1

2020 JC1 Promo

1 Solution [6] Linear System of Equations

Let $a, $b, $c be the cost of one serving of the vegetable,
chicken and fish dish respectively. Generally well done.
2a  3b  3c  23.25 (1) Those who did not use GC
function to solve may find
a  4b  2c  20.50 (2)
the calculations tedious.
2a  2b  c  12.50 (3)

Solving by G.C.,
a  1.50, b  2.75, c  4 .

Therefore,
15.25  3(1.50)  2.75
N
4
 2.
 2

2 Solution [6] Inequalities

(i) Many candidates were
Method 1: unable to show that the

2
1  11 11 expression is always
As x 2  x  3   x      0 for all real values of positive. Many has
 2 4 4 2
x.  1
forgotten that  x    0 .
 2
Or

Method 2: Many students who used

As (coefficient of x 2  1  0 and the discriminant method
discriminant  (1) 2  4(1)(3)  11  0 , were unable to mention that
coefficient of the x 2 term is
we have that x 2  x  3  0 all real values of x .
greater than 1 and hence it
supports the reasoning to
x2  2 x  6 1 why the quadratic

x  x  12 x  4
2
expression is always
x  2x  6
2
1 positive given that
  0, x  4 and x  3 discriminant is less than 0.
( x  4)( x  3) x  4
x 2  2 x  6  ( x  3)
0
( x  4)( x  3)
x2  x  3
0
( x  4)( x  3)

This implies
1
 0 since x 2  x  3  0 all real values of x .
( x  4)( x  3) Generally averagely done.
( x  4)( x  3)  0 Many students are unable
to realize that -3 and 4
   cannot be included in the
x
final solution as they are in
3 4 the denominator of the
expression.

x  3 or x  4 .
(ii) 4 x  2 x 1  6 1 Very well done in general.
 x
4  2  12 2  4
x x

(2 )  2(2 x )  6
x 2
1
 x
( 2 )  2  12
x 2 x
2 4
Replace x with 2 . x

2 x  3 (Reject as 2 x  0 for all real x.) or 2 x  4

 3

Method 1:
2x  4
x ln 2  ln 4
ln 4
x
ln 2
x  2.

Or

Method 2:
2x  4
2 x  22
x  2.
 4

3 Solution [6] Maclaurin series

(i) Method 1: Part (i) is generally very
tan 1  y   1  e  x well done. Most candidates
are able to do this question
Differentiate implicitly w.r.t. x,
at ease.
1  dy   x
 e
1  y 2  dx 
dy
ex  1  y 2 . (Shown)
dx

Or

Method 2:
tan 1  y   1  e  x
y  tan 1  e  x 
Differentiate w.r.t. x,
dy
 e  x sec 2 1  e  x 
dx
dy
ex  1  tan 2 1  e  x 
dx
dy
ex  1  y 2 . (Shown )
dx

(ii) dy Generally quite well done

ex  1 y2 (1) for this part as well; except
dx
Differentiate implicitly w.r.t. x, for a few individual who
dy x d 2 y dy did not attempt this
ex e 2
 2y (2) question at all or had
dx dx dx careless mistakes when it
comes to solving for the
respective derivatives’
When x  0, tan 1 ( y )  1  e 0  0  y  tan(0)  0 , values.
From (1):
dy dy
e0  1  02   1,
dx dx
From (2):
d2 y d2 y
1  02  e0 2  2(0)(1)  2  1 ,
dx dx
 5

Hence,
 1 
y  0  (1) x    x 2  ...
 2! 
1
 x  x 2  ...
2
(iii) dy Very badly done; many
ex  1 y2 students were unable to
dx
manipulate and
dy 1  y 2
 x . rearrange the expression
dx e to realize that
Hence, dy d  1 
1  y 2 dy   x  x 2  ... 
 dx dx  2 
ex dx
d  1 
  x  x 2  ... 
dx  2 
 1  x  ...
 6

4 Solution [6] Summation, Method of difference

(i) (r  1)2r  (r  2)2r 1  r 2r  2r  r 2r 1  2r This part is generally well
done
 2  r 2r 1   r 2r 1
 r 2r 1. (Shown)

(ii) n Many students also

 r2
r 1
r 1
recognize using MOD.
n
However, a minority of
  (r  1)2r  (r  2)2r 1  students wrote the answer
r 1 as (n  1)2n  1 instead.
 (0)21  (1)20 
 
