CE Maths

Past Paper Questions on Chapter 5 (Exponential & Log Functions)

Paper I Questions
Index 1995 – Q7 (6 marks)
1996 – Q2 (3 marks) Solve the following equations without using a
calculator.
Simplify .
a) 3x =

b) log x + 2 log 4 = log 48.

1998 – Q4 (3 marks)

Simplify and express your answer with 1997 – Q3 (5 marks)

a) Simplify and express your answer with

positive indices.
positive indices.
1999 – Q1 (3 marks)
b) Simplify
Simplify and express your answer with

positive indices. 2003 – Q4 (3 marks)

Solve the equation 4x + 1 = 8.
2000 – Q2 (3 Marks)
Multiple Choice Questions
Simplify and express your answer with
Index
positive indices. 1993 – MC01
If f(x) = 102x, then f(4y) =
2001 – Q1 (3 Marks) A. 10 4y B. 10 2 + 4y C. 108y
D. 40y E. 402y
Simplify and express your answer with

positive indices. 1994 – MC33

(3x)2 =
2002 – Q1 (3 Marks) A. B. 3x+2 C. 32x
D. 6x E. 92x
Simplify and express your answer with

positive indices. 1995 – MC04

Simplify
2004 – Q1 (3 marks)

Simplify and express your answer with A. B. C.

positive indices.
D. E.

2005 – Q2 (3 marks) 1995 – MC36

Factorize 2a n + 1 – 7a n – 30a n – 1
Simplify and express your answer with
A. (a n – 6)(2a + 5)
positive indices. B. a n (a + 6)(2a – 5)
C. a n (a – 6)(2a + 5)
Logarithm D. a n – 1 (a + 6)(2a – 5)
1994 – Q7 (6 marks) E. a n – 1 (a – 6)(2a + 5)

a) Simplify and express your answer

1996 – MC02
with positive indices. =
b) If log 2 = x and log 3 = y, express log in
terms of x and y. A. B. C. 9x – y

D. E. 33x – y

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1998 – MC07 1993 – MC34

If 9x + 2 = 36, then 3x =
=
A. B. C. 2
A. B. 2 –m
C. 2 m
D. E. 9
D. E.
1994 – MC34
1999 – MC04 If log 2 = a and log 9 = b, then log 12 =
If 4x = a, then 16x = A. B. C.
A. 4a B.a2 C. a4
D. 2a E. 4a D. E.

2000 – MC03 1995 – MC12

Simplify . If 125x = 25y and x, y are non-zero, find x : y.
A. 1 : 25 B. 1 : 5 C. 2 : 3
D. 3 : 2 E. 5 : 1
A. B. C.

1995 – MC38
D. E.
If 5a = 2b = 10c and a, b, c are non-zero, then
=
2001 – MC10
A. B. 1 C. 7
=

A. an – 1 B. an – 2(1 + a) C. 1 + an – 1 D. log 7 E.

D. 1 + E. 1 + a
1996 – MC38
Let x > y > 0. If log(x + y) = a and
2002 – MC03
log(x – y) = b, then log =
2x  8y =
A. 2x + 3y B. 2 3xy A. B. C.
C. 16x +y D. 16xy
D. E.

2003 – MC04
1997 – MC02
3x  9y =
If 2x  8x = 64, then x =
A. 3x + 2y B. 3 x + 3y
C. 27x +y D. 27xy A. B. C.

D. 2 E. 4
2004 – MC01

= 1997 – MC05
If log (x + a) = 2. then x =
A. 62n B. 63n C. 12n D. 122n
A. 2 – a B. 100 – a C.
2005 – MC01 D. 2 – log a E. 100 – log a
a  a (a + a) =
A. a4 B. 2a3 C. a3 + a D. 3a2 + a 1998 – MC40
Suppose log102 = a and log103 = b. Express
Logarithm log1015 in terms of a and b.
1993 – MC08 A. –a + b + 1 B. –a + 10b
If log (p + q) = log p + log q, then C. a + 2b D. (a + b)b
A. p = q = 1 B. p = C. . p = E

D. .p = E. . p =

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1999 – MC39
If log y = 1 + log x , then

