ANGLO-CHINESE JUNIOR COLLEGE

JC2 PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION

/100
Higher 2

CANDIDATE
NAME

TUTORIAL/ INDEX
FORM CLASS NUMBER

MATHEMATICS 9758/01
Paper 1 23 August 2022

3 hours
Candidates answer on the Question Paper.
Additional Materials: List of Formulae (MF26)
READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST

Write your index number, class and name on all the work you hand in. Question Marks
Write in dark blue or black pen.
1 /3
You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams or graphs. 2 /4
Do not use staples, paper clips, glue or correction fluid.
3 /7
Answer all the questions.
Write your answers in the spaces provided in the question paper. 4 /6
Give non-exact numerical answers correct to 3 significant figures, or 1
decimal place in the case of angles in degrees, unless a different level of
5 /7
accuracy is specified in the question. 6 /7
The use of an approved graphing calculator is expected, where
appropriate. 7 /10
Unsupported answers from a graphing calculator are allowed unless a
question specifically states otherwise. 8 /10
Where unsupported answers from a graphing calculator are not allowed in
a question, you are required to present the mathematical steps using
9 /10
mathematical notations and not calculator commands. 10 /10
You are reminded of the need for clear presentation in your answers.
11 /12
The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or
part question. 12 /14
The total number of marks for this paper is 100.

This document consists of 30 printed pages and 4 blank pages.

[Turn over
 2

1 The diagram shows the graph of y = f (2 x) . The lines x = −2 and y = −2 are asymptotes to
the curve. The minimum point A has coordinates (2, − 4) and the curve passes through the
origin (0,0) .
1
Sketch the graph of y = , indicating clearly the equations of any asymptotes, axial
f ( x)
intercepts and turning points. [3]

−2 x
O
y= −2
−2

x = −2 A (2, − 4)

 x tan (3x ) dx.

−1
2 Find [4]

3 With reference to the origin O, the points A, B and C have position vectors a , b and c
respectively, where points O, A, B and C are not collinear.

(i) It is given that a = 10 , b = 20 , a  b = 40 and the point N has position vector

5a + 3b
. Find the exact area of triangle ONB. [5]
8
(ii) Find the angle between the vector a  b + b  c + c  a and the plane  containing
points A, B and C. [2]

ANGLO-CHINESE JUNIOR COLLEGE 2022 H2 MATHEMATICS 9758/01

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4 (a) The continuous function f ( x ) , where f ( x )  0 , is strictly decreasing for x  1 .

Sketch the curve y = f ( x ) for k  x  k + 1, where k is an integer and k  1.

By comparing the areas of appropriate rectangles and the area under the curve
y = f ( x ) , show that for any integer k  1,
k +1
f ( k + 1)   f ( x ) dx  f ( k ) . [2]
k

1
(b) The region under the curve y = between x = 1and x = 10, is split into 9 vertical
x
strips of equal width. Use the result in part (a) to prove
9
1 1
dx   ,
10
(i)  [1]
1 x k =1 k

9
1 1
 k  1+ 
9
(ii) dx . [2]
k =1
1 x
1 1 1
Hence show that ln10 1 + + + .... +  1 + ln 9 . [1]
2 3 9

5 Do not use a calculator in answering this question.

 π π 
Two complex numbers are z1 = 2  cos − i sin  and z2 = 2i .
 18 18 

z12
(i) Show that + z2 is 3 +i. [3]
z1*

z2 
(ii) A third complex number, z3 , is such that  1* + z2  z3 is real and
 z1 

 z12  2
 * + z2  z3 = . Find the possible values of z3 in the form of r ( cos +i sin ),
 z1  3

where r  0 and −     . [4]

ANGLO-CHINESE JUNIOR COLLEGE 2022 H2 MATHEMATICS 9758/01 [Turn Over

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6 The function h is defined by h : x ln ( 2 x ) + 1 , x  ,0  x   .

(i) Find the maximum value of  for which the inverse function h exist. [1]
1
(ii) Using  = ,
2
(a) find h −1 and state its domain, [4]
(b) sketch the graph of y = hh −1 ( x) , [1]
(c) find the solution set for h( x) = h −1 ( x) . [1]

7 It is given that y = ln(2 + sin 2 x) .

2
d2 y  dy 
(i) Show that e y + e y   = −4sin 2 x . [2]
dx 2  dx 

(ii) By further differentiation of the above results, find the Maclaurin series for y, up to
and including the term in x3 . [3]
(iii) Verify that the series for ln(2 + sin 2 x) is the same as the result obtained in part (ii),
if the standard series from the List of Formulae (MF26) are used. [3]
ln(2 + sin 2 x)
(iv) Hence deduce the series expansion for , up to and including the term
1− x

in x 2 . [2]

ANGLO-CHINESE JUNIOR COLLEGE 2022 H2 MATHEMATICS 9758/01

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8 (i) Use the substitution x = k sin  , to show that

x k2 x
 k 2 − x 2 dx =
2
k 2 − x 2 + sin −1   + c .
2 k
[4]

x2 y 2
(ii) The diagram shows the shaded area R, enclosed between two curves, + =1
4 16
and x 2 + y 2 = 7. y

O x

(a) Using the result shown in part (i), find the exact area of region R in the form

A + B sin −1 C where A, B and C are exact constants to be determined. [4]

(b) Find the volume generated when region R is rotated through  radians about the
y-axis, giving your answer to two decimal places. [2]

ANGLO-CHINESE JUNIOR COLLEGE 2022 H2 MATHEMATICS 9758/01 [Turn Over

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9 (a) Mr Chan’s monthly pay for the first quarter of the year (i.e. first three months) is
$3000. For the second quarter monthly pay, he gets an increment of 60% of his first
quarter monthly pay. Subsequently, from the third quarter onwards, he gets an
increment of 60% of his previous increment every quarter.

Qn denotes his monthly pay for the nth quarter, where n  1 .

(i) Prove that Qn = 7500(1 − 0.6n ) . [3]

(ii) Find to the nearest dollar, his pay for his 17th month of work. [1]
(iii) Find to the nearest dollar, his total salary for the first two years of work. [2]
(iv) Mr Chan decides to quit his job when his increment is less that $80. How many
months will he stay in this job? [1]

(b) Mr Chan’s company is planning to implement a loyalty incentive scheme to retain

workers with relevant skills and experience. 10 chosen workers will receive a
loyalty incentive of $90 in their pay every month. This monthly loyalty incentive
will increase by $40 every year. The company sets aside a budget of $200,000 for
this scheme.

If the 10 workers continue to work with the company,

(i) what is the maximum number of years for which this scheme can be
implemented with this budget? [2]
(ii) what is the highest loyalty incentive amount Mr Chan can hope to receive
if he is selected for this scheme? [1]

ANGLO-CHINESE JUNIOR COLLEGE 2022 H2 MATHEMATICS 9758/01

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10
a
x x x x

x y x y
x x x x
x x x x
x x a x x
x y x y y
x x
x x x x

Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3

Figure 1 shows a piece of plastic sheet in the shape of a square with sides a metres. Parts
of the plastic sheet is cut from each corner to give the shape shown in Figure 2 which
consists of a square, four identical rectangles and four identical equilateral triangles. The
sides of the square are x metres each. Each rectangle has a length of x metres and breadth
of y metres. Each equilateral triangle has sides of x metres. The remaining plastic sheet
shown in Figure 2 is then folded along the dotted lines to form a container, made up of a
cuboid and a square base pyramid, as shown in Figure 3. The volume of the container is
denoted by V.

(i) Show that y =

1
2
( (
a − 1+ 3 x . )) [2]

(ii) Use differentiation to find, in terms of a, the value of x that gives a maximum
possible value of V, proving that it is a maximum. [5]
1
[The volume of a square-based pyramid is  base area  height .]
3
(iii) The container is inverted and is held with its axis vertical and vertex downwards as
shown in Figure 4. Water is poured into the container at a rate of 0.1 cubic metres
per minute. At time t minutes after the start, the depth of water in the container is h
metres as shown in the front view diagram of the inverted container in Figure 5.

x x
y y

Figure 4 Figure 5

ANGLO-CHINESE JUNIOR COLLEGE 2022 H2 MATHEMATICS 9758/01 [Turn Over

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Given that the dimensions of the container, x and y are constants and the water level
is still within the pyramid. Find in terms of a, the rate of increase of the water level
when h = 0.05a metres. [3]

10 With the proliferation of online social network, sociologists recognised a phenomenon

called social diffusion which is the spreading of a piece of information through the
population. The members of the population can be classified into two categories namely
those who have the information and those who do not.
It is given that N denotes the number of people, in thousands, who have the information in
a fixed population size P, in thousands. The rate of diffusion of a piece of information on
dN
social media, , where t represents the time taken in hours, can be modelled as being
dt
proportional, with a constant of proportionality k, to the product of the number of people
who have the information and the number of people who have yet to receive it.
(i) Write down the differential equation involving N, t, k and P. [1]
dN P − 1
It is given that N = 1 and = when t = 0 .
dt 10
(ii) Show that the general solution of the differential equation in part (i) is
AP
N= , where A is an arbitrary constant. [6]
A + e−0.1Pt
(iii) Given that the population size is 1 million, find the particular solution and hence
sketch the graph of N against t. [3]
(iv) With reference to the graph of N against t, explain in context, the long term
implication of the model used. [1]
(v) Find the time taken, to the nearest minute, for a piece of information to reach 99%
of the population of one million. [1]

ANGLO-CHINESE JUNIOR COLLEGE 2022 H2 MATHEMATICS 9758/01

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11 (In this question you may assume that a laser beam travels in a straight line.)

A
P

normal to

 −2 
 
A laser pointer is used to fire a beam in the direction  2  from point A with coordinates
 1 
 
(4, − 5,10) . The beam is reflected at point P off the surface of the mirror  1 which then,

strikes a target plane  2 at point C as shown in the diagram. It is given that the equation

0
of the plane  1 is r   1  = 5 .
 3
 
(i) Show that the coordinates of the point P is (12, − 13, 6) . [3]

It is given that the angle between AP and the normal to  1 at P is equal to the angle between

PC and the same normal.

(ii) Find the vector AF , where F is the foot of perpendicular from A to the normal to
 1 at P. [3]

(iii) Find the vector equation of the line PC. [3]

Express the vector equation of the line PC in the form ( r − a )  b = 0 , where a and

b are constant vectors. [1]

 2
The equation of the target plane  2 is r   1  = 1 .
 2
 
(iv) Show that the laser beam AP is parallel to  2 . [1]

(v) Find the shortest distance between the laser beam AP and  2 . [3]

ANGLO-CHINESE JUNIOR COLLEGE 2022 H2 MATHEMATICS 9758/01 [Turn Over

 ANGLO-CHINESE JUNIOR COLLEGE
JC2 PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION
/100
Higher 2

CANDIDATE
NAME

TUTORIAL/ INDEX
FORM CLASS NUMBER

MATHEMATICS 9758/02
Paper 2 26 August 2022

3 hours
Candidates answer on the Question Paper.
Additional Materials: List of Formulae (MF26)
READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST

Write your index number, class and name on all the work you hand in. Question Marks
Write in dark blue or black pen.
1 /7
You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams or graphs.
Do not use staples, paper clips, glue or correction fluid.
2 /7
3 /7
Answer all the questions.
Write your answers in the spaces provided in the question paper. 4 /8
Give non-exact numerical answers correct to 3 significant figures, or 1
decimal place in the case of angles in degrees, unless a different level of 5 /11
accuracy is specified in the question.
The use of an approved graphing calculator is expected, where
6 /7
appropriate. 7 /10
Unsupported answers from a graphing calculator are allowed unless a
question specifically states otherwise. 8 /8
Where unsupported answers from a graphing calculator are not allowed in
a question, you are required to present the mathematical steps using 9 /9
mathematical notations and not calculator commands.
10 /13
You are reminded of the need for clear presentation in your answers.
11 /13
The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or
part question.
The total number of marks for this paper is 100.

