AS and A level Mathematics Practice Paper – Exponentials and logarithms

Mark scheme

Question Scheme Marks

1 2log x = log x2 B1
x2 M1
log3 x 2 - log3 ( x - 2) = log3
x-2
x2
=9 A1 o.e.
x-2
Solves x 2 - 9 x + 18 = 0 to give x = ..... M1
x=3 ,x=6 A1
(5 marks)
2(a) log 3 3x 2 = log3 3 + log3 x 2 or log y - log x 2 = log 3 or log y - log 3 = log x 2 B1
log 3 x 2 = 2 log 3 x B1
Using log3 3=1 B1
(3)
2(b) 3x 2 = 28 x - 9 M1
Solves 3x 2 - 28 x + 9 = 0 to give x = 13 or x = 9 M1 A1
(3)
(6 marks)
3(a) 2log( x + 15) = log( x + 15)2 B1

( x + 15)2 Correct use of log a - log b = log a

log( x + 15) - log x = log
2
M1
x b

26 = 64 or log2 64 = 6 64 used in the correct context B1

( x + 15)2 ( x + 15)2
log 2 =6Þ = 64 Removes logs correctly M1
x x
Þ x 2 + 30 x + 225 = 64 x Must see expansion of ( x + 15)
2
to
-1
or x + 30 + 225 x = 64 score the final mark.

\ x2 - 34 x + 225 = 0 * A1
(5)
3(b) M1: Correct attempt to solve the
( x - 25)( x - 9) = 0 Þ x = 25 or x = 9
given quadratic as far as x =... M1 A1
A1: Both 25 and 9
(2)
(7 marks)

1
 AS and A level Mathematics Practice Paper – Exponentials and logarithms
Mark scheme

Question Scheme Marks

4(i) æ 2x ö æ 5x + 4 ö æ 5x + 4 ö
log 2 ç ÷ = - 3 or log 2 ç ÷ = 3, or log 2 ç ÷ = 4 (see special M1
è 5 x + 4 ø è 2 x ø è x ø
case 2)
æ 2x ö æ 5x + 4 ö æ 5x + 4 ö
÷ = 2 or ç ÷ = 2 or ç ÷ = 2 or
-3 3 4
ç
è 5x + 4 ø è 2x ø è x ø
M1
æ æ 2x ö ö æ1ö
ç log 2 ç ÷ ÷ = log 2 ç ÷
è è 5x + 4 ø ø è8ø
16 x = 5x + 4 Þ x = (depends on previous Ms and must be this equation
dM1
or equivalent)
4 ! ! after correct work
x= or exact recurring decimal 0.36 A1 cso
11
(4)
4(ii) loga y + loga 23 = 5 M1
log a 8 y = 5 Applies product law of logarithms. dM1
1 1
y = a5 y = a5 A1cao
8 8
(3)
(7 marks)

2
 AS and A level Mathematics Practice Paper – Exponentials and logarithms
Mark scheme

Question Scheme Marks

5(i) Use of power rule so log( x + a)2 = log16a 6 or 2log( x + a) = 2log 4a3 or
1 M1
log( x + a) = log(16a6 ) 2
Removes logs and square roots, or halves then removes logs to give
( x + a ) = 4a 3
M1
Or x 2 + 2ax + a 2 - 16a 6 = 0followed by factorisation or formula to give
x = 16a 6 - a

( x =) 4a3 - a (depends on previous M’s and must be this expression or

A1cao
equivalent)

(3)
5(ii) Way 1
(9 y + b)
log3 =2 Applies quotient law of logarithms M1
(2 y - b)
(9 y + b)
= 32 Uses log 3 32 = 2 M1
(2 y - b)
Multiplies across and makes y the
(9 y + b) = 9(2 y - b) Þ y = M1
subject
y = 10
9b
A1cso
Way 2
log3 (9 y + b) = log3 9 + log3 (2 y - b) 2nd M mark M1
log3 (9 y + b) = log3 9(2 y - b) 1st M mark M1

