Unit 3&4 Mathematical Methods 2024

SAC 1: Application Task Part A

STUDENT FULL NAME:

Part A: Distributed: Friday 10 May (Week 4A)

Handed in: by 3pm Monday 20 May (Week 6A).
You will have class time in Week 5 to work on the task and discuss the solution process,
and you may also work on the task for homework. Part A will contribute 3 marks towards
your raw score for SAC 1.
Solutions will be posted on the 3MM Google Classroom at 5.00pm on Tuesday 14 May
to allow students time to review the material and seek help with anything they are
unsure of before undertaking Parts B & C of the SAC.

Marks next to questions are provided to indicate when working would be required.

Task must be handed in no later than 3pm Monday 20 May.

Marks: Handed in on time (on or before 3pm Mon 20 May): 3 marks

Handed in late (no later than 1pm Wed 22 May): 1 mark
Handed in after 1pm Wed 22 May: 0 marks

Instructions
Whiteout and/or correction tape is NOT permitted.
Your work for each question will not be formally marked but a marking scheme is provided for guidance on
how much working may need to be shown.
Answer all questions.
In all questions where a numerical answer is required, an exact value must be given, unless otherwise
specified.
Unless otherwise specified, diagrams are not drawn to scale.

MAH 24 1
Victoria Jeong is an engineer who has several hobbies, including gardening and studying wildlife
populations. Victoria is very busy but she finds time to keep fit by riding her bicycle. Victoria also enjoys
practicing her maths skills and Questions 1 – 3 are some questions that Victoria has recently been working
on. The remaining questions relate to applications of Mathematics that Victoria encounters in her exciting
and interesting daily work and leisure time.

PART 1: No CAS permitted for these questions

Question 1 (7 Marks)

Let ℎ: [0, 3] → 𝑅, ℎ(𝑥) = − + 4𝑥 + 2.

The graph of 𝑦 = ℎ(𝑥) is shown.

𝑂𝐴𝐵𝐶 is a trapezium, where 𝑂 is the origin, 𝐴 is the
𝑦-intercept of ℎ, 𝐵 is the point on the graph of ℎ where 𝑥 = 1,
and 𝐶 lies on the 𝑥 axis and is vertically below 𝐵.
a) State the coordinates of 𝐴, 𝐵 and 𝐶.

1 mark

b) Find the area of 𝑂𝐴𝐵𝐶.

1 mark

Now consider a trapezium with vertices 𝑂𝐴𝐷𝐸 where 𝐷 has

coordinates 𝑥, ℎ(𝑥) and 𝐸 lies on the 𝑥 axis vertically
below 𝐷.

c) Show that the area, 𝑇(𝑥), of 𝑂𝐴𝐷𝐸 is given by

𝑇(𝑥) = − + 2𝑥 + 2𝑥

1 mark

MAH 24 2
d) The maximum area of 𝑂𝐴𝐷𝐸 occurs at a stationary point of the function 𝑇(𝑥). The value of 𝑥 at the
stationary point lies in the interval (𝑚, 𝑛), where 𝑚 and 𝑛 are consecutive positive integers.
By considering values of 𝑇 (𝑥), the derivative of 𝑇(𝑥), find the values of 𝑚 and 𝑛 and explain how you
know that the stationary point lies in the interval you have found.
2 marks

Let ℎ∗ (𝑥) = − + 4𝑥 + 2

e) The graph of 𝑦 = ℎ∗ (𝑥) is mapped onto the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑚(𝑥), where

( )
𝑚(𝑥) = − + 4(𝑥 − 3) + 2 by a single transformation.

i) Describe this transformation.

1 mark

ii) The graph of 𝑦 = ℎ∗ (𝑥) has 𝑥-intercpets at (−𝑝, 0) and (𝑝, 0). State the coordinates, in terms
of 𝑝, of the 𝑥-intercepts of the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑚(𝑥).

1 marks
Question 2 (3 marks)

Let 𝑓: [2, ∞) → 𝑅, 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑒 , where 𝑎 > 0.

a) State 𝑑𝑜𝑚 𝑓
2 marks

b) Find the value(s) of 𝑎 for which the left endpoints of the graphs of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑦 = 𝑓 (𝑥) coincide.