This document consists of 24 printed pages and 2 blank pages.

[Turn over
 2

Section A: Pure Mathematics [40 marks]

1 The function f is defined by

f ( x) = 1 − ax , x  , where a is a real constant.
The function g is defined by

 x2 + 3 for 0  x  2,
g( x) = 
7 − x for 2  x  7.

(i) Find the set of possible values of a such that f −1 exist. [1]

(ii) If a = 2, describe a sequence of transformations that transform the graph of y = g(x)

onto the graph of y = fg(x). [3]

(iii) The function gg is defined by

 h1 ( x ) for 0  x  2,

gg( x) = h 2 ( x) for 2  x  5,
 h ( x) 5  x  7.
 3 for

Find h1 ( x) , h 2 ( x) and h 3 ( x) . [3]

x+a a
2 It is given that f ( x) = − where a  b  0 .
b x+b
(i) Sketch the curve with equation y = f(x) and state the equations of any asymptotes and
the points where the curve crosses the axes in terms of a and b. [3]
x+a a
(ii) Hence or otherwise, solve the inequality  . [1]
b x+b
a− x a
(iii) Hence solve the inequality  . [3]
b b− x

3 (i) Find the roots of the equation iz 2 − ( 5 + i ) z + 2 − 6i = 0 , giving your answers in

cartesian form a + bi , where a, b  . [2]
(ii) Hence find the roots of the equation −iw2 − (1 − 5i ) w + 2 − 6i = 0 , giving your answers
in cartesian form a + bi , where a, b  . [2]

ANGLO-CHINESE JUNIOR COLLEGE 2022 H2 MATHEMATICS 9758/02

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(iii) Given that the roots found in part (i) are also roots of the equation P( z ) = 0 , where
P( z ) is a polynomial of degree 4 with real coefficients, find P( z ) . [3]

4 (i) It is given that U n = cos ( 2n + 1)  , for n  0.

Show that for n  1, U n + U n −1 = 2cos ( 2n  ) cos  . [1]
(ii) Hence show that
2N
1  cos ( 4 N + 1)   
 ( −1) cos( 2n  )  = 1 −
n +1
. [3]
n =1
  2 cos  
 
41
 n 
 ( −1)
n +1
(iii) Without the use of the graphic calculator, find the value of cos ,
n =11  3 
showing your working clearly. [4]

5 A curve C has parametric equations

1
x=e cos−1 2t
(
, y = 1 − 4t )
2 2
,
1 1
where −  t  .
2 2
dy
(i) Find in terms of t. What can be said about the tangent to C at t = 0 ? [3]
dx
(ii) Sketch the curve C, stating the coordinates of any axial intercepts. [1]
 3 3 
(iii) Find the equation of the tangent to C at the point  e ,
P . [2]
 2 
(iv) Find the equation of the normal at the point Q on C with parameter q which is parallel
to the y-axis. [2]
(v) Find the area bounded by C, the tangent to C at point P and normal to C at point Q.[3]

ANGLO-CHINESE JUNIOR COLLEGE 2022 H2 MATHEMATICS 9758/02 [Turn Over

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Section B: Probability and Statistics [60 marks]

6 Cathy has 14 magnets of which 5 are red, 4 are blue, 3 are orange and 2 are green.
(i) Assuming that the magnets of the same colour are identical, find the number of ways
in which Cathy can choose 3 magnets. [2]
(ii) The table below show the amount of money Cathy paid for each type of magnets. Cathy
did not pay for the green magnets as they were given to her as free gifts.
Colour of magnet Red Blue Orange Green
Price paid per magnet $3 $1 $2 Free

Cathy decided to randomly choose 4 magnets without replacement. Find the probability
that she chooses $7 worth of magnets. [3]

(iii) Cathy decided to label all the magnets such that each magnet will be distinct from the
others. If Cathy were to arrange these 14 magnets in a circle on the whiteboard, find
the number of different arrangements such that the 2 green magnets are adjacent to each
other and the 3 orange magnets are separated from each other. [2]

7 Archer and Betty took part in a competition comprising of at most 3 games. Each game is
either won by Archer or Betty. The first person who win 2 games wins the competition. The
probability of Archer winning the first game is 0.25. The probability of him winning any
subsequent games is p and is independent of any previous games.

(i) Draw a probability tree diagram to represent the above information. [1]

(ii) Find, in terms of p, the probability that Archer will win the competition. [2]
For the rest of the question, use p = 0.5 .
(iii) Find the probability that Betty won the second game, given that she won the
competition. [3]
The number of games won by Archer in a competition is denoted by W. Using p = 0.5,
(iv) determine the probability distribution of W, [2]
(v) find Var(W ) . [2]

ANGLO-CHINESE JUNIOR COLLEGE 2022 H2 MATHEMATICS 9758/02

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8 Cheddar cheese quality is influenced by starter cultures, milk composition and age. Cheddar
takes about two to eighteen months to ripen and develop its texture and flavour. The ages in
months (m) and prices in dollars (P) of a random sample of ten 1-kilogram Cheddar cheese
are given in the table.
m 2.2 2.8 5.4 6.5 8.8 9.2 10.5 12.4 16.8 17.2
P 25 22 28 32 36 50 72 95 188 240
It is thought that the price after m months can be modelled by one of the formulae
P = am + b, ln P = cm + d,
where a, b, c and d are constants.

(i) Explain the meaning of the value of a in the context of the data for the model
P = am + b . [1]
(ii) Find, correct to 4 decimal places, the value of the product moment correlation
coefficient between
(A) m and P
(B) m and ln P [2]

(iii) Explain which of the two models in part (ii) is the better model and find the equation
of a suitable regression line for this model. [2]

(iv) Use the equation of the regression line found in (iii), estimate the price of a 1-kilogram
Cheddar cheese when it has been aged for 14 months, leaving your answer to the nearest
cent. [1]
Explain whether you would expect this value to be reliable. [1]
(v) Re-write your equation from part (iii) so that it can be used when the price of the
Cheddar cheese, P, is given in dollar per gram. [1]

9 In this question you should state clearly all the distributions that you use, together with the
values of the appropriate parameters. You should also assume that T and X follow
independent normal distributions.

Each KTX train takes T minutes to travel from Seoul Train Station to Pohang Train Station.
It is known that T follows the distribution N (144, 25 ) .
(i) The probability that a randomly selected KTX train takes more than k hours to reach
Pohang is 0.5. Without the use of a calculator, explain why k = 2.4. [1]

Before 7pm daily, each express bus takes X minutes to travel from Seoul Express Bus
Terminal to Pohang Express Bus Terminal. It is known that X follows the distribution

ANGLO-CHINESE JUNIOR COLLEGE 2022 H2 MATHEMATICS 9758/02 [Turn Over

 6

N ( 236, 81) . After 7pm daily, the travel time taken by each express bus will be reduced by
10% as all the express buses will not make a stop at Daegu.

(ii) Find the probability that after 7pm, to travel from Seoul to Pohang, the travel time of a
randomly selected KTX train is at most an hour faster than the travel time of a randomly
selected express bus. [4]

Kim needs to travel from Seoul to Pohang on Saturday mornings to visit his parents. He
prefers to take a KTX train if the tickets are available. On average, 70% of his journeys are
by train.

(iii) On a particular Saturday morning, there was a train delay of 1.6 hours due to a train
fault. Given that Kim took more than 4 hours to reach Pohang on that morning, find the
probability that Kim travels to Pohang by train. [3]

The cost of taking a KTX train and taking an express bus from Seoul to Pohang are $54 and
$24 respectively.
(iv) Find Kim’s expected cost of travelling (one-way) from Seoul to Pohang. [1]

10 A nasi lemak stall holder uses fresh chicken wings as an ingredient for fried chicken wings.
Based on his past years records, his mean daily profit was $535. With the recent lack of fresh
chicken supply, the stall holder substituted fresh chicken wings with frozen chicken wings
as the ingredient. His wife was hesitant to the change and claimed that the mean daily profit
will decrease. To test his wife’s claim, the stall holder takes a random sample of 45 days and
recorded the daily profits, $x.

(i) State appropriate hypotheses to test the wife’s claim and define any symbols that you
use. [2]
(ii) State, with a reason, whether it is necessary to assume that his past years records of
daily profits are normally distributed for the test to be valid. [1]
(iii) Based on the past years records, it is assumed that the population variance of the daily
profit is 2591. If the test shows that there is sufficient evidence that the wife’s claim is
accepted at 5% level of significance, determine the set of possible values of x , the
mean daily profit in the 45 days. [2]
(iv) The stall holder found that x = $520 and suspects that the population variance of 2591
may be incorrect. Hence he decided to use the sample variance value of 2008 to test his
wife’s claim. State the conclusion of the test, showing your workings clearly. [3]
(v) State the largest significance level that the stall holder should use so that the conclusion
in (iv) will be different. Leave your answer in 2 decimal places. [1]

ANGLO-CHINESE JUNIOR COLLEGE 2022 H2 MATHEMATICS 9758/02

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The stall holder now suspects that the mean daily profit does not differ from $535, even if
frozen chicken wings are used instead of fresh chicken wings. To test his claim, the stall
holder decides to increase the number of randomly selected days, n, to record his daily profit.

(vi) It is given that x = 526 and the population variance is assumed to be 2591. Determine
the greatest value of n, so that the conclusion of the test shows that there is no reason
to reject the null hypothesis at 8% level of significance. [4]

11(a) (i) It is known that the probability of a customer using e-payment at a hawker stall is
0.25. A group of customers is chosen at random, find the probability that the 7th
chosen customer is the 5th customer using e-payment at the hawker stall. [3]
(ii) A sample of 40 customers were randomly chosen from the hawker stall each day.
In a month of 30 days, find the probability that there is at least 15 days with at most
10 customers per sample making e-payment. [3]
(b) The probability that a hawker uses the online delivery platform Foodgowhere is p. A
random sample of n hawkers is taken and the random variable X denotes the number of
hawkers in the sample that uses Foodgowhere.
(i) Explain what is meant by a random sample in this context. [1]
Assuming that X follows a binomial distribution.
(ii) It is given that P( X  1) = 0.05303 and the expected number of hawkers using
Foodgowhere is 3.96. Write down two equations satisfied by p and n. Hence find
the value of p and n. [3]
(iii) Given that n = 15 , find the set of values of p so that that the most likely number of
hawkers in the sample who uses Foodgowehere is 5. [3]

Summary of Areas for Improvement

Knowledge (K) Careless Mistakes (C) Read/Interpret Qn wrongly (R) Presentation (P)

ANGLO-CHINESE JUNIOR COLLEGE 2022 H2 MATHEMATICS 9758/02 [Turn Over

 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 1 Markers Report

Qn Solutions Comments
1 y Many students misread the
question and were not aware
that the given graph was
y = f (2 x) . As a result, the x-
coordinates remained as −2 and
2, or worse −1 and 1, instead of
−4 and 4.
x
0
It is also good to note that
( 4, − 14 ) should lie exactly
between the x-axis and the
asymptote y = − 12 .

