DSE Mathematics · Core

Past paper questions

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

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128 questions match · Clear all
Practise Paper · Paper 1 Q1 Laws of integral indices
Simplify (m5n2)6m4n3\frac{(m^{5}n^{-2})^{6}}{m^{4}n^{-3}} and express your answer with positive indices.
Practise Paper · Paper 1 Q2 Formulae
Make aa the subject of the formula 5+b1a=3b\frac{5+b}{1-a}=3b
Practise Paper · Paper 1 Q3 Polynomials
Factorize
Practise Paper · Paper 1 Q4 Using percentages
The cost of a chair is \360.Ifthechairissoldatadiscountof. If the chair is sold at a discount of 20\%onitsmarkedprice,thenthepercentageprofitis on its marked price, then the percentage profit is 30\%$. Find the marked price of the chair.
Practise Paper · Paper 1 Q5 Rates, ratios and proportions
The ratio of the capacity of a bottle to that of a cup is 4:34:3. The total capacity of 7 bottles and 9 cups is 1111 litres. Find the capacity of a bottle.
Practise Paper · Paper 1 Q6 Rectangular coordinate system
(a) Let OO be the pole. Are AA, OO and CC collinear? Explain your answer.
(b) Find the area of riangleABC riangle ABC.
(4 marks)
Practise Paper · Paper 1 Q7 Basic properties of circles
In Figure 1, BDBD is a diameter of the circle ABCDABCD. If AB=ACAB = AC and BDC=36\angle BDC = 36^{\circ}, find ABD\angle ABD (4 marks)
Figure
Practise Paper · Paper 1 Q8 Rectangular coordinate system
The coordinates of the points A and B are (3,4)(-3, 4) and (2,5)(-2, -5) respectively. AA' is the reflection image of A with respect to the y-axis. B is rotated anticlockwise about the origin O through 9090^{\circ} to BB'.
(a) Write down the coordinates of AA' and BB'
(b) Let PP be a moving point in the rectangular coordinate plane such that PP is equidistant from AA' and BB' . Find the equation of the locus of PP .
Practise Paper · Paper 1 Q9 Measures of dispersion
(a) Find the least possible value and the greatest possible value of the inter-quartile range of the distribution.
(b) If r=9r=9 and the median of the distribution is 33, how many possible values of ss are there? Explain your answer. (The marks line is missing from the source but the question likely ends with a marks line; since it is not present, no marks line is appended.)
Practise Paper · Paper 1 Q10 More about polynomials
(a) Find f(3)f(-3).
(b) Factorize f(x)f(x).
Practise Paper · Paper 1 Q11 Variations
Let CC be the cost of manufacturing a cubical carton of side xx cm. It is given that CC is partly constant and partly varies as the square of xx. When x=20x=20, C=42C=42; when x=120x=120, C=112C=112.
(a) Find the cost of manufacturing a cubical carton of side 50 cm 50\text{ cm }.
(b) If the cost of manufacturing a cubical carton is $58, find the length of a side of the carton. (2 marks)
Practise Paper · Paper 1 Q12 Rectangular coordinate system
Figure 2 shows the graphs for Ada and Billy running on the same straight road between town PP and town QQ during the period 1:00 to 3:00 in an afternoon. Ada runs at a constant speed. It is given that town PP and town QQ are 16 km16\text{ km} apart.
Figure
(a) How long does Billy rest during the period? (2 marks)
(b) How far from town PP do Ada and Billy meet during the period? (3 marks)
(c) Use average speed during the period to determine who runs faster. Explain your answer. (2 marks)
Practise Paper · Paper 1 Q13 Presentation of data
The bar chart below shows the distribution of the most favourite fruits of the students in a group. It is given that each student has only one most favourite fruit.

Distribution of the most favourite fruits of the students in the group

If a student is randomly selected from the group, then the probability that the most favourite fruit is apple is 320\frac{3}{20}.
Figure
(a) Find kk.

(3 marks)
(b) Suppose that the above distribution is represented by a pie chart.
(i) Find the angle of the sector representing that the most favourite fruit is orange.
(ii) Some new students now join the group and the most favourite fruit of each of these students is orange. Will the angle of the sector representing that the most favourite fruit is orange be doubled? Explain your answer.

(4 marks)
Practise Paper · Paper 1 Q14 Basic properties of circles
In Figure 3, OABCOABC is a circle. It is given that ABAB produced and OCOC produced meet at DD.
Figure
(a) Write down a pair of similar triangles in Figure 3.

