Examiners' Commentaries 2016: MT105a Mathematics 1

Examiners commentaries 2016

MT105a Mathematics 1
Important note
This commentary reflects the examination and assessment arrangements for this course in the
academic year 201516. The format and structure of the examination may change in future years,
and any such changes will be publicised on the virtual learning environment (VLE).
Information about the subject guide and the Essential reading

references
Unless otherwise stated, all cross-references will be to the latest version of the subject guide (2011).
You should always attempt to use the most recent edition of any Essential reading textbook, even if
the commentary and/or online reading list and/or subject guide refer to an earlier edition. If
different editions of Essential reading are listed, please check the VLE for reading supplements if
none are available, please use the contents list and index of the new edition to find the relevant
section.
General remarks
Learning outcomes
At the end of this half course and having completed the Essential reading and activities you should
have:
used the concepts, terminology, methods and conventions covered in the half course to solve
mathematical problems in this subject
the ability to solve unseen mathematical problems involving understanding of these concepts
and application of these methods
seen how mathematical techniques can be used to solve problems in economics and related
subjects.
Showing your working
We start by emphasising that you should always include your working. This means two things.
First, you should not simply write down the answer in the examination script, but you should
explain the method by which it is obtained. Second, you should include rough working (even if it is
messy!). The examiners want you to get the right answers, of course, but it is more important that
you prove you know what you are doing: that is what is really being examined. We also stress that
if you have not completely solved a problem, you may still be awarded marks for a partial,
incomplete, or slightly wrong, solution; but, if you have written down a wrong answer and nothing
else, no marks can be awarded. So it is certainly in your interests to include all your workings.
1
Covering the syllabus and choosing questions
You should ensure that you have covered the syllabus in order to perform well in the examination: it
is bad practice to concentrate only on a small range of major topics in the expectation that there
will be lots of marks obtainable for questions on these topics. There are no formal options in this
course: you should study the full extent of the topics described in the syllabus and subject guide. In
particular, since the whole syllabus is examinable, any topic could appear in the examination
questions.
Expectations of the examination paper
Every examination paper is different. You should not assume that your examination will be almost
identical to the previous years: for instance, just because there was a question, or a part of a
question, on a certain topic last year, you should not assume there will be one on the same topic this
year. Each year, the examiners want to test that candidates know and understand a number of
mathematical methods and, in setting an examination paper, they try to test whether the candidate
does indeed know the methods, understands them, and is able to use them, and not merely whether
they vaguely remember them. Because of this, every year there are some questions which are likely
to seem unfamiliar, or different, from previous years questions. You should expect to be surprised
by some of the questions. Of course, you will only be examined on material in the syllabus, so all
questions can be answered using the material of the course. There will be enough, routine, familiar
content in the examination so that a candidate who has achieved competence in the course will pass,
but, of course, for a high mark, more is expected: you will have to demonstrate an ability to solve
new and unfamiliar problems.
Answer the question
Please do read the questions carefully. You might be asked to use specific methods, even when
others could be used. The purpose of the examination is to test that you know certain methods, so
the examiners might occasionally ask you to use a specific technique. In such circumstances, only
limited partial credit can be given if you do not use the specified technique. It is also worth reading
the question carefully so that you do not do more than is required (because it is unlikely that you
would get extra marks for doing so). For instance, if a question asked you only to find the critical
points of a function, but not their natures, then you should not determine their natures. Be careful
to read all questions carefully because, although they may look like previous examination questions
on first glance, there can be subtle differences.
Graph sketching
Some examinations in this subject ask you to sketch the graph of a function. Any sketching of
graphs should be done in the answer book. Graph paper is not needed. Indeed, as we have
mentioned often in the Examiners commentaries, the plotting of points in order to graph a function
is not the correct approach. A sketch of the graph of a function should indicate its shape, its
position with respect to the axes, and its intercepts on those axes: it need not be drawn to scale.
Graph paper is not necessary for this.
Calculators
You are reminded that calculators are not permitted in the examination for this course, under any
circumstances. The examiners know this, and so they set questions that do not require a calculator.
It is a good idea to prepare for this by attempting not to use your calculator as you study and revise
this course.
2
Examination revision strategy
Many candidates are disappointed to find that their examination performance is poorer than they
expected. This may be due to a number of reasons. The Examiners commentaries suggest ways of
addressing common problems and improving your performance. One particular failing is question
spotting, that is, confining your examination preparation to a few questions and/or topics which
have come up in past papers for the course. This can have serious consequences.
We recognise that candidates may not cover all topics in the syllabus in the same depth, but you
need to be aware that the examiners are free to set questions on any aspect of the syllabus. This
means that you need to study enough of the syllabus to enable you to answer the required number of
examination questions.
The syllabus can be found in the Course information sheet in the section of the VLE dedicated to
each course. You should read the syllabus carefully and ensure that you cover sufficient material in
preparation for the examination. Examiners will vary the topics and questions from year to year and
may well set questions that have not appeared in past papers. Examination papers may legitimately
include questions on any topic in the syllabus. So, although past papers can be helpful during your
revision, you cannot assume that topics or specific questions that have come up in past examinations
will occur again.
If you rely on a question-spotting strategy, it is likely you will find yourself in difficulties
when you sit the examination. We strongly advise you not to adopt this strategy.
3

