DSE Mathematics · Core

Past paper questions

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

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2013 · Paper 1 Q1 Laws of integral indices
Simplify x20y13(x5y)6\frac{x^{20}y^{13}}{(x^{5}y)^{6}} and express your answer with positive indices. (3 marks)
2013 · Paper 1 Q2 Formulae
Make kk the subject of the formula 3h1k=2\frac{3}{h}-\frac{1}{k}=2. (3 marks)
2013 · Paper 1 Q3 Identities
(a) Factorize 4m225n24m^{2}-25n^{2}
(b) 4m225n2+6m15n4m^{2}-25n^{2}+6m-15n (3 marks)
2013 · Paper 1 Q4 Linear equations in two unknowns
The price of 7 pears and 3 oranges is 47whilethepriceof5pearsand6orangesis47 while the price of 5 pears and 6 oranges is 49. Find the price of a pear. (4 marks)
2013 · Paper 1 Q5 Inequalities and linear programming
(a) Solve the inequality 197x3>235x \frac{19-7x}{3}>23-5x
(b) Find all integers satisfying both the inequalities 197x3>235x \frac{19-7x}{3}>23-5x and 182x0 18-2x\geq 0 .
2013 · Paper 1 Q6 Trigonometry
In a polar coordinate system, OO is the pole. The polar coordinates of the points AA and BB are (26,10)(26,10^{\circ}) and (26,130)(26,130^{\circ}) respectively. Let LL be the axis of reflectional symmetry of ΔOAB\Delta OAB.
(a) Describe the geometric relationship between LL and AOB \angle AOB .
(b) Find the polar coordinates of the point of intersection of LL and ABAB. (4 marks)
2013 · Paper 1 Q7 Congruent triangles
In Figure 1, ABCDABCD is a quadrilateral. The diagonals ACAC and BDBD intersect at EE. It is given that BE=CEBE = CE and BAC=BDC\angle BAC = \angle BDC.
Figure
(a) Prove that ΔABCΔDCB\Delta ABC \cong \Delta DCB.
(b) Consider the triangles in Figure 1.
(i) How many pairs of congruent triangles are there?
(ii) How many pairs of similar triangles are there? (4 marks)
2013 · Paper 1 Q8 Errors in measurement
A pack of sea salt is termed regular if its weight is measured as 100 g100\text{ g} correct to the nearest g.
(a) Find the least possible weight of a regular pack of sea salt.
(b) Is it possible that the total weight of 3232 regular packs of sea salt is measured as 3.1 kg3.1\text{ kg} correct to the nearest 0.1 kg0.1\text{ kg} ? Explain your answer. (5 marks)
2013 · Paper 1 Q9 Measures of dispersion
The bar chart below shows the distribution of the numbers of family members of the employees of company DD.
Figure
(a) Find the mean, the inter-quartile range and the standard deviation of the above distribution.
(b) An employee leaves company DD. The number of family members of this employee is 77. Find the change in the standard deviation of the numbers of family members of the employees of company DD due to the leaving of this employee. (5 marks)
2013 · Paper 1 Q10 Measures of dispersion
The ages of the members of Committee A are shown as follows:
(a) Write down the median and the mode of the ages of the members of Committee A. (2 marks)
(b) The stem-and-leaf diagram below shows the distribution of the ages of the members of Committee B. It is given that the range of this distribution is 4747.
(i) Find aa and bb.
(ii) From each committee, a member is randomly selected as the representative of that committee. The two representatives can join a competition when the difference of their ages exceeds 4040. Find the probability that these two representatives can join the competition. (4 marks)
2013 · Paper 1 Q11 Variations
The weight of a tray of perimeter \ell metres is WW grams. It is given that WW is the sum of two parts, one part varies directly as \ell and the other part varies directly as 2\ell^{2}. When =1\ell=1, W=181W=181 and when =2\ell=2, W=402W=402.
(a) Find the weight of a tray of perimeter 1.2 metres. (4 marks)
(b) If the weight of a tray is 594 grams, find the perimeter of the tray. (2 marks)
2013 · Paper 1 Q12 More about polynomials
Let f(x)=3x37x2+kx8f(x)=3x^{3}-7x^{2}+kx-8, where kk is a constant. It is given that f(x)(x2)(ax2+bx+c)f(x)\equiv(x-2)(ax^{2}+bx+c), where aa, bb and cc are constants.
(a) Find aa, bb and cc.
(b) Someone claims that all the roots of the equation f(x)=0f(x)=0 are real numbers. Do you agree? Explain your answer. (3 marks)
2013 · Paper 1 Q13 Mensuration
In a workshop, 2 identical solid metal right circular cylinders of base radius RR cm are melted and recast into 27 smaller identical solid right circular cylinders of base radius rr cm and height 1010 cm. It is given that the base area of a larger circular cylinder is 9 times that of a smaller one.
(a) Find
(i) r:Rr:R,
(ii) the height of a larger circular cylinder.
(b) A craftsman claims that a smaller circular cylinder and a larger circular cylinder are similar. Do you agree? Explain your answer. (2 marks)
2013 · Paper 1 Q14 Equations of circles
The equation of the circle CC is x2+y212x34y+225=0x^{2}+y^{2}-12x-34y+225=0. Denote the centre of CC by RR.
(a) Write down the coordinates of RR. (1 mark)
(b) The equation of the straight line LL is 4x+3y+50=04x + 3y + 50 = 0. It is found that CC and LL do not intersect. Let PP be a point lying on LL such that PP is nearest to RR.
(i) Find the distance between PP and RR.
(ii) Let QQ be a moving point on CC. When QQ is nearest to PP,
2013 · Paper 1 Q15 Measures of dispersion
The box-and-whisker diagram below shows the distribution of the scores (in marks) of the students of a class in a test. Susan gets the highest score while Tom gets 6565 marks in the test. The standard scores of Susan and Tom in the test are 33 and 0.50.5 respectively.
Figure
(a) Find the mean of the distribution.
(b) Susan claims that the standard scores of at least half of the students in the test are negative. Do you agree? Explain your answer. (2 marks)
2013 · Paper 1 Q16 Probability
A box contains 5 white cups and 11 blue cups. If 6 cups are randomly drawn from the box at the same time,
(a) find the probability that at least 44 white cups are drawn; (2 marks)
(b) find the probability that at least 33 blue cups are drawn. (2 marks)
2013 · Paper 1 Q17 Quadratic equations in one unknown
(a) Let f(x)=36xx2f(x)=36x-x^{2}. Using the method of completing the square, find the coordinates of the vertex of the graph of y=f(x)y=f(x). (2 marks)
(b) The length of a piece of string is 108 m108\text{ m}. A guard cuts the string into two pieces. One piece is used to enclose a rectangular restricted zone of area A m2A\text{ m}^{2}. The other piece of length x mx\text{ m} is used to divide this restricted zone into two rectangular regions as shown in Figure 2.
Figure
(i) Express AA in terms of xx.
(ii) The guard claims that the area of this restricted zone can be greater than 500 m2500\text{ m}^{2}. Do you agree? Explain your answer.
2013 · Paper 1 Q18 Trigonometry
(a) Figure 3(a) shows a piece of triangular paper card ABCABC with AB=28 cmAB=28\text{ cm}, BC=21 cmBC=21\text{ cm} and AC=35 cmAC=35\text{ cm}. Let MM be a point lying on ACAC such that BMC=75\angle BMC=75^{\circ}.