A. B. y = 100 + x2
C. (10 + x)2 D. 10x2
E. 100x2

2000 – MC38
If log (x – a) = 3, then x =
A. 103 + a B.a3 C. 1000a
D. 1000 + a E. 30 + a

2001 – MC37
If log x2 = (log x)2, then x =
A. 1 B. 10 C. 100
D.1 or 10 E. 1 or 100

2002 – MC40
If log x2 = log 3x + 1, then x =
A. 2 B. 5 C. 30 D. 0 or 30

2003 – MC13
If 81x = 272y and x, y are non-zero integers, then x :
y=
A. 2 : 3 B. 3 : 4. C. 4 : 3 D. 3 : 2

2003 – MC40
If 10a + b = c, then b =
A. log c – a B. a – log c
C. D. c – 10a

2004 – MC39
If 5 = 10a and 7 = 10b, then log =

A. b – a – 1 B. b – a + 1
C. D.

2005 – MC39
If a and b are positive integers, then log(abba) =
A. ab log(ab) B. ab (log a)(log b)
C. (a + b) log(a + b) D. b log a + a log b

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Past Paper Questions on Chapter 5 (Exponential & Log Functions)

Paper I Questions
Index a) = x3 – (–3) y2 – 1 = x6 y
1996 – Q2 (3 marks)

= =a = a4

1998 – Q4 (3 marks)

= a3 + 4 b–(–2) = a7 b2

1999 – Q1 (3 marks)

= = a–6 – 1 = a–7 =

2000 – Q2 (3 Marks)

= x–3 – 2 y = x–5 y =

2001 – Q1 (3 Marks)

= = =

2002 – Q1 (3 Marks)

= = a2– 5 b4 = a–3 b4 =

2004 – Q1 (3 marks)

= = a–3 b3 – 2 = a–3 b1 =

Logarithm
1994 – Q7 (6 marks)

a) = = a8 – 1 b–4 – 1 = a7 b–5

b) log = log(12 ) = log 12

= log(2  2  3) = (log2 + log 2 + log 3)

= (2x + y)

1995 – Q7 (6 marks)

a) x log 3 = log = log 1 – log(27 )

= – log 27 = – log 33 = – log 3

x= –

b) log x + log 42 = log 48

log(x  16) = log 48
16x = 48  x = 3

1997 – Q3 (5 marks)

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1998 – MC07 B
b) = = =
= = = 22m – 3m = 2–m
= =
OR Let m = 3, = =0.125 (not A)
2003 – Q4 (3 marks)
(x + 1)log 4 = log 8 Option B C D E
(x + 1)log 22 = log 23 Put m = 3 2–3 = 23 = 8 29 – 9 23(9) – 3(3)
(x + 1)  2log 2 = 3log 2 0.125 =1 =218
2x + 2 = 3  x = 0.5
1999 – MC04 B
2005 – Q2 (3 marks) 16x = (42)x = 42x = a2
OR Let x = 3, a = 43 = 64, 163 = 4096
= = x6y2–5 = x6y–3 = Option a = 64
A 4a = 256
B a2 = 4096
Multiple Choice Questions C a4 = 16777216
Index D 264 = 1.80119
1993 – MC01 C
E 464 = much larger
f(4y) = 102(4y) = 108y
OR Let y = 2, f(4y) = f(8) = 1016
2000 – MC03 C
Option A B C D E
Put y = 2 108 1010 1016 402 = 404 = = = = a–6 – (–4) b2
1600 2560000
–8

1994 – MC33 C
(3x)2 = 32x = a–2 b –6 =
OR Let x = 3, (3x)2 = (33)2 = 272 = 729
Option A B C D E
2001 – MC10 E
Put x = 3 39 = 35 = 34 = 63 = 96 =
19683 243 729 216 531441
= =
1995 – MC04 A

= = =
=  = a2 = 1 + a

OR Let n = 3, = =1+a
1995 – MC36 E

2an+1 – 7an – 30an–1 = an[2a – 7 – 30( )] (same as E, not A, D)