(2 marks)
(b) Suppose that AOD=90\angle AOD = 90^{\circ}. A rectangular coordinate system, with OO as the origin, is introduced in Figure 3 so that the coordinates of AA and DD are (6,0)(6,0) and (0,12)(0,12) respectively. If the ratio of the area of BCD\triangle BCD to the area of OAD\triangle OAD is 16:4516:45, find
(i) the coordinates of CC,
(ii) the equation of the circle OABCOABC.

(7 marks)
Practise Paper · Paper 1 Q15 Measures of dispersion
(a) Find the standard score of John in the test. (2 marks)
(b) A student, David, withdraws from the class and his test score is then deleted. It is given that his test score is 4848 marks. Will there be any change in the standard score of John due to the deletion of the test score of David? Explain your answer. (2 marks)
Practise Paper · Paper 1 Q16 Probability
There are 18 boys and 12 girls in a class. From the class, 4 students are randomly selected to form the class committee.
(a) Find the probability that the class committee consists of boys only. (2 marks)
(b) Find the probability that the class committee consists of at least 11 boy and 1 girl. (2 marks)
Practise Paper · Paper 1 Q17 More about equations
(a) Express 11+2i\frac{1}{1+2i} in the form of a+bia+bi, where aa and bb are real numbers.

(2 marks)
(b) The roots of the quadratic equation x2+px+q=0x^{2}+px+q=0 are 101+2i\frac{10}{1+2i} and 1012i\frac{10}{1-2i}. Find
(i) pp and qq,

(2 marks)
(ii) the range of values of rr such that the quadratic equation x2+px+q=rx^{2}+px+q=r has real roots.

(2 marks)
Practise Paper · Paper 1 Q18 More about trigonometry
Figure 4 shows a geometric model ABCDABCD in the form of tetrahedron. It is found that ACB=60\angle ACB = 60^{\circ}, AC=AD=20AC = AD = 20 cm, BC=BD=12BC = BD = 12 cm and CD=14CD = 14 cm.
Figure
(a) Find the length of ABAB.

(2 marks)
(b) Find the angle between the plane ABCABC and the plane ABDABD.

(4 marks)
(c) Let PP be a movable point on the slant edge ABAB. Describe how CPD\angle CPD varies as PP moves from AA to BB. Explain your answer.

(2 marks)
Practise Paper · Paper 1 Q19 Arithmetic and geometric sequences and their summations
(a) Find rr.

(2 marks)
(b) The revenue made by the firm in the 1st year is \2000000.Therevenuemadeineachsuccessiveyearis. The revenue made in each successive year is 20\%$ less than the previous year.
(i) Find the least number of years needed for the total revenue made by the firm to exceed \9000000$.
(ii) Will the total revenue made by the firm exceed \10000000$? Explain your answer.
(iii) The manager of the firm claims that the total revenue made by the firm will exceed the total amount of investment. Do you agree? Explain your answer. (10 marks)
Practise Paper · Paper 2 Q1 Laws of integral indices
x3(2x+x)= x^{3}(2x+x)=
A 3x4 3x^{4}
B 2x5 2x^{5}
C 3x5 3x^{5}
D 2x6 2x^{6}
Practise Paper · Paper 2 Q2 Formulae
If 3a+1=3(b2) 3a+1=3(b-2) , then b=b=
A a+1 a+1 .
B a+3 a+3 .
C a+73 a+\frac{7}{3} .
D a53 a-\frac{5}{3} .
Practise Paper · Paper 2 Q3 More about polynomials
p2q2pq= \quad p^{2}-q^{2}-p-q=
A (p+q)(pq1) (p+q)(p-q-1)
B (p+q)(p+q1) (p+q)(p+q-1)
C (pq)(pq+1) (p-q)(p-q+1)
D (pq)(p+q1) (p-q)(p+q-1)
Practise Paper · Paper 2 Q4 Identities
Let mm and nn be constants. If m(x3)2+n(x+1)2x238x+41m(x-3)^2+n(x+1)^2\equiv x^2-38x+41, then m=m=
A 4-4.
B 1-1.
C 33.
D 55.
Practise Paper · Paper 2 Q5 More about polynomials
Let f(x)=x4x3+x2x+1f(x)=x^{4}-x^{3}+x^{2}-x+1. When f(x)f(x) is divided by x+2x+2, the remainder is
A 2-2.
B 00.
C 1111.
D 3131.
Practise Paper · Paper 2 Q6 Quadratic equations in one unknown
Let kk be a constant. If the quadratic equation 3x2+2kxk=03x^{2}+2kx-k=0 has equal roots, then k=k=
A 3-3.
B 33.
C 3-3 or 00.
D 00 or 33.
Practise Paper · Paper 2 Q7 Equations of straight lines
In the figure, the xx-intercepts of the straight lines L1L_{1} and L2L_{2} are 55 while the yy-intercepts of the straight lines L2L_{2} and L3L_{3} are 33. Which of the following are true?