Important note

references
section.
Comments on specific questions Zone A
Candidates should answer all EIGHT questions: all SIX questions of Section A (60 marks in total)
and BOTH questions from Section B (20 marks each).
Section A
Answer all six questions from this section (60 marks in total).
Question 1
A monopoly has fixed costs of 20 and marginal cost function 3q 2 + 4. The demand
equation for its product is p + q = 20.
Determine the profit function in terms of q.
Hence find the production level that maximises the profit.
Reading for this question
See Chapter 3 of the subject guide for related reading.
Approaching the question
We have: Z
TC = M C dq = q 3 + 4q + c
where, since T C(0) = F C = 20, we have c = 20.
4
The firm is a monopoly so the selling price in terms of its production is, from the demand
equation, p = 20 q. So T R = q(20 q) = 20q q 2 .
Then:
= T R T C = q(20 q) (q 3 + 4q + 20) = 16q q 2 q 3 20.
To maximise , we set 0 = 0, giving 16 2q 3q 2 = 0, so:
(3q + 8)(q 2) = 0.
Since q 0, the only relevant critical point is q = 2 and this is a maximum since
00 (q) = 2 6q is negative when q = 2.
Question 2
Express the following system of equations in matrix form, and solve it using row
operations.
4x y z = 4,
2x 3y z = 4,
2x 5y + z = 8.
The recommended method for solving linear equations using row operations can be found in
Chapter 6 of the subject guide. It is known by several names: the row operation method, the
GaussJordan method, the row-reduction method, and so on.
The system expressed in matrix form is:

4 1 1 x 4
2 3 1 y = 4 .
2 5 1 z 8
(The system expressed in matrix form is not the augmented matrix.)
The standard matrix method approach is now to reduce the augmented matrix to reduced form.
Here is one way. (There are others, equally valid.)

