Candidate’s Name ____________________________Class __________Index No____

BUKIT PANJANG GOVERNMENT HIGH SCHOOL

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION 2008
SEC FOUR EXPRESS / FOUR N(O)

MATHEMATICS (Paper 1)

Date: 13 August 2008 Duration: 2 hours

Time: 0800 – 1000 4016/1

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES:

Write your name, class and index number in the spaces at the top of this page.
Answer ALL the questions.
Write your answers in the spaces provided on the question paper.
Omission of essential working will result in loss of marks.

INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES:

The total number of marks for this paper is 80.

The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.
You should not spend too much time on any one question.
You are expected to use an electronic calculator for this paper.
If the degree of accuracy is not specified in the question and if the answer is not exact, the
answer should be given to three significant figures. Answers in degree should be given to
one decimal place. For  , use 3.142, unless the question requires the answer in terms of
.
FOR EXAMINER’S
USE

/ 80
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Setter : Mr Choo Kong Lum
THIS QUESTION PAPER CONSISTS OF 19 PRINTED PAGES.
 Mathematical Formulae

Compound interest
n
 r 
Total amount = P1 + 
 100 

Mensuration
Curved surface area of a cone = πrl
Surface area of a sphere = 4πr 2
1 2
Volume of a cone = πr h
3
4 3
Volume of a sphere = πr
3
1
Area of triangle ABC = absin C
2
Arc length = rθ , where θ is in radians
1 2
Sector area = r θ , where θ is in radians
2

Trigonometry
a b c
= =
sin A sin B sin C
a 2 = b 2 + c 2 − 2bc cos A

Statistics
∑ fx
Mean =
∑f
2
∑ fx 2  ∑ fx 
Standard deviation = −  
f ∑f 

20
ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS
1. (a) An art dealer bought a painting for $8,400 and sold it for $11,088. Calculate his
earnings as a percentage.
(b) During a sale, the art dealer reduced the price of his paintings by 16%. Calculate
the normal selling price of a painting which was priced at $21,000 during the sale.

Answer (a) ________________

[1]
(b) ________________
[1]
________________________________________________________________________
2. If 5 men can make 40 tables in 12 days, calculate how long it will take 24 men to
make 320 tables.

20
 Answer ___________________
[2]
________________________________________________________________________

20
3. The Singapore Mount Everest Expedition team set off from the foot of the mountains
where the temperature was h ºC. When they reached the first base station, the
temperature was –k ºC. Given that h and k are positive integers, write down an
expression for (a) the difference between the two temperatures,
(b) the mean of the two temperatures.

Answer (a) ________________

[1]
(b) ________________
[1]
________________________________________________________________________
4. In the diagram, ∠ABD = ∠BCD . Given that AB = 12 cm, AC = 18 cm and BD = 10 cm,
find the length of (a) AD, (b) BC.

12
10

A C
D
18

Answer (a) ________________

[1]

20
 (b) ________________
[1]
________________________________________________________________________

20
5. (a) Find the highest common factor of 140 and 756.
(b) Find the smallest positive integer k such that 756k is a perfect square number.

Answer (a) ________________

[1]
(b) ________________
[1]
________________________________________________________________________
6. In 1983, the metre was redefined as the distance travel by light in a vacuum during a

1
time of second.
299 792 458
(a) Express the speed of light in a vacuum in km/h, giving your answer in standard
form and correct to 4 significant figures.
(b) The distance of the earth from a particular galaxy is approximately 2.08 × 10 20 km.
Find the time, in hours, for light to travel from this particular galaxy to earth, giving
your answer in standard form, correct to 3 decimal places.

20
 Answer (a) ________________
[1]
(b) ________________
[1]
________________________________________________________________________

20
 2
 m 2 n +1 × m 
7. Simplify  
 m 3n 

Answer ___________________
[2]
________________________________________________________________________
8. Mr Lim invested $5,400 in a bank that pays 3.2% compound interest per annum
compounded every three months. Calculate the total amount he has in the bank after

1
2 years.
2

20
 Answer ___________________
[2]
________________________________________________________________________

20
9. (a) The area of the windscreen of a model fighter jet is 80 cm². The actual area of the
windscreen is 180 m². Calculate the scale of the model in the form 1 : n.
(b) A map is drawn to a scale of 1 : 200,000. The area of a reservoir on the map is 8.5 cm².
Calculate the area, in square centimetres, which represents the reservoir on a second map
where the scale is 1 : 40,000.

