1 ½ k, express vector q in terms of i, j, and k.

14. In the figure below, OA = 3i + 3j ABD OB = 8i – j. C is a point on AB such that AC:CB 3:2, and
D is a point such that OB//CD and 2OB = CD (T17)

Determine the vector DA in terms of I and j

15. In the figure below, KLMN is a trapezium in which KL is parallel to NM and KL = 3NM

Given that KN = w, NM = u and ML = v. Show that 2u = v + w

16. The points P, Q and R lie on a straight line. The position vectors of P and R are 2i + 3j + 13k and
5i – 3j + 4k respectively; Q divides SR internally in the ratio 2: 1. Find the

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(a) Position vector of Q

(b) Distance of Q from the origin

17. Co-ordinates of points O, P, Q and R are (0, 0), (3, 4), (11, 6) and (8, 2) respectively. A point T is
such that the vector OT, QP and QR satisfy the vector equation OT = QP ½ QT. Find the coordinates
of T.

18. In the figure below OA = a, OB = b, AB = BC and OB: BD = 3:1

(a) Determine

(i) AB in terms of a and b

(ii) CD, in terms of a and b

(b) If CD: DE = 1 k and OA: AE = 1m determine

(i) DE in terms of a, b and k

(ii) The values of k and m

19. The figure below shows a grid of equally spaced parallel lines

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AB = a and BC = b

(a) Express

(i) AC in terms of a and b

(ii) AD in terms of a and b

(b) Using triangle BEP, express BP in terms of a and b

(c) PR produced meets BA produced at X and PR = 1/9b – 8/3a

By writing PX as kPR and BX as hBA and using the triangle BPX determine the ratio PR:
RX

20. The position vectors of points x and y are x = 2i + j – 3k and y = 3i + 2j – 2k respectively. Find XY

2. Given that X = 2i + j -2K, y = -3i + 4j – k and z= 5i + 3j + 2k and that p= 3x – y + 2z, find the magnitude
of vector p to 3 significant figures.

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