Date: 29/03/2024
Class: #5
Syllabus Topic: Algebra
Title: Review, Past Paper Questions
Review
In this note, the topics covered are:
1. Inequalities
2. Variation
These types of questions can show up in Question 2 of the Paper 2 of CSEC Maths.
Inequalities
Note:
Inequalities are generally the same as normal equations EXCEPT that they have inequality
signs. As such, you need to look out for the two situations in which we need to change the
direction of the inequality sign.
1. Swap both sides (entire LHS ↔ RHS)
2. “×” or “÷” by a negative number
Consider the linear equation below:
4 − 3𝑥 = 13
−3𝑥 = 13 − 4
−3𝑥 = 9
9
𝑥 = −3
𝑥 = −3
Consider the inequality below:
4 − 3𝑥 ≤ 13
−3𝑥 ≤ 13 − 4
−3𝑥 ≤ 9
9
𝑥 ≥ −3
𝑥 ≥ −3
Representing Inequalities
Question 1:
Represent 𝑥 > 2 on the number line.
Solution:
Question 2:
Represent 𝑥 ≥ 2 on the number line.
Solution:
Question 3:
Represent 𝑥 < 4 on the number line.
Solution:
𝑥
Question 4:
Represent 2 ≤ 𝑥 < 5 on the number line.
Solution:
Question 5:
Write down the inequality expressed below.
Solution:
The solution set is {𝑥: 𝑥 < 0 ∪ 𝑥 ≥ 5}
Inequality Notation
Note:
𝑥 ≤ 16 means {… , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16}
𝑥 ≥ 17 means {17, 18, 19, … }
3 < 𝑥 < 8 means {4, 5, 6, 7}
January 2010 – Question 2(c)
(c) (i) Solve the inequality
𝑥 − 3 < 3𝑥 − 7 [3]
(ii) If 𝑥 is an integer, determine the SMALLEST value of 𝑥 that satisfies the inequality in
(c)(i) above. [1]
January 2010 – Question 2(c) – Solution
(c) (i) Solve the inequality
𝑥 − 3 < 3𝑥 − 7 [3]
𝑥 − 3 < 3𝑥 − 7
𝑥 − 3𝑥 < −7 + 3
−2𝑥 < −4
−4
𝑥 > −2
𝑥>2
(ii) If 𝑥 is an integer, determine the SMALLEST value of 𝑥 that satisfies the inequality in
(c)(i) above. [1]
The smallest value of 𝑥 that satisfies 𝑥 > 2 is 𝑥 = 3.
January 2014 – Question 2(a)
(a) (i) Solve for 𝑥, where 𝑥 is a real number
2(𝑥 − 6) + 3𝑥 ≤ 8 [3]
(ii) Using a number line, show your solution to part (a)(i). [1]
January 2014 – Question 2(a) – Solution
(a) (i) Solve for 𝑥, where 𝑥 is a real number
2(𝑥 − 6) + 3𝑥 ≤ 8 [3]
2(𝑥 − 6) + 3𝑥 ≤ 8
2𝑥 − 12 + 3𝑥 ≤ 8
5𝑥 − 12 ≤ 8
5𝑥 ≤ 8 + 12
5𝑥 ≤ 20
20
𝑥≤ 5
𝑥≤4
(ii) Using a number line, show your solution to part (a)(i). [1]
The number is shown below:
January 2015 – Question 2(d)
(d) Solve for 𝑥
(i) 2𝑥 − 7 ≤ 3 [1]
(ii) If 𝑥 is a positive integer, list the possible values of 𝑥. [1]
January 2015 – Question 2(d) – Solution
(d) Solve for 𝑥
(i) 2𝑥 − 7 ≤ 3 [1]
2𝑥 − 7 ≤ 3
2𝑥 ≤ 3 + 7
2𝑥 ≤ 10
10
𝑥≤ 2
𝑥≤5
(ii) If 𝑥 is a positive integer, list the possible values of 𝑥. [1]
The possible values of 𝑥 are 𝑥 = {5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0, −1, … }
January 2016 – Question 2(a)
(a) (i) Solve for 𝑥, where 𝑥 is a real number.
8 − 𝑥 ≤ 5𝑥 + 2 [3]
(ii) Show your solution to (a)(i) on the number line below. [1]
January 2016 – Question 2(a) – Solution
(a) (i) Solve for 𝑥, where 𝑥 is a real number.
