Edexcel A level Mathematics Parametric equations

Topic assessment

1. Find the turning points of the curve with parametric equations 3 x t y t t = = − 3 , 12[4]

2
2. A curve is defined by the xtyt==2,4.
parametric equations
(a) By eliminating the parameter, find the cartesian equation of the curve. [3]
(b) Find, in the form the curve at the point A
ax by c + + = 0, the equation of the tangent to
with parameter t = 2. [4] 2

3. A line segment is defined by the x t y t = = cos 2 , sin

parametric equations d

(a) Find x. [3] d

y
(b) Find the cartesian equation of the line segment, stating its domain. [4]
equations
x = + = + 1 2cos , 3 2sin θ y θ .
4. A circle is defined by the parametric
(a) Sketch the circle. [2] d
(b) Find at the point with parameter θ . [3]
y x
d
θcan be written as
(c) Show that the equation of the tangent at
the point with parameter
( 3)sin ( 1)cos 2 y x − + − = θ θ [3]
θ = . [2] 3
(d) Find the coordinates of the point where
π
(e) Find, in the form ax by c + + = 0, the equation ofπ
the normal at the point where θ = . 3
[4]

5. A ball is thrown from a fixed point O on a windy day. At time t seconds after it is thrown,
the vertical displacement displacement
ymetres and the horizontal xmetres of the ball
from O can be modelled by the parametric ball after
equations: 2 2 x t t y t t t = − = − ≤ ≤ 5 , 10
5,02
(a) Use this model to find the position of the 0.8 s [2]
(b) Use this model to find the height of the ball when it has travelled a horizontal distance
2.25 m [2] of
(c) Use this model to find the horizontal displacement of the ball at its maximum height.
[3]
 (d) Explain the significance of the domain 0 2 ≤ ≤t[1]
of the parametric equations,
(e) Later in the day, the wind strength increases. It is still blowing from the same direction
and the ball is still thrown with the same velocity. Explain how you could refine the model
to reflect the change in conditions. [1]

1 of 7 03/08/21 © MEI integralmaths.org

Edexcel A level Maths Parametric Assessment solutions

6. The diagram below shows the curve given by the parametric equations 2
xtytt==−+2,32.
y

x
BC

(a) Find the coordinates of the points A, B and C. [3] (b) Find the shaded area. [6]

Total 50 marks
 2 of 7 03/08/21 © MEI integralmaths.org

Edexcel A level Maths Parametric Assessment solutions

New solutions to topic assessment

d

xt x
1. 3
=⇒=3

d t
32
=−⇒=− d
y
y t t t 12 12 3
2
d t
 yytt
d d / d 12 3 2 t

−
===−
d d / d 34 d 0 0

xxt d t
2 ⇒=±
At
x ⇒−=4
turning y
points: =
t 2
When t = 2: x = 6 and y = 16 16).
⇒there is a turning point at (6,
When t = -2: x = -6 and y = -16 ⇒there is a turning point at (-6, -16). [4]
x t 2①

2. (a)
2
=
4
=⇒= y
y t t② 4
2
⎛⎞
Insert y 2
② into x =⎜⎟
①: ⎝⎠ y
⇒= 2

x
4 8
2

[3] 2
=⇒= d
(b) x
⇒= xtt
yx 24
8
d
yt
d
y
t
=⇒=44

d t
dd/d41
yyt
===dd/d4
xxtttd1
When t = 2: y
 =
x 2 2 8and y = × = 4 2
When t = 2:
d2 8 = × =2
x
So the tangent has gradient 12and passes through (8, 8)
1

Equation of tangent is − = −
yx
8 ( 8)
2

2 16 8
yx
−=−
28
yx
=+
x y − + = 2 8 0[4]

3 of 7 03/08/21 © MEI integralmaths.org

Edexcel A level Maths Parametric Assessment solutions

x
xtt=⇒=−
3. (a)
d cos2 2sin2
d t
2
=⇒=×= d
y
y t t t t sin 2sin cos sin2
d t
d d / d sin2 1
yytt
===−
[3]
x x t t d d / d 2sin2 2
−

x t = cos2
(b)
2
y t sin
=
Method 1 (Using the trig identity)
cos2 1 2sin t t
≡−
2
 xy
=−
12
210yx