  (1)22  (0)21 
 
  ... 
 n 1 n2

  (n  2)2  (n  3)2 
 n 1

  (n  1)2  (n  2)2 
n

  n  1 2n  1
(iii) 2n 2n 5 Almost all the students see
 r2
r 6
r 1
  r 2r 1   r 2r 1
r 1 r 1
the need to subtract the first
5 terms and use (ii).
   2n  1 22 n  1    5  1 25  1
  2n  1 22 n  128
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5 Solution [7] AP,GP

(a) a (3n  1) 8   3   Generally most students
  2  a   (8  1)a  got this part correct. One
3 1 2 2   common mistake is the
a (3n  1)  8(10a ) algebraic manipulation in
3n  1  80 order to get the answer for
a(3n  1)  20a
3n  81 example,
instead of 80a
n4
(bi)  y
2 1 Many students managed to
( x  y )( x  y )  x  
2
arrive at the equation
x
x 2  y 2  xy . However
x 2  y 2  xy some of them cannot
y 2  xy  x 2  0 proceed to prove the given
2 result.
 y  y
      1  0.(Shown)
x x

(bii) 2
 y  y Quite a number of students
     1  0 did not understand the
x x requirement of the question
y (1)  (1) 2  (4)(1)(1) and went on to find sum to
 infinity in terms of x and y;
x 2
they tried to justify the sum
1  5 existed based on the
 (Rej  ve root as x, y  0)
2 expression.
y
Common ratio 
x
1  5
  0.61803...  1
2
Therefore, S converges.
 8

6 Solution [9] Applications of Differentiation

(i) Students did not realise that
there are 2 pairs of equal
length even though they got
the coordinates correct,
resulting in non-
proportional shape. This is
due to using GC to plot and
not zoom square.

(ii) 3  12 1
 This question is quite well-
When t  , P is the point  e  1, e 2  1 attempted by students as
4   they know the requirement
dx dy of the question. However,
 cos  t  esin  t  ,  sin  t  e cost 
dt dt some students did not
dy express the coordinates of
 tan  t  e 
 cos t   sin  t  
P explicitly (eg
dx 3 3
3 dy  sin 4  cos 
When t  ,  1 e  1, e 4  1 thus
4 dx  
Therefore, the gradient of the normal is 1. they failed to justify why y
= x convincingly.
Therefore, equation of normal is
 12    1 
y   e  1  1  x   e 2  1 
    
    
y=x

Thus, it will intersect the curve again when y = x.

e  cos t   1  esin  t   1 This part was not well-done
as students did not manage
 cos  t   sin  t  to solve for the correct t
tan (t )  1 and thus the coordinates.
3 7
t ,
4 4
3 7
Since P has t  , Q must have t  .
4 4
7  21 1

When t  , Q  e  1, e 2  1
4  
 
 9

7 Solution [9] Differentiation

(i) y 2  x 3  6 xy Generally well done.
dy dy
2y  3x 2  6 y  6 x
dx dx
dy dy
2 y  6 x  3x 2  6 y
dx dx
dy 3x 2  6 y
 (Shown).
dx 2 y  6 x
(ii) When tangents are parallel to the x  axis Most candidates
dy dy
0 understood that 0 .
dx dx
3x 2  6 y However they fail to
0 deduce 3x 2  6 y  0
2 y  6x
properly and some quoted
x2 2 y  6 x  0 instead. Many
y .
2 made careless slips before
x2 x2
Sub y   into y 2  x3  6 xy. deducing y   .
2 2
2
 x2   x2 
    x 3
 6 x   Some candidates deduced
 2  2
x2
x4 that y   but were
 x3  3x3 2
4 unable to continue from
x  8 x3  0
4
there.
x3 ( x  8)  0
x  0 or x  8. Many of those who
proceeded, divided x away
02
When x  0, y    0. from x 4  8 x3  0 to
2 deduce x  8 as the only
(8) 2 solution.
When x  8, y    32.
2
The coordinates are (0, 0) and (8, 32). Many did not consider the
The equations of the tangents are y  0 and y  32 . x2
condition y   . when
2
solving for y resulting in an
additional point (–8, 32).

(iii) Translate 1 unit in the positive y direction, Generally well done.

1 A few candidates translated
followed by a scaling parallel to the x-axis by a factor of . in the negative y direction
2
instead.
 10

8 Solution [9] Integration, Volume of revolution

(a) du Many candidates
u  ex   e x  u. deduced that
dx
When x  0  u  e0  1. du
 e x  u but
When x  ln 3  u  eln 3  3. dx
dx
wrote u
ln 3 3 du

 
e3 x u2 dx 1
dx  du instead of  .
0 e2 x  1 1 u2 1 du u
3


1
 1 du Some candidates did
1 u 12
not change limits
 u  tan 1 u 
3 after the substitution.
1

 3  tan 1 3  1  tan 1 1 Some candidates do

not know how to
 
 3 1   u2
3 4 integrate 2 ,
u 1
 usually attempting
 3  1.
12 integration by parts.