2 x2  x2 3 
 xtan 3x dx =( tan 3x ) − 
-1 -1
2 
dx Common mistakes:
2  2 1+ 9x  d 1
1) (tan −1 3x) =
x2 3 x2 1 + (3 x) 2
= tan -1 3 x −  dx dx
2 2 1 + 9x2 2) Problem with long division
x2 1  1  x2
= tan -1 3 x −  1 − interpret as x 9 x + 1
2 2
 dx 1+ 9x
6  1 + 9x2 
2
2
1
x2 1 1  3)  = tan −1 3x + C
= tan -1 3 x −  x − tan −1 3x  + c 1 + 9x 2
2 6 3 
 x2 1  1
=  +  tan −1 3 x − x + c 4)  udv = uv +  vdu
 2 18  6
3 Area of triangle ONB = Common mistakes &
(i) 1 Presentation errors:
ON  OB 1) wrong notation vector a
2 ~
1 5a  3b written as “a”
= ( ) b
2 8 2) a  b = a b sin 
1 5a  b + 3b  b 3) Area of triangle ONB =
= ( ) 1
2 8 (ON  OB )
2
5
= ab 4) Did not include when
16
finding the area of the triangle.
a .b = 40 = a b cos where angle AOB = 
5) Did not simplify the answer
40 2
cos = = Note that : sin 2  = 1 − cos2  5
(20 10) sin[cos −1 (
2
)]
20 10 10 16 10
 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 1 Markers Report

6 6) Left the answer as 1.53

sin = instead of the exact form
10

6
a  b = ( 20 10 )  = 20 6
10
5 5 25 6
Area of triangle ONB = a  b = ( 20 6 ) =
16 16 4

Method 2 For Method 2

5a + 3b 8b − 5a − 3b Many students did not explain
NB = OB − ON = b − = why A, N and B are collinear.
8 8
5b − 5a 5(b − a ) 5
= = = AB
8 8 8
O
NB // AB with B as common point.
Hence A, B and N are collinear.
Area triangle ONB =
5
area triangle OAB= B
8 A
N
5 1 5
( ) OA  OB = a  b
8 2 16

a .b = 40 = a b cos where angle AOB = 

40 2
cos = =
20 10 10
6
sin =
10
6
a  b = ( 20 10 )  = 20 6
10
5 5 25 6
Area of triangle ONB = a  b = ( 20 6 ) =
16 16 4

(ii) AB  AC Either no attempt or not well

= (b − a )  (c − a ) done.
= bc − ba − a c + a a
= bc + ab + ca + 0 In this question O is not on the
= bc + a b + ca plane  containing A, B and C.
Hence the angle between Hence  is not parallel to
b  c + a  b + c  a and plane containing points A, B and C vectors a, b and c but students
 tend to assume that  is
is . parallel to vectors a, b and c
2
 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 1 Markers Report

Hence common errors like

a  b , b  c , c  a are all
normals to the plane 
containing A, B and C
commonly seen.
No marks awarded for the

answer if the method is
2
incorrect.
4 Q4 was badly done.
(a) y

y = f(x)
The information given in the
question was not followed:
1) f ( x)  0 means the graph
f(k) Rectangle should not be drawn below the
B x-axis.
f(k+1)
2) curve y = f ( x) means a
straight line should not be
drawn.
A 3) for k  x  k + 1 and k  1
means k and k + 1 should be
clearly indicated on the x-axis.
x
There should be only 2
O rectangles involved and these
k 1 k+1
should be clearly labelled as
ABCD and ABEF or
k +1
Area under curve =  f ( x ) dx appropriately shaded.
k

Area of rectangle A= f ( k + 1) x 1
Area of rectangle B= f ( k ) x 1
As seen from diagram:
k +1
f ( k + 1)   f ( x ) dx  f ( k )
k
(b) 10 1 21 31 41 10 1 Many of the students were
(i) 1 x
dx =  dx +  dx +  dx + .... + 
1 x 2 x 3 x 9 x
dx totally clueless as to how to use
 f(1) + f(2) + f(3) + ... + f(9) part (a) to do part (b).
1 1 1 1
= + + + ..... + For the very few who were able
1 2 3 9 to write a few lines of
9 k +1 1
1 1
= k x dx  as
k =1 k k
 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 1 Markers Report

1
2 1
1 x
dx  ,
1
31 1
2 x dx  2 ,
41 1
3 x dx  3 , etc, they were able
to appreciate the upper and
lower of limits of an integral
and connect all the integrals on
10 1
LHS to  dx .
1 x

(ii) 9 1 21 31 41 91 An elegant solution in a script:

 dx =  dx +  dx +  dx + .... +  dx 91
x 1+  dx
1 1 x 2 x 3 x 8 x

 f(2) + f(3) + f(4) + ... + f(9) 1 x

21 31 91
=
1 1 1 9 1
+ + ..... + =  − 1 = 1+  dx +  dx +...+  dx
1 x 2 x 8 x
2 3 9 k =1 k
1 1 1
91 9
1  1+ + + ... +
1 +  dx  2 3 9
1 x
k =1 k 9
1
9
1 91 =
   1 +  dx k =1 k
k =1 k
1 x

9
10 1 1 91 Again, majority of the students
1 x  d x 
k =1 k
 1 +  dx
1 x were not able to combine (b) (i)
& (ii) results to write out the
1 1 1
ln x 1  1 + + + ... +  1 + ln x 1
10 9
inequalities properly.
2 3 9
1 1 1 There were bad presentations
ln10  1 + + + ... +  1 + ln 9
2 3 9 with no inequalities seen at all
but random workings of
10 1 91
1 x dx and 1 x dx to ln10
and ln9 directly without
showing the proper integration
process.

π
5(i)  π π  −i It is important to note that the
z1 = 2  cos − i sin  = 2e
18
properties of modulus and
 18 18 
argument can only be applied
z2 z2 
for 1* and not for  1* + z2  .
z1  z1 
 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 1 Markers Report

π
z12 −i
+ z2 Conversion of 2e 6 from
z1* exponential form to cartesian
π
−i
9
form would be via the
4e
= π
+ 2i trigonometric form. It was
i inefficient to solve for a and b
18
2e
π in
−i
= 2e 6
+ 2i a + bi = 2 and
 π π π
= 2  cos − i sin  + 2i arg(a + bi) = − .
 6 6 6
 3 1 
= 2  − i  + 2i There was not a need to
 2 2  convert 2i to exponential form
= 3 +i i
π
2e 2 .

(ii)  z12   z12  2 Many students failed to see that

 * + z 2 3
z is real and  * + z2  z3 = z3 could be found from
 z1   z1  3

 z12  2 2
( )
3 + i z3 = 
2
3
or
 * + z2  z3 = or −
 z1  3 3  i π6  2
 2e  z3 =  easily, instead
( 3 + i z3 =
2
3
)
or −
2
3
  3
of letting z3 = a + bi and
2 2 making careless mistakes along
z3 = or −
3 ( 3 +i ) 3 ( 3 +i ) the way.
2 2
= or ei
  i
π
 i π6 
3  2e  6
3  2e  2
Some students thought z3 = ,
    3
1 −i π 1 i 5π6 either reading error or
= e 6 or e
3 3 calculation error.
1  π  π  1 5π 5π 
=  cos  −  + i sin  −   or  cos + i sin 
3  6  6  3 6 6 

Method 2 Those students who used

method 2 were usually
z12  π π successful in their solutions.
+ z2 = 3 + i = 2  cos + i sin 
 6
*
z1 6
Some students did not express
the answers in the form
 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 1 Markers Report

 z12  2 r ( cos  + i sin  ) , but gave

 * + z2  z3 = their final answers as
 z1  3
1 π π
z3 =  cos − i sin  ,
z12 2 3 6 6
+ z2 z3 =
z1*
3 were not given the accuracy
2 mark.
2 z3 =
3
1
z3 =
3

 z12 
 * + z2  z3 is real
 z1 

z2 
 arg  1* + z2  z3 = 0 or 
 z1 
z 2

 arg  1* + z2  + arg z3 = 0 or 
 z1 


 + arg z3 = 0 or 
6
 5
 arg z3 = − or
6 6

1  π  π  1 5π 5π 
z3 =  cos  −  + i sin  −   or  cos + i sin 
3  6  6  3 6 6 

(6)(i) Maximum value of  for which the inverse function h This is well-done.
1
exist.is
2
(ii) 1 Most common mistake is
When 0  x  , ln(2x) < 0
(a) 2 writing ln(2 x ) as ln(2 x ) or
 ln(2 x ) = − ln(2 x)  ln(2 x ) .
y = − ln(2 x ) + 1
ln(2 x ) = 1 − y Domain is sometimes
wrongly written as (1, ) or
2 x = e1− y
(,1] .
1 1− y
x= e
2
1
h −1 ( x ) = e1− x , x  1
2
 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 1 Markers Report

(b) This was poorly done. Many

students did not realise that
y = h h −1 ( x) = x and wasted
(1,1) time finding h h −1 ( x) .

Many wrote
y = h h −1 ( x)
= ln ( e1− x ) + 1
= 1− x +1
and sketched a modulus graph
instead. Dh-1 = 1,  ) must be
considered to further interpret
1 − x as −(1 − x) .

Those who correctly wrote

y = h h −1 ( x) = x
often did not consider
Dh-1 = 1,  ) in sketching the
graph.

