MULUNGUSHI UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS

2020/2021 ACADEMIC YEAR SEMESTER 1

FINAL EXAMINATION

MSM 111 - MATHEMATICAL METHODS I

21st DECEMBER, 2020

TIME: 08:45 - 11:45

DURATION: 3 HOURS TOTAL MARKS: 100

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
———————————————————————————————————
1. There are SIX (6) questions in this paper, ATTEMPT ANY FIVE (5) questions.
2. Write your student number on the answer booklet(s) provided.
3. Write all your answer in the answer booklet(s) provided and clearly indicate the total number of
booklets used.
4. Show ALL your working clearly to earn FULL marks.
5. The number of marks awarded is shown in the brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part
question.
6. Every new question must be started on a new page.
7. Clearly indicate on top and/or inside your answer booklet(s) the question number you have
attempted.
8. Calculators are Not Allowed in this examination.
9. Cell-phones are prohibited in the examination room.

DO NOT TURN THE PAGE UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SO.

GOOD LUCK!
——————————————————————————————————————
This question paper consists of 5 printed pages
Q 1. (a) Let E, F and G be any three sets such that E and G are disjoint sets. Express in it’s simplest
form:

(i) E c ∪ Gc . (ii) (E ∩ Gc ) ∪ (E c ∩ G).

(b) Let U = [−5, 10] be the universal set and X = [−2, 7), Y = (−1, 4] and Z = [−3, 6] be it’s
subsets. Find each of the following and display them on the real line:

(i) Y c . (ii) (X ∪ Z)c . (iii) X − (Z − Y ).

a
(c) (i) Express the decimal 9.999 in the form b
where a, b ∈ Z.

1√
√
(ii) Prove that 1− 2
is irrational, assuming that 2 is irrational.

[5, 9, 6]

Q 2. (a) Let α and β be the roots of the equation 2 + 5x − 3x2 = 0. Without solving the equation,
find:

α β
(i) The value of β 2 −1
+ α2 −1
.

1
(ii) The equation whose roots are α
and β1 .

(b) Let f be a function defined by f (x) = 2x2 − x − 6.

(i) Express f in the form p(x + q)2 + r, and hence, determine the turning point of f (x).

(ii) Sketch the graph of g(x) =| f (x) | showing all the intercepts and turning point.

(c) (i) If the quadratic equation 2x2 − 3kx + 5k = 0 has one root twice the other, find the
value(s) of k. Hence, determine it’s roots for the value(s) of k.

(ii) The height of a projectile fired vertically into the air (neglecting air resistance) at an
initial velocity of 96 meters per second is a function of x and is given by the equation
h(x) = 96x − 16x2 . Find the highest point reached by the projectile.

[6, 8, 6]

MU/SSET/DSM/MSM 111/2020-2021 Page 1 of 4

Q 3. (a) Let g be a function defined by g(x) = 3x2 +1
x2 +2x−8
.

(i) Determine the vertical, horizontal and slant asymptotes (if any).

(iii) Sketch the graph of g and hence, state its range.

(b) Let f (x) = x3 + ax2 + bx − 3. When f (x) is divided by x − 1 the remainders are 1 and when
divide by x + 1 the remainder is 9. Find the values of a and b.

(c) (i) Solve the equation x4 + x3 − 21x2 − x + 20 = 0.

5x2 +3x+1
(ii) Resolve into partial fractions (x+2)(x2 +1)
.
[8, 4, 8]

Q 4. (a) Let ∗ be a binary operation on R defined by x ∗ y = x + y − xy + 2.

(i) Evaluate (−3 ∗ 2) ∗ [(5 ∗ 4) ∗ 6].

(ii) Is ∗ associative?

(iii) Does Z has an inverse with respect to ∗?

(b) (i) Determine the set of values of x for which 2x+ | x |≤ 6.

(ii) Prove by Mathematic induction that, 8n − 3n is divisible by 5 for all positive integers n.

(c) (i) Expression log5 (x2 − 4) + 3 log5 y − log5 (x − 2)2 as a single logarithm with a coefficient
of 1.

(ii) Solve the equation e4x + 4e2x − 21 = 0.

[6, 6, 8]

MU/SSET/DSM/MSM 111/2020-2021 Page 2 of 4

Q 5. (a) (i) Prove that tan θ + cot θ = 1
cos θ sin θ
.

(ii) Solve the equation 12 cos2 θ + sin θ = 11, in the domain 0o ≤ θ ≤ 360o .
   
1 0 2 1 −1 1
(b) (i) Consider the following matrices B = 2 1 0 and C = 0 2 1. Find, BC.
3 1 1 1 3 0

(ii) Use Cramer’s rule to solve the following system of equations:

2x − 3y = −4
5x + 7y = 1.

(c) (i) Sketch the graph of the function

y = 1 + sin θ

on the interval −2π ≤ θ ≤ 2π.

 
k + 3 1 −2
(ii) For what value(s) of k is the matrix A =  3 −2 1  singular.
−k −3 3

[8, 5, 7]

MU/SSET/DSM/MSM 111/2020-2021 Page 3 of 4

Q 6. (a) Let the functions f and h be defined by


 −3 x ≤ −5

√


1+x 3
f (x) = x+7 and h(x) = 1−x
−5<x< 2

 √



3
2x − 3 x≥ 2

(i) For x ∈ (−∞, −5), find f ◦ h(x) and hence, evaluate f ◦ h(−5).

3


(ii) Solve the equation h(x) − f (x) = 2 for which x ∈ 2
,∞ .

(iii) Determine if h is a one-to-one function in the domain x ∈ −5, 23 , and hence or otherwise

find h−1 .
√ √
(b) Express √5+1
5−1
in the form p + q 5, where p and q are real numbers. Hence state the values
of p and q.

(c) The population of a Kabwe city is growing exponentially. The population of the city was
16400 in 2010 and 20200 in 2020.

(i) Find the exponential growth function that models the population growth of the city.

(ii) Use the function from (i) to predict, to the nearest 100, the population of the city in
2025.

[8, 6, 6]

THE END OF EXAMINATION

MU/SSET/DSM/MSM 111/2020-2021 Page 4 of 4