4 1 1 4 4 1 1 4 4 1 1 4
2 3 1 4 4 6 2 8 0 5 1 4
2 5 1 8 4 10 2 16 0 9 3 12

4 1 1 4 4 1 1 4 4 1 1 4
0 45 9 36 0 45 9 36 0 5 1 4 .
0 45 15 60 0 0 24 24 0 0 1 1
It follows, from this last matrix, that:
4x y z = 4
5y + z = 4
z = 1.
So, z = 1, y = (1/5)(8 z) = 1 and x = (1/4)(4 + z + y) = 1.
5
This is probably a good point at which to make some general comments about how questions are
marked. Clearly, in a question like this, it is easy to get the wrong answer. (Though it should be
noted that in this particular question, you can always substitute the values that you have found
into the original equations, and this will show whether these are correct or not. So you can tell if
you have the wrong answer and, if you have time, you can then re-work the calculation.)
Examiners understand that arithmetical errors can be made, especially in the stressful
circumstances of an examination. Quite probably, the examiners themselves would make some
mistakes if they sat the paper. So, although there are marks for correct calculation, there are
also marks for using the right method (even if you make a mistake). So, here, for instance,
examiners will award marks if you can indicate that you know how to start to solve the equations
(by writing down an augmented matrix); that you know what row operations are; that you know
what it is you want to achieve with row operations (the reduced matrix, that is); and that you
then know how to work from that reduced matrix to determine the required solutions. There are
marks for all these things.
Be sure to understand that only certain types of operations qualify as valid row operations. In
particular, a number of candidates make the mistake of thinking that subtracting a fixed
constant from each entry of a row is valid. It is not. (And, if you dont know what we mean by
that, then youre probably not doing it, which is good!)
Question 3
Use the method of Lagrange multipliers to find the positive values of x and y which
maximise
2y x
+
y+2 x+1
subject to the constraint x + y = 120.
The Lagrange multiplier method for constrained optimisation is discussed in Chapter 5 of the
subject guide.
The Lagrangian is:

2y x
L= + (x + y 120).
y+2 x+1
The first-order conditions are:
1
Lx = =0
(x + 1)2
4
Ly = =0
(y + 2)2
L = (x + y 120) = 0.
From the first two equations, eliminating , we have:
(y + 2)2 = 4(x + 1)2 .
So, given that x, y > 0, y + 2 = 2(x + 1) and hence y = 2x. Hence, by the third equation (the
constraint), x + 2x = 120, so x = 40 and y = 2x = 80.
Question 4
Determine the following integrals:

x
Z
dx,
x2 + 7x + 10
6
ln(2x + 1)
Z
dx.
2x + 1
Integration is discussed in Chapter 4 of the subject guide. It can be difficult because it is not
always clear which technique will work. The three main techniques are: substitution, parts, and
partial fractions. More than one method might work, and some integrals require a combination
of methods.
For the first integral, since x2 + 7x + 10 = (x + 2)(x + 5), we can use partial fractions. We know
that for some A and B, we will have:
x+1 A B
= + .
x2 + 7x + 10 x+2 x+5
Finding A and B, we see that:

x+1 1 1 4
= +
x2 + 7x + 10 3 x+2 x+5
and so the integral is:

1 4
ln |x + 2| + ln |x + 5| + c.
3 3
For the second integral, we could make the substitution u = 2x + 1. The integral becomes:
Z
1 ln u
I= du.
2 u
We then use integration by parts:

1
Z
I = u ln u u du
u

Z
1
= du
u ln u
u

= u ln u 2 u + c

= 2x + 1 ln(2x + 1) 2 2x + 1 + c.
Question 5
Suppose that a is a positive number and that the function f is given by
f (x, y) = x4 2a2 x2 y 2 + 1.
Find the critical points of f . For each critical point of f , determine whether it is a
local minimum, local maximum, or a saddle point.
This question uses the material in Chapter 5 of the subject guide.
7
It is important in answering questions like this to use a correct notation for partial derivatives.
2f
We can write fx instead of f
x and fxx instead of x2 , and so on, but it is a bad idea to invent
your own notation!
In order to find the critical points of the function, we solve fx = fy = 0. This is:
4x3 4a2 x = 0 and 2y = 0.
The second equation shows y = 0 and the first shows x(x2 a2 ) = 0, giving solutions x = 0 and
a. So the critical points are:
(0, 0), (a, 0) and (a, 0).
The second derivatives are:
fxx = 12x2 4a2 , fxy = 0 and fyy = 2.
At (0, 0), we have fxx = 4a2 < 0 and H = fxx fyy fxy2
= 8a2 > 0, so this is a local maximum.
2
At each of the other two critical points, we have H = fxx fyy fxy = 8a2 (2) = 16a2 < 0, so
these are both saddle points.
Question 6
Suppose the function f is given by
f (x, y) = sin(2x y) + ey ln(x2 + 1).
Show that
2f 2f f f
+2 2 = 0.
xy y 2 x y
Partial differentiation is discussed in Chapter 5 of the subject guide.
We have:
2x
fx = 2 cos(2x y) + ey
x2 + 1
fy = cos(2x y) + ey ln(x2 + 1)
2x
fxy = 2 sin(2x y) + ey
x2 + 1
fyy = sin(2x y) + ey ln(x2 + 1).
Then:
2f 2f f f 2x
+2 2 2 = 2 sin(2x y) + ey 2 sin(2x y) + 2ey ln(x2 + 1)
xy y x y x2+1
2x
2 cos(2x y) ey + 2 cos(2x y) 2ey ln(x2 + 1)
x2 + 1
= 0.
8
Section B
Answer both questions from this section (20 marks each).
Question 7
(a) A firm is the only producer of two goods, X and Y . The demand equations for
X and Y are given by
x = 600 pX pY ,
1
y = 450 pX pY ,
2
where x and y are the quantities of X and Y demanded (respectively) and
pX , pY are (respectively) the prices of X and Y . The firms joint total cost
function (that is, the cost of producing x of X and y of Y ) is
x2 + 3xy + y 2 + 100.
Find an expression in terms of x and y for the profit function.