(c) Method 1 This was poorly done. Many

Rh = [1, ) and R h-1 =(0, 12 ] do not understand that
R h  R h-1 = solution set refers to the
values of x such that
No solution h( x) = h −1 ( x) .
Method 2
From GC
Those who wrote the solution
When h(x) = x
as 2.678 or 0.685 failed to
ln(2 x) + 1 = x consider that solution set is
From GC x = 2.678 > 0.5 (no solution) 1
Method 3 such that 0  x  since
2
(
From GC
When h(x) = x Dh = 0, 2  .
1

− ln(2 x ) + 1 = x
From GC x = 0.685 > 0.5 (no solution)

7(i) y = ln(2 + sin 2 x) Those who showed by implicit

differentiation showed in 2
dy
ey = 2cos 2 x steps.
dx
 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 1 Markers Report

d2 y
2
 dy  However, a significant number
ey + e y   = −4sin 2 x (shown)
dx 2
 dx  of students did direct
differentiation and wasted time
by showing the result in at least
7-8 steps.
3
(ii) d 3 y y d 2 y dy 2
y d y dy  dy  Common mistakes:
e y
+e + 2e +e y   = −2cos 2 x
 dx 
(e ) = ey
3 2 2
dx dx dx dx dx d y
(a) Writing
d3 y 2
 dy 
3 dx
y d y dy
ey +3e + e y   = −2cos 2 x 2
dx 3 2
dx dx  dx  d  dy   dy 
(b) Writing   = 2 
dx  dx   dx 
dy d2 y d3 y
When x = 0, y = ln 2, = 1, 2 = −1, 3 = −2 Some students are not able to
dx dx dx
simplify eln 2 .

 y = ln 2 + x +
( −1) x 2 + ( −2 ) x3 + ...
2! 3!
1 2 1 3
= ln 2 + x − x − x + ...
2 3

(iii) y = ln ( 2 + sin 2 x ) A significant number of

students do not know how to
 ( 2x) 
3

 ln  2 + 2 x −  start on the question.

 6 

Common mistakes:
  2 
= ln  2 1 + x − x 3  
  3  (a) Writing
= ln(2 + sin 2 x)
 2 
= ln 2 + ln 1 + x − x3  = ln 1 + (1 + sin 2 x) 
 3 
2 3 (1 + sin 2 x) 2
 2   2  = (1 + sin 2 x) +
 x − x3   x − x3  2
 2 
= ln 2 +  x − x3  − 
3   3  (1 + sin 2 x)3
+ + ... + ...
 3  2 3 3
2 1 1 (b) Writing
 ln 2 + x − x 3 − x 2 + x 3
3 2 3 sin 2 x  2 x , omitting the x 3
1 1
= ln 2 + x − x 2 − x 3 + ... (verified) term.
2 3

(iv) ln(2 + sin 2 x) This is not well-done.

1− x Many students did not know
that they should consider
 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 1 Markers Report

1 2 1 3 binomial expansion of
ln 2 + x − x − x 1
 2 3 −
(1 − x) 2
.
1− x
 1 1  1 1
=  ln 2 + x − x 2 − x 3  (1 − x ) 2
− Some students wrote
 2 3  1− x
1
  1  3   wrongly as (1 − x) 2 or (1 − x) −1 .
  −  −  
 1 
  ln 2 + x − x 2  1 + x + 
1 2  2 
(−x) 
2

 2  2 2! 
  A significant number of
 
students who considered
 1  1 3 
=  ln 2 + x − x 2 1 + x + x 2  binomial expansion of
 2  2 8  1
−
1 2 1  1 3  (1 − x) 2
made careless
 ln 2 + x − x +  ln 2  x + x 2 +  ln 2  x 2
2 2  2 8  mistakes in evaluating the
 1  3  coefficients of x and/or x 2 e.g.
= ln 2 + 1 + ln 2  x +  ln 2  x 2
 2  8  1 1
1 − x + x2 .
2 8

8(i) x = k sin  Generally, well done.

dx
= k cos  Since the result to be proved is
d given, the working to show that
k2
 k − x dx
2 2 sin  cos  +   + c
2
=  k 2 − k 2 sin 2  k cos  d leads to

=  k 2 cos 2  d
x 2 k2 x
k − x + sin −1 + c
2

2 2 k
k2
=
2  cos 2 + 1d should be written out clearly as
shown.
k2 1 
=
2  2 sin2 +   + c OR Alternatively, using a right-
angled triangle to get expression
k2
= sin  cos  +   + c for cos  given sin  =
x
.
2 k
k2  x  x 
2
 x
= 1 −   + sin −1   + c k
2 k k  k   x


since cos  = 1 − sin 2 
k − x2
2
2
x k x
= k 2 − x2 + sin −1 + c
2 2 k k 2 − x2
cos  =
k
 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 1 Markers Report

(ii) x2 y 2 To find the area enclosed

(a) Point of intersection of + = 1 and x 2 + y 2 = 7 between two curves, the points
4 16 of intersection between the two
Substitute y 2 = 7 − x 2 into 4 x 2 + y 2 = 16 curves must be found first to get
the correct the limits for
4 x 2 + 7 − x 2 = 16,  x =  3 and y = 2 integration.
Area Many students used the wrong
3
values for the limits of the
=4 16 − 4 x 2 − 7 − x 2 dx integral.
0
3
= 4  2 4 − x 2 − 7 − x 2 dx Note the correct method to use
0 the answer from part (i) to
3 evaluate
x 4 x
= 8  4 − x 2 + sin −1  3

2 2 2 0 0
16 − 4 x 2 dx .
3 The coefficient of x2 must be one
x 7 x 
− 4  7 − x 2 + sin −1 
before the result can be applied
2 2 7 0 directly as shown.
 3 3   7 3 OR Alternatively
= 8 + 2sin −1 − 0  − 4  3 + sin −1 
 2 2   2 7

3
16 − 4 x 2 dx
0
  3
= 4 3 + 16   − 4 3 − 14sin −1 1 3
2 4 2 − ( 2 x ) dx
= 
2

3 7 2 0

16 3 1  2x 2 42 2x 
= − 14sin −1 =  4 − x 2 + sin −1 
3 7 2 2 2 4
16 3 +c
A= , B = −14, C =
3 7

OR For area taken with respect to y-axis

 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 1 Markers Report

Area
 41 7 
=4   16 − y 2 dy −  7 − y 2 dy 
 2 2 2

4
y y
= 2  16 − y 2 + 8sin −1 
2 4 2
7
y 7 y 
−4 7 − y 2 + sin −1 
2 2 7 2
 1
= 2 8sin −1 1 − 2 3 − 8sin −1 
 2
7 7 2 
− 4  sin −1 1 − 3 − sin −1 
2 2 7
      2
= 16   − 4 3 − 16   − 14   + 4 3 + 14sin −1
2 6 2 7
2 5
= 14sin −1 −
7 3
−5 2
A = , B = 14, C =
3 7

 41 
Volume =2   (16 − y 2 ) dy −  7 − y 2dy 
(b) 7 Many students used the wrong
expressions for volume.
 24 2
 Since the rotation is about y axis
= 14.58 (to 2 dp) the basic formula should be
y2
Volume =  x 2dy
y1

The limits are y coordinates of

the region enclosed and the
volume generated using this
formula is multiplied by 2 and
not 4.
9(a) Quarter Increment Monthly pay for the quarter Correct reading and
(i) 1 - 3000 understanding of the question are
2 0.6(3000) 3000+0.6(3000) key here. Many students
3 0.62(3000) 3000+0.6(3000)+ 0.62(3000) attempted the question using
previously studied standard
methods, which will not apply to
Qn = 3000(1 + 0.6 + 0.62 + 0.63 + ....0.6n −1 )
this question.
1 − 0.6n Students who took the time to
= 3000 = 7500(1 − 0.6n ) read and write out the monthly
1 − 0.6
pay for at least the first three
quarters, manged to proceed well
with the question.
 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 1 Markers Report

It is good to label the columns of

the table you are forming, as it
also clarifies your own thinking.

It is necessary to show the

geometric series before
summing it using the sum of
terms of GP formula.

Since the result to be proved is

given, merely working
backwards a few steps will not
be sufficient to prove the result.
(ii) 17th month is in the 6th quarter Reading the question correctly
Q6 = 7500(1 − 0.66 ) = 7,150.08 would have allowed students to
use the answer from (i) above, to
answer the rest of the question
His salary for the 17th month of work is $7,150(to nearest very easily.
dollar) Many students did this part
without understanding what Qn
stands for.
(iii) Total salary for first two years of work Several students resorted to
8 adding up individual terms and
=3  7500(1 − 0.6 ) = 146816.87 ( from GC)
n=1
n
wasting their time, instead of
using the GC or the sum of GP
formula.
Total salary for two years of work is $146,817 ( to nearest
dollar)

Alternatively,
Total salary for first two years of work
8
= 3 7500(1 − 0.6n )
n =1
8
= 22500 (1 − 0.6n )
n =1

 8

= 22500 8 −  0.6n 
 1 
 0.6(1 − 0.68 ) 
= 22500 8 − = 146816.87
 1 − 0.6 
Total salary for two years of work is $146,817 ( to nearest
dollar)
(iv) Increment in the nth quarter if he stays in the job, The general expression for the
3000 ( 0.6 n −1
)  80 increment can be written down
easily. Many students used the
Use GC table: n  8 difference between the monthly
pay in two consecutive quarters
He will stay in his job for 24 months.
 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 1 Markers Report

to get the expression which is a

very long-winded method.

Many also did not use tables

from GC to get answer.

When forming the inequality,

you should be clear which case
you are considering.
Ie if he quits the job then
( )
3000 0.6n−1  80 will be used,
which leads to the answer
n  8.091 . Therefore, he quits in
the 9th quarter. So, he stays on
the job for 8 quarters or
24months.
(b) Total amount required for 10 workers over n years Again, reading the question
(i) n accurately will help.
10 12   2(90) + (n − 1)40  200000
2 The loyalty incentive is
24n 2 + 84n − 2000  0 increasing by a fixed amount
−11.045  n  7.5449 each year, meaning it is an
arithmetic progression. i.e
90, 90+40, 90+2(40), 90+3(40),
Or using GC table ……for n years.
Sum of AP can be used to get the
n Total sum total.
7 176,400 Since it is a monthly incentive
8 202,800 and it is for 10 persons, the sum
must be multiplied by 12 x10 to
n7 get the total amount required.
The budget will last for a maximum of 7 years.
(ii) Highest incentive amount will be in the 7th year
i.e. 90 +(7-1)40=$330

10(i) Well done

x x

By Pythagoras’ Theorem,

2
1  3 2 3
height of triangle = x2 −  x  = x = x
2  4 2
 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 1 Markers Report

 3 
x + 2 y + 2  x  = a
 2 

y=
1
2
( (
a − 1+ 3 x )) (shown)

(ii) 2 Most students could find the

 3   1 2 1 2 1
height of pyramid =  x  −  x  = x = x height of pyramid.
 2  2  2 2
For V, most students found the
1  1  volume of the pyramid only.
V = x2 y + x2 
3  2 
x Students need to add the
volume of the cuboid: x 2 y .
1 1
(
= ax 2 − 1 + 3 x3 +
2 2
)
1 3
3 2
x
Most students went on to
1  1 1 3 3 differentiate V but did not
= ax 2 +  − −  x
2 3 2 2 2  dV
attempt to solve = 0.
dx
dV  1 1 3 2
= ax + 3  − −  x
dx Some have forgotten to prove
3 2 2 2 
maximum.
 1 3 3 3 2
= ax +  − − x
 2 2 2  For the first derivative test,
students must indicate the
dV actual values in the table.
When =0
dx For the second derivative test,
students must substitute the x
 1 3 3 3 2
 ax +  − − x =0 value found and get a negative
 2 2 2 
d 2V
value for .
  1 3 3 3  dx 2
 x  a +  − −  x  = 0
 2 2
  2  
 x = 0 (rejected since x  0) or
a
x= = 0.295a
1 3 3 3
− + +
2 2 2

Using second derivative test,

 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 1 Markers Report

d 2V  1 3 3 3
= a + 2  − − x
dx 2
 2 2 2 
 
 1 3 3 3  a

= a + 2  − −   
 2 2 2  1 3 3 3 
− + + 
 2 2 2 
= a − 2a
= −a  0

Maximum V.