Option n = 3
B a3 – 2(1 + a) = a(1 + a) F
= an( ) = an–1(a – 6)(2a + 5) C 1 + a2 F
[roots 6, –2.5] 
2002 – MC03 A
OR Let n = 2, a = 3, 2(3)3 – 7(3)2– 30(3)1 = –99
2x  (23)y = 2x 23y = 2x + 3y
Option Put n = 2, a = 3
A (32 – 6)(2  3 + 5) = 3  11 = 33 OR Let x = 2, y = 3, 22  83 = 2048
B 32(3 + 6)(2  3 – 5) = 9(9)(1) = 81 Option x = 2, y = 3,
C 32(3 – 6)(2  3 + 5) = 9(–3)(11) = –297 A 22 + 3(3) = 211 = 2048 
D 31(3 + 6)(2  3 – 5) = 3(9)(1) = 27 B 2(3)(2)(3) = 218 
E 31(3 – 6)(2  3 + 5) = 3(–3)(11) = –99 C 16(2 + 3) = 165 = 1048576 
D 16(2)(3) = 166 
1996 – MC02 E
2003 – MC04 A
= = = 33x – y 3x  (32)y = 3x 32y = 3x + 2y
OR Let x = 2, y = 3, 32  93 = 6561
Option x = 2, y = 3,
OR Let x = 2, y = 3, = 27 A 32 + 2(3) = 38 = 6561 
B 32 + 3(3) = 311 
Option A B C D E
C 27(2 + 3) = 275 = 14348907 
Put x = 2, 92 – 3 = 33(2) – 3 =
= 3 D 27(2)(3) = 276 
y=3 0.111 27
=6 4.33 =9
2004 – MC01 C

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= = = 12n OR Let n = 3, = 1728

Option n = 3,
A 66 = 46656 
B 618 = 1.01  1014 
C 123 = 1728 
D 126 

2005 – MC01 B
a  a (a + a) = a2 (2a) = 2a3

Logarithm
1993 – MC08 B
log (p + q) = log(p  q)
p + q = pq  q = pq – p
q = p(q – 1)  p =

1993 – MC34 A
9x  92 = 36
(32)x  81 = 36
(3x)2 =

3x = =

OR (x + 2)log 9 = log36
(x + 2) =  x= –2

x log 3 = log3( – 2) = log3  – 2 log

log 3x = log36 – log (32) = log – log 9 = log

3x =

OR (x + 2)log 9 = log36
(x + 2)(0.95424) = 1.55630
0.95424x + 1.90848 = 1.55630
x = –0.369069
3–0.369069 = 0.66667 ≈

1994 – MC34 B
log 12 = log (2  2  3) = log 2 + log 2 + log 3
= 2a + log 3
log 9 = 2 log 3 = b,  log 3 =

 log 12 = 2a +

OR a = log 2 = 0.30103, b = log 9 = 0.95424,

log 12 = 1.07918, put a and b into options to check
whether = 1.07918 or not
A 2a + b/3 = 0.92014 
B 2a + b/3 = 1.07918 

1995 – MC12 C
(53)x = (52) y
53x = 52y
3x = 2y
= (2 : 3)

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OR x log 125 = y log 25 OR a = log102 = 0.30103, b = log103 = 0.47712

log1015 = 1.17609
= (= = = Put a and b of options and check whether = 1.17609
Option Value
OR = = 0.6666666… (by cal) = A –a + b + 1 –0.30103 + 0.47712 + 1 = 1.17609 

1999 – MC39 E
1995 – MC38 B log y = 2(1 + log x) = 2(log10 + log x) = 2 log(10x)
Take log, a log 5 = b log 2 = c log 10 = c = log(10x)2
y = (10x)2 = 100x2
a log 5 = c  = log 5
OR let x = 2, log y = 1 + log x = 1.030103
b log 2 = c  = log 2
 log y = 2.060206  y = 102.060206 = 400
Put x = 2 into options and check whether y = 400
+ = log 5 + log 2 = log 10 = 1 Option y
A = 4.47 
OR let c = 2, 5a = 2b = 100
B 100 + 22 = 104 
a log 5 = b log 2 = 2, a = = 2.86135, C (10 + 2)2= 144 
D 10(2)2= 40 
b= = 6.64386 E 100(2)2= 400 

