• Best of luck to the class of 2024 for their HSC exams. You got this!
    Let us know your thoughts on the HSC exams here
  • YOU can help the next generation of students in the community!
    Share your trial papers and notes on our Notes & Resources page
MedVision ad

Cambridge Prelim MX1 Textbook Marathon/Q&A (1 Viewer)

Crisium

Pew Pew
Joined
Feb 17, 2014
Messages
2,009
Location
Australia
Gender
Male
HSC
2015
Re: Year 11 Mathematics 3 Unit Cambridge Question & Answer Thread

Can't you just let x->infinity, making the y values ->x^2, instead of doing all the algebra above
You can

I was taught this way though ~

(I can do all the algebra in my head but I posted it for OP's sake)
 

DatAtarLyfe

Booty Connoisseur
Joined
Mar 10, 2015
Messages
1,805
Gender
Female
HSC
2016
Re: Year 11 Mathematics 3 Unit Cambridge Question & Answer Thread

You can

I was taught this way though ~

(I can do all the algebra in my head but I posted it for OP's sake)
cool, just confirming
 

appleibeats

Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2012
Messages
375
Gender
Male
HSC
2016
Re: Year 11 Mathematics 3 Unit Cambridge Question & Answer Thread

Why is it the highest power of x in the denominator , i thought it was just the highest power in either the numerator or denominator?
 

DatAtarLyfe

Booty Connoisseur
Joined
Mar 10, 2015
Messages
1,805
Gender
Female
HSC
2016
Re: Year 11 Mathematics 3 Unit Cambridge Question & Answer Thread

Why is it the highest power of x in the denominator , i thought it was just the highest power in either the numerator or denominator?
It's because your are trying to get rid of the pronumeral in the denominator before you let x-> infinity
 

appleibeats

Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2012
Messages
375
Gender
Male
HSC
2016
Re: Year 11 Mathematics 3 Unit Cambridge Question & Answer Thread

For 5)i

y = (x+1)^3/ x

i know there is a vertical asymptote of x = 0

But is there an horizontal asymptote.

I expanded the numerator and did lim x ---> infinity

and get x^2 + 3x + 3.....
 

VBN2470

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2012
Messages
440
Location
Sydney
Gender
Male
HSC
2013
Uni Grad
2017
Re: Year 11 Mathematics 3 Unit Cambridge Question & Answer Thread

Yes, as x tends to , y values will tend to . Note that what we are trying to find is a curve which 'bounds' the graph of f. This is only just for graphical purposes. It is not correct to say since the expression on the LHS still means that y tends on infinity as you increase x. Graphically, however, it will be 'bounded' off by which becomes our oblique (parabolic) asymptote.
 
Last edited:

InteGrand

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 11, 2014
Messages
6,109
Gender
Male
HSC
N/A
Re: Year 11 Mathematics 3 Unit Cambridge Question & Answer Thread

For 5)i

y = (x+1)^3/ x

i know there is a vertical asymptote of x = 0

But is there an horizontal asymptote.

I expanded the numerator and did lim x ---> infinity

and get x^2 + 3x + 3.....
In other words, a 'parabolic asymptote'.
 

DatAtarLyfe

Booty Connoisseur
Joined
Mar 10, 2015
Messages
1,805
Gender
Female
HSC
2016
Re: Year 11 Mathematics 3 Unit Cambridge Question & Answer Thread

For 5)i

y = (x+1)^3/ x

i know there is a vertical asymptote of x = 0

But is there an horizontal asymptote.

I expanded the numerator and did lim x ---> infinity

and get x^2 + 3x + 3.....
Just keep in mind these general rules when your trying to identify what kind of asymptotes exist:
1/ If the highest power of x in the denominator = the highest power of x in the numerator, then you have a horizontal asymptote
2/ If the highest power of x in the denominator < the highest power of x in the numerator (BY ONE), then you have an oblique asymptote
3/ If the highest power of x in the denominator < the highest power of x in the numerator (BY TWO OR MORE), then you have another graph as an asymptote

So in your case, the highest power in numerator was 3 and highest power in denominator was 1, thus you have a parabolic asymptote
 
Last edited:

leehuan

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 31, 2014
Messages
5,805
Gender
Male
HSC
2015
Re: Year 11 Mathematics 3 Unit Cambridge Question & Answer Thread

The graph of y=(x+1)^3/x in red

And it's parabolic asymptote in black.

 

Speed6

Retired '16
Joined
Jul 31, 2014
Messages
2,949
Gender
Male
HSC
N/A
Re: Year 11 Mathematics 3 Unit Cambridge Question & Answer Thread

I never learnt how to do Pascals triangle, will I ever need it in 2U and or 3U in Year 12?
 

Speed6

Retired '16
Joined
Jul 31, 2014
Messages
2,949
Gender
Male
HSC
N/A
Re: Year 11 Mathematics 3 Unit Cambridge Question & Answer Thread

Ok thanks Drongoski, one last question, is this something which I can learn independently or will I need a teacher to guide me through it? Also, is it something which can be learnt in one day?
 

Drongoski

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2009
Messages
4,255
Gender
Male
HSC
N/A
Re: Year 11 Mathematics 3 Unit Cambridge Question & Answer Thread

The Pascal Triangle itself is dead easy; nothing to it. But if you are talking about the many interesting properties associated with it, that requires a bit more algebra.
 
Last edited:

leehuan

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 31, 2014
Messages
5,805
Gender
Male
HSC
2015
Re: Year 11 Mathematics 3 Unit Cambridge Question & Answer Thread

Pascal's triangle is more of a reference point to begin the binomial theorem topic. It's not a major part in the syllabus.

1 (this is called the '0th' row)
1 1
1 2 1
1 3 3 1
1 4 6 4 1
1 5 10 10 5 1
1 6 15 20 15 6 1
etc.

For the binomial theorem, what's interesting is that the expansion of (1+x)^n, the coefficients match up the nth row of Pascal's triangle. Also, Pascal's triangle can be written in combinations. It might also be worth mentioning that the sum of the coefficients on each row is 2^n. Besides that you don't really need much more for MX1.
 

appleibeats

Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2012
Messages
375
Gender
Male
HSC
2016
Re: Year 11 Mathematics 3 Unit Cambridge Question & Answer Thread

so the question is y = x^2 1/2

so make it an improper fraction

y = x^5/2

then it simply:

y' = 5/2 x^ 3/2 which = 5/2 x^ 1 1/2

you bring down the 5/2 and minus 1 from the power.
 

appleibeats

Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2012
Messages
375
Gender
Male
HSC
2016
Re: Year 11 Mathematics 3 Unit Cambridge Question & Answer Thread

for question 6a from 10F

y = x^(1/2) + 1/x^(1/2)

i don't understand why the curve flattens out as x ---> + infinity?

why is it not a parabola shape?
 

appleibeats

Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2012
Messages
375
Gender
Male
HSC
2016
Re: Year 11 Mathematics 3 Unit Cambridge Question & Answer Thread

How do you find the focus length of the parabola x^2 = 28/5y
 

Drongoski

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2009
Messages
4,255
Gender
Male
HSC
N/A
Re: Year 11 Mathematics 3 Unit Cambridge Question & Answer Thread

How do you find the focus length of the parabola x^2 = 28/5y
I take it to mean: x^2 = (28/5)y

In that case simply express in the form: x2 = 4ay

For this question: x^2 = 4* (7/5)*y

so, the focal length(not focus length) "a" is 7/5.
 
Last edited:

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 0, Guests: 1)

Top