Centre Number

NSW Education Standards Authority Student Number

2024 HIGHER SCHOOL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION

Mathematics Extension 2
General • Reading time – 10 minutes
Instructions • Working time – 3 hours
• Write using black pen
• Calculators approved by NESA may be used
• A reference sheet is provided at the back of this paper
• For questions in Section II, show relevant mathematical reasoning
and/or calculations
• Write your Centre Number and Student Number at the top of
this page

Total marks: Section I – 10 marks (pages 2–5)

100 • Attempt Questions 1–10
• Allow about 15 minutes for this section

Section II – 90 marks (pages 6–14)

• Attempt Questions 11–16
• Allow about 2 hours and 45 minutes for this section

2500
Section I

10 marks
Attempt Questions 1–10
Allow about 15 minutes for this section

Use the multiple-choice answer sheet for Questions 1–10.

1 Which of the following vectors is perpendicular to 3 ḭ + 2 j̰ - 5 k̰ ?

A. - ḭ - j̰ + k̰
B. ḭ + j̰ - k̰
C. -2 ḭ + 3 j̰ + k̰
D. 3 ḭ - 2 j̰ + k̰

2 Consider the following statement written in the formal language of proof

p
6 q ! d , p n 7 f ! d p, n; sin q = -cos f.
3p
2 2

Which of the following best represents this statement?

A. There exists a q in the second quadrant such that for all f in the third quadrant
sin q = -cos f.
B. There exists a f in the third quadrant such that for all q in the second quadrant
sin q = -cos f.
C. For all q in the second quadrant there exists a f in the third quadrant such that
sin q = -cos f.
D. For all f in the third quadrant there exists a q in the second quadrant such that
sin q = -cos f.

–2–
3 Consider the statement:

‘If a polygon is a square, then it is a rectangle.’

Which of the following is the converse of the statement above?

A. If a polygon is a rectangle, then it is a square.

B. If a polygon is a rectangle, then it is not a square.
C. If a polygon is not a rectangle, then it is not a square.
D. If a polygon is not a square, then it is not a rectangle.

4 A monic polynomial, f ^xh, of degree 3 with real coefficients has 3 and 2 + i as two of
its roots.

Which of the following could be f ^xh?

A. f ^xh = x3 - 7x2 - 17x + 15

B. f ^xh = x3 - 7x2 + 17x - 15
C. f ^xh = x3 + 7x2 - 17x + 15
D. f ^xh = x3 + 7x2 + 17x - 15

5 A particle is moving in simple harmonic motion with period 10 seconds and an amplitude
of 8 m. The particle starts at the central point of motion and is initially moving to the left
with a speed of V m s–1, where V > 0.

What will be the position and velocity of the particle after 7.5 seconds?

A. At the central point of motion with a velocity of V m s–1

B. At the central point of motion with a velocity of -V m s–1
C. 8 m to the left of the central point of motion with a velocity of 0 m s–1
D. 8 m to the right of the central point of motion with a velocity of 0 m s–1

–3–
6 A light string passes over a smooth pulley. Attached to the ends of the string are masses
of 9 kg and 5 kg, as shown.

5 kg

9 kg

The acceleration due to gravity is g m s–2.

What is the acceleration of the 9 kg mass?

2
A. g
7
B. 1g
7
C. g
2
D. 4g

7 It is given that ; z - 1 + i ; = 2.

What is the maximum possible value of ; z ; ?

A. 2

B. 10

C. 2+ 2

D. 2- 2

–4–
 -
8 Which of the following is equal to e z , where z = x + iy with x and y real numbers?

A. ez
B. e–z
C. e2xez
D. e–2xez

9 Consider the solutions of the equation z4 = -9.

What is the product of all of the solutions that have a positive principal argument?

A. 3
B. -3
C. 3i
D. -3i

10 ̰ b̰ and c,
Three unit vectors a, ̰ b̰ 9 c̰ and
̰ in 3 dimensions, are to be chosen so that a̰ 9 b,
the angle q between a̰ and a̰ + b̰ + c̰ is as small as possible.

What is the value of cos q ?

A. 0
1
B.
3
1
C.
2
2
D.
5

–5–
Section II

90 marks
Attempt Questions 11–16
Allow about 2 hours and 45 minutes for this section

Answer each question in the appropriate writing booklet. Extra writing booklets are available.