2000 – MC38 D
+ = 2  2.86135 + 2  6.64386 = 1.00000
log (x – a) = 3 = log1000
x – a = 1000
1996 – MC38 A x = 1000 + a
x2 – y2 = (x + y)(x – y) OR Put answers of x in options into eqn
Option log (x – a) [= 3 ?]
log = log(x2 – y2) = log[(x + y)(x – y)] =
A 103 + a log (103 + a – a) = ? (cannot simplify) 
B. a 3
log (a3 – a) = ? (cannot simplify) 
[log(x + y) + log(x – y)] = C. 1000a log(1000a – a) = log 999a 
D. 1000 + a log(1000 + a – a) = log1000 = 3 
OR let x = 3, y = 2,
a = log(x + y) = log5 = 0.69897
2001 – MC37 E
b = log(x – y) = log1 = 0
log x2 = (log x)2
log = log = log = 0.34946 2log x = (log x)2
A (0.69897 + 0)/2 = 0.349485  Let u = log x, 2u = u2
B (0.69879)(0)/2 = 0  0 = u2 – 2u  u = 0, 2
C = 0.8360  log x = 0, 2  x = 1, 100
D =0  OR Put answers of x in options, check LS = RS
E + 0 = 0.69789  or not
Option LS = log(x2) RS = (log x)2
1997 – MC02 A A1 log(1) = 0 (log 1) 2 = 0 
(check D and E)
2x  (23)x = 26
2x  23x = 26 D 10 log 100 = 2 (log 10)2 = 1 
2x + 3x = 26 E. 100 log(10000) = 4 (log 100)2 = 4 
4x = 6  x = 1.5
2002 – MC40 C
OR Put values of x in options into eqn log x2 = log 3x + log 10 = log (3x  10)
Option 2x  8x x2 = 30x
A (1.5) 21.5  81.5 = 64 x2 – 30x = 0
x = 0 (rej) or 30 [log 0 is undefined]
1997 – MC05 B
OR Put answers of x in options, check LS = RS or not
log (x + a) = 2 = log 100
(D is impossible as x cannot be 0)
x + a = 100
x = 100 – a Option LS = log(x2) RS = log 3x + 1
A2 log4 = 0.602 log 6 + 1 = 1.78 
OR Put answers of x in options into eqn
B5 log9 = 0.954 log 15 + 1 = 2.176 
Option log (x + a) [= 2 ?]
C. 30 log900 = 2.954 log 90 + 1 = 2.954 
A (2 – a) log (2 – a + a) = log 2 = 0.301 
B. (100 – a) log (100 – a + a) = log 100 = 2  2003 – MC13 D
(34)x = (33)2y
1998 – MC40 A 34x = 33  2y
log1015 = log105 + log103 = log105 + b 4x = 6y
log105 + log102 = log1010 = 1,  log10 log1015 = log105 +
log103 = 1 – a + b = = (3 : 2)

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OR x log 81 = 2y log 27

= (= = =

OR = = 1.5 (by cal) =

2003 – MC40 A
(a + b)log10 = log c
a + b = log c
b = log c – a
OR Let a = 2, b = 3, then c = 105 = 10000
Put a and c in options to check whether =3
Option LS = log(x2)
A log10000 – 2 = 5 – 2 = 3 
B 2 – log10000 = 2 – 5 = –3 
C 10000/10 – 2 = 998 
D 10000 – 102 = 9900 

2004 – MC39 A
log 5 = alog10 = a, log 7 = b

log = log 7 – log 50 = b – (log 5 + log 10)

= b – (a + 1) = b – a – 1
OR a = log 5 = 0.69897, b = log 7 = 0.84510
log = –0.85387, put a and b into options to
check whether = –0.85387 or not
A 0.84510 – 0.69897 – 1 = –0.85387 
B 0.84510 – 0.69897 + 1 = 1.14613 
C 0.84510  0.69897 = 1.20906 
D 0.84510 (0.69897 + 1) = 0.49742 

2005 – MC39 D
log(abba) = log (ab) + log (ba) = b log a + a log b

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