Mock Practice Paper (Algebra and Functions)

1. EXN.1.SL.TZ0.4

The first three terms of an arithmetic sequence are 𝑢! , 5𝑢! − 8 and 3𝑢! + 8.

(a) Show that 𝑢! = 4.

[2]

(b) Prove that the sum of the first 𝑛 terms of this arithmetic sequence is a square number.

[4]

2. EXN.2.SL.TZ0.7

Helen and Jane both commence new jobs each starting on an annual salary of $70,000. At the start of
each new year, Helen receives an annual salary increase of $2400.

Let $𝐻" represent Helen’s annual salary at the start of her 𝑛th year of employment.

(a) Show that 𝐻" = 2400𝑛 + 67 600.

[2]

At the start of each new year, Jane receives an annual salary increase of 3% of her previous year’s
annual salary.

Jane’s annual salary, $𝐽" , at the start of her 𝑛th year of employment is given by 𝐽" = 70 000(1.03)"#! .

(b) Given that 𝐽" follows a geometric sequence, state the value of the common ratio, 𝑟.

[1]

At the start of year 𝑁, Jane’s annual salary exceeds Helen’s annual salary for the first time.

(c.i) Find the value of 𝑁.

[3]

(c.ii) For the value of 𝑁 found in part (c) (i), state Helen’s annual salary and Jane’s annual salary, correct
to the nearest dollar.

[2]

(d) Find Jane’s total earnings at the start of her 10th year of employment. Give your answer correct to the
nearest dollar.

[4]
3. 23M.1.SL.TZ1.8

Consider the arithmetic sequence 𝑢! , 𝑢$ , 𝑢% , … .

The sum of the first 𝑛 terms of this sequence is given by 𝑆" = 𝑛$ + 4𝑛.

[N/A]

[[N/A]]

(a.i) Find the sum of the first five terms.

[2]

(a.ii) Given that 𝑆& = 60, find 𝑢& .

[2]

(b) Find 𝑢! .

[2]

(c) Hence or otherwise, write an expression for 𝑢" in terms of 𝑛.

[3]

Consider a geometric sequence, 𝑣" , where 𝑣$ = 𝑢! and 𝑣' = 𝑢& .

(d) Find the possible values of the common ratio, 𝑟.

[3]

(e) Given that 𝑣(( < 0, find 𝑣) .

[2]

4. 22N.1.SL.TZ0.8

Calculate the value of each of the following logarithms:

!
(a.i) log$ !&.

[2]

(a.ii) log( 3.

[2]

(a.iii) log√% 81.

[3]

It is given that log+, 𝑎 = 3, where 𝑎, 𝑏 ∈ ℝ- , 𝑎𝑏 ≠ 1.

(b.i) Show that log+, 𝑏 = −2.

[4]
!
√+
(b.ii) Hence find the value of log+, .
√,
 [4]

5. 22N.2.SL.TZ0.4

geometric sequence has a first term of 50 and a fourth term of 86.4.

The sum of the first 𝑛 terms of the sequence is 𝑆" .

Find the smallest value of 𝑛 such that 𝑆" > 33 500.

[5]

6. 22M.1.SL.TZ1.5

Consider the curve with equation 𝑦 = (2𝑥 − 1)e./ , where 𝑥 ∈ ℝ and 𝑘 ∈ ℚ.

The tangent to the curve at the point where 𝑥 = 1 is parallel to the line 𝑦 = 5e. 𝑥.

Find the value of 𝑘.

[5]

7. 18M.2.SL.TZ2.S_4

The first term of an infinite geometric sequence is 4. The sum of the infinite sequence is 200.

(a) Find the common ratio.

[2]

(b) Find the sum of the first 8 terms.

[2]

(c) Find the least value of n for which Sn > 163.

[3]

8. SPM.1.SL.TZ0.5
/-%
The functions 𝑓 and 𝑔 are defined such that 𝑓(𝑥) = '
and 𝑔(𝑥) = 8𝑥 + 5.

(a) Show that (𝑔 ∘ 𝑓)(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 11.

[2]

(b) Given that (𝑔 ∘ 𝑓)#! (𝑎) = 4, find the value of 𝑎.

[3]

9. EXN.1.SL.TZ0.5

The functions 𝑓 and 𝑔 are defined for 𝑥 ∈ ℝ by 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 2 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏, where 𝑎, 𝑏 ∈ ℝ.

Given that (𝑓 ∘ 𝑔)(2) = −3 and (𝑔 ∘ 𝑓)(1) = 5, find the value of 𝑎 and the value of 𝑏.

[6]

10. 23M.1.SL.TZ1.5

Find the range of possible values of 𝑘 such that 𝑒 $/ + ln 𝑘 = 3𝑒 / has at least one real solution.
 [6]

11. 23M.1.SL.TZ1.1

Point 𝑃 has coordinates (−3, 2), and point 𝑄 has coordinates (15, −8). Point 𝑀 is the midpoint of [𝑃𝑄] .

(a) Find the coordinates of 𝑀.

[2]

Line 𝐿 is perpendicular to [𝑃𝑄] and passes through 𝑀.

(b) Find the gradient of 𝐿.

[2]

(c) Hence, write down the equation of 𝐿.