Find
Figure
(i) BCM\angle BCM.
(ii) CMCM.
(3 marks)
(b) Peter folds the triangular paper card described in (a) along BMBM such that ABAB and BCBC lie on the horizontal ground as shown in Figure 3(b). It is given that AMC=107\angle AMC = 107^{\circ}.
Figure
(i) Find the distance between AA and CC on the horizontal ground.
(ii) Let NN be a point lying on BCBC such that MNMN is perpendicular to BCBC. Peter claims that the angle between the face BCMBCM and the horizontal ground is ANM\angle ANM. Do you agree? Explain your answer.
2013 · Paper 1 Q19 Arithmetic and geometric sequences and their summations
The development of public housing in a city is under study. It is given that the total floor area of all public housing flats at the end of the 1st year is 9×106 m29 \times 10^6 \text{ m}^2 and in subsequent years, the total floor area of public housing flats built each year is r%r\% of the total floor area of all public housing flats at the end of the previous year, where rr is a constant, and the total floor area of public housing flats pulled down each year is 3×105 m23 \times 10^5 \text{ m}^2. It is found that the total floor area of all public housing flats at the end of the 3rd year is 1.026×107 m21.026 \times 10^7 \text{ m}^2.
(a)
(i) Express, in terms of rr, the total floor area of all public housing flats at the end of the 2nd year.
(ii) Find rr.
(b)
(i) Express, in terms of nn, the total floor area of all public housing flats at the end of the nthn^{th} year.
(ii) At the end of which year will the total floor area of all public housing flats first exceed 4×107 m24 \times 10^{7} \text{ m}^{2}?