I. The equation of L1L_{1} is x=5x=5.

II. The slope of L2L_{2} is 35\frac{3}{5}.

III. The point (2,3)(2,3) lies on L3L_{3}.
Figure
A I and II only
B I and III only
C II and III only
D I, II and III
Practise Paper · Paper 2 Q8 More about graphs of functions
The figure shows the graph of y=ax22x+by = ax^2 - 2x + b, where aa and bb are constants. Which of the following is/are true?

I. a>0a > 0

II. b<0b < 0

III. ab<1ab < 1
Figure
A I only
B II only
C I and III only
D II and III only
Practise Paper · Paper 2 Q9 Linear inequalities in one unknown
The solution of 4x>x34x > x - 3 or 3x<x+73 - x < x + 7 is
A x>2x > -2
B x<2x < -2
C x>1x > -1
D x<2x < -2 or x>1x > -1
Practise Paper · Paper 2 Q10 Using percentages
John buys a vase for \1600.HethensellsthevasetoSusanataprofitof. He then sells the vase to Susan at a profit of 20\%.AtwhatpriceshouldSusansellthevaseinordertohaveaprofitof. At what price should Susan sell the vase in order to have a profit of 20\%$?
A \2240$
B \2304$
C \2400$
D \2500$
Practise Paper · Paper 2 Q11 Using percentages
If the circumference of a circle is increased by 40%40\%, then the area of the circle is increased by
A 18%18\%.
B 20%20\%.
C 40%40\%.
D 96%96\%.
Practise Paper · Paper 2 Q12 Rates, ratios and proportions
Let α\alpha and β\beta be non-zero constants. If (α+β) ⁣:(3αβ)=7:3(\alpha + \beta) \colon (3\alpha - \beta) = 7 : 3, then α:β=\alpha : \beta =
A 5:95 : 9.
B 9:59 : 5.
C 19:2919 : 29.
D 29:1929 : 19.
Practise Paper · Paper 2 Q13 Variations
If zz varies directly as xx and inversely as y2y^{2}, which of the following must be constant?
A xy2z\frac{x}{y^{2}z}
B zxy2\frac{z}{xy^{2}}
C yzx2\frac{yz}{x^{2}}
D xzy2\frac{xz}{y^{2}}
Practise Paper · Paper 2 Q14 Approximate values and numerical estimation
0.009049999=0.009049999=
A 0.009050.00905 (correct to 3 decimal places).
B 0.009050.00905 (correct to 3 significant figures).
C 0.009050.00905 (correct to 6 decimal places).
D 0.009050.00905 (correct to 6 significant figures).
Practise Paper · Paper 2 Q15 Arc lengths and areas of sectors
In the figure, OO is the centre of the sector OABCOABC. If the area of ΔOAC\Delta OAC is 12 cm212\text{ cm}^{2}, find the area of the segment ABCABC.
Figure
A 3(π2) cm23(\pi-2)\text{ cm}^{2}
B 3(π1) cm23(\pi-1)\text{ cm}^{2}
C 6(π2) cm26(\pi-2)\text{ cm}^{2}
D 6(π1) cm26(\pi-1)\text{ cm}^{2}
Practise Paper · Paper 2 Q16 Mensuration
The figure shows a right circular cone of height 88 cm and slant height 1717 cm. Find the volume of the circular cone.
Figure
A 255πcm3255\pi\,\text{cm}^{3}
B 345πcm3345\pi\,\text{cm}^{3}
C 480πcm3480\pi\,\text{cm}^{3}
D 600πcm3600\pi\,\text{cm}^{3}
Practise Paper · Paper 2 Q17 Mensuration
In the figure, ABCDABCD is a rectangle. EE is the mid-point of BCBC. FF is a point lying on CDCD such that DF=2CFDF = 2CF. If the area of CEF\triangle CEF is 1 cm21\mathrm{~cm}^{2}, then the area of AEF\triangle AEF is
Figure
A 2cm22\,\mathrm{c m}^{2}
B 3 cm23\mathrm{~c m}^{2}
C 4 cm24~\mathrm{c m}^{2}
D 6 cm26~\mathrm{c m}^{2}
Practise Paper · Paper 2 Q18 Similar triangles
In the figure, AB=4cmAB = 4\,\text{cm}, BC=CD=DE=8cmBC = CD = DE = 8\,\text{cm} and FG=9cmFG = 9\,\text{cm}. Find the perimeter of ΔAEH\Delta AEH.
Figure
A 6060 cm
B 7474 cm
C 150150 cm
D 164164 cm
Practise Paper · Paper 2 Q19 Angles and parallel lines
In the figure, AB=BCAB = BC and DD is a point lying on BCBC such that CD=DECD = DE. If ABCEAB \parallel CE, find CDE\angle CDE.
Figure
A 5252^{\circ}
B 5858^{\circ}
C 6464^{\circ}
D 7676^{\circ}
Practise Paper · Paper 2 Q20 Basic properties of circles
In the figure, OO is the centre of the semi-circle ABCDABCD. ACAC and BDBD intersect at EE. If ADOCAD \parallel OC, then AED=\angle AED =
Figure
A 4848^{\circ}
B 5555^{\circ}
C 5757^{\circ}
D 6666^{\circ}
Practise Paper · Paper 2 Q21 Basic properties of circles
In the figure, OO is the centre of the circle ABCDABCD. If AB=BC=2CD\overrightarrow{AB} = \overrightarrow{BC} = 2\overrightarrow{CD}, then BCD=\angle BCD =
Figure
A 6464^{\circ}
B 8787^{\circ}
C 9393^{\circ}
D 116116^{\circ}
Practise Paper · Paper 2 Q22 Trigonometry
In the figure, ABCDABCD is a square. FF is a point lying on ADAD such that CFBECF \parallel BE. If AB=AEAB = AE, find ABF\angle ABF correct to the nearest degree.
Figure
A 1717^{\circ}
B 1818^{\circ}
C 2222^{\circ}
D 2626^{\circ}
Practise Paper · Paper 2 Q23 More about trigonometry
For 0θ900^{\circ} \leq \theta \leq 90^{\circ}, the least value of 303sin2θ+2sin2(90θ)\frac{30}{3\sin^{2}\theta+2\sin^{2}(90^{\circ}-\theta)} is
A 55.
B 66.
C 1010.
D 1515.
Practise Paper · Paper 2 Q24 Quadrilaterals
Which of the following parallelograms have rotational symmetry and reflectional symmetry?
FigureFigureFigure
A I and II only
B I and III only
C II and III only
D I, II and III
Practise Paper · Paper 2 Q25 Rectangular coordinate system
If the point (2,1)(-2,-1) is reflected with respect to the straight line y=5y=-5, then the coordinates of its image are
A (8,1)(-8, -1).
B (2,9)(-2, -9).
C (2,11)(-2, 11).
D (12,1)(12, -1).
Practise Paper · Paper 2 Q26 Equations of straight lines
The coordinates of the points AA and BB are (1,3)(1,-3) and (5,7)(-5,7) respectively. If PP is a point lying on the straight line y=x+2y=x+2 such that AP=PBAP=PB, then the coordinates of PP are
A (2,0)(-2,0).
B (2,2)(-2,2).
C (0,2)(0,2).
D (3,5)(3,5).
Practise Paper · Paper 2 Q27 Equations of circles
The equation of a circle is 2x2+2y2+8x12y+3=02x^{2}+2y^{2}+8x-12y+3=0. Which of the following are true?

