DSE Mathematics · Core

Past paper questions

Sample · Practise · Paper 1 & Paper 2 · 2012–2024

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2018 · Paper 2 Q9 Using percentages
A sum of 100000100000 is deposited at an interest rate of 2%2\% per annum for 33 years, compounded monthly. Find the interest correct to the nearest dollar.
A \6000$
B \6121$
C \6176$
D \6178$
2018 · Paper 2 Q10 Rates, ratios and proportions
Let aa, bb and cc be non-zero numbers. If 3a=4b3a = 4b and a:c=2:5a:c = 2:5, then a+3bb+3c=\frac{a+3b}{b+3c} =
A 53\frac{5}{3}.
B 1333\frac{13}{33}.
C 3053\frac{30}{53}.
D 7538\frac{75}{38}.
2018 · Paper 2 Q11 Variations
If ww varies directly as the square root of uu and inversely as the square of vv, which of the following must be constant?
A u4vw2u^{4}v w^{2}
B uv4w2uv^{4}w^{2}
C vw2u4\frac{v w^{2}}{u^{4}}
D v4w2u\frac{v^{4}w^{2}}{u}
2018 · Paper 2 Q12 Arithmetic and geometric sequences and their summations
Let ana_n be the nnth term of a sequence. If a3=21a_3 = 21, a6=89a_6 = 89 and an+2=an+an+1a_{n+2} = a_n + a_{n+1} for any positive integer nn, then a1=a_1 =
A 88.
B 1313.
C 3434.
D 5555.
2018 · Paper 2 Q13 Linear inequalities in one unknown
The solution of 12x3x3\frac{1-2x}{3} \geq x-3 or 4x+9<14x+9 < 1 is
A x<2x < -2
B x>2x > -2
C x2x \leq 2
D x2x \geq 2
2018 · Paper 2 Q14 Errors in measurement
In the figure, ABCDEFGHABCDEFGH is an octagon, where all the measurements are correct to the nearest cm. Let x cm2x\text{ cm}^{2} be the actual area of the octagon. Find the range of values of xx.
Figure
A 13<x<2313 < x < 23
B 13<x<2713 < x < 27
C 17<x<2317 < x < 23
D 17<x<2717 < x < 27
2018 · Paper 2 Q15 Mensuration
In the figure, the volume of the solid right triangular prism is 544544 cm^{3}.
Figure
A 544544 cm^{3}.
B 600600 cm^{3}.
C 660660 cm^{3}.
D 720720 cm^{3}.
2018 · Paper 2 Q16 Similar triangles
In the figure, ABCDABCD is a parallelogram. EE is a point lying on BCBC such that BE:EC=5:3BE:EC = 5:3. AEAE and BDBD intersect at the point FF. If the area of ABF\triangle ABF is 120 cm2120\text{ cm}^2, then the area of the quadrilateral CDFECDFE is
Figure
A 237 cm2237\text{ cm}^{2}
B 307 cm2307\text{ cm}^{2}
C 312 cm2312\text{ cm}^{2}
D 429 cm2429\text{ cm}^{2}
2018 · Paper 2 Q17 Arc lengths and areas of sectors
In the figure, OO is the centre of the sector OABCDOABCD. ADAD and OCOC are perpendicular to each other and intersect at the point EE. FF is a point lying on ADAD such that BFBF is perpendicular to ADAD. If AF=9AF = 9 cm, DF=39DF = 39 cm and OE=18OE = 18 cm, then the area of the sector OBCOBC is
Figure
A 48π cm248\pi\text{ cm}^{2}
B 75π cm275\pi\text{ cm}^{2}
C 96π cm296\pi\text{ cm}^{2}
D 150π cm2150\pi\text{ cm}^{2}
2018 · Paper 2 Q18 Quadrilaterals
In the figure, ABCDABCD is a rhombus. EE and FF are points lying on ABAB and ADAD respectively such that AE=AFAE = AF and ECF=42\angle ECF = 42^\circ. If BAD=110\angle BAD = 110^\circ, then BEC=\angle BEC =
Figure
A
B
C
D
2018 · Paper 2 Q19 Polygons
In the figure, ABCDE is a regular pentagon. AD and CE intersect at the point F. Which of the following are true?
Figure
I CD=CFCD = CF
II ΔABFΔCBF\Delta ABF \cong \Delta CBF
III AFB+EAF=90\angle AFB + \angle EAF = 90^{\circ}
2018 · Paper 2 Q20 Similar triangles
In the figure, ABCD is a square. E is a point lying on AB produced such that BE = 4 cm 4\text{ cm }. BC and DE intersect at the point F. If EF = 5 cm 5\text{ cm }, then DF =
Figure
A 1212 cm.
B 1515 cm.
C 1616 cm.
D 2020 cm.
2018 · Paper 2 Q21 Quadrilaterals
In the figure, ABCDABCD is a trapezium with ABC=BAD=90\angle ABC = \angle BAD = 90^{\circ}. EE and FF are points lying on ABAB such that EE and FF divide ABAB into three equal parts. Which of the following must be true?
Figure
A I and II only
B I and III only
C II and III only
D I, II and III
2018 · Paper 2 Q22 Basic properties of circles
In the figure, ABCDABCD is a circle. ADAD produced and BCBC produced meet at the point EE. It is given that BD=DEBD=DE, BAC=66\angle BAC=66^{\circ} and ABD=30\angle ABD=30^{\circ}. Find CED\angle CED.
Figure
A 2020^{\circ}
B 2828^{\circ}
C 3636^{\circ}
D 4242^{\circ}
2018 · Paper 2 Q23 3-D figures
The figure below consists of eight identical squares. The number of folds of rotational symmetry of the figure is
Figure
A 2.
B 4.
C 6.
D 8.
2018 · Paper 2 Q24 Trigonometry
The polar coordinates of the points CC, DD and EE are (16,127)(16, 127^{\circ}), (12,217)(12, 217^{\circ}) and (5,307)(5, 307^{\circ}) respectively. Find the perimeter of ΔCDE\Delta CDE.
A 5454
B 7878
C 126126
D 130130
2018 · Paper 2 Q25 Loci
The equations of the straight lines L1L_{1} and L2L_{2} are 3xy+7=03x - y + 7 = 0 and 12x4y11=012x - 4y - 11 = 0 respectively. Let PP be a moving point in the rectangular coordinate plane such that the perpendicular distance from PP to L1L_{1} is equal to the perpendicular distance from PP to L2L_{2}. Find the equation of the locus of PP.
A 8x24y17=08x - 24y - 17 = 0
B 8x24y+17=08x - 24y + 17 = 0
C 24x8y17=024x - 8y - 17 = 0
D 24x8y+17=024x - 8y + 17 = 0
2018 · Paper 2 Q26 Equations of straight lines
The equation of the straight line L1L_{1} is 4x+3y36=04x + 3y - 36 = 0. The straight line L2L_{2} is perpendicular to L1L_{1} and intersects L1L_{1} at a point lying on the yy-axis. Find the area of the region bounded by L1L_{1}, L2L_{2} and the xx-axis.
A 9696
B 108108
C 150150
D 192192
2018 · Paper 2 Q27 Equations of circles
The equation of the circle CC is 5x2+5y230x+10y+6=05x^{2}+5y^{2}-30x+10y+6=0. Which of the following is true?
A The origin lies inside CC.
B CC lies in the second quadrant.
C The circumference of CC is less than 2020.
D The coordinates of the centre of CC are (15,5)(15, -5).
2018 · Paper 2 Q28 More about probability
Two numbers are randomly drawn at the same time from seven cards numbered 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. Find the probability that the sum of the numbers drawn is 5.
A 521 \frac{5}{21}
B 542 \frac{5}{42}
C 549 \frac{5}{49}
D 1049 \frac{10}{49}
2018 · Paper 2 Q29 Measures of dispersion
The mean of the numbers of pages of 10 magazines is 132. If the mean of the numbers of pages of 6 of these 10 magazines is 108, then the mean of the numbers of pages of the remaining 4 magazines is
A 148.
B 156.
C 168.
D 176.
2018 · Paper 2 Q30 Measures of dispersion
The stem-and-leaf diagram below shows the distribution of the numbers of books read by 20 students in a year.

