IFY Half Mathematics

THE NCUK INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION YEAR

IFY Mathematics
Half Mathematics Examination

2023-24

Time Allowed
2 Hours 10 minutes

INSTRUCTIONS TO STUDENTS
Answer ALL questions

The marks for each question are indicated in square brackets [ ].

• A formula booklet and graph paper will be provided.

• An approved calculator may be used in the test.
• Show ALL workings in your answer booklet.
• Test materials must not be removed from the room.

DO NOT OPEN THIS QUESTION PAPER UNTIL INSTRUCTED BY THE

INVIGILATOR

V1 Exam 2324 © NCUK Ltd. 2024 Page 1 of 7

 IFY Half Mathematics

Question 1

Line 𝑙! has equation 𝑦 = 4𝑥 + 7.

Line 𝑙" has equation 𝑦 = 1 − 8𝑥.

Lines 𝑙! and 𝑙" intersect at point P.

Find the coordinates of point P. You must show your working. [3]

Question 2

!
In the expansion of (𝑘 + 2𝑥)# , the coefficient of the 𝑥 $ term is 3 times larger
"
% &
than the coefficient of the 𝑥 term in the expansion of (1 + 𝑘𝑥) .
[4]
Find the value of 𝑘.

Question 3

a) For event 𝑋, 𝑃(𝑋) = 0.46

Write down 𝑃(𝑋 ' ). [1]

b) A bag holds 𝑛 beads.

Four of these beads are yellow.

Two beads are drawn, one after the other with no replacement.

#
The probability that both beads are yellow is
$
.

Find the value of 𝑛. You must show your working. [4]

Question 4

a) Function 𝑓(𝑥) is defined as 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 ( − 5𝑥 " − 37𝑥 + 60.

i) Use the Factor Theorem to show that (2𝑥 − 3) is a factor of 𝑓(𝑥). [2]

ii) Divide 𝑓(𝑥) by (2𝑥 − 3) and hence factorise 𝑓(𝑥) completely. [4]

b) In a convergent geometric series, the common ratio, 𝑟, has the restriction

−1 < 𝑟 < 1.

Is this an open or a closed interval? Give a reason for your answer. [1]

V1 Exam 2324 © NCUK Ltd. 2024 Page 2 of 7

 IFY Half Mathematics

Question 5

a) Solve
3(9") ) − 82(3") ) = −27. [3]

b) Solve i) 2𝑦 *! × (2𝑦)*! = 64 [1]

,
√"# + × &'#
ii) = 1000 [3]
()# - ÷ +# ./

Question 6

a) ,- (
A curve has gradient function = − sin 𝑥 + cos 𝑥.
,. /01/ .

%
The curve passes through $ , 2'
&

Find the equation of the curve.

Give your answer in the form 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥). [3]

b) Find the exact value of

0
1 + 3𝑥 + 2𝑥 "
D 𝑑𝑥.
𝑥 [4]
!

Working must be shown.

Question 7

A circle has equation 𝑥 " + 𝑦 " − 14𝑥 + 6𝑦 − 42 = 0.

a) Find the radius of the circle and the coordinates of its centre. [4]

b) Confirm that point A (1, −11) lies on the circle. [1]

c) Find the equation of the tangent to the circle at point A.

Give your answer in the form 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑦 + 𝑐 = 0 where 𝑎, 𝑏 and 𝑐 are integers. [3]

V1 Exam 2324 © NCUK Ltd. 2024 Page 3 of 7

 IFY Half Mathematics

Question 8

a) A

60o
NOT TO SCALE
18 cm
20 cm

B
E
6 cm
8 cm

C
D
Figure 1

Figure 1 shows the acute-angled triangles ABE and ACD. They have a
common angle A which is 60o.

AB = 18 cm, BC = 6 cm, AE = 20 cm and ED = 8 cm.