(9 y + b) = 9(2 y - b) Þ y = 10
9 b M1 A1cso
Multiplies across and makes y the subject
(4)
(7 marks)

3
 AS and A level Mathematics Practice Paper – Exponentials and logarithms
Mark scheme

Question Scheme Marks

6(a) 5x = 10 and (b) log3 ( x - 2) = - 1

log10
x= or x = log5 10 M1
log 5
x {= 1.430676558...} = 1.43(3 sf) 1.43 A1 cao
(2)
6(b) ( x - 2) = 3-1 ( x - 2) = 3-1or 1
3 M1 oe

x {= 13 + 2 } = 2 13
•
2 13 or 7
3
or 2.3 or awrt 2.33 A1
(2)
(4 marks)
7(a) e3 x-9 = 8 Þ 3x - 9 = ln8 M1
ln 8 + 9
Þx= , = ln 2 + 3 A1 A1
3
(3 marks)

4
 AS and A level Mathematics Practice Paper – Exponentials and logarithms
Mark scheme

Question Scheme Marks

8(a) Attempt f (3) or f (-3) Use of long division is M0A0 as factor theorem
M1
was required.
f (-3) = 162 - 63 - 120 + 21 = 0 so (x + 3) is a factor A1
(2)
8(b) Either (Way 1)
f ( x) = ( x + 3)(-6 x2 +11 x + 7) M1 A1
= ( x + 3)(-3x + 7)(2 x + 1) or -( x + 3)(3x - 7)(2x + 1) M1 A1
Or (Way 2) (4)
Uses trial or factor theorem to obtain x = - 1/2 or x = 7/3 M1
Uses trial or factor theorem to obtain both x = - 1/2 and x = 7/3 A1
Puts three factors together (see notes below) M1
A1
Correct factorisation : ( x + 3)(7 - 3x )(2x + 1) or -( x + 3)(3x - 7)(2x + 1) oe

Or (Way 3)
M1 A1
No working three factors ( x + 3)(-3x + 7)(2x + 1) otherwise need working
M1 A1
(4)
8(c) æ7ö log(7 / 3)
2 y = 73 , ® log ( 2 y ) = log ç ÷ or y = log 2 ( 73 ) or B1 M1
3
è ø log 2
A1
{ y = 1.222392421...} Þ y = awrt 1.22

(3)
(9 marks)

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 AS and A level Mathematics Practice Paper – Exponentials and logarithms
Mark scheme

Question Scheme Marks

9(i) 82 x+1 = 24
(2 x + 1) log8 = log 24 or 82 x = 3 and so (2 x) log8 = log 3
M1
or (2 x + 1) = log8 24 or (2 x) = log8 3

1 æ log 24 ö
x= ç - 1÷
2 è log8 ø 1 æ log 3 ö 1
x= ç ÷ or x = ( log8 3) o.e. dM1
1 2 è log 8 ø 2
or x = ( log8 24 - 1)
2
= 0.264 A1
(3)
9(ii) log2 (11y - 3) - log 2 3 - 2log 2 y = 1 M1

log 2
(11y - 3) = 1 or log 2
(11y - 3) = 1 + log 3 = 2.58496501 dM1
2
3y2 y2

log 2
(11y - 3) = log 2 or log 2
(11y - 3) = log 6
3y 2 2
y2
2
B1
(allow awrt 6 if replaced by 6 later)
Obtains 6 y 2 - 11y + 3 = 0 o.e. i.e. 6 y 2 = 11y - 3 for example A1
Solves quadratic to give y = ddM1
A1
y = 13 and 3
2
(need both- one should not be rejected)

(6)
(9 marks)

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 AS and A level Mathematics Practice Paper – Exponentials and logarithms
Mark scheme