OR Using first derivative test,

x 0.290a a 0.3a
1 3 3 3
− + +
2 2 2

dV 0.00482a 2 0 −0.00519a 2
dx 0 0
Slope / - \

(iii) Many students cannot

distinguish between height of
1
the pyramid, x in (ii), and
2
the height of water, h in this
case.

Many students used the volume,

By similar triangles, V in (ii) instead of finding the
volume of water, V1 in this case.
x1 h
= Students should note the
x 1
x following:
2 2
2 They can then express x1 in
x1 = h
2 terms of h and hence V1 in
dV1
terms of h in order to find
dh
before applying the chain rule.
 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 1 Markers Report

Since it is a square base pyramid, its base area is ( 2 x1 ) . To find dV1 , students must
2

Volume of water, V1 dh
2 attempt to express V1 in terms
1 1   2   2
= ( 2 x1 ) h =  2  h   h = h3
2
of h first. It is WRONG to
3 
3   2   3 differentiate V when it is in
1
dV1
= 2h 2 terms of x1 and h.
dh
dh dV1 dh
= 
dt dt dV1
 1 
= ( 0.1)  2 
 2h 
 1 
= ( 0.1)  2 
 2(0.05a) 
20
=
a2
20
The depth of the water is increasing at a rate of m/mins.
a2

11 (i) dN Well done

= kN ( P − N )
dt

11 (ii) dN P − 1 Many did not use the

Using N = 1 and = when t = 0 , conditions given to find k.
dt 10
P −1
= k (1)( P − 1)
10
1
k =
10
 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 1 Markers Report

dN N Students separated the

= (P − N ) variables correctly, but they
dt 10
should show this step before
1 1
 N ( P − N ) dN =  10 dt they start integrating:
1 1
 N ( P − N ) dN =  10 dt
1 1
1
 NP + ( P −P N ) dN =  10 dt The integration techniques
used were correct, but many
careless mistakes were seen.
1 1 t
ln ( N ) − ln ( P − N ) = + C (Note: N  0 and P  N )
P P 10

1  N  t
ln   = +C
P  P − N  10
 N 
ln   = 0.1Pt + PC
 P−N 
N
= e0.1Pt + PC
P−N
N
= Ae0.1Pt whereby A = e PC
P−N
Students should introduce the
N = Ae0.1Pt ( P − N ) constant A and attempt to make
N the subject.
N = APe0.1Pt − ANe0.1Pt
N + ANe0.1Pt = APe0.1Pt
N (1 + Ae0.1Pt ) = APe0.1Pt
Working MUST be shown to
APe 0.1Pt illustrate how students can
N= proceed from this
1 + Ae0.1Pt
APe0.1Pt
APe0.1Pt N= to the
N = 0.1Pt −0.1Pt 1 + Ae0.1Pt
e (e + A) expression given.
AP
N= (Shown)
A + e −0.1Pt
 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 1 Markers Report

11 (iii) Since the population size is 1 million,  P = 1000 . Many students attempted to
find A, but they did not write
Using N = 1 when t = 0, down the value of P in the
expression for N.
1000 A
1=
A + e0 For the sketch, the horizontal
A + 1 = 1000 A asymptote and the x-intercept
999 A = 1 MUST be shown. The curve
can only be drawn in the first
1
A= quadrant as t, N > 0.
999
Students must learn how to get
1000 the curvature (near the origin)
N= 999 from their GC.
1
+ e −100t
999

N (thousands)

1 t (hrs)

11 (iv) In the long term, the number of people who will receive a piece Students must explain in
of information will tend towards the population size of 1 CONTEXT and use key words
million. such as tends to or approaches
1 million. It is incorrect to say
the entire population will get
the piece of information.
 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 1 Markers Report

11 (v) When N = 0.99 1000 = 990, using GC to solve Well done for those with the
correct A and P stated in the
1000 earlier parts.
990 = 999
1 However, students must READ
+ e −100t the question carefully to
999
correct their answer to the
t = 0.1150187 hr = 6.901122 min  7 min (nearest minute) nearest minute.

It takes about 7 minutes for a piece of information to reach 99%

of the population of one million.

 4  −2  Most students can score at

12(i)     least 2 marks
l AP :r =  −5  +   1  ……..(1) Common mistakes:
 10   2
    1) Some just verify (12,-13,6)
     0
0 0 falls on  1 by substituting
 1 : r .  1  =  −1 .  1  = 5 …….(2)  12 
 3  2   3  
       −13  into equation of  1
 6 
Subst (1) into (2)  
 4 − 2   0  i.e
     12   0 
 −5 + 2  .  1  = 5    
 10 +    3 
     −13  .  1  = 0 − 13 + 18 = 5
 6   3
−5 + 2 + 30 + 3 = 5    
 = −4 2) Some wrote
 4 + 8   12   12 
     
OP =  −5 − 8  =  −13  P = −13 = (12,-13,6)
 
 10 − 4   6   6 
     
P(12, −13, 6) 3) Some did not conclude that
coordinates of P is
(12,-13,6)
4) Many write vector a as “a”
and not “ a ”
~

(ii) Method 1 Not well done especially

Equation of normal to  1 students who used method 2.
Common mistakes:
 12   0   12  1)Many assume that
     
LN : r =  −13  +   1  =  −13 +  
 6   3   6 + 3 
     
 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 1 Markers Report

Let F be the foot of perpendicular from A to normal to  4  0

plane    
r =  −5  +   1 
 12   10   3
     
OF =  −13 +   ………………(1)
 6 + 3 
  is vector equation of line AF
 12   4   8  and found the position vector
      of the foot of perpendicular
AF =  −13 +   −  −5  =  −8 +   from A to plane  1 .
 6 + 3   10   −4 + 3 
      2) Some assume that
AF ⊥ LN  4 
 
 0 OF =  −5 +  
   10 + 3 
AF  1  = 0  
 3
 
 8   0
  
 −8 +    1  = 0
 −4 + 3   3 
  
−8 +  − 12 + 9 = 0
=2
 8   8
   
AF =  −8 +   =  −6 
 −4 + 3   2 
   
 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 1 Markers Report

(ii) Method 2
Let A’ be the mirror image of A in the normal to the
plane and F be the foot of perpendicular from A to the
normal Students who used method 2
F A (vector component) to find
A’
FP did badly.

Common mistakes are

^ ^
P 1) FP = AP. u u
 12   4   8 
     
AP =  −13  −  −5  =  −8 
^ ^
2) FP = ( PA. u) u
 6   10   −4 
      ^ ^
3) AF = ( AP  u) u
  0  0
 1   1  
FP =  AP • 1 1 where
1 + 9    1 + 9  
  3    3
0
 8   0    0  0  0 
^ 1  
u= 1
1        1    
=  −8  •  1    1  = (−8 − 12)  1  =  −2  1 + 9  
10       10  3   −6   3
 4   3    3     
 8  0  8 
AF = AP + PF =  −8  +  2  =  −6 
 −4   6   2 
     
 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 1 Markers Report

(iii) Let LN be the normal to  1 at P Not well Done

Method 1 Many assume that C is the
From (1) in (ii) mirror image of A in LN.
 12   12  OA + OC
   
i.e = OF
OF =  −13 + 2  =  −11 2
 6 + 6   12  commonly seen which is
    incorrect. The mirror image
Let A’ be the mirror image of A in LN A’ falls on the line PC .
OA + OA'
= OF
2 Hence although they
 12   4   20  manage to obtain the
      equation of line PC because
OA' = 2OF − OA = 2  −11 −  −5  =  −17  P, A’ and C are collinear,
 12   10   14 
      the working is incorrect.

 20   12   8   2
       
PA' =  −17  −  −13  =  −4  = 4  −1
 14   6   8   2
       

A’ falls on line PC Expressing the equation in

 12   2 the form
   
Hence equation of lPC : r =  −13  +   −1
 6   2 ( r − a )  b = 0 is badly done
   
  12    2 
    
l PC :  r −  −13     −1 = 0
  6   2 
    
(iii) Method 2
Let A’ be the mirror image of A in the normal to the
plane and F be the foot of perpendicular from A to the
normal
F A
A’

 16 
  Students are careless
AA ' = 2 AF =  −12 
 4  regarding the directions of
  the vectors
1)Method 2
FA ' = FA
 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 1 Markers Report

 −8  16   8  2
       
PA ' = PA + AA ' =  8  + 12  =  −4  = 4  −1
 4 4  8  2
       

A’ falls on line PC
 12   2
Hence equation of lPC : r =  −13  +   −1
 
 6   2
   
  12    2 
    
l PC :  r −  −13     −1 = 0
  6   2 
    
2) Method 3 (Ratio
(iii) Method 3 theorem)
PA' + PA
FP = instead of
PA' + PA 2
PF =
2 PA' + PA
PF =
 0   −8   8  2 2
     
PA' = 2PF − PA = 2  2  −  8  =  −4  = 4  −1
6  4   8  2
       

A’ falls on line PC
 12   2
Hence equation of lPC : r =  −13  +   −1
 
 6   2
   
  12    2 
    
l PC :  r −  −13     −1 = 0
  6   2 
    
 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 1 Markers Report

(iv) Method 1
 4  −2  This is a “show” question
    but many just wrote
l AP :r =  −5  +   2 
 10   1  −2   2 
       
 2  2  . 1  = 0
 1   2
 2 : r .  1  = 1    
 2 and did not show the scalar
  product.
 −2   2 
    Although no marks were
 2  .  1  = −4 + 2 + 2 = 0
 1   2 deducted, students should
    explain why when the
 n ⊥  2 and n ⊥ l AP scalar product is zero, this
lAP //  2 implies lAP //  2 .