(5 marks)
(c) It is assumed that the total floor area of public housing flats needed at the end of the nnth year is (a(1.21)n+b) m2(a(1.21)^n + b)\text{ m}^2, where aa and bb are constants. Some research results reveal the following information:

[Table]

A research assistant claims that based on the above assumption, the total floor area of all public housing flats will be greater than the total floor area of public housing flats needed at the end of a certain year. Is the claim correct? Explain your answer. (4 marks)
2013 · Paper 2 Q1 Laws of integral indices
(279n+1)3= (27 \cdot 9^{n+1})^3 =
A 36n+12 3^{6n+12}
B 36n+15 3^{6n+15}
C 39n+12 3^{9n+12}
D 39n+18 3^{9n+18}
2013 · Paper 2 Q2 Formulae
If y1c=y+1d \frac{y-1}{c}=\frac{y+1}{d} , then y=
A cdc+d \frac{c-d}{c+d}
B dcc+d \frac{d-c}{c+d}
C c+dcd \frac{c+d}{c-d}
D c+ddc \frac{c+d}{d-c}
2013 · Paper 2 Q3 Polynomials
hk+hmkmhn+kn= h\ell - k\ell + hm - km - hn + kn =
A (h+k)(m+n) (h+k)(\ell-m+n)
B (h+k)(+mn) (h+k)(\ell+m-n)
C (hk)(m+n) (h-k)(\ell-m+n)
D (hk)(+mn) (h-k)(\ell+m-n)
2013 · Paper 2 Q4 Approximate values and numerical estimation
0.0504545=0.0504545 =
A 0.0510.051 (correct to 2 significant figures).
B 0.05050.0505 (correct to 3 decimal places).
C 0.050450.05045 (correct to 4 significant figures).
D 0.050460.05046 (correct to 5 decimal places).
2013 · Paper 2 Q5 Inequalities and linear programming
The solution of xx12>5x - \frac{x-1}{2} > 5 or 1<x111 < x - 11 is
A x>9x > 9.
B x>10x > 10.
C x>11x > 11.
D x>12x > 12.
2013 · Paper 2 Q6 Quadratic equations in one unknown
Let kk be a constant. Solve the equation (xk)2=4k2(x-k)^{2}=4k^{2}.
A x=3kx = 3k
B x=5kx = 5k
C x=kx = -k or x=3kx = 3k
D x=3kx = -3k or x=5kx = 5k
2013 · Paper 2 Q7 Functions and graphs
The figure shows the graph of y=2x2+ax+by = -2x^{2} + ax + b, where aa and bb are constants. The equation of the axis of symmetry of the graph is
Figure
A x=2x = 2.
B x=3x = 3.
C x=5x = 5.
D y=8y = 8.
2013 · Paper 2 Q8 Identities
If aa, bb and cc are non-zero constants such that x(x+3a)+ax2+2(bx+c)x(x+3a)+a \equiv x^{2}+2(bx+c), then a:b:c=a:b:c=
A 2:3:12:3:1.
B 2:3:42:3:4.
C 3:2:63:2:6.
D 6:4:36:4:3.
2013 · Paper 2 Q9 More about polynomials
Let f(x)=x132x+kf(x)=x^{13}-2x+k, where kk is a constant. If f(x)f(x) is divisible by x+1x+1, find the remainder when f(x)f(x) is divided by x1x-1.
A 0
B 1-1
C 2
D 2-2
2013 · Paper 2 Q10 Using percentages
Susan sells two cars for \80\,080each.Shegains each. She gains 30\%ononeandloses on one and loses 30\%$ on the other. After the two transactions, Susan
A loses \15\,840$.
B gains \5\,544$.
C gains \10\,296$.
D has no gain and no loss.
2013 · Paper 2 Q11 Using percentages
A sum of \50\,000isdepositedataninterestrateof is deposited at an interest rate of 8\%$ per annum for 1 year, compounded monthly. Find the interest correct to the nearest dollar.
A \4000$
B \4122$
C \4143$
D \4150$
2013 · Paper 2 Q12 Rates, ratios and proportions
The actual area of a playground is 900extm2900 ext{ m}^{2}. If the area of the playground on a map is 36extcm236 ext{ cm}^{2}, then the scale of the map is
A 1:251:25.
B 1:501:50.
C 1:5001:500.
D 1:250 0001:250\ 000.
2013 · Paper 2 Q13 Variations
It is given that zz varies directly as xx and inversely as y\sqrt{y}. If yy is decreased by 64%64\% and zz is increased by 25%25\%, then xx
A is increased by 20%20\%.
B is increased by 80%80\%.
C is decreased by 25%25\%.
D is decreased by 75%75\%.
2013 · Paper 2 Q14 Equations of straight lines
The figure shows the graph of the straight line x+ay+b=0x + ay + b = 0. Which of the following are true?