8 − 𝑥 ≤ 5𝑥 + 2 [3]
8 − 𝑥 ≤ 5𝑥 + 2
−𝑥 − 5𝑥 ≤ 2 − 8
−6𝑥 ≤ −6
−6
𝑥 ≥ −6
𝑥≥1
(ii) Show your solution to (a)(i) on the number line below. [1]
January 2018 – Question 2(b)
(b) (i) Solve the inequality 3 − 2𝑥 > 5. [2]
(ii) Represent your answer in (b)(i) on the number line shown below. [1]
January 2018 – Question 2(b) – Solution
(b) (i) Solve the inequality 3 − 2𝑥 > 5. [2]
3 − 2𝑥 > 5
−2𝑥 > 5 − 3
−2𝑥 > 2
2
𝑥 > −2
𝑥 > −1
(ii) Represent your answer in (b)(i) on the number line shown below. [1]
January 2022 – Question 2(c)
(c) Determine ALL the integer values of 𝑥 which satisfy the inequality
2−4𝑥
−1 < <5 [3]
3
January 2022 – Question 2(c) – Solution
(c) Determine ALL the integer values of 𝑥 which satisfy the inequality
2−4𝑥
−1 < <5 [3]
3
2−4𝑥
−1 < <5
3
Multiplying by 3 throughout gives:
−3 < 2 − 4𝑥 < 15
−3 − 2 < −4𝑥 < 15 − 2
−5 < −4𝑥 < 13
Dividing by −4 throughout gives:
−5 13
> 𝑥 > −4
−4
1.25 > 𝑥 > −3.25
−3.25 < 𝑥 < 1.25
Now, all integer values that satisfy this inequality is 𝑥 = {−3, −2, −1, 0, 1}.
June 2023 – Question 2(b)
(b) Solve the inequality 12 − 4𝑚 ≤ 5 − 8𝑚. [2]
June 2023 – Question 2(b) – Solution
(b) Solve the inequality 12 − 4𝑚 ≤ 5 − 8𝑚. [2]
12 − 4𝑚 ≤ 5 − 8𝑚
−4𝑚 + 8𝑚 ≤ 5 − 12
4𝑚 ≤ −7
7
𝑚 ≤ −4
Variation/Proportionality
Note:
• The graph denotes two variables
which are said to be proportional or
directly proportional to each other.
• As 𝑥 increases, 𝑦 also increases by
a factor of 𝑥. In this case, the factor
is 1.
𝑥
𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙
Note:
• The graph denotes two
variables which are said to be
inversely proportional to each
other.
𝟏 • As 𝑥 increases, 𝑦 decreases.
𝒚=𝒙
𝑥
𝐼𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑦 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙
June 2011 – Question 2(d)
(d) The table below shows corresponding values of the variables 𝑥 and 𝑦, where 𝑦 varies
directly as 𝑥.
𝒙 2 5 𝑏
𝒚 12 𝑎 48
Calculate the values of 𝑎 and 𝑏. [3]
June 2011 – Question 2(d) – Solution
(d) The table below shows corresponding values of the variables 𝑥 and 𝑦, where 𝑦 varies
directly as 𝑥.
𝒙 2 5 𝑏
𝒚 12 𝑎 48
Calculate the values of 𝑎 and 𝑏. [3]
Now,
𝑦∝𝑥
∴ 𝑦 = 𝑘𝑥
When 𝑥 = 2 and 𝑦 = 12,
12 = 𝑘(2)
12
𝑘= 2
𝑘=6
Hence, the equation can now be expressed as 𝑦 = 6𝑥.
When 𝑥 = 5 and 𝑦 = 𝑎,
𝑎 = 6(5)
𝑎 = 30
When 𝑥 = 𝑏 and 𝑦 = 48,
48 = 6𝑏
48
𝑏= 6
𝑏=8
∴ 𝑎 = 30 and 𝑏 = 8
June 2016 – Question 2(c)
(c) The table below shows corresponding values of the variables 𝑥 and 𝑦, where 𝑦 varies
directly as 𝑥.
𝒙 6 10 𝑡
𝒚 3 𝑢 9
Calculate the values of 𝑡 and 𝑢. [3]
June 2016 – Question 2(c) – Solution
(c) The table below shows corresponding values of the variables 𝑥 and 𝑦, where 𝑦 varies
directly as 𝑥.
𝒙 6 10 𝑡
𝒚 3 𝑢 9
Calculate the values of 𝑡 and 𝑢. [3]
Since 𝑦 is directly proportional to 𝑥, then
𝑦∝𝑥
𝑦 = 𝑘𝑥
Substituting 𝑥 = 6 and 𝑦 = 3 into 𝑦 = 𝑘𝑥 gives:
3 = 𝑘(6)
3
𝑘=6
1
𝑘=2
1
So, we have 𝑦 = 2 𝑥.