1 mark

MAH 24 3
Question 3 (5 marks)
Let 𝑓: (−𝑘, ∞) → 𝑅, 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑙𝑜𝑔 (𝑥 + 𝑘)
a) Find 𝑓′(𝑥)

1 mark

b) Solve 𝑓 (𝑥) = 1, for 𝑥. Give your answer in terms of 𝑘.

1 mark

c) Hence, or otherwise, find the value of 𝑘 for which the line 𝑦 = 𝑥 is a tangent to 𝑓(𝑥).

2 marks

d) Hence or otherwise determine the value(s) of 𝑘 for which 𝑓 and 𝑓 have at least 1 point of
intersection.

1 mark

MAH 24 4
Question 4 (14 marks)
Victoria conducted an 8 year study into a population of koalas and found that the population, 𝑓 koalas, 𝑡
years after the beginning of the study could be modelled by the function 𝑓: [0, 8] → 𝑹, 𝑓(𝑡) = 𝑡 − 2𝑡 + 6.

a) Find the number of koalas at the start of the study.

1 mark

b) Find the minimum and maximum sizes of the population during the study.
3 marks

c) Find the average rate of change of the population during the first 6 years of the study.
2 marks

MAH 24 5
d) In the first 𝑘 years of the study, the average rate of change of the population was 0 koalas/year.
Find the value of 𝑘, where 𝑘 > 0.
2 marks

Now consider a general quadratic population model given by g(t )  at  bt  c, where 𝑡 is the time in years
2

from the beginning of a population study and 𝑔 is the size of the population.
e) For this model, state the size of the initial population in terms of 𝑎, 𝑏 and/or 𝑐.
1 mark

f) Find 𝑔′(𝑡), the instantaneous rate of change of 𝑔 with respect to 𝑡.

1 mark

g) Does changing the initial population affect the instantaneous rate of change of 𝑔 with respect to 𝑡?
Provide justification for your answer.
1 mark

MAH 24 6
h) Show that the average rate of change of g between t1and t2 (where t2  t1 ) is given by:
Average rate of change  a(t1  t2 )  b
2 marks

i) Hence, find the value of t, in terms of t1and t2 , for which 𝑔 (𝑡) is equal to the average rate of change
of g between t1and t2 (where t2  t1 ) .
1 mark

j) Find the value of 𝑤, where 𝑤 ≠ 0, for which the average rate of change of 𝑔 between 𝑡 = 0 and 𝑡 = 𝑤
is 0.
2 marks

MAH 24 7
Question 5 (11 marks)
Victoria conducted a study into a population of native bees in a particular hive and found that the population
could be modelled by the function

ℎ(𝑥) = + 5,

where ℎ is the number of bees, in thousands, 𝑥 days after the beginning of the study. Consider 𝑥 ≥ 0 for the
following analysis.

a) Find the number of bees in the hive at the start of the study.

1 mark

b) Sketch the graph of 𝑦 = ℎ(𝑥), 𝑥 ≥ 0. Label any end point/s with their coordinates and any
asymptote/s with their equation.
2 marks

c) If this model continues to apply to the hive population for all values of 𝑥, where 𝑥 ≥ 0, state the value
of lim ℎ(𝑥).
→
1 mark

d) What does the result from part c) mean in the context of the hive population?
1 mark

MAH 24 8
e) Find ℎ (𝑥).
1 mark

f) Show that ℎ(𝑥) ≠ ℎ′(𝑥) for all 𝑥 > 0.