(bi) Most candidates


a

x sin xdx used integration by

0
parts.

  
a

   x cos x 0  1  cos x  dx
a
Some candidates
0
incorrectly wrote


a
 x cos x instead of
  a cos a   0  cos 0  cos xdx
  x cos x 0 or
a
0

 sin x 0  a cos a
a


a
 
 sin a  sin 0  a cos a  cos x dx  instead
 0
 sin a  a cos a.

a

of cos xdx .
0
 11

(bii) Volume generated Badly done. Most

2  candidates merely
    
 quoted their result
2
        x 2 dy
 2  2 0
from (bi) and did not
 consider


3 2 adding/deducting the
  y sin y dy volume with a
4 0
cylinder.
3    
    sin  cos 
4  2 2 2 Some candidates did
3 not deduce the
 . correct limits as
4 well.

Many candidates did

not include  for
the volume of
revolution and only



2
wrote y sin y dy .
0
 12

9 Curve Sketching [8]

(i) x 3 Badly done.
y 2
x  2x Many candidates did
yx  2 yx  x  3
2 not know how to start
the question at all.
yx 2  (2 y  1) x  3  0 --- (1)
For real values of x , Some candidates did
b 2  4ac  0 not quote that the
(2 y  1) 2  4( y )(3)  0 --- (2) discriminant must be
non-negative and
4 y 2  4 y  1  12 y  0
jumped to the answer.

4 y 2  16 y  1  0
4  15 4  15
y or y 
2 2
(ii) x 3 Badly done.
y 2
x  2x
x3 Many candidates did
y not explicitly state the
x  x  2
asymptote y=0 and
Asymptotes: x  0 , x  2 and y  0 did not state the x –
intercept (3,0).

Some took their

answers from (a) as the
horizontal asymptotes.

Almost all candidates

did not identify turning
point B.

Candidates need to
improve on their GC
skills to identify such
A(0.872984,3.9364917) , B(6.8729828, 0.0635183) crucial points.
A(0.873,3.94) , B(6.87, 0.0635) (3.s.f)
 13

(iii) 2 x 4  4 x 3  x  3  0 ---- (*) Many candidates

2 x2  x2  2 x   x  3 attempted to manipulate
to arrive at the equation
x3 x3
 2 x2  f ( x) but
x  x  2 x  x  2
some did not arrive at
Add the graph of y  2 x 2 . f ( x)  2 x 2 .

Some candidates plotted

There are no real roots for (*) y  2 x 4  4 x 3  x  3 and
concluded from there.
They did not consider
the fact that the quartic
curve might behave
differently for larger
domain of x and cannot
directly conclude that
they are no real roots
from the graph they
sketched.
 14

10 Solution [11] Function

(i) Very badly done. Many
y y = g(x) students seemed to not
have grasp the concept as
well as the presentation of
O 4 x
solution for the chapter on
Functions. Many students
(2, − 4) have presented their
Domain of g =  solution for Range of f as
Range of g =  4,    / 0 with a front slash
instead. Many were unable
to determine the range of
the composite dunction gf.

Domain of f =  \ 2
Range of f =  \ 0
Since Range of g =  4,     \ 2 = Domain of f, fg does
not exist.
Since Range of f =  \ 0   = Domain of g, gf exists.

Range of gf:
 \ 2 
f
  \ 0 
g
  4,  
Therfore the range of gf =  4,  

(ii) 1 Generally badly done.

f:x  , x2 Students are able to
x2
1 determine the equation of
Let y  the inverse function easily
x2
but many students did not
yx  2 y  1
include the domain of the
1 2 y 1 new function defined.
x  2
y y Students need to remember
 15

1 that they have to state the

 f 1 : x  2  , x  0 domain for every new
x
Note: Domain of f 1 = range of f =  , 0  function defined.

(iii) Domain of f 1f = Domain of f =  , 2  Generally badly done.

Many students have
neglected the domain of
the f(x) graph and hence
has gotten the inverse
graph wrongly.

