STEP I, II, III 2002 Solutions

Maths exam discussion - share revision tips in preparation for GCSE, A Level and other maths exams and discuss how they went afterwards.

Announcements Posted on
Important: please read these guidelines before posting about exams on The Student Room 28-04-2013
Sign in to Reply
  1. Dadeyemi's Avatar
    • Overlord in Training
    • Location: x
    Re: STEP I, II, III 2002 Solutions
    STEP III, Question 8
    this was a bit laborious to type out

    Spoiler:
    Show
    let z and w be unit modulus complex numbers with arguments x and y respectively
    \displaystyle z-w= \cos x+i\sin x - \cos y - i\sin y

\\ = (\cos x-\cos y)+i(\sin x - \sin y)

\\ = -2\sin \frac{1}{2}(x+y)\sin\frac{1}{2}(  x-y)+2i\cos\frac{1}{2}(x+y)\sin\fr  ac{1}{2}(x-y)

\\ \tan \arg (z-w) = -\cot \frac{1}{2}(x+y)

\\ = -\tan \frac{1}{2}(\pi - x - y)

\\ = \tan \frac{1}{2}(x + y - \pi) = \tan \frac({1}{2}(x + y - \pi) +\pi)

\\ \Rightarrow \arg (z-w) = \frac{1}{2}(x + y - \pi) \pm  pi + pi

\\ = \frac{1}{2}(x + y - \pi) +n \pi
    for n \in \{0,1\}
    \pm \pifrom taking into account quadrants (other quadrants accounted for by periodicity),+ \pi from periodicity of tan to assure -\pi \leq arg(z-w) \leq \pi

    letting z= u_1, w = u_2 we arrive at the required result

    \arg ((u_1 - u_2)(u_4 - u_3))

\\ = arg(u_1 - u_2)+arg(u_4 - u_3)+2m\pi

\\ = \frac{1}{2}(u_1 + u_2 - \pi) +2q \pi + \frac{1}{2}(u_4 + u_3 - \pi) +2r \pi +2m\pi

\\ = \frac{1}{2}(u_1 + u_4 - \pi) +2s \pi + \frac{1}{2}(u_3 + u_2 - \pi) +2t \pi + 2(m+q + r - s - t)\pi

\\= arg(u_1 - u_4)+arg(u_3 - u_2) + 2(m+q + r - s - t)\pi

\\= arg((u_1 - u_4)(u_3 - u_2)) +2n\pi
    for some integer n (where m is an integer and q,r,s,t are in {0,1})

    and similarly:
    \arg ((u_1 - u_2)(u_4 - u_3)) = \arg ((u_1 - u_3)(u_4 - u_2)) + 2 n \pi
    for some integer n

    thus we conclude (u_1 - u_2)(u_4 - u_3),(u_1 - u_4)(u_3 - u_2) and (u_1 - u_3)(u_4 - u_2) are collinear so
    | (u_1 - u_2) (u_4 - u_3) | + | (u_1 - u_4) (u_3 - u_2) | = | (u_1 - u_3) (u_4 - u_2) | if and only if (u_1 - u_2) (u_4 - u_3) +(u_1 - u_4) (u_3 - u_2) = (u_1 - u_3) (u_4 - u_2)

    we note that
    (u_1 - u_2) (u_4 - u_3) +(u_1 - u_4) (u_3 - u_2)

\\ = u_1 u_4 -u_1 u_3- u_2 u_4 +u_2 u_3 + u_1 u_3 - u_1 u_2 - u_4 u_3 + u_4 u_2

\\ = u_1 u_4  + u_2 u_3 - u_1 u_2 - u_4 u_3

\\ = (u_1 - u_3) (u_4 - u_2)

    so | (u_1 - u_2) (u_4 - u_3) | + | (u_1 - u_4) (u_3 - u_2) | = | (u_1 - u_3) (u_4 - u_2) | as required