I. The coordinates of the centre of the circle are (2,3)(-2,3).

II. The radius of the circle is 77.

III. The point (2,3)(2,3) lies outside the circle.
A I and II only
B I and III only
C II and III only
D I, II and III
Practise Paper · Paper 2 Q28 Probability
Two numbers are randomly drawn at the same time from four cards numbered 22, 33, 55 and 77 respectively. Find the probability that the sum of the numbers drawn is a multiple of 44.
A 13 \frac{1}{3}
B 14 \frac{1}{4}
C 16 \frac{1}{6}
D 516 \frac{5}{16}
Practise Paper · Paper 2 Q29 Measures of dispersion
The box-and-whisker diagram below shows the distribution of the heights (in cm) of some students. Which of the following is/are true?

II. The inter-quartile range of the distribution is 15 cm15\text{ cm}.
III. Less than half of the students are taller than 170 cm170\text{ cm}.
Figure
A I only
B II only
C I and III only
D II and III only
Practise Paper · Paper 2 Q30 Measures of dispersion
The figure below shows the cumulative frequency polygons of the test score distributions XX and YY. Let m1m_1, r1r_1 and s1s_1 be the median, the range and the standard deviation of XX respectively while m2m_2, r2r_2 and s2s_2 be the median, the range and the standard deviation of YY respectively. Which of the following are true?

I. m1>m2m_1 > m_2
II. r1>r2r_1 > r_2
III. s1>s2s_1 > s_2
Figure
A I and II only
B I and III only
C II and III only
D I, II and III
Practise Paper · Paper 2 Q31 Functions and graphs
The figure above shows the graph of y=f(x)y = f(x). If 2f(x)=g(x)2f(x) = g(x), which of the following may represent the graph of y=g(x)y = g(x)?
FigureFigureFigureFigureFigure
A
B
C
D