CE Maths

Past Paper Questions on Chapter 4 (Equations)

Paper I Questions
1996 – Q4 (5 marks)
Show that x + 1 is a factor of x3 – x2 – 3x – 1.
Hence solve x3 – x2 – 3x – 1 = 0
(Leave your answers in surd form)

1997 – Q13(a & b(i)&(iii)) (b(ii) is out of syllabus)

Miss Lee makes and sells handmade leather belts and
handbags. She finds that if a batch of x belts is made,
where 1  x  11, the cost per belt $B is given by B =
x2 – 20x + 120. The figure shows the graph of the
function of y = x2 – 20x + 120.
a) Use the given graph to write down he number(s)
of belts in a batch that will make the cost per belt
(i) a minimum,
(ii) less than $90 (3 marks)
b) Miss Lee also finds that if a batch of x handbags
is made, where 1  x  8, the cost per handbag
$H is given by H = x2 – 17x + c (c is a constant).
When a batch of 3 handbags is made, the cost per
handbag is $144.
(i) Find c.
(ii) By adding a suitable straight line on the given graph, find the number of handbags in a batch that
will make the cost per handbag $120.
(iii) Miss Lee made a batch of 10 belts and a batch of 6 handbags. She managed to sell 6 belts at $100
each and 4 handbags at $300 each while the remaining belts and handbags sold at half of their
respective cost. Find her gain or loss. (4 marks)

2004 – Q7 (4 marks)
The prices of an orange and an apple are $2 and $3 respectively. A sum of $46 is spent buying some
oranges and apples. If the total number of oranges and apples bought is 20, find the number of oranges
bought.

Multiple Choice Questions

1993 – MC07 1993 – MC13
The diagram show the graphs of y = ax2 + bx and y If the simultaneous equations
= cx + d. The solutions of the equation have only one solution, find k.
ax2 + bx = cx + d are
A. – 1 B. C. – 4 D. E. 1
A. –1, 1
B. –1, 2
C. 0, 1 1993 – MC38
D C
D. 0, 3 In the figure, the
E. 1, 3 rectangle has
perimeter 16 cm and y
area 15 cm2. Find
the length of its A x B

diagonal AC.
A. cm B. cm C. 7cm
D. cm E. cm

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1994 – MC39 1997 – MC31

If x = 3, y = 2 satisfy the simultaneous equations In the figure, find the coordinates of the mid-point
. Find the values of a and b. of AB.
A. a =0, b = 1 B. a =0, b = –1 A. (
C. a = ,b= D. a = ,b= )

E. a = ,b= B. (

)
1995 – MC07 C. (
Solve the simultaneous equations:
)
D. ( )
A. x = , y = –12 B. x = , y = 12
E. ( )
C. x = , y = –12 D. x = , y = 12
1998 – MC04
E. x = ,y=
Solve the simultaneous equations:

1996 – MC10
Solve
A. (0, –3) B. (1, –1) C. (4, – )
A. B.
C. or D. (4, –3) E. (22, – )
D. or
E. or
1999 – MC08
If , then
1997 – MC08
A. x = –1. B. x = –1 or 5.
Solve C. x = –2 or 1. D. x = –5 or 1.
E. x = –5 or 8
A. x = ,y= B. x = ,y=
2000 – MC05
C. x = ,y= D. x = ,y=
If , then y =

E. x = ,y= A. –4 B. 0 C. 1
D. 0 or 8 E. –4 or 4

2001 – MC12
If , then y =
A. –32 or 52. B. –12 or 16.
C. –12 or 96. D. –8 or 20.
E. 12 or 24

2002 – MC08
If (x, y) = (–2, 1) is a solution of the simultaneous
equation , then a =
A. –3. B. 2 C. D. 3.

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2003 – MC07
If , then y =
A. 0 B. 13 C. 0 or –3 D. 4 or 13

2004 – MC08
If , then q =
A. 2. B. 3 C. or 3 D. 2 or 20.

2005 – MC07
If , then  =
A. 4 B. 13 C. 0 or 4 D. –3 or 13

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Answers to Past Paper Questions on Chapter 4 (Equations)

Paper I Questions 1993 – MC13 B
1996 – Q4 (5 marks) Sub y = x into y = x2 – k
Put x = –1 [x + 1 = 0  x = –1] x = x2 – k  0 = x2 – x – k (1)
R = (–1)3 – (–1)2 – 3(–1) – 1 = 0 1 soln,  = 0  (–1)2 – 4(1)(–k) = 0
 (x + 1) is a factor
1 + 4k = 0  k =

OR Put values of options into (1)