Method 2
 4  −2 
    Insufficient working like
l AP :r =  −5  +   2  …………(1)
 10   1 method 1 was also seen for
    method 2.
 2
 2 : r .  1  = 1 …………(2)
 2
 
Substitute (1) into (2)

 4 − 2   2 
   
 −5 + 2  .  1  = 1
 10 +    2 
   
LHS= 8 − 4 − 5 + 2 + 20 + 2 = 23  1
No solution
None of the points on the line passing through AP falls
on  2 . Hence lAP //  2

(v) Method 1
Pick a point Q (0,1,0) on  2 . Common mistake
A ( 4, −5,10) is a point on lAP. Shortest distance =
 4   2
 4   0  4     
     
QA =  −5  −  1  =  −6   −6    1 
 10   2 
 10   0   10     
     
Shortest distance between the ray AP and  2 22 + 12 + 22
 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 1 Markers Report

 4   2
   
 −6  .  1 
 10   2  8 − 6 + 20 22
   
= = =
22 + 12 + 22 3 3
Method 2 Not well Done
Let N be the foot of perpendicular from A to plane  2 Some thought that the
 4  2   4 + 2  shortest distance is
     
l AN :r =  −5  +   1  =  −5 +   ON
 10   2   10 + 2 
     
 4 + 2   2 
   
 −5 +   .  1  = 1
 10 + 2   2 
   
8 − 4 − 5 +  + 20 + 4 = 1
22
=−
9
 44   8 
 4− 9   − 9 
   
 22   67 
ON =  −5 −  =  − 
9 9
   
 10 − 44   46 
 9   9 


 8 
 4+ 9 
   44 
 67  1  
AN =  −5 +  =  22 
9 9 
   44 
 10 − 46 
 9 

1 22
AN = 442 + 222 + 442 =
9 3
 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 2 Markers Report

Qn Solutions Comments
1(i) a  /{0} Many students were able to quote the
condition for an inverse function to exist
but failed to realise that when a = 0 , the
line becomes a horizontal straight line,
which is not one-one.
(ii) y = fg(x)= 1 – 2g(x) Better performing students realized that
Reflection of the graph of y = g(x) in the x-axis followed instead of substituting the rule of g(x) into
by scaling by scale factor 2 parallel to the y-axis followed the composite function directly, they
by translation 1 unit in the positive y-direction. could just describe a series of
OR transformation to get from y = g(x) to y =
Translation of the graph of y = g( x) by 1 unit in the 1 – 2g(x).
2
negative y-direction followed by reflection in the x – axis Students should avoid using words such
followed by scaling by scale factor 2 parallel to the y-axis. as ‘flip’ or ‘transform’ to describe any
OR transformations. Instead, to use ‘reflect’,
Translation of the graph of y = g( x) by unit in the
1 ‘translate’ and ‘scale’.
2
negative y-direction followed by scaling by scale factor 2 Do also note that scale factor is a positive
parallel to the y-axis followed by reflection in the x – axis. numerical value and do not contain x in it.

(iii)  7 − ( x 2 + 3) for 0  x  2 This part of the question tests students on

 the condition for a composite function to
gg( x ) =  7 − (7 − x ) for 2  x  5
 (7 − x ) 2 + 3 for 5  x  7 exist. For gg to exist, the range of g 
 domain of g. For the answer for
5  x  7 , since the range of g is  0, 2
 4 − x2 for 0  x  2
 (refer to the function g given in the qns
 gg( x ) =  x for 2  x  5
 x 2 − 14 x + 52 for 5  x  7 whose rule is 2  x  7 ), the rule
 y = 7 − x will be put into ‘x’ of the rule
y = x 2 + 3 , since its domain is  0, 2 . For
students who put y = 7 − x into the ‘x’ of
y = 7 − x , you may wish to note that range
of g =  0, 2 domain of g = ( 2, 7  .
2(i) x+a a Some students faced difficulty finding the
y= −
b x+b equation of the oblique asymptote. An
x+a easier way to see it would be to rewrite the
Equation of asymptotes are : y = and x = − b
b x a a
equation of curve as y = + − ,
b b x+b
 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 2 Markers Report

Qn Solutions Comments
x+a a which resembles the form of
When y = 0 , =
b x+b a
y = mx + c − . As the question asks
( x + a)( x + b) = ab x+b
x 2 + x (a + b) = 0 for the equations of asymptotes, just
x+a
x( x + (a + b)) = 0 writing − b or will lead to no mark
b
x = 0 or x = −(a + b)
being awarded.
dy 1 a
= +
dx b ( x + b)2
( x + b)2 + ab
= 0
b( x + b) 2
-(a+b) -a -b
since a  b  0 , using G.C:

(i) Method 1: From graph  x  0 or − (a + b)  x  −b Some careless mistakes such as putting b

instead of − b or missing out the equal
Method 2: signs at 0 or − a − b were commonly seen.
x+a a There were also some presentation issues,
 such as leaving the answer as 0  x .
b x+b
Students may wish to note that a
x+a a standalone ‘,’ is not found in the
− 0
b x+b mathematical notation list provided in the
x 2 + ax + bx + ab − ab 9758 syllabus. Instead, the use of ‘or’ is
0 more appropriate for the final answer as
b( x + b )
either this region x  0 or this region
x 2 + ax + bx − ( a + b)  x  − b will make the
0
b( x + b ) inequality true.

x 2 + ax + bx
But b  0 ,  0
( x + b)
 x( x + a + b)( x + b)  0, x  −b

-(a+b) -b 0

 x  0 or − (a + b)  x  −b
 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 2 Markers Report

Qn Solutions Comments
(ii) a− x a Some common mistakes seen here
For 
b b− x include:

Replace x in (1) with - x • rejecting − x  0 immediately,

− x  0 or − (a + b)  − x  −b • missing out the equal sign for a + b
 x  0 or b  x  (a + b) and − a − b and
• poor application of solving inequality
with modulus sign. For example, a
significant number of students have
− a − b  x  a + b as their answers.

Method 1:

a+b

-(a + - b b a+b
b)
 x = 0 or − (a + b)  x  −b or b  x  (a + b)

Method 2
 x  0 or b  x  (a + b)
 x = 0 or x  b and x  (a + b)

-(a + -b 0 b a+
b) b
 x = 0 or − (a + b)  x  −b or b  x  (a + b)

Method 3
a− x a a− x a
  − 0
b b− x b b− x
 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 2 Markers Report

Qn Solutions Comments
a− x a
Sketch y = − = f (− x )
b b− x

-(a+b) -a -b b a (a+b)

 x = 0 or − (a + b)  x  −b or b  x  (a + b)
3(i) iz 2 − ( 5 + i ) z + 2 − 6i = 0 There were various methods seen to solve
this question, such as completing the
5 + i  [−(5 + i)]2 − 4(i)(2 − 6i)
z= square, letting z = a + bi and proceeding
2i to compare real and imaginary
5 + i  2i coefficients, etc, but the most efficient
=
2i way would be to solve it using the
5 + i  (1 + i ) quadratic formula and then use the GC to
=
2i evaluate. For students who convert a + bi
6 + 2i 4 and a − bi to factors first and compare
= or
2i 2i coefficients with the original question, do
= 1 − 3i or − 2i note that this method is incorrect as the 2
roots of the quadratic equation do not
occur in conjugate pairs, since not all the
coefficients are real.

(a) −iw2 − (1 − 5i ) w + 2 − 6i = 0 As this is a hence question, students

(ii) would have to use the answers from part
Since w = iz ,
(i) to make a replacement and then solve
w = i (1 − 3i ) or i ( −2i )
for w. Solving this part as a fresh new
= 3 + i or 2 question will warrant zero mark.

(a) Since P( z ) is a polynomial of degree 4 with real The concept tested here is whether
(iii) coefficient, hence 1 + 3i and 2i are also the roots. students understand that a polynomial
with real coefficients would have
complex roots in conjugate pairs. Since
the 2 roots in part (i) are the roots of P( z ) ,
their conjugates would also be roots.
 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 2 Markers Report

Qn Solutions Comments
P( z ) = ( z + 2i )( z − 2i )( z − 1 − 3i )( z − 1 + 3i ) Students would also need to be mindful of

(
= ( z 2 + 4 ) ( z − 1) + 9
2
) what they wrote. P(z) is a polynomial in z,
not x!
= ( z 2 + 4 )( z 2 − 2 z + 10 )
= z 4 − 2 z 3 + 14 z 2 − 8 z + 40

4 U n + U n −1 = cos( 2n + 1)  + cos( 2 ( n − 1) + 1) Must show the steps on how the MF26
formulas are applied after second line.
= cos( 2n + 1)  + cos( 2n − 1)

= 2 cos
( 2n + 1) +( 2n − 1) cos ( 2n + 1) −( 2n − 1)
2 2
= 2 cos 2n cos 
2N 2N
Need to re-arrange to get this. Some left
 ( −1) cos2n =  ( −1) (U n + U n−1 )
n +1 n +1

n =1 n =1
1
out .
2N
1 2cos 
=  ( −1) (U n + U n−1 )
n +1

n =1 2 cos 
1 2N
 ( −1) (U n + U n−1 )
n +1
=
2 cos  n =1 While doing the Method of Difference,
1 some students mis-read the expression of
= [U1 + U 0 U n + U n−1 . Instead of starting with
2 cos 
− U 2 − U1 U1 + U 0 , some started with U1 + U 2 and
+U 3 + U 2 resulted in cancellation of wrong terms.
−U 4 − U 3

+ U 2 N −1 + U 2 N − 2
− U 2 N − U 2 N −1 ]
1
= [U 0 − U 2 N ]
2 cos 
1
= [cos  − cos ( 4 N + 1)  ]
2 cos 
1  cos ( 4 N + 1)  
= 1 − 
2 cos  
 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 2 Markers Report

Qn Solutions Comments
n  Most students are able to apply
2n =  = 41 41 10

 =  −
3 6
41
n
 ( −1) cos
n +1 n =11 n =1 n =1

n =11 3
Many did not realise that the upper limit
40
n 41 10 n
=  ( −1) cos + ( −1) cos −  ( −1) cos
n +1 41+1 n +1
in (ii) is 2N, so
n =1 3 3 n =1 3
41 cannot be = 2N. Hence the need to
    split

 cos ( 4(20) + 1)   cos ( 4(5) + 1)  to sum from n=1 to n=40 then add
1
= 1 − 6 + cos 41 − 1 1 − 6 41st term separately.
  
2   3 2  
 cos   cos
 6   6  40
To apply  some didn’t realise they
n =1
     
 cos ( 81)   cos ( 21)  2N=40 to get N = 20 and not n=40, thus
1 6 41 1 6
= 1 −  + cos − 1 −    
  cos ( 4(20) + 1)
2
  3 2
  40
n 1  
 ( −1)
cos cos n +1 6
cos = 1 − 
 6   6  3 2 
n =1
 cos 
1 1 1 1  6 
= + − =
2 2 2 2

5(i) 1

( )
−1
x = ecos 2t
, y = 1 − 4t 2 2
Some students forgot about the – 2 at the
dx −2 −1
numerator of dx = −2
=
−1
ecos 2t , ecos 2t .
dt 1 − 4t 2 dt 1 − 4t 2

1 1
dy 1 2 − 2
( ) ( )
−
= ( −8t ) 1 − 4t = −4t 1 − 4t 2 2
While applying chain rule, some forgot to
dt 2
1
write down ecos
−1
2t
in the dx = −2
−4t (1 − 4t )
−1
2 − 2 ecos 2t

dy dt 1 − 4t 2
= 1
−2 (1 − 4t 2 )
dx − −1
2 ecos 2t

dy
2t Some were able to say that = 0 but
= −1
dx
ecos 2t
gave wrong conclusion like tangent is a
stationary point or // to y-axis
dy 2t
As t = 0, = cos−1 2t = 0 ,
dx e

The tangent to C at t = 0 is parallel to the x-axis.

 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 2 Markers Report

Qn Solutions Comments
(ii) y Many students didn’t realise that
−1 1
 t  will result in the open-circles
2 2
for the end-points on the graph.