When 𝑥 = 10 and 𝑦 = 𝑢,
1
𝑢 = 2 (10)
𝑢=5
When 𝑥 = 𝑡 and 𝑦 = 9
1
9 = 2𝑡
𝑡 =9×2
𝑡 = 18
∴ 𝑢 = 5 and 𝑡 = 18
January 2019 – Question 2(c)
(c) The force, 𝐹, applied to an object is directly proportional to the extension, 𝑒, produced
by that object.
(i) Represent this information as an equation in terms of 𝐹, 𝑒 and an appropriate
constant, 𝑘. [1]
(ii) The incomplete table below shows corresponding values of 𝐹 and 𝑒.
𝑭 8 25 60 𝒚
𝒆 0.2 𝒙 1.5 3.2
Using the equation obtained in (c)(i), or otherwise, determine the value of 𝑥 and
𝑦. [2]
January 2019 – Question 2(c) – Solution
(c) The force, 𝐹, applied to an object is directly proportional to the extension, 𝑒, produced
by that object.
(i) Represent this information as an equation in terms of 𝐹, 𝑒 and an appropriate
constant, 𝑘. [1]
Force ∝ extension
𝐹∝𝑒
∴ 𝐹 = 𝑘𝑒
(ii) The incomplete table below shows corresponding values of 𝐹 and 𝑒.
𝑭 8 25 60 𝒚
𝒆 0.2 𝒙 1.5 3.2
Using the equation obtained in (c)(i), or otherwise, determine the value of 𝑥 and
𝑦. [2]
From the table, 𝐹 = 0.8 when 𝑒 = 0.2.
So, we have,
0.8 = 𝑘(0.2)
0.8
𝑘=
0.2
𝑘 = 40
∴ 𝐹 = 40𝑒
When 𝐹 = 25, 𝑒 = 𝑥. So, we have,
25 = 40𝑥
25
𝑥 = 40
5
𝑥=8
When 𝐹 = 𝑦, 𝑒 = 3.2.
So, we have,
𝑦 = 40(3.2)
𝑦 = 128
∴ 𝑥 = 0.625 and 𝑦 = 128
January 2021 – Question 2(d)
(d) The distance needed to stop a car, 𝑑, varies directly as the square of the speed,
𝑠, at which it is travelling. A car travelling at a speed of 70 km/h requires a distance of
40 m to make a stop.
What distance is required to stop a car travelling at 80 km/h? [2]
January 2021 – Question 2(d) – Solution
(d) The distance needed to stop a car, 𝑑, varies directly as the square of the speed,
𝑠, at which it is travelling. A car travelling at a speed of 70 km/h requires a distance of
40 m to make a stop.
What distance is required to stop a car travelling at 80 km/h? [2]
𝑑 ∝ 𝑠2
𝑑 = 𝑘𝑠 2
40
Firstly, 40 𝑚 = 1000
= 0.04 𝑘𝑚
Substituting 𝑑 = 0.04 and 𝑠 = 70 into 𝑑 = 𝑘𝑠 2 gives:
0.04 = 𝑘(70)2
0.04
𝑘 = 4900
So, we have
𝑑 = 𝑘𝑠 2
0.04
𝑑 = 4900 (80)2
𝑑 = 0.052 𝑘𝑚
𝑑 = 52 𝑚
June 2022 – Question 2(c)
(c) The height, ℎ, of an object is directly proportional to the square root of its perimeter, 𝑝.
(i) Write an equation showing the relationship between ℎ and 𝑝. [1]
(ii) Given that ℎ = 5.4 when 𝑝 = 1.44, determine the value of ℎ when
𝑝 = 2.89. [2]
June 2022 – Question 2(c) – Solution
(c) The height, ℎ, of an object is directly proportional to the square root of its perimeter, 𝑝.
(i) Write an equation showing the relationship between ℎ and 𝑝. [1]
ℎ ∝ √𝑝
ℎ = 𝑘√𝑝 , where 𝑘 is a constant
(ii) Given that ℎ = 5.4 when 𝑝 = 1.44, determine the value of ℎ when
𝑝 = 2.89. [2]
ℎ = 𝑘√𝑝
When ℎ = 5.4 and 𝑝 = 1.44,
5.4 = 𝑘√1.44
5.4 = 𝑘(1.2)
5.4
𝑘 = 1.2
9
𝑘=2
9
Hence, ℎ = 2 √𝑝 .
When 𝑝 = 2.89,
9
ℎ = 2 √2.89
153
ℎ= or 7.65
20