  2. maltodextrin's Avatar
    • Respected Member
    • Location: Horsham
    • Posts: 236
    Re: STEP I, II, III 2002 Solutions
    (Original post by toasted-lion)
    How's this:  \frac {ln(x)}{x} tends to 0 as x tends to infinity, which we know and seems intuitively obvious (but please post your proof as I've never heard of l'hopital) so, letting  x = \sqrt a ,  \frac {ln(\sqrt a )}{\sqrt a} tends to 0 and also  \frac {2ln(\sqrt a )}{\sqrt a} = \frac {ln(\sqrt a ^2 )}{\sqrt a} = \frac {ln( a )}{\sqrt a} tends to 0, so squaring,  \frac {(ln(a))^2}{a} tends to 0. That seems ok to me, now your "l'hopital"?
    That's a nice little proof, looks fine to me. You should definitely check out l'hopitals rule, I use it quite a bit. I'm just worried that they won't let us get away with (lnx)/x tending to zero being obvious so if it comes up i'll probably prove it to stay on the safe side.
  3. toasted-lion's Avatar
    • Exalted Member
    • Posts: 322
    Re: STEP I, II, III 2002 Solutions
    (Original post by maltodextrin)
    That's a nice little proof, looks fine to me. You should definitely check out l'hopitals rule, I use it quite a bit. I'm just worried that they won't let us get away with (lnx)/x tending to zero being obvious so if it comes up i'll probably prove it to stay on the safe side.
    I think we're safe with (lnx)/x tending to 0 being obvious but I think you're right to be cautious with anything more complicated. I checked out l'hopital's rule but didn't really follow the proof, I think I'll see if my maths teacher can help next week. I think I'm starting to get somewhere with STEP now, I can normally find 3 or 4 questions I'm ok with and scribble something down for another 2 or 3, still not totally confident of getting 2 1s though. It's time as well, I just took over an hour on a STEP II question!
  4. Evan247's Avatar
    • Junior Member
    • Location: China
    • Posts: 70
    Re: STEP I, II, III 2002 Solutions
    Sorry, but I suppose in Q3, the minimum value of f(x) should be sqrt[(a^2-1)*b]? because in your inequality x>a^2*(x-1), you should solve it like:
    (1-a^2)x>-b*a^2...

    (Original post by Dadeyemi)
    Some more;

    Did these quite a while ago I'm afraid some may be partial solutions.
  5. Dadeyemi's Avatar
    • Overlord in Training
    • Location: x
    Re: STEP I, II, III 2002 Solutions
    I've removed III q3 from my post it was utter nonsense.
  6. Evan247's Avatar
    • Junior Member
    • Location: China
    • Posts: 70
    Re: STEP I, II, III 2002 Solutions
    But I wanna ask if in TSR there's correct solutions somewhere else?
    (Original post by Dadeyemi)
    I've removed III q3 from my post it was utter nonsense.
  7. Dadeyemi's Avatar
    • Overlord in Training
    • Location: x
    Re: STEP I, II, III 2002 Solutions
    (Original post by Evan247)
    But I wanna ask if in TSR there's correct solutions somewhere else?
    Post #36 and #37
  8. mikru's Avatar
    • Exalted Member
    • Posts: 277
    Re: STEP I, II, III 2002 Solutions
    (Original post by sonofdot)
    STEP II 2002 Question 1

    Part One
    \begin{array}{rl}

\displaystyle\int_{\frac{\pi}{6}  }^{\frac{\pi}{4}} \frac{1}{1-\cos 2\theta} \, d\theta

& \displaystyle = \int_{\frac{\pi}{6}}^{\frac{\pi}  {4}} \frac{1}{1-(1-2\sin^2 \theta)} \, d\theta \\ \br \\

& \displaystyle = \int_{\frac{\pi}{6}}^{\frac{\pi}  {4}} \frac{1}{2\sin^2 \theta} \, d\theta \\ \br \\

& \displaystyle = \frac12 \int_{\frac{\pi}{6}}^{\frac{\pi}  {4}} \mathrm{cosec}^2 \theta \, d\theta \\ \br \\

& \displaystyle = \frac12 \left[ -\cot \theta \right]_{\frac{\pi}{6}}^{\frac{\pi}{4}} \\ \br \\