For questions in Section II, your responses should include relevant mathematical reasoning
and/or calculations.

Question 11 (16 marks) Use the Question 11 Writing Booklet

(a) Find xe x dx. 2

(b) Let z = 2 + 3i and w = 1 - 5i.

(i) -
Find z + w. 1

(ii) Find z 2. 1

1 4
(c) Find the angle between the two vectors ṵ = 2 and v̰ = -4 , giving your 2
-2 7
answer in radians, correct to 1 decimal place.

p
2 1
(d) Evaluate dq. 3
0 sin q + 1

(e) (i) Write the number 3 + i in modulus-argument form. 2

Hence, or otherwise, write ` 3 + i j in exact Cartesian form.

7
(ii) 2

p
(f) Sketch the region defined by ; z ; < 3 and 0 # arg ^z - i h # . 3
2

–6–
Question 12 (14 marks) Use the Question 12 Writing Booklet

1 2
(a) The vector a̰ is 2 and the vector b̰ is 0 .
3 -4

a̰ $ b̰
(i) Find b̰ . 1
b̰ $ b̰

a̰ $ b̰
(ii) Show that a̰ - b̰ is perpendicular to b̰ . 2
b̰ $ b̰

(b) Use partial fractions to find 3

3x 2 + 2x + 1
dx.
_x - 1i_x 2 + 1i

(c) Consider the equation ; z ; = z + 8 + 12i , where z = a + bi is a complex number

and a, b are real numbers.

(i) Explain why b = -12. 1

(ii) Hence, or otherwise, find z. 2

(d) Explain why there is no integer n such that ^n + 1h41 - 79n40 = 2. 2

(e) The line  passes through the points A ^3, 5, -4h and B ^7, 0, 2h.

(i) Find a vector equation of the line . 1

(ii) Determine, giving reasons, whether the point C ^10, 5, -2h lies on the 2
line .

–7–
Question 13 (16 marks) Use the Question 13 Writing Booklet

(a) ̰ The line  has vector equation

The point A has position vector 8 ḭ - 6 j̰ + 5 k.

x ḭ + y j̰ + z k̰ = t _ ḭ + j̰ + 2 ki.
̰

The point B lies on  and has position vector p ḭ + p j̰ + 2 p k.

̰
2
(i) Show that ; AB ; = 6 p2 - 24 p + 125 . 1

(ii) Hence, or otherwise, determine the shortest distance between the point A 2
and the line .

(b) A particle is moving in simple harmonic motion, described by xp = -4^x + 1h. 3

When the particle passes through the origin, the speed of the particle is 4 m s–1.

What distance does the particle travel during a full period of its motion?

(c) A particle of unit mass moves horizontally in a straight line. It experiences a

resistive force proportional to v 2, where v m s–1 is the speed of the particle, so
that the acceleration is given by -k v 2.

Initially the particle is at the origin and has a velocity of 40 m s–1 to the right.
After the particle has moved 15 m to the right, its velocity is 10 m s–1 (to the
right).

(i) Show that v = 40e– k x. 3

ln 4
(ii) Show that k = . 1
15

(iii) At what time will the particle’s velocity be 30 m s–1 to the right? 3

(d) It is known that for all positive real numbers x, y 3

x + y $ 2 xy . (Do NOT prove this.)

1 1 1
Show that if a, b, c are positive real numbers with + + = 1 then
a b c
a bc + b ac + c ab # abc.

–8–
Question 14 (15 marks) Use the Question 14 Writing Booklet

(a) Prove that if a is any odd integer, then a2 - 1 is divisible by 8. 2

2n
(b) Use mathematical induction to prove that Cn < 22n – 2, for all integers n $ 5. 3

p
For the complex numbers z and w, it is known that arg d n = - .
z
(c) 2
w 2

Find ; zz -+ ww ;.

(d) The following argument attempts to prove that 0 = 1. 2

1
We evaluate dx using the method of integration by parts.
x

1 1
dx = # 1dx
x x

1 1
= # x - - 2 x dx
x x
1
= 1+ dx
x

So we have
1 1
dx = 1 + dx
x x

1
We may now subtract dx from both sides to show that 0 = 1.
x

Explain what is wrong with this argument.

Question 14 continues on page 10

–9–
Question 14 (continued)

(e) The diagram shows triangle OQA.

The point P lies on OA so that OP : OA = 3 : 5.