+−=
Method 2 (Using a point on the line segment)
e.g. = 0 1, 0 1
txy=⇒=
yx=−−

2 ( 1)
210yx+−=
Domain is − ≤ ≤ 1 1 x[4]

4. (a)
x y = + = + 1 2cos , 3 2sin θ θ
y

x
(1, 3)

[2]
d
x
=+⇒=−
(b) 1 2cos 2sin x
θθ
d θ
d
=+⇒=
y 3 2sin 2cos
y
θθ
d θ
dd/d2 cos θ =−=−
ytt cos
θ cot ()
⇒==
dd/dxxt θ
− sin sin θ
2 θ

4 of 7 03/08/21 © MEI integralmaths.org

Edexcel A level Maths Parametric Assessment solutions

[3]
(c) Using with − = − =+
11 yymxx() x 1 2cos θ
1
θ
=+
1
y 3 2sin
cos θ
m =−

−
Equation of tangent is yx
θ −+=−+
sin
θ
cos θθ
(3 2sin ) ( (1 2cos ))
sin θ
⇒ − − = − − − sin 3sin 2sin cos ( 1 2cos ) θ θ

θθθyx
2
⇒ − − = − + ( 3)sin 2sin (1 )cos 2cos y x

θθθθ
22
⇒ − + − = + ( 3)sin ( 1)cos 2sin 2cos y x

θθθθ
⇒ − + − = ( 3)sin ( 1)cos 2 y 22

x
[3]
θθ
π ⎛⎞π 1
(d) When = 1 2cos 1 2
=+=+× 32
θ= 2x
⎜⎟ ⎛⎞
: ⎝⎠
3
π 3
=+⎜⎟
=+=+× ⎝⎠
3 2sin 3 2 3 3 y
32
So the coordinates are
(2,3 3) + . [2]
(e) Gradient of tangent 12 mm 1) . of normal
= −cotθ, so gradient = tanθ
(using
=−
 π
π
θ=
Gradient of .
tan 3 = 3
normal at
is
3
11 y y m x x ( )with =
Using x y =+
−=− 1 1
33
2
= 3
m
xy
Equation of normal is
−+=− −+−=
(3 3) 3( 2)
yx
yx
−−−+=
333230 [4]
3330

2
5. (a) At
t = 0.8 :
xy = × − × = 10
=×−= 0.8 5 0.8 4.8
5 0.8 0.8
3.36 2
The ball is at the point with coordinates
(3.36,4.8)relative to O, a distance of

5 of 7 03/08/21 © MEI integralmaths.org

Edexcel A level Maths Parametric Assessment solutions

3.36 m horizontally and 4.8 m vertically from O. [2]

2
5 2.25
tt
−=
(b)
tt
==
0.5, 4.5
Since ≤=tt
0 2, 0.5 ≤
= × − × =2
 y 10 0.5 5 0.5 3.75
Height of the ball is 3.75 m. [2]

2
(c)
=−−( )
yt551
Maximum height is when t = 1
At t = 1, − =2
x5114=×

Horizontal displacement at maximum height is 4 m [3]

(d) t = 0 and t = 2 are the points at which the vertical displacement is zero, when the
ball is thrown and when the ball returns to the ground. The model is only valid
between these times. [1]
tin the equation make it less
(e) The coefficient of x t t 5would be changed to
2
=− 2

(of greater magnitude) than −1. [1]

x=0⇒=20
t
6. (a) When graph cuts ⇒ =
y-axis,
t
0
When t = 0, y = 2
So A is (0, 2).

When graph cuts x-axis,

2
y=0 ( 1)( 2) 0
⇒−+=tt
tt
320 ⇒==
When t = 1, tt
⇒−−= 1 or 2
x==212

d
When t = 2, x = 2 2 So B is (2, 0) and x
2 2, 0). [3]
C is (

111− −

2221 xttt=⇒=×=
(b)
222
d t
 6 of 7 03/08/21 © MEI integralmaths.org

Edexcel A level Maths Parametric Assessment solutions

t
= x
1 yt
d
=
∫
=
Area 0 d d
t 1 t −
1

=−+
( 3 2) d t t t t

∫
2
2

0
1

311−

=−+
( 3 2 )d t t t t

∫
0 1
222 531

⎤ +× ⎥
⎡ =−× ⎢ ⎣⎦
ttt
322
22
222
53
0 =−+−
= 240
2
5
2.4
[6]
7 of 7 03/08/21 © MEI integralmaths.org