& \displaystyle = \frac12 \left( \frac{1}{\tan \frac{\pi}{6}} - \frac{1}{\tan \frac{\pi}{4}} \right) \\ \br \\

& \displaystyle = \frac12 \left( \sqrt3 - 1 \right) \\ \br \\

& \displaystyle = \boxed{\frac{\sqrt3}{2} - \frac{1}{2}}

\end{array}
    Part Two
    \displaystyle\int_{\frac{\sqrt3}  {2}}^1 \frac{1}{1-\sqrt{1-x^2}} \, dx

    x=\sin 2\theta \Rightarrow dx = 2\cos 2 \theta \, d\theta

    \begin{array}{rl}

\therefore \displaystyle\int_{\frac{\sqrt3}  {2}}^1 \frac{1}{1-\sqrt{1-x^2}} \, dx

& \displaystyle = \int_{\frac{\pi}{6}}^{\frac{\pi}  {4}} \frac{2\cos 2\theta}{1-\sqrt{1-\sin^2 \theta}} \, d\theta \\ \br \\

& \displaystyle = \int_{\frac{\pi}{6}}^{\frac{\pi}  {4}} \frac{2\cos 2\theta}{1-\cos 2\theta} \, d\theta \\ \br \\

& \displaystyle = \int_{\frac{\pi}{6}}^{\frac{\pi}  {4}} \frac{2 - 2\sin^2 \theta}{2\sin^2 \theta} \, d\theta \\ \br \\

& \displaystyle = \int_{\frac{\pi}{6}}^{\frac{\pi}  {4}} \mathrm{cosec}^2 \theta - \theta \, d\theta \\ \br \\

& \displaystyle = \sqrt3 - 1 + \frac{\pi}{3} - \frac{\pi}{2} \\ \br \\

& \displaystyle = \boxed{\sqrt3 - 1 - \frac{\pi}{6}} \end{array}
    Part Three
    \displaystyle\int_1^{\frac{2}{\s  qrt3}} \frac{1}{y(y-\sqrt{y^2 - 1})} \, dy

    \displaystyle y = \frac1x \Rightarrow dy = -\frac{1}{x^2} \, dx

    \begin{array}{rl}

\displaystyle\therefore \int_1^{\frac{2}{\sqrt3}} \frac{1}{y(y-\sqrt{y^2 - 1})} \, dy

& \displaystyle = \int_1^{\frac{\sqrt3}{2}} \frac{x}{\frac1x - \sqrt{\frac{1}{x^2}-1}} \times - \frac{dx}{x^2} \\ \br \\

& \displaystyle = \int_1^{\frac{\sqrt3}{2}} -\frac{x}{x - x^2 \sqrt{\frac{1-x^2}{x^2}}} \, dx \\ \br \\

& \displaystyle = \int_1^{\frac{\sqrt3}{2}} -\frac{x}{x - x \sqrt{1-x^2}} \, dx \\ \br \\

& \displaystyle = \int_1^{\frac{\sqrt3}{2}} -\frac{1}{1 - \sqrt{1-x^2}} \, dx \\ \br \\

& \displaystyle = \int^1_{\frac{\sqrt3}{2}} \frac{1}{1 - \sqrt{1-x^2}} \, dx  = \boxed{\sqrt3 - 1 - \frac{\pi}{6}} \end{array}
    How did you decide upon your substitution for part three? It's things like this I would have no chance finding in the actual exam. I managed to get the same result as you using the substitution x =  \mathrm{cosec\ } \theta (which I think followed on from the previous parts of the question better), but I think yours might have reached the result quicker (although I don't really follow your working in the middle).
  9. maltodextrin's Avatar
    • Respected Member
    • Location: Horsham
    • Posts: 236
    Re: STEP I, II, III 2002 Solutions
    (Original post by mikru)
    How did you decide upon your substitution for part three? It's things like this I would have no chance finding in the actual exam. I managed to get the same result as you using the substitution x =  \mathrm{cosec\ } \theta (which I think followed on from the previous parts of the question better), but I think yours might have reached the result quicker (although I don't really follow your working in the middle).
    If you look at the limits it'll give you an idea about why that substitution was considered. It's certainly not something I spotted the first time I did this question
  10. Adjective's Avatar
    • Overlord in Training
    Re: STEP I, II, III 2002 Solutions
    (Original post by mikru)
    How did you decide upon your substitution for part three?
    The clue, I suppose, is in the limits of the equation. You have, in part iii), the limits in part ii) - but in reciprocal form.