Answer (a) ________________

[1]

20
 (b) ________________
[2]
________________________________________________________________________

20
10. ABC is a triangle in which ∠ACB = 90° . D is a point on AC. AB = 20 cm, CD = 5 cm
and DA = 11 cm. C
5
D

11

A B
20
Giving your answer as a fraction, find
(a) sin ∠ABC
(b) tan ∠BAC
(c) cos ∠BDA

Answer (a) ________________

[1]
(b) ________________
[1]
(c) ________________
[1]
________________________________________________________________________
11. (a) Express, correct to 2 significant figures
(i) 346.82
(ii) 0.020 345
(b) Sharon’s height is 1.52 m, measured correct to 3 significant figures. Edward’s
height is 1.85 m, measured correct to 3 significant figures. Find
(i) the least possible value of Sharon’s height, to 4 significant figures,
(ii) the greatest possible value of Edward’s height, to 4 significant figures.

Answer (a) (i) ______________

[1]

20
 (a) (ii) ______________
[1]
(b) (i) ______________
[1]
(b) (ii) ______________
[1]
________________________________________________________________________

20
12. Consider the three sequences below:
Sequence x: 3, 8, 13, 18, 23,…
Sequence y: 16, 31, 46, 61, 76,…
Sequence z: 18, 38, 58, 78, 98,…
(a) Write down the next term in sequence x.
(b) Find an expression, in terms, of n, for the nth term in the sequence y.
(c) Find an equation involving x, y and z, making z the subject.

Answer (a) ________________

[1]
(b) ________________
[1]
(c) ________________
[1]
________________________________________________________________________
 − 2 12
13. Given that OA =   and OB =  
3 5

Find (a) OB

(b) AB
(c) BA

20
 Answer (a) ________________
[1]
(b) ________________
[1]
(c) ________________
[1]
________________________________________________________________________

20
 (
5 x2 − 4 )
14. (a) Simplify
(
10 x 2 + x − 2 )
(b) Express as a single fraction in its simplest form
3 1 2
− − 2
1− x x +1 x −1

Answer (a) ________________

[2]

20
 (b) ________________
[2]
________________________________________________________________________

20
15. A

20
X
B
D
16

In the diagram, ABCD is a quadrilateral with BA parallel to CD. AC and BD meet at X

where CX = 16 cm and XA = 20 cm.
(a) Given that BD = 54 cm, find the length BX.
(b) Find the ratio of area of triangle BXC : area of triangle AXD.

Answer (a) ________________

[2]

20
 (b) ________________
[2]
________________________________________________________________________

20
16. Two rectangles, A and B, each have an area of 11 cm². The length of rectangle A is x cm.
The length of rectangle B is (x + 3) cm.
(a) Given that the width of rectangle A is 2 cm greater that the width of rectangle B,
form an equation in x and show that it simplifies to 2 x 2 + 6 x − 33 = 0 .
[2]
(b) Hence, find the widths of both rectangle A and rectangle B.

Answer (b) Rect A____________

[1]

20
 Rect B____________
[1]
________________________________________________________________________

20
17. P is the point (-1, 4) and Q is the point (11, k) where k > 0. The length of PQ is 13 units.
(a) Find the value of k.
(b) Find the equation of the straight line passing through PQ.

Answer (a) ________________

[2]
(b) ________________
[2]

20
________________________________________________________________________

20
18. (a) On the diagrams below,
1
(i) sketch the graph of y = − ,
x
(ii) On the same graph, draw and state the equations of the lines of
symmetry.
(b) Given that a is a positive integer, sketch the graphs of
(i) y = a + x2 (ii) y = a − x 2 (iii) y = −a + x 2

(a) (i) (ii) (b) (i)

y y

x x

[3] [1]

(b) (ii) (b) (iii)

y y

x x

[1] [1]

20
________________________________________________________________________

20
19. The following diagram shows a map with points A, B and C which represent three
places joined by straight roads.
(a) It is known that the first treasure is buried at P, inside triangle ABC, where P is
equidistant from A, B and C. By making appropriate constructions on the diagram,
indicate clearly the position of P.
[3]
(b) It is also known that the second treasure is buried at Q, inside triangle ABC, where
Q is equidistant from CA and CB and is 6 cm from AB. By making appropriate
constructions on the diagram, indicate clearly the position of Q.
[2]

