Pure Paper 3 questions- likely topics to appear

Don’t feel the need to do every question, unless you want to.
You can pick and choose a little based on which topics you want to spend more time on

Trigonometry
o Harmonic form (e.g. 𝑹 𝐬𝐢𝐧(𝜽 + 𝜶)

Q1.
(a) (i) Express 3 cos x + 2 sin x in the form R cos(x − α), where R > 0 and 0° < α < 90°,
giving your value of α to the nearest 0.1°.
(3)

(ii) Hence find the minimum value of 3 cos x + 2 sin x and the value of x in the interval
0° < x < 360° where the minimum occurs. Give your value of x to the nearest 0.1°.
(3)

(b) (i) Show that cot x − sin 2x = cot x cos 2x for 0° < x < 180°.
(3)

(ii) Hence, or otherwise, solve the equation

cot x − sin 2x = 0

in the interval 0° < x < 180°. (3) (Total 12 marks)

Q2.
A curve has equation

y = a sin x + b cos x

where a and b are constants.

The maximum value of y is 4 and the curve passes through

the point as shown in the diagram.

Find the exact values of a and b. (Total 6 marks)

Page 1 of 20
Q3.
(a) Determine a sequence of transformations which maps the graph of y = cosθ onto the
graph of y = 3cosθ + 3sinθ

Fully justify your answer.

(6)

(b) Hence or otherwise find the least value and greatest value of

4 + (3cosθ + 3sinθ)2

Fully justify your answer.

(3)
(Total 9 marks)

Q4.
(a) Express sin x − 3 cos x in the form R sin(x − α), where R > 0 and
0° < α < 90°, giving your value of α to the nearest 0.1°.
(3)

(b) Hence find the values of x in the interval 0° < x < 360° for which

sin x − 3 cos x + 2 = 0

giving your values of x to the nearest degree.

(4)
(Total 7 marks)

Q5.

(a) Express sin x – 3 cos x in the form R sin(x – α), where R > 0 and 0 < a < .
Give your value of α in radians to two decimal places.
(3)

(b) Hence:

(i) write down the minimum value of sin x – 3 cos x;

(1)

(ii) find the value of x in the interval 0 < x < 2π at which this minimum value occurs,
giving your value of x in radians to two decimal places.
(2)
(Total 6 marks)

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Trigonometry
o Radians (arc length and sector area, area of triangles)

Q6.
A gardener is creating flowerbeds in the shape of sectors of circles.

The gardener uses an edging strip around the perimeter of each of the flowerbeds.

The cost of the edging strip is £1.80 per metre and can be purchased for any length.

One of the flowerbeds has a radius of 5 metres and an angle at the centre of 0.7 radians as
shown in the diagram below.

(a) (i) Find the area of this flowerbed.

(2)

(ii) Find the cost of the edging strip required for this flowerbed.
(3)

(b) A flowerbed is to be made with an area of 20 m2

(i) Show that the cost, £C, of the edging strip required for this flowerbed is given by

where r is the radius measured in metres.

(3)

(ii) Hence, show that the minimum cost of the edging strip for this flowerbed occurs
when r ≈ 4.5

Fully justify your answer.

(5)
(Total 13 marks)

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Q7.
A new design for a company logo is to be made from two sectors of a circle, ORP and OQS,
and a rhombus OSTR, as shown in the diagram below.

The points P, O and Q lie on a straight line and the angle ROS is θ radians.

A large copy of the logo, with PQ = 5 metres, is to be put on a wall.

(a) Show that the area of the logo, A square metres, is given by

(4)

(b) (i) Show that the maximum value of A occurs when

Fully justify your answer.

(6)

(ii) Find the exact maximum value of A

(2)

(c) Without further calculation, state how your answers to parts (b)(i) and (b)(ii) would change
if PQ were increased to 10 metres.
(2)
(Total 14 marks)

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Q8.
A wooden frame is to be made to support some garden decking. The frame is to be in the
shape of a sector of a circle. The sector OAB is shown in the diagram, with a wooden plank AC
added to the frame for strength. OA makes an angle of θ with OB.

(a) Show that the exact value of sinθ is

(3)

(b) Write down the value of θ in radians to 3 significant figures.

(1)

(c) Find the area of the garden that will be covered by the decking.
(2)
(Total 6 marks)

Q9.
A circle has equation x2 + y2 − 6x − 8y = 264

AB is a chord of the circle.

The angle at the centre of the circle, subtended by AB, is 0.9 radians, as shown in the diagram
below.

Find the area of the minor segment shaded on the diagram.

Give your answer to three significant figures.

(Total 5 marks)

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Parametric Equations

Q10.
A curve is defined by the parametric equations

x = 2 cos θ, y = 3 sin 2θ
(a) (i) Show that

= a sin θ + b cosec θ

where a and b are integers.