I. a<0a < 0

II. b<0b < 0

III. a<ba < b
Figure
A I and II only
B I and III only
C II and III only
D I, II and III
2013 · Paper 2 Q15 Polygons
In the figure, the regular octagon is divided into eight identical isosceles triangles and four of the shaded. The number of axes of reflectional symmetry of the octagon is
Figure
A 22.
B 44.
C 88.
D 1616.
2013 · Paper 2 Q16 Arc lengths and areas of sectors
In the figure, the diameter of the semicircle ABCABC is 3 cm 3\text{ cm }. If AC=2AC = 2 cm, find the area of the shaded region correct to the nearest 0.010.01 cm2^2.
Figure
A 0.23 cm20.23\text{ cm}^{2}.
B 0.52 cm20.52\text{ cm}^{2}.
C 0.64 cm20.64\text{ cm}^{2}.
D 1.07 cm21.07\text{ cm}^{2}.
2013 · Paper 2 Q17 Mensuration
In the figure, the solid consists of a right circular cone and a hemisphere with a common base. The base radius and the height of the circular cone are 3 cm 3\text{ cm } and 4 cm 4\text{ cm } respectively. Find the total surface area of the solid.
Figure
A 30π cm230\pi\text{ cm}^{2}.
B 33π cm233\pi\text{ cm}^{2}.
C 48π cm248\pi\text{ cm}^{2}.
D 51π cm251\pi\text{ cm}^{2}.
2013 · Paper 2 Q18 Similar triangles
In the figure, ABCDABCD is a trapezium with ADBCAD \parallel BC and AD:BC=2:3AD:BC = 2:3. Let EE be the mid-point of BCBC. ACAC and DEDE intersect at FF. If the area of CEF\triangle CEF is 36 cm236\text{ cm}^{2}, then the area of the trapezium ABCDABCD is
Figure
A 216 cm2216\text{ cm}^{2}.
B 264 cm2264\text{ cm}^{2}.
C 280 cm2280\text{ cm}^{2}.
D 320 cm2320\text{ cm}^{2}.
2013 · Paper 2 Q19 Basic properties of circles
In the figure, ABCDABCD is a circle. ACAC and BDBD intersect at EE. If AB=ADAB = AD and ADBCAD \parallel BC, then BAE=\angle BAE =
Figure
A 5353^{\circ}.
B 5757^{\circ}.
C 6969^{\circ}.
D 7474^{\circ}.
2013 · Paper 2 Q20 Trigonometry
In the figure, the bearing of P from O is S86ES86^{\circ}E and the bearing of Q from O is N32EN32^{\circ}E. If P and Q are equidistant from O, then the bearing of P from Q is
Figure
A N24W\mathrm{N}24^{\circ}\mathrm{W}.
B N27WN27^{\circ}W.
C S24ES24^{\circ}E.
D S27ES27^{\circ}E.
2013 · Paper 2 Q21 Polygons
If an interior angle of a regular n-sided polygon is 4 times an exterior angle of the polygon, which of the following is/are true?

I. The value of n is 10.

II. The number of diagonals of the polygon is 10.

III. The number of folds of rotational symmetry of the polygon is 10.
A I only.
B II only.
C I and III only.
D II and III only.
2013 · Paper 2 Q22 Trigonometry
In ABC\triangle ABC, AB:BC:AC=8:15:17AB:BC:AC=8:15:17. Find cosA:cosC\cos A:\cos C.
A 8:158:15
B 8:178:17
C 15:815:8
D 15:1715:17
2013 · Paper 2 Q23 Trigonometry
If 0<x<900^{\circ}<x<90^{\circ}, which of the following must be true?

