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School of Physics & Astronomy

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Mathematics for Physics 1

PHYS08035 (SCQF Level 8)

Saturday 13th December, 2014 14:30 – 17:30

(December Diet)

Please read full instructions before commencing writing.

Examination Paper Information

Section A
Answer ALL questions, worth 40% of the total mark.

Section B
Answer THREE of these questions, worth 60% of the total mark.

Special Instructions

• Electronic Calculators must not be used during this examination.

• Attach supplied anonymous bar codes to each script book.

Special Items

• School supplied barcodes

Chairman of Examiners: Prof R D Ball

External Examiner: Prof G Shore

Anonymity of the candidate will be maintained during the marking of this

examination.

Printed: Friday 28th November, 2014 PHYS08035

 Mathematics for Physics 1 (PHYS08035)

Section A: Answer all Questions.

This section carries 40% of the total mark.

A.1 (i) Simplify as far as possible

α2 − 25
. [2]
3α − 15

(ii) Solve for κ

1 1 2
−3= + . [2]
κ s t

(iii) Complete the square for f (t) = t2 − 6t + 3, and hence find the minimum value of
f (t). [2]

(iv) Solve m2 − 6m + 3 = 0 for real m. [2]

(v) Sketch the graph y = g (m) if g (m) = m3 − 6m2 + 3m. [2]

(vi) Find all real ν such that ν 3 − 6ν 2 + 3ν < 0. [2]

 
π 1
(vii) Find all real ϕ such that sin 5ϕ + 6
+ 2
= 0. [4]

(viii) Find the limit

ln (cos η)
lim . [4]
η→0 η2

A.2 (i) Sketch the graph y = f (t) if

t+2
f (t) = [5]
t+1
marking clearly any vertical asymptote, the behaviour as t → ±∞, and the inter-
cepts of the y− and t−axis.

(ii) Find all solutions for θ in the interval [0, 2π] which satisfy
√
3 cos (2θ) + sin (2θ) = 2. [5]

(iii) Find all solutions to the equation z 3 = −8. Plot the results in the complex plane
showing explicitly the arguments and moduli of the roots. [5]

(iv) Integrate Z 2
|(1 − µ) µ| dµ. [5]
−1

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 Mathematics for Physics 1 (PHYS08035)

Section B: Answer three questions.

This section carries 60% of the total mark.

B.1 Which of the following statements are true and which are false? Motivate your answers.

(i) If n is a positive integer then n5 − n3 is always divisible by 24. [2]

(ii) (x − 1)2 − (y − 1)2 = 1 describes a unit circle centered at (1, 1). [2]

(iii) If α = eiπ/3 then α2 + 1 = α. [2]

(iv) sin (2 arcsin θ) = 2θ for all θ. [2]

cos ζ
(v) When ζ → π2 , then π−2ζ goes to 0. [2]

(vi) (φ + 1) is a factor of the polynomial p (φ) = φ102 + φ101 + 2φ2 + 3φ + 1. [2]

(vii) |2i | = 2. [2]

(viii) arctan x + arctan x1 is a constant for any real variable x. [2]

(ix) The equation |κ − 1| = |κ| − 1 is solved by all κ ≥ 1. [2]

(x) The derivative of e2 ln (sin x) with respect to x is sin 2x. [2]

√
Throughout the question i = −1.

B.2 A socioeconomic study models the life expectancy E (x) on either side of the river Blythe
by a cubic polynomial in latitude x
1
  
E (x) = c − − x 4 − 3x2 ,
c
where c is a positive constant and x varies over real numbers.

(a) Show that E (x) has one maximum and one minimum. [6]

(b) Show that the difference between the values of E (x) at its stationary points is
3
4 1

c+ . [8]
9 c

(c) What is the smallest value that the difference in (b) can have for c > 0? [6]

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 Mathematics for Physics 1 (PHYS08035)

B.3 The gravitational potential ψ (x) of planet Zogg has gradient

dψ   n
= x 1 − x2 e−x
dx
and ψ (0) = 0.

Consider first the case when n = 2.

(a) Show that the potential has a minimum at the origin and a maximum at x = 1.
What is the value of ψ at the maximum? [9]

(b) Find the coordinates of the other stationary point. [2]

(c) Sketch the graph y = ψ (x). [5]

Now consider the case when n = 3.

(d) Show that the potential still has a minimum at the origin and a maximum at x = 1.
You need not find ψ (1). [4]

B.4 Show that for t > 0

(a) Z 1
1 1
2 dx = , [7]
0 (1 + tx) (1 + t)

(b) Z 1
−2x 1
3 dx = − . [9]
0 (1 + tx) (1 + t)2

(c) Noting that the right hand side of (b) is the derivative with respect to t of the right
hand side of (a), guess the value of
Z 1
6x2
dx.
0 (1 + x)4 [4]
You do not need to verify your guess by evaluating this integral explicitly.

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