By division, x3 – x2 – 3x – 1 = (x + 1)(x2 – 2x – 1) Option Roots
x3 – x2 – 3x – 1 = 0 A 0 = x2 – x + 1 No root
(x + 1)(x2 – 2x – 1) = 0 B 0 = x2 – x + 0.25 0.5 (eq root) 
x + 1 = 0 or x2 – 2x – 1 = 0 C 0 = x2 – x + 4 No root
D. 0 = x2 – x – 0.25 1.21, –0.21
x = –1 or x =
E. 0 = x2 – x – 1 1.62, –0.62

x = –1 or x = = = 1 1993 – MC38 B
perimeter 2x + 2y = 16 (1)
area xy = 15 (2)
1997 – Q13 by (1), y = 8 – x, put into (2)
a) (i) B is min, i.e. at min point of graph x(8 – x) = 15
when x = 10 , min cost = $20 – x2 + 8x – 15 = 0
(ii) From the graph, when x < 90 when x = 3, 5
x = 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. x = 3, y = 5, AC = = =
b) (i) put x = 3, H = 144
x = 5, y = 3 (same)
144 = (3)2 – 17(3) + c
c = 144 – 9 + 51 = 186 OR AC = =
(ii) H = 120  x2 – 17x + 186 = 120 = =
 x2 = 17x – 66
Put into eqn of given graph
1994 – MC39 A
Add Line: y = (17x – 66) – 20x + 120
Put x = 3, y = 2 into both equations
 3x + y = 54 [(18, 0), (0, 54), (10, 24)]
a(3) + b(2) = 2 (1)
x = 11 or 6
b(3) – a(2) = 3 (2)
(iii) 10 belts, B = (10)2 – 20(10) + 120 = 20 (each)
6 handbags, H = (6)2 – 17(6) + 186 = 120 by (1), a = , put into (2)
(each)
Total cost = 10  20 + 6  120 = 920
Income of Belts = 6  100 + 4  10 = 640 3b – 2( )=3 3
Income of Handbags = 4  300 + 2  60
9b – 2(2 – 2b)= 9
= 1320
13b = 13  b = 1 (A)
Total income = 640 + 1320 = 1960
Total gain = 1960 – 920 = $1040 OR try by put a, b in options into (1) and (2)
Option A,
(0)(3) + (1)(2) = 2 T
2004 – Q7 (4 marks)
(1)(3) – (0)(2) = 3 T  A is ans
Let no. of apple = x, no. of orange = y
1995 – MC07 C
from (2), y = 20 – x, sub into (1)
2x + 3(20 – x) = 46  60 – 46 = 3x – 2x 4x – y = 6 (1), 2x + y = –1 (2)
x = 14, y = 6
 14 apples, 6 oranges bought By (1), 4x – 6 = y  y = 12x – 18, put into (2)

Multiple Choice Questions

1993 – MC07 B 2x + (12x – 18) = –1
y = ax2 + bx = cx + d
solution = intersection of 2 lines 2x + 2x – 3 = –1  4x = 2  x = (C or D)
from graph, x = –1, 2
y = 12( ) – 18 = –12

OR try by put x, y in options into (1) and (2)

Option LS (1) LS of (2)
A
4(– ) – (–12) = 2 (F)

B
4(– ) – (12) = –6 (F)

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C 1996 – MC10 D
4( ) – (–12) = 6 (T) 2( ) + (–12) = –1 x2 + y2 = 13 (1), x + y = 1 (2)
(T) by (2), y = 1 – x, put into (1)
x2 + (1 – x)2 = 13
x2 + 1 – 2x + x2 – 13 = 0
2x2 – 2x – 12 = 0
x = 3, –2 (D)
OR Put values of options into (1) and (2)
Option x + y (2) x2 + y2 (1)
A –2 + 3 = 1 T (–2)2 + (3)2 = 13 T
 A or D
D 3 + (–2) = 1 T (3)2 + (–2)2 = 13 T
Try (3, –2)

1997 – MC08 D

let a =

3a – y = 1 (1), 2y – a = 1 (2)

By (1), y = 3a – 1, put into (2)

2(3a – 1) – 0.5a = 1
5.5a – 3 = 0  a = 3  5.5 =

=  x= (D)

OR Put values of options into 2 eqns

Option 3  x – y (1) 2y – 1  (2x) (2)
A
3 – = F

B
3 – = 1 T 2( )–1( )=0 F

C
3  – = 0.5

F
D
3 – = 1 T 2( )–1( )=1 T

1997 – MC31 C
y = x2 (1), y = –5x + 6 (2)
put (1) into (2) x2 = –5x + 6
x2 + 5x – 6 = 0, x = 1, –6
when x = 1, y = –5(1) + 6 = 1 pt (1, 1)
when x = –6, y = –5(–6) + 6 = 36, pt (–6, 36)

Mid point = ( , )=( , )