[1]

12. 23M.1.SL.TZ1.9

An object moves along a straight line. Its velocity, 𝑣 𝑚 𝑠 #! , at time 𝑡 seconds is given by 𝑣(𝑡) = −𝑡 % +
0 $
$
𝑡 − 2𝑡 + 6, for 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 4. The object first comes to rest at 𝑡 = 𝑘.

The graph of 𝑣 is shown in the following diagram.

At 𝑡 = 0, the object is at the origin.

[N/A]
 [[N/A]]

(a) Find the displacement of the object from the origin at 𝑡 = 1.

[5]

(b) Find an expression for the acceleration of the object.

[2]

(c) Hence, find the greatest speed reached by the object before it comes to rest.

[5]

(d) Find the greatest speed reached by the object for 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 4.

[2]

(e) Write down an expression that represents the distance travelled by the object while its speed is
increasing. Do not evaluate the expression.

[3]

13. 23M.1.SL.TZ1.2
0/-0
The function 𝑓 is defined by 𝑓(𝑥) = $/#' for 𝑥 ∈ ℝ, 𝑥 ≠ 2.

[N/A]

[[N/A]]

(a) Find the zero of 𝑓(𝑥).

[2]

(b) For the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥), write down the equation of

[[N/A]]

(b.i) the vertical asymptote;

[1]

(b.ii) the horizontal asymptote.

[1]

(c) Find 𝑓 #! (𝑥), the inverse function of 𝑓(𝑥).

[3]
14. 23M.1.SL.TZ2.3
!
A function 𝑓 is defined by 𝑓(𝑥) = 1 − /#$, where 𝑥 ∈ ℝ, 𝑥 ≠ 2.

(a) The graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) has a vertical asymptote and a horizontal asymptote.

Write down the equation of

[[N/A]]

(a.i) the vertical asymptote; [1]

(a.ii) the horizontal asymptote. [1]

(b) Find the coordinates of the point where the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) intersects

[[N/A]]

(b.i) the 𝑦-axis; [1]

(b.ii) the 𝑥-axis. [1]

(c) On the following set of axes, sketch the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥), showing all the features found in parts (a)
and (b).

[1]
15. 22M.1.SL.TZ1.7

A function, 𝑓, has its derivative given by 𝑓′(𝑥) = 3𝑥 $ − 12𝑥 + 𝑝, where 𝑝 ∈ ℝ. The following diagram
shows part of the graph of 𝑓′.

The graph of 𝑓′ has an axis of symmetry 𝑥 = 𝑞.

(a) Find the value of 𝑞.

[2]

The vertex of the graph of 𝑓′ lies on the 𝑥-axis.

(b.i) Write down the value of the discriminant of 𝑓′.

[1]

(b.ii) Hence or otherwise, find the value of 𝑝.

[3]

(c) Find the value of the gradient of the graph of 𝑓′ at 𝑥 = 0.

[3]

(d) Sketch the graph of 𝑓″, the second derivative of 𝑓. Indicate clearly the 𝑥-intercept and the 𝑦-intercept.

[2]

The graph of 𝑓 has a point of inflexion at 𝑥 = 𝑎.

(e.i) Write down the value of 𝑎.

[1]

(e.ii) Find the values of 𝑥 for which the graph of 𝑓 is concave-down. Justify your answer.

[2]
16. 21M.2.SL.TZ1.9

Consider the function 𝑓 defined by 𝑓(𝑥) = 90e#1.)/ for 𝑥 ∈ ℝ- .

The graph of 𝑓 and the line 𝑦 = 𝑥 intersect at point P.

(a) Find the 𝑥-coordinate of P.

[2]

The line 𝐿 has a gradient of −1 and is a tangent to the graph of 𝑓 at the point Q.

(b) Find the exact coordinates of Q.

[4]

(c) Show that the equation of 𝐿 is 𝑦 = −𝑥 + 2 ln 45 + 2.

[2]

The shaded region 𝐴 is enclosed by the graph of 𝑓 and the lines 𝑦 = 𝑥 and 𝐿.

(d.i) Find the 𝑥-coordinate of the point where 𝐿 intersects the line 𝑦 = 𝑥.

[1]

(d.ii) Hence, find the area of 𝐴.

[4]

(e) The line 𝐿 is tangent to the graphs of both 𝑓 and the inverse function 𝑓 #! .
 Find the shaded area enclosed by the graphs of 𝑓 and 𝑓 #! and the line 𝐿.

[2]

17. 21M.2.SL.TZ2.6

All living plants contain an isotope of carbon called carbon-14. When a plant dies, the isotope decays so
that the amount of carbon-14 present in the remains of the plant decreases. The time since the death of
a plant can be determined by measuring the amount of carbon-14 still present in the remains.

The amount, 𝐴, of carbon-14 present in a plant 𝑡 years after its death can be modelled by 𝐴 = 𝐴1 e#.3
where 𝑡 ≥ 0 and 𝐴1 , 𝑘 are positive constants.

At the time of death, a plant is defined to have 100 units of carbon-14.

(a) Show that 𝐴1 = 100.

[1]

The time taken for half the original amount of carbon-14 to decay is known to be 5730 years.
ln $
(b) Show that 𝑘 = .
)0%1

[3]

(c) Find, correct to the nearest 10 years, the time taken after the plant’s death for 25% of the carbon-14
to decay.

[3]