The point B lies on OQ so that OB : OQ = 1 : 3.

The point R is the intersection of AB and PQ.

The point T is chosen on AQ so that O, R and T are collinear.

A
T
NOT TO
P SCALE
R

O Q
B

Let a̰ = OA, b̰ = OB and PR = k PQ where k is a real number.

^1 - kh a̰ + 3k b.
3
(i) Show that OR = ̰ 2
5

Writing AR = h AB, where h is a real number, it can be shown that

OR = ^1 - hh a̰ + h b.
̰ (Do NOT prove this.)

1
(ii) Show that k = . 2
6

(iii) ̰
Find OT in terms of a̰ and b. 2

End of Question 14

– 10 –
Question 15 (15 marks) Use the Question 15 Writing Booklet

(a) Consider the three vectors a̰ = OA, b̰ = OB and c̰ = OC, where O is the origin
and the points A, B and C are all different from each other and the origin.

_ a̰ + bi
1
The point M is the point such that ̰ = OM.
2

(i) Show that M lies on the line passing through A and B. 1

_ a̰ + b̰ + c̰ i = OG.
1
(ii) The point G is the point such that 2
3
Show that G lies on the line passing through M and C, and lies between
M and C.

(iii) The complex numbers x, w and z are all different and all have modulus 1. 2

Using part (ii), or otherwise, show that ^x + w + zh is never a cube root

1
3
of xwz.

a
n+1 1
(b) Let In = x 2 ^a - xh2 dx, where n $ 0. 3
0

Show that ^2n + 4hIn = a^2n + 1hIn –1, for n > 0.

Question 15 continues on page 12

– 11 –
Question 15 (continued)

(c) A bar magnet is held vertically. An object that is repelled by the magnet is to be
dropped from directly above the magnet and will maintain a vertical trajectory.
Let x be the distance of the object above the magnet.

27g
x3

g
x

The object is subject to acceleration due to gravity, g, and an acceleration due

27g
to the magnet 3 , so that the total acceleration of the object is given by
x
27g
a = 3 - g.
x

The object is released from rest at x = 6.

51 27
(i) Show that v 2 = g e - 2x - 2 o. 2
4 x
(ii) Find where the object next comes to rest, giving your answer correct to 2
1 decimal place.

(d) Using a suitable substitution, find 3

2x 2
dx .
2x - x 2

End of Question 15

– 12 –
Question 16 (14 marks) Use the Question 16 Writing Booklet

(a) Consider the function y = cos ^kxh, where k > 0. The value of k has been chosen 4
so that a circle can be drawn, centred at the origin, which has exactly two points
of intersection with the graph of the function and so that the circle is never
above the graph of the function. The point P ^a, bh is the point of intersection in
the first quadrant, so a > 0 and b > 0, as shown in the diagram.

P^a, bh

O x

y = cos^kxh

The vector joining the origin to the point P ^a, bh is perpendicular to the tangent
to the graph of the function at that point. (Do NOT prove this.)

Show that k > 1.

2 pi
(b) The number w = e 3 is a complex cube root of unity. The number g is a
cube root of w.

(i) Show that g + g- is a real root of z3 - 3z + 1 = 0. 3

2p 4p 8p
(ii) By using part (i) to find the exact value of cos cos cos , 3
9 9 9
2np 2n + 1p 2n + 2p
deduce the value(s) of cos cos cos for all integers
9 9 9
n $ 1. Justify your answer.

Question 16 continues on page 14

– 13 –
Question 16 (continued)

(c) Two particles, A and B, each have mass 1 kg and are in a medium that exerts 4
a resistance to motion equal to kv, where k > 0 and v is the velocity of any
particle. Both particles maintain vertical trajectories.

The acceleration due to gravity is g m s–2, where g > 0.

The two particles are simultaneously projected towards each other with the
g
same speed, v0 m s–1, where 0 < v0 < .
k
2v
The particle A is initially d metres directly above particle B, where d < 0 .
k
Find the time taken for the particles to meet.

End of paper

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© 2024 NSW Education Standards Authority
 NSW Education Standards Authority

2024 HIGHER SCHOOL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION

Mathematics Advanced
Mathematics Extension 1
Mathematics Extension 2

REFERENCE SHEET

2491 –1–
–2–
–3–
–4– © 2024 NSW Education Standards Authority