    The easiest way to turn part iii)'s limits into part ii)'s is to put y = 1/x. This immediately leads to limits of √3/2 and 1, but in the wrong order. The swapping of 'dy's for 'dx's fixes this by introducing a negative sign, thereby flipping the limits. Then a bit of algebra transforms the integrand into exactly the same thing as part ii)'s.

    Your cosec 2θ substitution is exactly the same thing, though, if you think about it. If we're saying y = 1/x, and part ii) works by putting x = sin 2θ, then you are, essentially, saying that y = cosec 2θ. Doing this just leads to a bit of extra work if you don't immediately think "oh, hang on a sec*, I've done this bit of working before... :holmes:".

    *no pun intended.
  11. mikru's Avatar
    • Exalted Member
    • Posts: 277
    Re: STEP I, II, III 2002 Solutions
    (Original post by Adje)
    The clue, I suppose, is in the limits of the equation. You have, in part iii), the limits in part ii) - but in reciprocal form.

    The easiest way to turn part iii)'s limits into part ii)'s is to put y = 1/x. This immediately leads to limits of √3/2 and 1, but in the wrong order. The swapping of 'dy's for 'dx's fixes this by introducing a negative sign, thereby flipping the limits. Then a bit of algebra transforms the integrand into exactly the same thing as part ii)'s.

    Your cosec 2θ substitution is exactly the same thing, though, if you think about it. If we're saying y = 1/x, and part ii) works by putting x = sin 2θ, then you are, essentially, saying that y = cosec 2θ. Doing this just leads to a bit of extra work if you don't immediately think "oh, hang on a sec*, I've done this bit of working before... :holmes:".

    *no pun intended.
    I see now, that does indeed make alot of sense - and does cut down the work by alot. I'm clearly not in maths-mode today as I even thought to myself "Those limits are reciprocals.. hmm.. let's try cosec!", even though by now I should be used to the final part of integration questions leading to the same result as the previous part.

    Oh well. Thank you
  12. maltodextrin's Avatar
    • Respected Member
    • Location: Horsham
    • Posts: 236
    Re: STEP I, II, III 2002 Solutions
    (Original post by tommm)
    STEP II 2002 Q9

    Spoiler:
    Show

    There's loads of ugly algebraic manipulation involved in this question, so apologies if I don't type out full working in getting from one stage to the next.

    Considering horizontal motion:
    u = V\cos\alpha
    a = 0
    s = s_H = horizontal displacement after time t
    t = t

    Using s = ut + 0.5at^2 we obtain t = \displaystyle\frac{s_H}{V\cos\al  pha}

    Considering vertical motion:
    u = V\sin\alpha
    a = -g
    s = s_v
    t = \displaystyle\frac{s_H}{V\cos\al  pha}

    which gives

    s_v = s_H\tan\alpha - \frac{gs^2_H}{2V^2}\sec^2\alpha (*)

    when s_H = a or b, s_V = h, because the particle just clears the walls

    Therefore h = a\tan\alpha - \frac{ga^2}{2V^2}\sec^2\alpha = b\tan\alpha - \frac{gb^2}{2V^2}\sec^2\alpha

    rearranging, we obtain \displaystyle\frac{a\tan\alpha - h}{a^2} = \displaystyle\frac{b\tan\alpha - h}{b^2}

    which rearranges to give

    \tan\alpha = \displaystyle\frac{h(b + a)}{ab}

    substituting this into (*), and using the identity \tan^2x + 1 = \sec^2x, we obtain

    \frac{2V^2}{g} = \displaystyle\frac{(\frac{a^2b^2 + h^2(b+a)^2}{b^2})}{\frac{h(b+a)}  {ab} - h}

    which rearranges to give the required result.