2 marks

MAH 24 9
 k
Now consider a function of the form g (t )   a ,where 𝑡 > 0 and 𝑘 and 𝑎 are real constants.
t
g) Show that the average rate of change of g between t1 and t2 (where t2  t1 ) is given by:
k
Average rate of change 
t1 t2
2 marks

h) Find the value of 𝑡, in terms of t1 and t2 , for which 𝑔 (𝑡) is equal to the average rate of change of g
between t1 and t2 (where t2  t1 ) .
1 mark

MAH 24 10
Question 6 (9 marks)
Victoria Jeong has been asked to carry out an
engineering review for an adventure railway that is going
to be built on a mountain. A cross section of the 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑅(1, 16)
mountain where the railway is to be constructed is shown
on the diagram on the right.
The cross section of the mountain shown can be
modelled by the function with rule
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏, where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are non-zero real
numbers. 𝑇(5, 0)

The plan for the railway is for a straight track to run from point 𝑅 to 𝑇, where R has coordinates (1, 16) and T
has coordinates (5, 0). RT is a tangent to the graph of 𝑓 at point R.
a) Find the gradient of the railway track.
1 mark

b) Find 𝑓’(𝑥)

1 mark

c) Hence, show that 𝑎 = −2 and 𝑏 = 18.

2 marks

Due to engineering problems Victoria decides that

the proposed railway is not safe. She suggests a
straight route that runs from point 𝑅 to point 𝑈, as
𝑅(1, 16)
shown.
This track has equation 𝑦 = 2𝑥 + 14 𝑋
The section of track from point 𝑅 to 𝑋 passes through
a tunnel in the mountain.
d) Find the coordinates of point 𝑋.
𝑈(-7, 0)

3 marks

MAH 24 11
e) Find the length of the tunnel, RX, express your answer in the form 𝑚√𝑛 where 𝑚 and 𝑛 are integers.
2 marks

Question 7 (8 marks)
Victoria is also reviewing the plans for a new cable car that is to be
𝑦 = 𝑔(𝑥)
installed on a nearby mountain. The plans on the right show a
cross section of the region where the cable car is to be constructed. 𝑃

The cross section of the mountain can be modelled by the function

with rule 𝑔(𝑥) = √4𝑥 − 3
𝐴

The cable car route will begin at 𝐴 and finish on the mountain at 𝑃 as shown on the above diagram. 𝐴𝑃 is a
tangent to the graph of 𝑔 at point 𝑃 and the gradient of 𝐴𝑃 is .

a) Find 𝑔 (𝑥)

1 mark

b) Hence, show that the coordinates of point 𝑃 are ,4 .

3 marks

MAH 24 12
c) Find the equation of 𝐴𝑃, expressing your answer in the form 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏.

2 marks

Victoria realises that the function 𝑔, which she has been using to model the cross section of the mountain is
incorrect. Victoria decides that the cross section can be more accurately be modelled by the function 𝑔∗ where
𝑔∗ is found by applying the transformation 𝑇 to the function 𝑔. The transformation, 𝑇, that she uses is described
by
2
𝑇: 𝑅 → 𝑅 , 𝑇(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥, 𝑦
3 𝑦 = 𝑔∗ (𝑥)
𝑃∗

𝐴
The new route for the cable car is AP*, where P* lies on the graph
of 𝑔∗ and has the same 𝑦 coordinate as point P.

d) Describe the transformation 𝑇.

1 mark

e) State one difference between the previous cable car route, 𝐴𝑃, and the new route AP*.
1 mark

MAH 24 13
Question 8 (9 marks)
Victoria is drawing up plans for an adventure slide. A section of
her plans are shown. 𝐵𝐷 is part of the cross section of a man
made hill that the slide will begin from.

The cross section of the hill between 𝐵 and 𝐷 can be modelled by

the function ℎ(𝑥) = − 𝑘(3 − 𝑥) + , where 𝑘 𝜖 (0, 1].

The straight slide will run from point C on the hill to point E which is on horizontal ground. The owners of the
adventure park are quite superstitious and, whilst the design of the hill can be altered, they insist that the
slide must begin at the point on the hill where 𝑥 = 0. Thus, the 𝑥 coordinate of point 𝐶 will always be 0.

After investigating different ways to build the slide, Victoria decides that it will be built so that 𝐸𝐶 is a tangent to
the curve ℎ at the point 𝐶.

Victoria initially considers the hill design given by ℎ (𝑥) where 𝑘 = 1, thus ℎ (𝑥) = − (3 − 𝑥) + .

a) Point 𝐵 is the x intercept of ℎ (𝑥). Find the coordinates of 𝐵.