A B

20
________________________________________________________________________

20
20. In the week before the ‘O’ level examinations, the number of hours spent by 20
students preparing for the exams were computed and recorded below:
55 58 45 39 46 50 36 55 54 43
60 48 42 63 47 37 44 49 50 53
(a) Complete the frequency table:
No. of
hours 35 ≤ x < 40 40 ≤ x < 45 45 ≤ x < 50 50 ≤ x < 55 55 ≤ x < 60 60 ≤ x < 65
(h)
No. of
3 3 5 2
students
[1]

(b) Calculate the mean number of hours spent in preparation in the week.
(c) Calculate the standard deviation.

Answer (b) ________________

[2]
(c) ________________
[2]

20
________________________________________________________________________

20
21. (a) Solve the following simultaneous equations:
7x + 4 y = 0
5x + 3 y + 2 = 0

(b) Given that − 4 ≤ 3 x − 1 ≤ x + 7 and − 10 ≤ 5 y ≤ 35 , find the largest value of

( 3x + y )( 3x − y ) .

Answer (a) ________________

[3]
(b) ________________
[3]

20
________________________________________________________________________

20
22. The gradient of the line l, 6 x + ky − 18 = 0 is -3.
(a) Find the value of k.
(b) Find the coordinates of the point where the line l intersects the y-axis.
(c) Find the coordinates of the point when the line l intersects the line y = 3 .
(d) The point (p, 3p) lies on the line l. Calculate the value of p.

Answer (a) ________________

[2]
(b) ________________
[1]

20
 (c) ________________
[1]
(d) ________________
[1]
________________________________________________________________________

20
23. Larry wants to take his driving test until he passes. Each time he takes the test, the
probability that he passes is 0.7.
(a) Find the probability that Larry fails the test on the first and second attempts, and
passes on the third attempt.
(b) Calculate the probability that Larry passes the test on either the first, second or
third attempts.
(c) Find the probability that Larry fails the test on the first 3 attempts.
(d) Find the probability, in terms of n, that Larry fails the test on the first n attempts.
(e) Write down the probability that Larry passes the test on one of the first n attempts.

Answer (a) ________________

[1]
(b) ________________
[1]
(c) ________________
[1]

20
 (d) ________________
[1]
(e) ________________
[1]
________________________________________________________________________
END OF PAPER

20
ANSWERS TO SEC 4 EXPRESS / N(O) PRELIM PAPER 1 (2008)
MATHEMATICS
1 (a) 32% 13 (a) 13 units
1 (b) $25,000 14
13 (b) 2
2 20 days  
3 (a) (h + k ) ºC or − (h + k ) ºC − 14
13 (c) −2
h−k  
3 (b)   ºC
 2  x−2
14 (a)
4 (a) 8 cm 2( x − 1)
4 (b) 15 cm 4 4
14 (b) or −
5 (a) 28 1− x x −1

5 (b) 21 15 (a) 30 cm 15 (b) 1 : 1

6 (a) 1.079 × 10 9 km/h 16 (b) 3.89 cm and 1.89 cm.

17 (a) 9
6 (b) 1.928 × 1011 h
5 5
7 m 3+ n 17 (b) y = x+4 or 12 y = 5 x + 53
12 12
8 $5,847.89
20 (a) 4, 3
9 (a) 1 : 150
20 (b) 49.25 or 48.7
9 (b) 212.5 cm²
20 (c) 7.63 or 7.29
4
10 (a) 21 (a) x = 8 , y = −14
5
21 (b) 144
3
10 (b) 22 (a) 2
4
5 22 (b) (0, 9)
10 (c) −
13 22 (c) (2, 3)
11 (a) (i) 350 1
22 (d) 1
11 (a) (ii) 0.020 2

11 (b) (i) 1.515 m 23 (a) 0.063

11 (b) (ii) 1.854 m 23 (b) 0.973

12 (a) 28 23 (c) 0.027

12 (b) 15n + 1 23 (d) (0.3) n

12 (c) z = x + y −1 23 (e) 1 − (0.3) n

20