I. tanxtan(90x)=1\tan x\tan(90^{\circ}-x)=1

II. sinxsin(90x)<0\sin x - \sin(90^{\circ} - x) < 0

III. cosx+cos(90x)>0\cos x + \cos(90^{\circ} - x) > 0
A I and II only
B I and III only
C II and III only
D I, II and III
2013 · Paper 2 Q24 Equations of straight lines
The coordinates of the points AA and BB are (2,5)(2, 5) and (4,1)(4, -1) respectively. Let PP be a moving point in the rectangular coordinate plane such that AP=BPAP = BP. Find the equation of the locus of PP.
A x3y+3=0x-3y+3=0
B x3y7=0x-3y-7=0
C x3y+13=0x-3y+13=0
D 3x+y11=03x+y-11=0
2013 · Paper 2 Q25 Equations of circles
The equation of the circle CC is 2x2+2y24x+8y5=02x^{2} + 2y^{2} - 4x + 8y - 5 = 0. The coordinates of the points PP and QQ are (1,2)(-1, 2) and (4,0)(4, 0) respectively. Which of the following is/are true?

I. The radius of CC is 5.

II. The mid-point of PQPQ lies outside CC.

III. If GG is the centre of CC, then PGQ\angle PGQ is an acute angle.
A I only
B II only
C I and III only
D II and III only
2013 · Paper 2 Q26 Probability
Two numbers are randomly drawn at the same time from seven cards numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 respectively. Find the probability that the product of the numbers drawn is an odd number.
A 27\frac{2}{7}
B 47\frac{4}{7}
C 1249\frac{12}{49}
D 1649\frac{16}{49}
2013 · Paper 2 Q27 Measures of dispersion
If the mean and the mode of the nine numbers 14, 6, 4, 5, 7, 5, x, y and z are 8 and 14 respectively, then the median of these nine numbers is
A 5.
B 6.
C 7.
D 8.
2013 · Paper 2 Q28 Variations
The scatter diagram below shows the relation between x and y. Which of the following may represent the relation between x and y?
Figure
A y increases when x increases.
B y decreases when x increases.
C y varies inversely as x2x^{2}.
D y varies directly as x3x^{-3}.
2013 · Paper 2 Q29 Presentation of data
The stem-and-leaf diagram below shows the distribution of the hourly wages (in dollars) of some workers.

\begin{array}{c|ccccccccc}{{\mathrm{s}\!s)}}&{{{\mathrm{Leaf}\,\mathrm{(units)}}}} \\{{{\hline4}}}&{{{0}}}&{{{2}}}&{{{2}}}&{{{2}}}&{{{4}}}&{{{4}}}&{{{4}}}&{{{7}}} \\{{{5}}}&{{{0}}}&{{{0}}}&{{{1}}}&{{{2}}}&{{{2}}}&{{{6}}}&{{{8}}}&{{{9}}} \\{{{6}}}&{{{3}}}&{{{5}}}&{{{5}}}&{{{7}}} \\{{{7}}}&{{{0}}} \\{{{8}}}&{{{2}}}&{{{6}}} \\{{{9}}}&{{{5}}} \\ \end{array}

Which of the following box-and-whisker diagrams may represent the distribution of their hourly wages?

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
FigureFigureFigureFigure
A
B
C
D
2013 · Paper 2 Q30 Presentation of data
The pie charts below show the distributions of the profits of stationery shop X and stationery shop Y from the sales of stationery in a certain month. Which of the following must be true?

Distribution of the profits of stationery shop X

Distribution of the profits of stationery shop Y

[Figure 5]

[Figure 6]
FigureFigure
A In that month, the profit from the sales of pencils of stationery shop X is the same as that of stationery shop Y.
B In that month, the total profit from the sales of pens and notebooks of stationery shop X is less than the total profit from the sales of rulers and pencils of the shop.
C k=14k=14
D θ=36\theta = 36^{\circ}
2013 · Paper 2 Q31 More about polynomials
The L.C.M. of a2+4a+4 a^{2}+4a+4 , a24 a^{2}-4 and a3+8 a^{3}+8 is
A a+2a+2
B (a2)(a+2)2(a22a+4)(a-2)(a+2)^{2}(a^{2}-2a+4)
C (a2)(a+2)2(a2+2a+4)(a-2)(a+2)^{2}(a^{2}+2a+4)
D (a2)(a+2)4(a22a+4)(a-2)(a+2)^{4}(a^{2}-2a+4)