Hence determine the quantities x and y that maximise the profit, and find the
corresponding prices pX , pY .

The profit function is given by:
= x pX + y pY T C.
We want to get this as a function of x and y, so we need to find pX and pY in terms of x

and y. Subtracting the second equation from the first:
1
x y = 150 pX
2
so:
pX = 300 2x + 2y.
Then:
pY = 600 pX x = 300 + x 2y.
So:
= x pX + y pY T C = 300x + 300y 3x2 3y 2 100.
We solve x = 0 and y = 0, giving:
x = 300 6x = 0 and y = 300 6y = 0.
So x = y = 50.
We have xx = 6 < 0 and xx yy 2xy = (6)(6) 02 > 0, so this does indeed
maximise the profit.
The corresponding prices are pX = 300 and pY = 250.
(b) Suppose the function f is given by f (x) = ex x. Prove that, for x 0,

f 0 (x) 0. Hence show that, for all x 0,
ex 1 + x.
9
Now suppose the function g is given by
x2
g(x) = ex x .
2
Show that g 0 (x) 0 for all x 0. Hence show that, for all x 0,
x2
ex 1 + x + .
2
Now use a similar method (considering an appropriate function h and its
derivative) to show that, for all x 0,
x2 x3
ex 1 + x + + .
2 6

Differentiation is discussed in Chapter 3 of the subject guide.
This question was not well done. Some (using knowledge from other courses, such as
MT105b Mathematics 2) attempted to solve it using Taylors theorem, but that is not
the way to do it. The question indicates what to do at each stage. All that is needed is basic
calculus and an understanding of what it means for a function to be increasing.
We have f 0 (x) = ex 1. Since ex 1 for x 0, f 0 (x) 0 for all x 0. The function f is
therefore increasing for all x 0 and so f (x) f (0) = 1 for all x 0. That is, ex x 1
and so ex 1 + x.
We have g 0 (x) = ex (1 + x). By what we have just shown, g 0 (x) 0 for x 0. Hence,
g(x) g(0) = 1 and so:
x2
ex 1 + x + .
2
Let:
x2 x3
h(x) = ex x .
2 6
Then, for x 0, we have:
x2

h0 (x) = ex 1 + x + 0
2
and hence, for x 0, h(x) h(0) = 1, and so:
x2 x3
ex 1 + x + + .
2 6
Question 8
(a) The number of fish in a lake is 10000 at the start of 2016. Each year, 5% of the
fish who were alive at the start of the year die and 1000 new fish are born. Find
an expression, in as simple a form as possible, for the number of fish in the lake
N years after the start of 2016. Describe what happens to the number of fish in
the lake in the long run.