Only a minority didn’t set GC Windows

x for T-values.
O (1, 0 ) ( e ,0)


(iii)  3 3  
1 dy 1 − 3 Some didn’t use the coordinate of P to
Equation of tangent at 
P e , , t = , = e
 2  4 dx 2
solve for the t-value at that point.


 
 Some didn’t sub t = 0.25 into dy/dx to get
3 1 −
y− = e 3
 x − e 3
 the gradient and left the final equation
2 2   with parameter t.
 
3 1 −3 
y− = e  x − e3 
2 2  

1 − 3 1
y = e 3x+ −
2 2 2
 cos−1 2 q Some didn’t realise that for the normal to
2 2 
(iv) 1
Equation of normal at  Q e , (1 − 4 q ) , be // to y-axis, gradient of the tangent = 0
 
dy 2t
dy 2t  = cos−1 2t = 0  t = 0
= cos−1 2t = 0 , dx e
dx e
t =q =0,

Some didn’t realise that the normal to be
cos −1 2(0)  2 
Sub t = q = 0 into x = e =e 2
so Q  e ,1 // to y-axis has the x = h type of equation
 

 x = e 2 (Note: the normal is // y-axis)
 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 2 Markers Report

Qn Solutions Comments
(v) Some were unable to tell where the
required area is, therefore using the
wrong equation for the upper curve.

For the parametric part, some students

dx
forgot about the part of the integration
dt
1
−2
in 1 (1 − 4t 2 ) 2
0 −1
ecos 2t
dt .
4 1 − 4t 2

Required area
 
e2  1 − 3 3 1 e2
=  e x + −  dx −   ( y ) dx
e3 2 2 2 e3

1 −  3 1 1
−2
−  dx − 1 (1 − 4t 2 ) 2
e2
=  3  e 3 x +
0 −1
ecos 2t dt
e
2 2 2 4 1 − 4t 2

1 − 
e2 3 1
=  3  e 3 x + −  dx − 1 −2ecos 2t dt
0 −1

2 2 2
e
4

= 2.03543 − 1.88372
= 0.15171
= 0.152
6 (i) Case 1: All three magnets are different colour. Many students are able to identify the 3
4
C3 = 4 ways categories of cases. However quite a
4 number of students have difficulty finding
C3 : Out of 4 colours, select one 3 colors. the correct number of ways for each case.

Case 2: Two identical and one different colour. The most common mistake is not realising
4
C2  2C1 = 12 ways that the magnets of the same colour are
4
C2 : Out of 4 colours choose 2 colours. identical and hence not distinct.
For example to find the number of ways
2
C1 : Out of the 2 chosen colours, select one colour to be the to choose 3 magnets of different colour,
repeated colour. common mistakes includes writing 14C3 ,
5
C1  4C1  3C1 , etc.
Alternatively,
4
C1  3C1 = 12 ways
4
C1 : Out of 4 colours choose 1 colour to be the repeated
colour.
 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 2 Markers Report

Qn Solutions Comments
3
C1 : Out of the 3 remaining unchosen colours, select one
color to be the magnet with a different colour.

Case 3: All three magnets identical (same colour).

All red or all blue or all orange. (3 ways)

Total number of ways = 4 + 12 + 3 = 19 ways

6(ii) Method 1: Most students are able to identify at least
 5   4   3   3   4!  3 out of the 4 cases for $7 worth of
P (1 Red, 2 Blue, 1 Orange ) =          
 14   13   12   11   2!  magnets.
2160 90
= =
24024 1001
For method 1, the most common mistake
 5   4   4   2   4! 
P ( 2 Red, 1 Blue, 1 Green ) =            4!   4! 
 14   13   12   11   2!  is missing out on either   or   .
 2!   3! 
1920 80
= = Some students also did not realise that the
24024 1001 magnets were chosen without
 5   3   2   2   4!  replacement.
P (1 Red, 2 Orange, 1 Green ) =          
 14   13   12   11   2! 
720 30
= =
24024 1001
 3   2   1   4   4! 
P ( 3 Orange, 1 Blue ) =          
 14   13   12   11   3! 
96 4
= =
24024 1001
90 + 80 + 30 + 4 204
P ( $7 worth of magnets ) = =
1001 1001

Method 2:
Method 2 is not a commonly used method
C  4C  3C15
90
P (1 Red, 2 Blue, 1 Orange ) = 1 14 2 = among students. Some students who used
C4 1001 method 2 have problems finding the
C2  4C1  2C1
5
80 correct numerator for each case. For
P ( 2 Red, 1 Blue, 1 Green ) = 14
= example for the case of 1 Red, 2 Blue and
C4 1001
1 Orange, some made the mistake of
C1  3C2  2C1
( )
5
30
P (1 Red, 2 Orange, 1 Green ) = 14
= writing 5C1  4C1  3C1  3C1 .
C4 1001
C3  4C1
3
4
P ( 3 Orange, 1 Blue ) = 14
=
C4 1001
90 + 80 + 30 + 4 204
P ( $7 worth of magnets ) = =
1001 1001
 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 2 Markers Report

Qn Solutions Comments
6 No. of ways = (10 − 1)!  2!  10C3  3! This question is manageable for many
(iii) students. Common mistakes includes
= 522547200
missing out on either 2! or 3!.
(10 − 1)! refers to arranging 5 red, 4 blue and one group of Another common mistake is students
2 adjacent green in a circle. writing ( 9 − 1) !  2!  9C4  4! because
2! refers to permutating among the 2 adjacent green
magnets. they first arrange the 5 red and 4 blue
10 marbles in a circle and then choose 4
C3 refers to choosing 3 slots among the 10 slots for the 3
slots to insert the 3 orange magnets and 1
orange magnets. group of 2 green magnets. However, this
3! Refers to permutating among the 3 orange magnets. method is incorrect as it is missing out on
cases whereby the green magnets could
Complement method (not recommended for this question): be adjacent to the orange magnets.
Total no. of arrangements such that 2 green magnets are
adjacent
= (13 − 1)!  2! = 958003200 Some students tried the complement
method but with only a few being
No. of arrangements such that 2 green magnets are adjacent successful.
and only 2 orange magnets are together
( ) ( )
= (10 − 1)!  2!   10C2  2!  3C2  2! 
 
= 391910400
(10 − 1)!  2! refers to arranging 1 group of 2 green
magnets, 4 red and 5 blue magnets in a circle. 2! refers to
the group of 2 adjacent orange magnets swopping positions.
( 10
)
C2  2! refers to choosing 3 slots among the 10 slots for
the one group of 2 adjacent orange magnets and another
separate orange magnet. 2! refers to the group of 2 adjacent
orange magnets and the separate orange magnet swopping
positions.
( 3
)
C2  2! refers to choosing 2 orange magnets from the 3
orange magnets to be together. 2! refers to the group of 2
adjacent orange magnets swopping positions.

No. of arrangements such that 2 green magnets are adjacent

and 3 orange magnets are together
= (11 − 1) !  2!  3!
= 43545600

Required no. of ways = 958003200 − 391910400 − 43545600

= 522547200
 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 2 Markers Report

Qn Solutions Comments
7 (i) Let A be the event where Archer wins a game.
Let B be the event where Betty wins a game.
A A
p p
Note that the competition ends once any
A B B player wins two consecutive games.
0.25

p
p A
0.75 A
B

B B

7 P ( Archer wins the competition ) There are only 3 possible outcomes for
(ii) = 0.25 p + 0.25 (1 − p ) p + 0.75 p 2 Archer to win the competition, i.e.
WW, WLW, LWW
= 0.25 p + 0.25 p − 0.25 p 2 + 0.75 p 2
= 0.5 p + 0.5 p 2
(W: Win L:Lose)
= 0.5 p (1 + p )

7 P ( Betty won 2nd game|Betty won the competition ) “given that” suggests this is a conditional
(iii) P ( Betty lost 1st and won 2nd & 3rd game ) + P ( Betty won 1st & 2nd game ) probability question.
=
P ( Betty won the competition )

( 0.25)(1 − p )(1 − p ) + ( 0.75)(1 − p ) Note that the event described in the

= denominator is the complement of the
1 − P ( Archer won the competition )
event in (ii). Hence, the calculation is
( 0.25)(1 − p )(1 − p ) + ( 0.75)(1 − p )
= straightforward.
1 − 0.5 p ( p + 1)
Since p = 0.5,
P ( Betty won 2nd game|Betty won the competition )
( 0.25)(1 − 0.5)(1 − 0.5) + ( 0.75 )(1 − 0.5 )
=
1 − ( 0.25 )( 0.5 + 1)
( 0.25)( 0.5)( 0.5) + ( 0.75)( 0.5)
=
1 − 0.375
= 0.7
 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 2 Markers Report

Qn Solutions Comments

Alternative method to find P(Betty won the competition)

P(WW) + P(WLW) + P(LWW)

= 0.75(1 − p) + 0.75 p (1 − p ) + 0.25(1 − p ) 2
= 0.75(0.5) + 0.75(0.5)(0.5) + 0.25(0.5) 2
= 0.625

7 Common mistakes seen were omitting the

(iv) w 0 1 2 case where w = 0 or including the case
 3  1  3  3  1  1   1  1  where w = 3 , which is clearly a
   =        +
P (W = w)  4  2  8  4  2  2   4  2 
misinterpretation of the question.
 1  1  1  1  1  1  1 
+     =     +
 4  2  2  4  4  2  2 
 3  1  1  3
    =
 4  2  2  8

7 3 1 3 Working must be shown when finding

E(W ) = ( 0 )   + (1)   + ( 2 )   = 1
(v) 8 4 8 E(W 2 ) .
2 3 21 2 3 7
E(W 2 ) = ( 0 )   + (1)   + ( 2 )   = = 1.75
8 4 8 4 Writing E( X ) and E( X 2 ) are not

Var(W ) = E(W 2 ) −  E(W )  = 1.75 − 12 = 0.75 appropriate here. Students should write
2

the notations according to context.

Q8 a represents for every additional month that a 1-kilogram Students should quote $a instead of a
(i) Cheddar cheese is aged, the price increases by $a. units and mention that it is a fixed increase
in the price for each additional month.

Phrasings like “rate of change…with

respect to…”, “rate of increase”, ‘change
in price” etc. are vague and should be
avoided.

(ii) (A) 0.9085 Question clearly stated the accuracy

(B) 0.9751 required for the answers (i.e. 4 d.p).
Giving your answers to 3 s.f. are not
acceptable.
 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 2 Markers Report

Qn Solutions Comments
(iii) (B) is a better model since the r value is closer to 1 as It is not sufficient to claim that r value of
compared to model (A). Thus the data points in model (B) (B) is greater than that of (A). The
are more clustered along a straight line. relativity of these values to 1 is more
critical.
Equation of a suitable straight line:
It is not convenient to justify (B) is a better
ln P = 2.5641 + 0.15806 m model by describing the behaviour of P as
ln P = 2.56 + 0.158 m (3 s.f) [Final answer] m increases as the scatter diagrams are not
readily available.

Coefficients of regression line should be

given to 3 s.f. for final answer unless
otherwise specified.