(4)

(ii) Find the gradient of the normal to the curve at the point where θ = .
(2)

(b) Show that the cartesian equation of the curve can be expressed as

y2 = px2(4 − x2)

where p is a rational number.

(3) (Total 9 marks)

Q11.
A curve is defined by the parametric equations

x = 8t 2 − t, y=

(a) Show that the cartesian equation of the curve can be written as xy2 + 3y = k, stating the
value of the integer k.
(2)

(b) (i) Find an equation of the tangent to the curve at the point P, where t = .
(7)

(ii) Verify that the tangent at P intersects the curve when x = .

(2) (Total 11 marks)

Q12.
A curve is defined by the parametric equations

x = t3 + 2 , y = t2 − 1

(a) Find the gradient of the curve at the point where t = −2 (4)

(b) Find a Cartesian equation of the curve. (2) (Total 6 marks)

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Q13.
A curve is defined by the parametric equations

x = cos θ and y = sin θ where 0 ≤ θ ≤ 2π

Which of the options shown below is a Cartesian equation for this curve?

Circle your answer.

= tan θ x2 + y2 = 1 x2 – y2 = 1 x2y2 = 1
(Total 1 mark)

Q14.
A curve is defined by the parametric equations

x = 4 × 2−t + 3

y = 3 × 2t − 5

(a) Show that × 22t

(3)

(b) Find the Cartesian equation of the curve in the form xy + ax + by = c, where a, b and c
are integers.
(3)
(Total 6 marks)

Q15.
A curve is defined by the parametric equations x = 8e−2t − 4, y = 2e2t + 4.

(a) Find in terms of t.

(3)

(b) The point P, where t = ln 2, lies on the curve.

(i) Find the gradient of the curve at P.

(1)

(ii) Find the coordinates of P.

(2)

(iii) The normal at P crosses the x-axis at the point Q. Find the coordinates of Q.
(3)

(c) Find the Cartesian equation of the curve in the form xy + 4y − 4x = k, where k is an
integer.
(3)
(Total 12 marks)

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Q16.

Page 8 of 20
Q17.

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Integration
o Integration by parts

Q18.
can be written in the form pln2 + q, where p and q are rational numbers.

Find p and q.
(Total 5 marks)

Q19.
Show that

(Total 6 marks)

Q20.

(a) Find .
(1)

(b) Use integration by parts to find .

(3)

(Total 4 marks)

Q21.

(a) (i) By writing ln x as (ln x) × 1, use integration by parts to find ln x dx.

(4)

(ii) Find (ln x)2 dx.

(4)
(Total 8 marks)

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Circles
Q22.
The line L1 has equation x + 7y – 41 = 0

L1 is a tangent to the circle C at the point P(6, 5)

The line L2 has equation y = x + 3

L2 is a tangent to the circle C at the point Q(0, 3)

The lines L1 and L2 and the circle C are shown in the diagram below.

(a) Show that the equation of the radius of the circle through P is y = 7x – 37
(3)

(b) Find the equation of C

(4)
(Total 7 marks)

Q23.
Three points A, B and C have coordinates A (8, 17), B (15, 10) and C (−2, −7)

(a) Show that angle ABC is a right angle.

(3)

(b) A, B and C lie on a circle.

(i) Explain why AC is a diameter of the circle.

(1)

(ii) Determine whether the point D (−8, −2) lies inside the circle, on the circle or outside
the circle.

Fully justify your answer.

(4)
(Total 8 marks)

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Q24.
The points P and Q have coordinates (–6, 15) and (12, 19) respectively.

(a) (i) Find the coordinates of the midpoint of PQ

(1)

(ii) Find the equation of the perpendicular bisector of PQ

Give your answer in the form ax + by = c where a, b and c are integers.

(4)

(b) (i) A circle passes through the points P and Q

The centre of the circle lies on the line with equation 2x – 5y = –30

Find the equation of the circle. (3)

(ii) The circle intersects the coordinate axes at n points.

State the value of n

(1) (Total 9 marks)

Q25.
A circle has equation

x2 + y2 + 10x − 4y 71 = 0
(a) Find the centre of the circle.
(2)

(b) Hence, find the equation of the tangent to the circle at the point (1, 10), giving your answer
in the form ax + by + c = 0 where a, b and c are integers.
(4) (Total 6 marks)

Q26.
A circle C has centre (0, 10) and radius

A line L has equation y = mx

(a) (i) Show that the x-coordinate of any point of intersection of L and C satisfies the
equation

(1 + m2)x2 – 20mx + 80 = 0
(3)

(ii) Find the values of m for which the equation in part (a)(i) has equal roots.
(3)

(b) Two lines are drawn from the origin which are tangents to C.