\begin{array}{c|ccccc}{{{\underline{S t e m}\textsc{(t e n s)}}&{{{\underline{L e a f}\textsc{(units)}}}}&{{{8}}} \\{{{3}}}&{{{a}}}&{{{a}}} \\{{{4}}}&{{{0}}}&{{{2}}}&{{{4}}}&{{{5}}}&{{{5}}}&{{{7}}}&{{{8}}} \\{{{5}}}&{{{3}}} \\{{{6}}}&{{{b}}}&{{{b}}}&{{{9}}}&{{{9}}} \\{{{7}}}&{{{0}}}&{{{8}}} \\end{array}}

If the inter-quartile range of the above distribution is at most 2525, which of the following must be true

I. 5a9 5 \leq a \leq 9

II. 0b4 0 \leq b \leq 4

III. 1ab6 1 \leq a - b \leq 6
A I and II only
B I and III only
C II and III only
D I, II and III
2018 · Paper 2 Q31 More about graphs of functions
Let f(x)f(x) be a quadratic function. The figure below may represent the graph of y=f(x)y = f(x) and
Figure
A the graph of y=3f(x)y = -3f(x).
B the graph of y=f(3x)y = f(-3x).
C the graph of y=f(x+4)y = -f(x + 4).
D the graph of y=f(x+11)y = f(-x + 11).
2018 · Paper 2 Q32 Exponential and logarithmic functions
The figure shows the graph of y=logaxy = \log_a x and the graph of y=logbxy = \log_b x on the same rectangular coordinate system, where aa and bb are positive constants. If a vertical line cuts the graph of y=logaxy = \log_a x, the graph of y=logbxy = \log_b x and the x-axis at the points AA, BB and CC respectively, which of the following is/are true?
Figure
A I only
B II only
C I and III only
D II and III only
2018 · Paper 2 Q33 Exponential and logarithmic functions
In the figure, the straight line LL shows the relation between log4x\log_{4}x and log4y\log_{4}y. It is given that LL passes through the points (1,2)(1,2) and (9,6)(9,6). If y=kxay=kx^{a}, then k=k=
A 12\frac{1}{2}.
B 32\frac{3}{2}.
C 22.
D 88.
2018 · Paper 2 Q34 Inequalities and linear programming
Consider the following system of inequalities:

{x210xy350x+5y9103x+2y0 \begin{cases}x-21\leq0\\x-y-35\leq0\\x+5y-91\leq0\\3x+2y\geq0\end{cases}

Let DD be the region which represents the solution of the above system of inequalities. If (x,y)(x, y) is a point lying in DD, then the least value of 5x+6y+2345x + 6y + 234 is
Figure
A 4545.
B 150150.
C 178178.
D 423423.
2018 · Paper 2 Q35 Arithmetic and geometric sequences and their summations
If the sum of the first nn terms of a sequence is 6n2n6n^{2}-n, which of the following is/are true?

I. 2222 is a term of the sequence.

II. The 1st term of the sequence is 55.

III. The sequence is a geometric sequence.
A I only
B II only
C I and III only
D II and III only
2018 · Paper 2 Q36 More about equations
If mn m \neq n and 2m2+5m=2n2+5n=14 2m^{2} + 5m = 2n^{2} + 5n = 14 , then (m+2)(n+2)= (m + 2)(n + 2) =
A 8-8.
B 22.
C 66.
D 1616.
2018 · Paper 2 Q37 More about polynomials
The real part of 2i12+3i13+4i14+5i15+6i161i \frac{2i^{12}+3i^{13}+4i^{14}+5i^{15}+6i^{16}}{1-i} is
A 3-3.
B 1-1.
C 11.
D 33.
2018 · Paper 2 Q38 More about trigonometry
For 0x<3600^{\circ} \leq x < 360^{\circ}, how many roots does the equation 6cos2x=cosx+56\cos^{2}x = \cos x + 5 have?
A 22
B 33
C 44
D 55
2018 · Paper 2 Q39 Basic properties of circles
In the figure, TATA is the tangent to the circle ABCD ABCD at the point A A . CD CD produced and TA TA produced meet at the point E E . It is given that AB=CD AB = CD , BAT=24 \angle BAT = 24^\circ and AED=72 \angle AED = 72^\circ . Find ABC \angle ABC .
Figure
A 60 60^{\circ}
B 66 66^{\circ}
C 72 72^{\circ}
D 78 78^{\circ}
2018 · Paper 2 Q40 Equations of straight lines
It is given that aa is a positive constant. The straight line 2x+5y=a2x + 5y = a cuts the xx-axis and the yy-axis at the points PP and QQ respectively. Let RR be a point lying on the yy-axis such that the xx-coordinate of the orthocentre of rianglePQR riangle PQR is 1010. Find the yy-coordinate of RR.
A 25-25
B 4-4
C 44
D 2525
2018 · Paper 2 Q41 3-D figures
In the figure, ABCDEFGHABCDEFGH is a rectangular block. Let XX be a point lying on DEDE such that DX=9 cmDX = 9\text{ cm} and EX=4 cmEX = 4\text{ cm}. Denote the angle between BXBX and the plane ABGFABGF by θ\theta. Find cosθ\cos\theta.
Figure
A 35\frac{3}{5}
B 45\frac{4}{5}
C 817\frac{8}{17}
D 1517\frac{15}{17}
2018 · Paper 2 Q42 Permutations and combinations
In a class, there are 1414 boys and 1515 girls. If 33 students of the same gender are selected from the class to form a team, how many different teams can be formed?
A 819819
B 36543654
C 49144914
D 165620165620
2018 · Paper 2 Q43 Probability
John and Mary take turns to throw a fair die until one of them gets a number ‘1’ or ‘6’. John throws the die first. Find the probability that John gets a number ‘6’.
A 12 \frac{1}{2}
B 16 \frac{1}{6}
C 310 \frac{3}{10}
D 710 \frac{7}{10}
2018 · Paper 2 Q44 Measures of dispersion
In a test, the mean of the test scores is 68 marks. Peter gets 46 marks in the test and his standard score is -2.2. If Susan gets 52 marks in the test, then her standard score is
A -2.5.
B -1.6.
C -0.6.
D 1.6.
2018 · Paper 2 Q45 Measures of dispersion
There are 49 terms in an arithmetic sequence. If the variance of the first 7 terms of the sequence is 9, then the variance of the last 7 terms of the sequence is
A 9.
B 18.
C 49.
D 81.