(iv) When m = 14, lnP = 4.776945 Use accuracy of 5 s.f. for the coefficients
of regression line when performing
P = $ 118.74 (to the nearest cent) estimations.
m = 14 is within the sample data range of m (2.2  m  It is a serious misconception to say that
17.2), where the linear relationship still holds, thus the use the estimate of P is reliable because the
of this model to predict the value of P is appropriate and estimate is in the data range of P.
reliable.
In addition, claiming that “the estimate is
reliable because it is in the data range” is
ambiguous (Is it referring to m or P?)

(v) ln 1000P = 2.56 + 0.158 m (3 s.f) Note that the notation P, is unchanged in
the question except that its unit is now
given as dollars per gram.
To convert to dollars per kilogram, simply
multiply P by 1000.
 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 2 Markers Report

Q9 T ~ N (144 , 25 )
(i)
Since P (T  60k ) = 0.5 , 60k is the mean of the
144
distribution, 144 min. k = = 2.4
60
(ii) T ~ N (144 , 25 ) , X ~ N ( 236 , 81 ) Note:
➢use 0.9X or another variable to denote X
(
0.9 X − T ~ N 0.9 (236) − (144) , 0.9 2 (81) + (25) ) after 7pm.

0.9 X − T ~ N ( 68.4 , 90.61 ) (

➢ 0.9 X ~ N 212.4 , 0.9 2 (81) )
➢ Since train is faster, it takes a shorter time,
P ( 0.9 X − T  60 ) = 0.18877 = 0.189 (to 3 s.f) hence 0.9X − T is NOT necessary.
➢ Qn requires 0.9 X − T  60 ,
not T − 0.9 X  60 ,
not 0.9 X − 0.9T  60 ,
not 0.9 X − T  1 .
➢ “  ” is required, not “ < ”.
➢ Var ( 0.9X − T )
= Var ( 0.9 X ) + Var (T )
(Plus! Not minus)

(iii) Required conditional probability This question is a conditional probability

since it is given that the time taken is more
P( he takes train and took more than 4hrs, i.e T  2.4hrs)
= than 4 hours.
P( he takes either train or express bus and took more than 4 hrs)
In G.C, when normalcdf gives 0.49999,
0.7 P (T  ( 4 − 1.6 )  60 ) the probability is actually 0.5 because the
=
0.7 P (T  ( 4 − 1.6 )  60 ) + 0.3 P ( X  4  60 ) x value is the mean of the distribution.
Eg. P (T  144 ) = 0.5 since 144 is the
0.7 ( 0.5) mean. G.C could not give exact value
= (from (i))
0.7 ( 0.5) + 0.3 P ( X  240 ) due to rounding off error.
0.7 or 0.3 was commonly missing.
0.7 ( 0.5 )
=
0.7 ( 0.5 ) + 0.3 ( 0.32836 )

= 0.780365 = 0.780 (to 3 s.f)

(iv) Expected cost = 0.7 (54) + 0.3 (24) = $45 Note that (iii) and (iv) are not linked.
 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 2 Markers Report

10 To test HO :  = 535
(i) Against H1 :  < 535
Note that x, x ,  O or  1 are not
where  represents the population mean daily profit of the
nasi lemak stall holder. acceptable.

(ii) It is not necessary to assume that the daily profits are Sample size in this case is 45, not the
normally distributed for the test to be valid since n = 45 is number of days in past years.
large, Central Limit Theorem applies.
Central Limit Theorem applies, X
[Note: By Central Limit Theorem, sample means of the follows a normal distribution
daily profits of sample size 45 will follow a normal approximately, not X.
distribution approximately.]
(iii) Since HO is rejected at 5% level of significance, Different types of “Variances” (In
order of importance)
x − 535
z=  − 1.645
2591 1) Population variance : 
2
45
➢ Most useful but usually
( ) + 535
not
x  − 1.645 2591 available.
45
➢  = 2591
2

 x : x  522.52

  x : 0  x  523 (to 3 s.f) 2) Unbiased estimate

2
of population variance : s
(iv) Unbiased estimate for population variance is ➢ Quite useful.
45 45 ➢ Good “substitute” when
s2 =  sample variance =  2008 = population variance is not available.
45 − 1 45 − 1
➢ Formulae found in MF26.
2053.6364 n
➢ s2 =  sample
n −1 variance
Under H 0 , X ~ N  535 , 2053.6364  approx. by Central
 45 
Limit Theorem since n = 45 is large
3) Sample variance: No symbol
520 − 535 ➢ Most useless.
Value of test statistic, z = = – 2.22
2053.6364 ➢ Cannot be used directly.
45 ➢ Always convert to s 2 .
p - value = 0.013195 < 0.05  Reject H0.
There is sufficient evidence at the 5% level of significance
to conclude that the population mean daily profit is less than
$535.
 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 2 Markers Report

(v) 
If HO is not rejected, p – value >
100 Level of significance refers to
 
0.013195 >  % , not .
100 100
  1.3195

The largest level of significance is 1.31%. (to 2 d.p)

(1.32% is also acceptable.)
(vi) Note that this is a 2-tail test where H1 : 
To test HO :  = 535  535 at 8% level of significance.
Against H1 :   535 at 8% level of significance
Under H 0 , X ~ N  535 , 2591  approx. by Central Limit
Some common incorrect critical values:
 n  1) 1.4050716, due to 1 tail test.
Theorem since n is large. 2) 0.1004337, due to invNorm
center 0.08.
526 − 535
Value of test statistic, z =
2591 InvNorm center is referring to the area in
n the middle. In this case, it should be
In order not to reject HO , InvNorm center 0.92 instead.
526 − 535
−1.750686   1.750686
2591 Alternatively, invNorm left 0.04 or
n invNorm right 0.04.
− 9.901465  n  9.901465
DO NOT WRITE:
0  n  98.039016 526 − 535
~ N ( 0,1)
Greatest value of n is 98. 2591
n
[Note: In inequalities, before squaring both sides, it is The correct way is
necessary to check whether the inequality “make sense”. X − 535 ~ N ( 0,1)
For example, if 2591
n
−9
 1.750686 , this doesn’t make sense for any real
2591 Errors were commonly seen when solving
n
values of n since a negative value (LHS) cannot be larger the inequalities algebraically.
than a positive value (RHS). It is INCORRECT to square
−9
both sides to obtain n. Likewise, if  1.750686 ,
2591
n
this inequality is true for any real values of n, do not square
both sides to obtain a range of values of n blindly.]
 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 2 Markers Report

11
(a)
(i)
There are many successful attempts for
Among the first 6 chosen The 7th
chosen
this question for those who uses method 1.
customers, there are 4
customers using e-payment. customer is the
5th customer
using e-
payment For method 2, the most common mistake
Method 1:  6! 
Let W be the random variable the number of customers out is the missing term  .
 4!2! 
of first 6 chosen customers who uses e-payment at a
hawker stall.  6! 
  is necessary to account for the
W ~ B ( 6, 0.25 )  4!2! 
various permutations of the first 6
Required Probability = P (W = 4 )  0.25 customers whereby 4 of them uses e-
= 0.00824 (3.s.f) payments and 2 of them do not.
Method 2:
2  6! 
Required Probability = ( 0.25 ) ( 0.75 ) 
4
  0.25
 4!2! 
= 0.00824 (3.s.f)

(a) Let C be the random variable the number of customers out This part is successfully attempted by
(ii) of 40 customers who uses e-payment at a hawker stall. most students. It is heartening to observe
C ~ B ( 40, 0.25) that many student defined the random
variables and distributions used.
P ( C  10 ) = 0.583904
Let A be the random variable the number of customers out Some students misinterpreted or misread
of 40 customers who uses e-payment at a hawker stall. the question and ended up writing things
A ~ B ( 30, 0.583904 ) such as P ( C  10 ) , P ( C  10 ) ,
P ( A  15 ) = 1 − P ( A  14 ) P ( A  15 ) P ( A  15 ) , etc
= 1 − 0.1322406
= 0.867759 Note that
= 0.868 (3s.f) P ( A  15 )  1 − P ( A  15 )
P ( A  15 )  1 − P ( A  14 )
 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 2 Markers Report

(b) A random sample in this context means that each hawker This part is not well explained by many
(i) has an equal chance of being selected for the sample and students.
the selection of one hawker is independent of any other
hawkers. Note that each hawker has an equal
chance of being selected for the sample.
Quite a number of students thought that
only hawkers who uses the Foodgowhere
has an equal chance of being selected for
the sample.

Another common mistake is writing that

the probability of a hawker being selected
for the sample is independent of other
hawkers.

Some students did not answer the question

but instead wrote about the conditions
necessary for a binomial distributions to
be applicable.
(b) X ~ B ( n, p ) This part is well attempted by most
(ii) students.
Since E ( X ) = 3.96,
 np = 3.96 --------------(1) Most students are able to write out
Since P ( X  1) = 0.05303, equation (1).
P ( X = 0 ) + P ( X = 1) = 0.05303
C0 p 0 (1 − p ) + nC1 p1 (1 − p )
n n −1
n
= 0.05303
(1 − p )n + np (1 − p )n−1 = 0.05303 --------------(2) When writing out equation (2), some left
Sub. (1) into (2): out P ( X = 0 ) for the condition
−1 P ( X  1) = 0.05303 .
(1 − p ) + ( 3.96 )(1 − p )
3.96 3.96
p p = 0.05303
Using GC,
p = 0.3600375 = 0.360 (3s.f)
Some students did not know how to solve
3.96
n = = 11 (nearest integer) the 2 equations using GC.
0.3600375

Note n is an integer and hence answer for

n should not be in 3s.f.
 2022 H2 Maths Prelim Paper 2 Markers Report

(b) X ~ B (15, p ) Most students are aware that the modal

(iii) Since mode = 5  P X = 4  P X = 5 and P X = 5  P X =value
( ) ( ) ( ) ( 6 ) is 5 and many were able to state the
2 conditions needed for a modal value of
Considering P ( X = 4 )  P ( X = 5 ) , 5.
C4 p 4 (1 − p )  15C5 p 5 (1 − p )
15 11 10
Some students only stated one condition
(1365) ( p ) (1 − p )
4 11
( ) (1 − p )
 ( 3003) p 5 10
while some did not know that we need to
combine the results from the 2 conditions.
( p ) (1 − p )
4
1365 (1 − p ) − 3003 p   0
10

Some attempted to use the GC to solve but

Since (1 − p )  0 and p  0, ended up only stating one specific value
1365 (1 − p ) − 3003 p  0 of p whereby the modal value is 5.
1 − p − 2.2 p  0
5
p
16
Considering P ( X = 5 )  P ( X = 6 ) ,
C5 p 5 (1 − p )  15C6 p 6 (1 − p )
15 10 9

( 3003) ( p5 ) (1 − p )10  ( 5005) ( p 6 ) (1 − p )9

( p ) (1 − p )
5
3003 (1 − p ) − 5005 p   0
9

Since (1 − p )  0 and p  0,
3003 (1 − p ) − 5005 p  0
5
1− p − p0
3
3
p
8
Combining both results,
5 3
  p
16 8