Chapter 7 of the subject guide gives the required background material.
10

Let yN be the population N years after the start of 2016. Then we have y0 = 10000, and:
y1 = (0.95)10000 + 1000
y2 = (0.95) ((0.95)10000 + 1000) + 1000 = (0.95)2 10000 + (0.95)1000 + 1000
y3 = (0.95)y2 + 1000 = (0.95)3 10000 + (0.95)2 1000 + (0.95)1000 + 1000
and, in general:
yN = (0.95)N 10000 + (0.95)N 1 1000 + + (0.95)1000 + 1000.
Simplifying:
1 (0.95)N

N
yN = (0.95) 10000 + 1000 .
1 0.95
This is:
10000(0.95)N + 20000(1 (0.95)N ) = 20000 10000(0.95)N .
This increases with N , converging to 20000.
(b) Suppose the quantity y is defined as a function of x through the equation
x2 y 3 6x3 y 2 + 2xy = 1.
Find the value of y when x = 1/2. [You might find it useful to note that
y 3 3y 2 + 4y 4 = (y 2)(y 2 y + 2).]
dy
Find a general expression for the derivative y 0 (x) = .
dx
Hence determine the value of y 0 (1/2).

Implicit differentiation is discussed in Section 5.5 of the subject guide.
Suppose x = 1/2. Put x = 1/2 into the defining equation, x2 y 3 6x3 y 2 + 2xy = 1. We
obtain:
1 3 3 2
y y +y =1
4 4
or:
y 3 3y 2 + 4y 4 = 0.
Using the hint given, this equation factorises as:
(y 2)(y 2 y + 2) = 0.
The quadratic y 2 y + 2 has negative discriminant and so has no zeroes. It follows that
when x = 1/2, y = 2.
The equation defining y implicitly as a function of x is of the form g(x, y) = 1 where
g(x, y) = x2 y 3 6x3 y 2 + 2xy. So:
dy g/x
= .
dx g/y
Now:
g g
= 2xy 3 18x2 y 2 + 2y and = 3x2 y 2 12x3 y + 2x.
x y
So:
dy 18x2 y 2 2xy 3 2y
= 2 2 .
dx 3x y 12x3 y + 2x
11
Substituting the values x = 1/2 and y = 2 into the expression for dy/dx, we see that the
derivative when x = 1/2 is 6.
Alternatively, we could simply argue (with the same conclusion) that:
2xy 3 + 3x2 y 2 y 0 18x2 y 2 12x3 yy 0 + 2y + 2xy 0 = 0.
Solving for y 0 gives:

18x2 y 2 2xy 3 2y
y0 = .
3x2 y 2 12x3 y + 2x
12

Important note

references
section.
Comments on specific questions Zone B
Candidates should answer all EIGHT questions: all SIX questions of Section A (60 marks in total)
and BOTH questions from Section B (20 marks each).
Section A
Answer all six questions from this section (60 marks in total).
Question 1
A monopoly has fixed costs of 10 and marginal cost function 6q 2 + 8. The demand
equation for its product is p + 2q = 40.
Determine the profit function in terms of q.
Hence find the production level that maximises the profit.
See Chapter 3 of the subject guide for related reading.
We have: Z
TC = M C dq = 2q 3 + 8q + c
where, since T C(0) = F C = 10, we have c = 10.
13
The firm is a monopoly so the selling price in terms of its production is, from the demand
equation, p = 40 2q. So T R = q(40 2q) = 40q 2q 2 .
Then:
= T R T C = q(40 2q) (2q 3 + 8q + 10) = 32q 2q 2 2q 3 10.
To maximise , we set 0 = 0, giving 32 4q 6q 2 = 0, so:
(3q + 8)(q 2) = 0.
Since q 0, the only relevant critical point is q = 2 and this is a maximum since
00 (q) = 2 6q is negative when q = 2.
Question 2
Express the following system of equations in matrix form, and solve it using row
operations.
4x y z = 8,
2x 3y z = 8,
2x 5y + z = 16.
The recommended method for solving linear equations using row operations can be found in
Chapter 6 of the subject guide. It is known by several names: the row operation method, the
GaussJordan method, the row-reduction method, and so on.
The system expressed in matrix form is:

4 1 1 x 8
2 3 1 y = 8 .
2 5 1 z 16
(The system expressed in matrix form is not the augmented matrix.)
The standard matrix method approach is now to reduce the augmented matrix to reduced form.
Here is one way. (There are others, equally valid.)