1998 – MC04 C

let a =

2x + 3a = –1 (1), x – a = 7 (2)
By (2), x = a + 7, put into (1)
2(a + 7) + 3a = –1
5a = –1 – 14 = –15  a = –3
= –3  y = – (C)

OR Put values of options into 2 eqns

Option x – 1  y (2) 2x + 3  y (1)
A
0 – 1  (–3) = – F

B 1 – 1  (–1) = 2 F

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C 1999 – MC08 D
4 – 1  (– ) = 7 T 2(4) + 3 (– ) = 1 T Put y = –x + 3 into y = x2 + 3x – 2,
–x + 3 = x2 + 3x – 2
0 = x2 + 4x – 5
x = –5 or 1
OR Put value of x into 2 eqns, check whether y are
the same
Option –x + 3 x2 + 3x – 2
A x = –1 4 –4 (not eq)
B (not –1)
C x = –2 5 –4 (not eq)
D x = –5 8 8 (eq)
or x = 1 2 2 (eq)

2000 – MC05 B
Put y = 2x – 2 into y = x2 – 1,
2x – 2 = x2 – 1
0 = x2 – 2x + 1
x = 1  y = 2(1) – 2 = 0
OR Use value of y to find x, put into another to check
whether y are the same
Option y = 2x – 2, x = y = x2 – 1
A y = –4 –4 = 2x – 2, x = –1 y =(–1)2 – 1= 0 (not eq)
By=0 0 = 2x – 2, x = 1 y = 12 – 1= 0 (eq)

2001 – MC12 B
Put y = –2x + 4 into y = x2 – 4x – 44 ,
–2x + 4 = x2 – 4x – 44
0 = x2 – 2x – 48
x = –6 or 8
when x = –6, y = –2(–6) + 4 = 16 (B)
when x = 8, y = –2(8) + 4 = –12
OR Use value of y to find x, put into another to check
whether y are the same
Option y = –2x + 4, x = y = x2 – 4x – 44
A y = –32 –32 = –2x + 4, x = 18 y =182 – 4(18) – 44
= 248 (not eq)
B y = –12 –12 = –2x + 4, x = 8 y =82 – 4(8) – 44
= –12 (eq) (no other
choice)

2002 – MC08 D
Put x = –2, y = 1 into both eqn
a(–2) – b(1) + 8 = 0 (1)
b(–2) + a(1) + 1 = 0 (2)
by (1), b = –2a + 8, put into (2)
–2(–2a + 8) + a + 1 = 0
4a – 16 + a + 1 = 0
5a = 15  a = 3
OR (1)  b = –2a + 8, (2)  a – 2b + 1 = 0
Find b from (1), put a and b into (2) to check
Option b = –2a + 8 a –2b + 1 [= 0 ?]
A a = –3 b = 14 (–3) –2(14) + 1 = –30 F
Ba=2 b=4 (2) –2(4) + 1 = –5 F
C a = 9/4 b =3.5 (9/4) –2(3.5) + 1 = –3.75 F
Da=3 b=2 (3) –2(2) + 1 = 0 T

2003 – MC07 D
Put y = –3x + 4 into y = x2 + 4
–3x + 4 = x2 + 4
0 = x2 + 3x
x = –3 or 0
when x = –3, y = –3(–3) + 4 = 13 (B or D)
when x = 0, y = –3(0) + 4 = 4

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OR Use value of y to find x, put into another to check

whether y are the same
Option y = –3x + 4, x = y = x2 + 4
A y = 0 0 = –3x + 4, x = 4/3 y = (4/3)2 + 4  0 F
not C
B y = 13 13 = –3x + 4, x = –3 y =(–3)2 + 4 = 13 (eq)*
D y = 4 4 = –3x + 4, x = 0 y =(0)2 + 4 = 4 (eq)
*(you can jump to check D without checking B, as both
have 13)

2004 – MC08 D
q = 14 – 4p, sub into (pq + 2q = 10)
p(14 – 4p) + 2(14 – 4p) = 10
– 4p2 + 6p + 18 = 0
when p = 3, q = 14 – 4(2) = 6
when p = –1.5, q = 14 – 4(–1.5) = 20
OR Use value of q to find p, put into another to
check whether LS = RS
Option 4p + q = 14, p = pq + 2q [= 10 ?]
Aq=2 4p + 2 = 14, p = 3 (3)(2) + 2(2) = 10
T (A or D)
D q = 20 4p + 20 = 14, p = –1.5 (–1.5)(20) + 2(20)
= 20 T

2005 – MC07 D
 = 2 – 3 = 4 – 3
2 – 4 = 0   = 0 or 4
 For  = 0,  = 4(0) – 3 = –3 (option D)
[For  = 4,  = 4(4) – 3 = 13]

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