'( + +
i) Write in the form ( where 𝑚 and 𝑛 are integers, and is in its [4]
)* , ,
simplest form.

ii) Without finding the size of angle D, find sin D.

-√-
Give your answer in the form where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are integers. [2]
√/

%
b) Solve tan(2𝜃 − ) = −1 (0 < 𝜃 < 2𝜋) [5]
#0

Give your answers as exact multiples of 𝜋.

Question 9

0
You are given log # 𝑝 − log # 𝑞 =
1

a) [3]
Show that 𝑝 = 𝑘𝑞 where 𝑘 is an integer to be found.

b) 1 # [3]
Hence find the value of 𝑝 and the value of 𝑞 if log % 𝑝 + log % 𝑞 = −2.
0 &

V1 Exam 2324 © NCUK Ltd. 2024 Page 4 of 7

 IFY Half Mathematics

Question 10

a) An arithmetic series has first term 6 and common difference 4.

𝑈1 denotes the 𝑛th term of the series.

𝑆1 denotes the sum of the first 𝑛 terms of the series.

0 [6]
Find the value of 𝑛 if 𝑆, = 7 × 𝑈1 .
"

b) 2
i) A geometric series is defined as 2𝜋 + + …..
3/

Write down the 8th term.

[2]
Give your answer in terms of 𝜋 and in simplified form.

ii) Another geometric series has first term 4 and common ratio 3.5

Find the sum of the first 8 terms. [3]

Give your answer to 4 significant figures.

In this question, 1 mark will be given for the correct use of significant figures.

Question 11

a) 2!3 23
If 𝑦 = 𝑒 ") − 3𝑒 ) − 10, solve + + 𝑦 = 0.
24 ! 24

Give your answer in exact form. [5]

b) A curve has equation

1 ( 1 "
𝑦= 𝑥 − 𝑥 .
36 4

Find the coordinates of the stationary values. [4]

V1 Exam 2324 © NCUK Ltd. 2024 Page 5 of 7

 IFY Half Mathematics

Question 12

1
𝑦 𝑦 =3−
4
0
𝑦= +1
4!

#
4 2, $
7

O (1, 0) 𝑥

𝑥=4
Figure 2
1 0
Figure 2 shows part of the curves 𝑦 = 3 − (𝑥 ≠ 0) and 𝑦 = + 1 (𝑥 ≠ 0)
4 4!
(
which intersect at [2, "
\.

The line 𝑥 = 4 is also shown.

1
The curve 𝑦 = 3 − crosses the 𝑥 − axis at (1, 0).
4
a)
Find the area, which is shaded on the diagram, that is bounded by both
curves, the 𝑥 − axis and the line 𝑥 = 4.
-
Give your answer in the form
/
− ln 𝑐 where 𝑎, 𝑏 and 𝑐 are integers. [6]

For a particular value of 𝑥 , the tangent of one curve is perpendicular to the

tangent of the other.
"
b) Show that 𝑥 = √12 [3]

V1 Exam 2324 © NCUK Ltd. 2024 Page 6 of 7

 IFY Half Mathematics

Question 13

20𝑥 cm 21𝑥 cm

𝐿 cm

𝑦 cm

Figure 3
Figure 3 shows a solid piece of wood in the shape of a triangular prism of
length 𝐿 cm. Each end is made up of a right-angled triangle with sides of
length 20𝑥 cm, 21𝑥 cm and 𝑦 cm.

The total surface area of the piece of wood is 31500 cm2.

a) i) Show that 𝑦 = 29𝑥. [1]

ii) Express 𝐿 in terms of 𝑥. [2]

iii) Show that the volume, 𝑉, of the piece of wood is given by [3]

𝑉 = 94500𝑥 − 1260𝑥 ( .

b) Use calculus to find the value of 𝑥 which gives the maximum volume. [4]

c) Confirm that your value of 𝑥 gives a maximum. [3]

This is the end of the examination

V1 Exam 2324 © NCUK Ltd. 2024 Page 7 of 7