    From our expression for tan(alpha), we get

    \tan(\alpha + \delta\alpha) = (h + \delta h)\frac{a+b}{ab}

    Using the formula for tan(A+B) and rearranging:

    \frac{a+b}{ab}\delta h = \displaystyle\frac{\delta\alpha\  sec^2\alpha}{1 - \delta\alpha\tan\alpha}

    Because \delta\alpha is small, we can disregard its term in the denominator, giving the required result.

    Now we similarly obtain:

    \frac{2(V + \delta V)^2}{g} = \frac{ab}{h + \delta h} + \frac{(a+b)^2(h + \delta h)}{ab}

    replacing the part of the last fraction that equals 2V^2/g and rearranging:

    \frac{2}{g}((v + \delta v)^2 - v^2) = \frac{ab}{h + \delta h} + \frac{(a+b)^2\delta h}{ab} - \frac{ab}{h} (A)

    Now the LHS = \frac{2}{g}(2v\delta v + \delta v^2), of which we can disregard the \delta v^2 term because it is very small. Therefore LHS = \frac{4}{g}V\delta v.

    From this, we can conclude that \delta v has the same sign as the RHS of equation (A). Therefore, \delta v > 0 iff

    \frac{ab}{h + \delta h} + \frac{(a+b)^2\delta h}{ab} - \frac{ab}{h} > 0

    This rearranges to h^2 + h\delta h > \frac{a^2b^2}{(a + b)^2}

    we can disregard the h\delta h term because it is much smaller than all the others, and then we can square root to give the required result. The other result can easily be shown by reversing the > sign.
    tommm is there any chance you could help me out with how you got from

    tan(a + da) = (h + dh)(a + b)/ab to

    da(seca)^2/(1 - da(tana)) = dh(a + b)/ab

    I'm pretty useless with approximations so i'm probably missing something obvious.
  13. DFranklin's Avatar
    • TSR Royalty
    • Location: London
    • Posts: 18,058
    Re: STEP I, II, III 2002 Solutions
    Hmmm... There's too much working missing to say exactly what tommm did (which means, incidentally, that there's too much working missing to get full marks, IMHO).

    I would go (without having actually read the question, you understand!):

    h = \frac{ab}{a+b} \tan \alpha \implies \frac{dh}{d\alpha} = \frac{ab}{a+b} \sec^2 \alpha

    So \delta h \approx \left(\frac{ab}{a+b} \sec^2 \alpha \right) \delta \alpha
  14. maltodextrin's Avatar
    • Respected Member
    • Location: Horsham
    • Posts: 236
    Re: STEP I, II, III 2002 Solutions
    (Original post by DFranklin)
    Hmmm... There's too much working missing to say exactly what tommm did (which means, incidentally, that there's too much working missing to get full marks, IMHO).

    I would go (without having actually read the question, you understand!):

    h = \frac{ab}{a+b} \tan \alpha \implies \frac{dh}{d\alpha} = \frac{ab}{a+b} \sec^2 \alpha

    So \delta h \approx \left(\frac{ab}{a+b} \sec^2 \alpha \right) \delta \alpha
    I don't think that's what tommm did because he mentions using the formula for tan(A + B) but your way looks fine to me. Thanks!
  15. DFranklin's Avatar
    • TSR Royalty
    • Location: London
    • Posts: 18,058
    Re: STEP I, II, III 2002 Solutions
    No, I don't think that it's what tommm did either. But I don't think tommm's approach was the best one anyhow, so...

    Incidentally: the "missing bit" that I think you'd lose marks for in tommm's approach.. At some point, he's obviously done some approximation like "for small \delta \alpha, \tan \delta \alpha \approx \delta \alpha". Without explicitly explaining that, I think you'd be guaranteed to lose marks, even if everything written was actually correct.
    Last edited by DFranklin; 26-05-2009 at 12:13.
  16. tommm's Avatar
    • TSR Idol
    Re: STEP I, II, III 2002 Solutions
    Yeah, sorry for not typing it up fully, it was a bit late really. IIRC, it took about half a page, so DFranklin's method looks better.
  17. around's Avatar
    • Vengeful, Imperial Overlord of The Student Room
    • Location: back row rebel
    • Posts: 3,595
    Re: STEP I, II, III 2002 Solutions
    Dadeyemi's solution to STEP III question 5:

    isn't the linear co-efficient (bt-d) not (b-d)?