2 marks

b) Show that ℎ (𝑥) = (3 − 𝑥) . Hence, show that if this hill design is used, the gradient of the slide
is √3.
2 marks

MAH 24 14
c) Hence, find angle CEB in degrees, which gives the angle of inclination that the slide makes with the
horizontal.
2 marks

The owners of the park think that the gradient of the slide using this design is too great They suggest to
Victoria that she should apply a transformation to the graph of the function ℎ (𝑥) = − (3 − 𝑥) + , to
reduce the gradient at point 𝐶 (where 𝑥 = 0).

d) If 𝒏 > 𝟏, choose which one of the following transformations will halve the gradient of ℎ (𝑥) at 𝐶 and
write down the value of 𝑛 for the transformation you chose.
Write your answers in the box provided.
(A) Translation of 𝑛 units in the positive direction of the 𝑦-axis
(B) Dilation by a factor of 𝑛 from the 𝑦-axis
(C) Dilation by a factor of 𝑛 from the 𝑥-axis
(D) Translation of 𝑛 units in the negative direction of the 𝑦-axis

Correct
transformation Value of 𝑛:
(A), (B), (C) or (D)
1 mark

Victoria discovers that there are strict health and safety laws which state that the maximum angle of
inclination that a slide may make with the horizontal is 45°. Victoria decides to investigate how to meet this
requirement by varying the hill design by using different values of 𝑘 in the rule
ℎ(𝑥) = − 𝑘(3 − 𝑥) + , where 𝑘 𝜀 (0, 1]
The slide will still start at point C, where 𝑥 = 0.

e) Find the values of 𝑘 which ensure that the angle of inclination the slide would make with the
horizontal is no more than 45°.
2 marks

MAH 24 15
Question 9 (15 marks)
Victoria Jeong loves fast scary rides and in her spare time she has developed a plan for the world’s fastest
rollercoaster. The speed in km/min of the rollercoaster is described by the function
𝑆: [0, 3] → 𝑅, 𝑆(𝑡) = 𝑐𝑡 + 𝑑𝑡 ,
where 𝑡 is the time in mins from the start of the ride and 𝑐 and 𝑑 are real constants and 𝑑 < 0. The
rollercoaster starts from rest, it initially increases its speed and then slows down until it comes to a stop 3
minutes later, that is 𝑆(0) = 0 and 𝑆(3) = 0.
a) Show that 𝑐 = −9𝑑

1 mark

b) Show that 𝑆 has a stationary point when 𝑡 = √3.

2 marks

c) Find 𝑆′(1) and 𝑆′(2), and use these results to show that S has a local maximum when 𝑡 = √3.
2 marks

MAH 24 16
Victoria is experimenting with what happens to the speed when she changes the value of 𝑑. Changing the
value of 𝑑 does not affect the relationship between 𝑐 and 𝑑.

d) Victoria decides to let 𝑑 equal −√6.

For this value of 𝑑 she finds that the maximum speed of the train is 𝑘√2 km/min where 𝑘 is a positive
real constant. Find the value of 𝑘.

2 marks

The height, 𝑚 metres above ground, of part of the roller coaster track can be modelled by the function
𝑚 (𝑥) 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 25
𝑚(𝑥) =
𝑚 (𝑥) 25 < 𝑥 ≤ 28
The height of the first section of the roller coaster track can be modelled by the equation
𝑚 (𝑥) = −20 × 𝑒 + 60, 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 25, where 𝑥 is the horizontal distance, in metres, from the where the
roller coaster begins.

When the roller coaster has travelled a horizontal distance of 𝑙𝑜𝑔 20 metres its exact height is (60−20 ) metres.
Victoria uses this information to form the equation 60−20 = −20 × 𝑒 + 60

e) By solving the equation 60−20 = −20 × 𝑒 + 60, show that the value of 𝑎 is .

2 marks

MAH 24 17
Use 𝑎 = for the remainder of the question.

Part of the roller coaster track is shown in the diagram on

the right. The first and second sections of the track join at
point 𝑃 as shown. The 𝑥 co-ordinate of point 𝑃 is 25. 𝑦 = 𝑚 (𝑥)

The height of the second section of track is given by the

𝑦 = 𝑚 (𝑥)
equation 𝑚 (𝑥) = − × 𝑒 +𝑐
where 𝑥 is the horizontal distance, in metres, from where
the roller coaster starts and 𝑏 and 𝑐 are real numbers.