(iv) The graph of y  f  x  must be reflected in the line y  x , Generally quite well done,
students are able to
in order to obtain the graph of y  f 1  x  .
determine that y  x is the
line to be reflected upon.
f  x   f 1  x 
f  x   x , from the sketch
1
 x  x2  2x 1  0
x2 Many students are able to
2  (4  4(1)) solve for the answer but
x  1 2 yet many fail to realize
2
they have to reject
 x  1  2 or x  1  2 (rejected, since x  2 )
x  1  2 because of the
restricted domain.
Ans: x  1  2
 16

11 Solution [11] Binomial Series, Small Angle Approximation,

Applications of Differentiation: Maximum and Minimum
(i) V Most candidates are
R
A able to work out the
1 2 relationship between
r h l , r and h , with the
 3 use of trigo ratio
 rl   r 2
involving the angle
hr  , and make

3l  3r appropriate
r substitutions.
h 
 l
r
3  3 
l
h sin 
 . (Shown)
3  3 si n 

Alternatively There are a number

h of candidates who
r  h tan  and l  failed to show
cos 
adequately how a
certain step
R simplifies to another,
and make
V
 unsupported claims.
A
1 2 Candidates need to
r h
 3 realize that they
 rl   r 2 need to show clearly
hr how one step leads
 to another in
3l  3r
“Prove” and “Show”
h 2 tan 
 questions.
h
3  3h tan 
cos 
sin 
h
 cos 
3  3sin 
cos 
h sin 
 . (Shown)
3  3 sin 
 17

(ii) For sufficiently small  , we have sin    .

h sin  h   Many candidates are
   uncertain how to
3  3 sin  3  1   
proceed after
h
  1   
1
attaining the
3 expression
h
  1  (1)  ...
h  
 
3 3  1 
h
  1   
3
h h
    2.
3 3

(iii) h 2h
f '   
  0 Many candidates
3 3
2h h failed to proceed to
 carry out the 1st
3 3 derivative test / 2nd
1 derivative test to
 .
2 substantiate the
1
Method 1: claim that  
2
2h
Now, f ''      0, as h  0. gives the maximum
3 value of f   .
1 1
By second derivative test, when   , f   attains
2 2 Some candidates
maximum value. failed to read the
question carefully
Method 2: and attempt to
To check if f   is maximum: differentiate
expression of R
 0.495 0.5 0.505
instead of f.
f '   h 0 h
0  0
300 300
as h  0.
1 1
By first derivative test, when   , f   attains
2 2
maximum value.
 18

12 Solution [12] Differential Equation.

(a) dN k A number candidates do
 not understand the phrase
dt  t  12
“inversely proportional”.
dN They set up the following
When t  0,  0.5 ,
dt incorrect relationship:
k dN
 k  t  1
2
0.5 
12 dt
1
k Some candidates set up the
2
dN 1 relationship
 dN 1
dt 2  t  12  in stead of
dt k  t  12

 
1
1 dN  dt dN k
2  t  1
2
 .
dt  t  12
1
N  C In this case, they are not
2  t  1 penalized if they could
When t  0, N  1, prove the relationship
1 eventually.
1  C
2
3
C
2
Therefore,
3 1
N  (Shown)
2 2  t  1
(bi) dy 1 dN
y  ln N  
dt N dt Many candidates failed to
dN 1 show adequate working.
 N  4  ln  N  
dt 8
1 dN 1
  4  ln  N  
N dt 8
dy 1
 4  y
dt 8
 19

Alternatively

dN 1
 N  4  ln  N   ---- (1)
dt 8

y  ln N
 N  ey    (2)
dN dy
  ey    (3)
dt dt

Sub (2) & (3) into (1):

ey
dy 1 y
 e 4  ln  e y 
dt 8
 
dy 1
  4  y  (Shown)
dt 8

(bii) dy 1 Some candidates are

 4  y unable to integrate
dt 8
1 dy 1 correctly
 1
4  y dt 8
1 1
 4 y
dy   ln 4  y  C

 4 y
dy 
8
dt
 Missing out on the
integration constant C
1 would result in the loss of
 ln 4  y  t  C
8 the constant  e C
t
 C 
t subsequently.
4  y  e 8
 Ae 8
where A  e C

t Some candidates removed
4  ln N  Ae 8
the absolute sign in
1
When t  0, N  1, ln 4  y   t  C ,
8
4  ln1  A without proper
A4 consideration leading to
t

t  C
ln N  4e  4 8 4  y  e 8

t

4e 8 4
N e

(biii) As
t 1
  t

 e    e 4  54.6 (3s.f.) .
4e 8 4 4 0  4
t  , e  0, e 8

As t becomes very large the number of view

approaches 54.6 million (or e 4 million).