Question Scheme Marks

10(i) æ 3b + 1 ö æ ö
log3 ç ÷ = -1 or log3 ç a - 2 ÷ = 1 M1
èa-2ø è 3b + 1 ø
3b + 1 ì 1ü æa-2ö
= 3-1 í= ý or ç ÷= 3 M1
a-2 î 3þ è 3b + 1 ø
1 5
{9b + 3 = a - 2 Þ} b = a- A1 oe
9 9
(3)
10(ii) 32(22 x ) - 7(2 x ) = 0 M1
7
So, 2 x = A1 oe
32

æ 7 ö log ( 327 ) æ 7 ö
x log 2 = log ç ÷ or x = or x = log 2 ç ÷ dM1
è 32 ø log 2 è 32 ø

x = - 2.192645... A1
(4)
(7 marks)
11(i) y log5 = log8 M1
ì log8 ü
íy = ý = 1.2920... awrt 1.29 A1
î log 5 þ
(2)
11(ii) log 2 ( x + 15) - 4 = 12 log 2 x

log 2 ( x + 15) - 4 = log 2 x 2

1
M1
æ x + 15 ö
log 2 ç 1 ÷ = 4 M1
è x2 ø
æ x + 15 ö
÷ = 2
4
ç 1 M1
è x ø2

1
x - 16 x 2 + 15 = 0
or e.g. A1
x + 225 = 226 x
2

( x -1 )( )
x - 15 = 0 Þ x = ... dddM1

{ x = 1, 15 }
x = 1, 225 A1
(6)
(8 marks)

7
 AS and A level Mathematics Practice Paper – Exponentials and logarithms
Mark scheme

Question Scheme Marks

12(a) Graph of y = 3x and solving 32 x - 9(3x ) + 18 = 0

B1
B1

O x

(2)
12(b)
(3 )
x 2
- 9 ( 3x ) + 18 = 0
or M1
y = 3x Þ y 2 - 9 y + 18 = 0
{ ( y - 6)( y - 3) = 0 or (3 x
- 6 )( 3x - 3) = 0}

y = 6, y = 3 or 3x = 6 , 3x = 3 A1

{3 x
= 6 Þ} x log3 = log 6
log 6 dM1
or x = or x = log 3 6
log3
x = 1.63092... A1cso

x =1 B1
(5)
(7 marks)

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AS and A level Mathematics Practice Paper – Exponentials and logarithms
Mark scheme

Source paper Question New spec references Question description New AOs
number
1 C2 2012 2 6.3, 6.4 and 2.3 Laws of logarithms 1.1b, 2.1 and 2.4
2 C2 Jan 2012 Q4 6.3 and 6.4 Laws of logarithms 1.1b, 2.1, 2.2a
3 C2 Jan 2013 Q6 6.3 and 6.4 Laws of logarithms 1.1b, 2.1, 2.2a and 2.4
4 C2 2013 7 6.3, 6.4 Laws of logarithms 1.1b, 1.1a, 2.1, 2.2a, 3.1a
5 C2 2017 7 6.3 and 6.4 Laws of logs 1.1b, 2.1 and 2.5
6 C2 2011 Q3 6.3 and 6.5 Exponentials and logarithms 1.1b, 2.1
7 C3 2017 2 6.3, 6.4 Exponential equation 1.1b
x
8 C2 2017 6 2.6 and 6.5 Factor theorem and factorisation of cubic, a and log 1.1b, 2.2a and 3.1a
9 C2 2015 7 6.3, 6.4 and 6.5 Exponentials and logarithms 1.1b, 2.4, 2.5, 3.1a
10 C2 2016 8 2.3, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5 Exponentials and logarithms 2.1, 3.1a
11 C2 June 2014R 8 6.4, 6.5 Exponentials and logarithms 1.1b, 2.4, 3.1a
12 C2 2014 8 6.1, 6.3 and 6.5 and 2.3 Exponentials and logarithms 1.1b, 1.1a, 2.1, 2.2a, 3.1a