Find the coordinates of the points of contact between the tangents and C.
(4) (Total 10 marks)

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Q27.
AB is a diameter of a circle where A is (1, 4) and B is (7, –2)

(a) Find the coordinates of the midpoint of AB.

(1)

(b) Show that the equation of the circle may be written as

x2 + y2 – 8x – 2y = 1
(4)

(c) The circle has centre C and crosses the x-axis at points D and E.

Find the exact area of triangle DEC.

(4) (Total 9 marks)

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Differentiation
o Optimisation (the Differentiation questions involving shapes)

Q28.
A piece of wire of length 66 cm is bent to form the five sides of a pentagon.

The pentagon consists of three sides of a rectangle and two sides of an equilateral triangle.

The sides of the rectangle measure x cm and y cm and the sides of the triangle measure x cm,
as shown in the diagram below.

(a) (i) You are given that

Explain why the area of the triangle is

(1)

(ii) Show that the area enclosed by the wire, A cm2, can be expressed by the formula

(3)

(b) Use calculus to find the value of x for which the wire encloses the maximum area.

Give your answer in the form p + q , where p and q are integers.

Fully justify your answer.

(7)
(Total 11 marks)

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Q29.
A square sheet of metal has edges 30 cm long.

Four squares each with edge x cm, where x < 15, are removed from the corners of the sheet.

The four rectangular sections are bent upwards to form an open-topped box, as shown in the
diagrams.

(a) Show that the capacity, C cm3, of the box is given by

C = 900x – 120x2 + 4x3

(2)

(b) Find the maximum capacity of the box.

Fully justify your answer.

(7) (Total 9 marks)

Q30.
A cylinder is to be cut out of the circular face of a solid hemisphere.

The cylinder and the hemisphere have the same axis of symmetry.

The cylinder has height h and the hemisphere has a radius of R.

(a) Show that the volume, V, of the cylinder is given by

V = πR2h − πh3
(3)

(b) Find the maximum volume of the cylinder in terms of R.

Fully justify your answer. (7) (Total 10 marks)

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Q31.
The diagram shows a block of wood in the shape of a prism with triangular cross-section. The
end faces are right-angled triangles with sides of lengths 3x cm, 4x cm and 5x cm, and the
length of the prism is y cm, as shown in the diagram.

The total surface area of the five faces is 144 cm2.

(a) (i) Show that xy + x2 = 12.

(3)

(ii) Hence show that the volume of the block, V cm3, is given by

V = 72x – 6x3
(2)

(b) (i) Find .

(2)

(ii) Show that V has a stationary value when x = 2.

(2)

(c) Find and hence determine whether V has a maximum value or a minimum
value when x = 2.
(2)
(Total 11 marks)

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Q32.
The diagram shows a solid cuboid with sides of lengths x cm, 3x cm and y cm.

The total surface area of the cuboid is 32 cm2.

(a) (i) Show that 3x2 + 4xy = 16.

(2)

(ii) Hence show that the volume, V cm3, of the cuboid is given by

V = 12x –
(2)

(b) Find .
(2)

(c) (i) Verify that a stationary value of V occurs when x = .

(2)

(ii) Find and hence determine whether V has a maximum value or a minimum

value when x = .
(2)
(Total 10 marks)

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Differentiation
o First Principles

Q33.
It is given that y = 3x – 5x2

Use differentiation from first principles to find an expression for

(Total 4 marks)

Q34.
A curve has equation y = x3 − 48x

The point A on the curve has x coordinate −4

The point B on the curve has x coordinate −4 + h

(a) Show that the gradient of the line AB is h2 − 12h (4)

(b) Explain how the result of part (a) can be used to show that A is a stationary point on the
curve.
(2) (Total 6 marks)

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Quadratics

Q35.
The quadratic equation 3x2 + 4x + (2k − 1) = 0 has real and distinct roots.

Find the possible values of the constant k

Fully justify your answer. (Total 4 marks)

Q36.
(a) Using y = 22x as a substitution, show that

16x − 2(2x+3) − 9 = 0

can be written as

y2 − 8y − 9 = 0 (2)

(b) Hence, show that the equation

16x − 2(2x+3) − 9 = 0

has x = log2 3 as its only solution.

Fully justify your answer.

(4) (Total 6 marks)

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Proof (LVI only)

Q37. Prove that 23 is a prime number.

(Total 2 marks)

Q38. Prove that, for integer values of n such that 0 ≤ n < 4

2n+2 > 3n

(Total 2 marks)

Q39.
(a) Given that n is an even number, prove that 9n2 + 6n has a factor of 12
(3)

(b) Determine if 9n2 + 6n has a factor of 12 for any integer n .

(1) (Total 4 marks)

Page 20 of 20