The gradients of the sections of track described by 𝑚

and 𝑚 approach the same value at 𝑥 = 25, so there is a continuous and smooth join at 𝑃.
f) Find 𝑚′(25)
2 marks

g) Show that 𝑏 = −
2 marks

h) Find the value of 𝑐. Express your answer in the form 𝑝(𝑒 ) + 𝑟, where 𝑝, 𝑞 and 𝑟 are real numbers.
2 marks

MAH 24 18
Part 2 – CAS may be used for these questions
Question 10 (8 Marks)
Victoria is going for a bike ride.
Victoria’s velocity, v metres per second, t seconds after she begins riding is given by
1
v (t )  log e (t 2  1), t  0
3

a) What was Victoria’s velocity, in metres per second, 40 seconds after she began riding? Answer to 2
decimal places.

1 mark

b) How many seconds does it take, for Victoria’s velocity to reach 2.4 m/s? Give your answer correct to
the nearest second.
1 mark

c) i) Calculate the average rate of change of Victoria’s velocity, in m/s , during the first 2 seconds
of her ride, correct to 2 decimal places.

2 marks

ii) Interpret the result to i) in terms of Victoria’s velocity.

1 mark]

d) Find Victoria’s acceleration, in m/s , 4 seconds after she begins riding, correct to 2 decimal places.

1 mark

Victoria decides to build a ramp that she can ride her bike up. A cross section
of the ramp she is designing is shown. The ramp starts at O and finishes at A.

Victoria uses the equation 𝑦 = 𝑤𝑥, 𝑤𝜖𝑅 to model the ramp, where 𝑦 is metres
above ground and 𝑥 is the horizontal distance from the start of the ramp.

e) Victoria decides the angle that OA makes with the 𝑥-axis must be at
least 30° , but no more than 45°. Find the possible values of 𝑤.

2 marks

MAH 24 19
Question 11 (14 marks)
Victoria has a greenhouse in which she grows plants that thrive in a cool climate. She is experimenting with
the thermostat setting for this greenhouse. With the current setting, the temperature, 𝐺°𝐶, over the 5 hour
period she is monitoring, is given by 𝐺(𝑡) = 2𝑒 + 8𝑒 , where 𝑡 is time in hours after 8am and 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 5.
a) Find 𝐺(0) and 𝐺(5)
2 marks

b) The minimum value of 𝐺 occurs when 𝑡 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔 (𝑚)

State the value of 𝑚 and the minimum value of 𝐺.
2 marks

c) On the axes below, sketch the graph of 𝐺 against 𝑡 for

0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 5. Label the end points and the minimum
point with their coordinates.
2 marks

d) Find the average rate of change, in °𝐶/ℎ𝑟, of the temperature during this 5 hour period. Answer
correct to two decimal places.
2 marks

e) State the values of 𝑡 for which the temperature in the greenhouse is strictly decreasing.

1 mark

MAH 24 20
Victoria is considering changing the setting on the thermostat so that the temperature, 𝐺 ℃, will be given by
𝐺 : [0, 5] → 𝑅, 𝐺 (𝑡) = 𝑑𝑒 + (10 − 𝑑)𝑒 , where 𝑑 is a real number and 𝑑𝜖(0, 10).
f) Find 𝐺 ′(𝑡)
1 mark

g) If Victoria sets the thermostat so that the stationary point of 𝐺 , and thus the minimum temperature,
occurs when 𝑡 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔 9, find the value of 𝑑.
2 marks

h) Find the set of possible values of 𝑑 such that the minimum temperature occurs when 𝑡 = 0.
2 marks

MAH 24 21
Question 12 (7 marks)
Victoria conducted a 4 year study into a bandicoot population.