    EDIT: not that it makes a difference to the end answer, as t=1.
    Last edited by around; 26-05-2009 at 22:57.
  18. maltodextrin's Avatar
    • Respected Member
    • Location: Horsham
    • Posts: 236
    Re: STEP I, II, III 2002 Solutions
    (Original post by Dadeyemi)
    Some more;

    Did these quite a while ago I'm afraid some may be partial solutions.
    For STEP III Question 4: Don't we also have x = 0 y = - 1 and x = 1 y = 0 as solutions? The way I did the last part was by saying x = y + n where n is a non negative integer, then you get

    (3n - 2)y^2 + (3n^2 - 2n)y + n^3 - n^2 = 0

    It turns out that this only has roots when n < 3. Thus the only solutions are given by x = y + 2 x = y + 1 and x = y. Plugging these in gives all the solutions.

    I'm not sure if this is the method they were looking for, or even if its correct. It would be great if someone could have a look for me.
  19. SimonM's Avatar
    • TSR Idol
    • Posts: 9,204
    Re: STEP I, II, III 2002 Solutions
    STEP I, Question 4

    Spoiler:
    Show


    \displaystyle y' = - \frac{2x}{(1+x^2)^2}

    Therefore the equation of the tangent is \displaystyle y = - \frac{2a}{(1+a^2)^2} x + \frac{1}{1+a^2} +\frac{2a^2}{(1+a^2)^2}

    Since (0,1) is a solution

    \displaystyle 1 = \frac{1}{1+a^2} +\frac{2a^2}{(1+a^2)^2} \Rightarrow 1+2a^2+a^4 = 1+a^2 + 2a^2 \Rightarrow a^4 -a^2 = 0 \Rightarrow a \in \{-1,0,1\} \Rightarrow a = 1

    This gives us the equation, \displaystyle y = -\frac{1}{2} x+1

    We have \displaystyle 1 = \left (1 - \frac{1}{2} x \right) (1+x^2) \Rightarrow  0 = x(x-1)^2 so the only intersections are 0 and 1.

    We have

    \displaystyle \int_0^1 y \, dx = \frac{\pi}{4} (given)

    The area under the tangent is a trapezium with area

    \displaystyle \frac{1}{2} \left ( 1+ \frac{1}{2} \right ) \cdot 1 = \frac{3}{4}

    Since the graph is always above it, we get \frac{3}{4} &lt; \frac{\pi}{4} which is what we want to show.

    Considering the half closest to the y axis, and revolving it around that axis we get:

    \displaystyle \pi \int_{1/2}^1 x^2 \, dy = \pi \left [ \ln y - y\right ]_{1/2}^1 = \pi \left ( \ln 2 - \frac{1}{2} \right )
    and

    \displaystyle \pi \int_{1/2}^1 (2(y-1))^2\, dy = 4\pi \left [ \frac{y^3}{3} \right ]_{-1/2}^0 = \pi \frac{1}{6}

    Therefore \ln 2 &gt; \frac{1}{2} + \frac{1}{6} = \frac{2}{3}
    Last edited by SimonM; 27-05-2009 at 22:16.
  20. squidfuji's Avatar
    • New Member
    • Location: Girton
    • Posts: 21
    Re: STEP I, II, III 2002 Solutions
    I have attached my solutions of paperIII Q3 and Q6 hope they are helpful
    Attached Files
  21. File Type: docx 02IIIQ3.docx (23.7 KB, 44 views)
  22. File Type: docx 02Q6.docx (51.0 KB, 39 views)
Sign in to Reply
Share this discussion:  
Article updates
Moderators

We have a brilliant team of more than 60 volunteers looking after discussions on The Student Room, helping to make it a fun, safe and useful place to hang out.

Reputation gems:
The Reputation gems seen here indicate how well reputed the user is, red gem indicate negative reputation and green indicates a good rep.
Post rating score:
These scores show if a post has been positively or negatively rated by our members.