The size of the bandicoot population was recorded every 2 years and the results are shown below.
years since start of study population
0 44
2 20
4 12

Victoria used this data to create a model of the form 𝑁(𝑡) = 𝑎𝑡 + 𝑏𝑡 + 𝑐, where 𝑎, 𝑏, and 𝑐 are real constants,
𝑁 is the total number of bandicoots and 𝑡 is the number of years since the beginning of the study.
a) State the values of 𝑎, 𝑏 and 𝑐.
1 mark

b) Express 𝑁(𝑡) in the form 𝑁(𝑡) = 𝑎(𝑡 − ℎ) + 𝑘. Hence, describe what this model predicts will happen
to the bandicoot population for 𝑡 > 4. Your answer should include reference to how quickly the
bandicoot population would change according to this model.
2 marks

c) Why might this model be unrealistic beyond a certain point in time?

1 mark

In order to verify whether the model continues to apply beyond 𝑡 = 4, Victoria takes a survey 7 years
after the beginning of the original study and finds that there were 15 bandicoots.

d) Does this value support that the original model is valid for at least 7 years? Provide mathematical
justification for your answer.
1 mark

MAH 24 22
 Victoria takes another survey 10 years after the beginning of the original study and finds that there
were 16 bandicoots.

e) Suggest an appropriate model that could be used to predict the population for 𝑡𝜖[0, 10], based on the
available data. Justify that the model you have chosen is suitable.
2 marks

Question 13 (9 marks)
A drug, 𝑋, comes in 500 milligram (mg) tablets. The amount, 𝑏, of the drug 𝑋 in the bloodstream, in
milligrams, 𝑡 hours after one tablet is consumed is given by the function 𝑏(𝑡) = 𝑒 −𝑒
a) Find the time, in hours, it takes for drug 𝑋 to reach a maximum amount in the bloodstream after one
tablet is consumed. Express your answer in the form 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑔 (𝑐), where 𝑎, 𝑐 𝜖 𝑅.

2 marks

b) Find the average rate of change of the amount of drug 𝑋 in the bloodstream, in mg/hour, over the
interval [2, 6]. Give your answer correct to one decimal place.
2 marks

MAH 24 23
c) Six hours after one 500 mg tablet of drug X is consumed (Tablet 1), a second identical tablet is
consumed (Tablet 2). The amount of drug X in the bloodstream from each tablet consumed
independently is shown in the graph below.

i) On the graph above, sketch the total amount of drug 𝑋 in the bloodstream during the first 12
hours after Tablet 1 is consumed.
2 marks
ii) The total amount of the drug, 𝑑 milligrams, in the bloodstream over the first 12 hours, can be
modelled using the function:

 b(t ), 0t 6
d (t )   , where t is hours after taking the first tablet
 b(t )  b(t  k ), 6  t  12

State the value of 𝑘.

1 mark

iii) Find the maximum amount of drug 𝑋 in the bloodstream in the first 12 hours and the time at
which this maximum occurs. Give your answers correct to two decimal places.
2 marks

MAH 24 24
Question 13 (11 marks)

The graph of 𝑓: [0, 2] → 𝑅, 𝑓(𝑥) = −2𝑥 + 4𝑥 is shown.

Let 𝑔 be the function obtained by applying the transformation 𝑇 to the function 𝑓, where

𝑇: 𝑅 → 𝑅 , 𝑇(𝑥, 𝑦) = (𝑎𝑥, 𝑦 + 1) where 𝑎 is a positive real constant.

a) Find the rule for 𝑔(𝑥).
2 marks

b) Show that when 𝑎 = 3, then 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑔(𝑥) has a unique solution.

2 marks

c) State the domain of 𝑔 in terms of 𝑎.

1 mark

d) Find 𝑔(0) and 𝑔(2𝑎)

1 mark

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e) For certain values of 𝑎 the right-hand end point of the graph of 𝑔(𝑥) lies on the graph of 𝑓(𝑥). The two
ways this situation may occur are illustrated below.

Using your answer to d), or otherwise, find these values of 𝑎.

3 marks

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f) Let 𝐷 be the intersection of the domains of 𝑓 and 𝑔. For what values of 𝑎 do the graphs of 𝑔(𝑥) and
𝑓(𝑥) have exactly one point of intersection for 𝑥 𝜖 𝐷?
2 marks

END OF QUESTION AND ANSWER BOOKLET

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