4 1 1 8 4 1 1 8 4 1 1 8
2 3 1 8 4 6 2 16 0 5 1 8
2 5 1 16 4 10 2 32 0 9 3 24

4 1 1 8 4 1 1 8 4 1 1 8
0 45 9 72 0 45 9 72 0 5 1 8 .
0 45 15 120 0 0 24 48 0 0 1 2
It follows, from this last matrix, that:
4x y z = 8
5y + z = 8
z = 2.
So, z = 2, y = (1/5)(8 z) = 2 and x = (1/4)(4 + z + y) = 2.
14
This is probably a good point at which to make some general comments about how questions are
marked. Clearly, in a question like this, it is easy to get the wrong answer. (Though it should be
noted that in this particular question, you can always substitute the values that you have found
into the original equations, and this will show whether these are correct or not. So you can tell if
you have the wrong answer and, if you have time, you can then re-work the calculation.)
Examiners understand that arithmetical errors can be made, especially in the stressful
circumstances of an examination. Quite probably, the examiners themselves would make some
mistakes if they sat the paper. So, although there are marks for correct calculation, there are
also marks for using the right method (even if you make a mistake). So, here, for instance,
examiners will award marks if you can indicate that you know how to start to solve the equations
(by writing down an augmented matrix); that you know what row operations are; that you know
what it is you want to achieve with row operations (the reduced matrix, that is); and that you
then know how to work from that reduced matrix to determine the required solutions. There are
marks for all these things.
Be sure to understand that only certain types of operations qualify as valid row operations. In
particular, a number of candidates make the mistake of thinking that subtracting a fixed
constant from each entry of a row is valid. It is not. (And, if you dont know what we mean by
that, then youre probably not doing it, which is good!)
Question 3
Use the method of Lagrange multipliers to find the positive values of x and y which
maximise
2x y
+
x+2 y+1
subject to the constraint x + y = 120.
The Lagrange multiplier method for constrained optimisation is discussed in Chapter 5 of the
subject guide.
The Lagrangian is:

2x y
L= + (x + y 120).
x+2 y+1
The first-order conditions are:
4
Lx = =0
(x + 2)2
1
Ly = =0
(y + 1)2
L = (x + y 120) = 0.
From the first two equations, eliminating , we have:
(x + 2)2 = 4(y + 1)2 .
So, given that x, y > 0, x + 2 = 2(y + 1) and hence x = 2y. Hence, by the third equation (the
constraint), 2y + y = 120, so y = 40 and x = 2y = 80.
15
Question 4
Determine the following integrals:

x
Z
dx,
x2 + 7x + 12
ln(x + 1)
Z
dx.
x+1
Integration is discussed in Chapter 4 of the subject guide. It can be difficult because it is not
always clear which technique will work. The three main techniques are: substitution, parts, and
partial fractions. More than one method might work, and some integrals require a combination
of methods.
For the first integral, since x2 + 7x + 12 = (x + 3)(x + 4), we can use partial fractions. We know
that for some A and B, we will have:
x A B
= + .
x2 + 7x + 12 x+3 x+4
Finding A and B, we see that:
x 3 4
= +
x2 + 7x + 12 x+3 x+4
and so the integral is:
3 ln |x + 3| + 4 ln |x + 4| + c.
For the second integral, we could make the substitution u = x + 1. The integral becomes:
Z
ln u
I= du.
u
We then use integration by parts:

1
Z
I = 2 u ln u 2 u du
u

Z
1
= 2 u ln u 2 du
u

= 2 u ln u 4 u + c

= 2 x + 1 ln(x + 1) 4 x + 1 + c.
Question 5
Suppose that a is a positive number and that the function f is given by
f (x, y) = y 4 8a2 y 2 x2 + 1.
Find the critical points of f . For each critical point of f , determine whether it is a
local minimum, local maximum, or a saddle point.
16
This question uses the material in Chapter 5 of the subject guide.
It is important in answering questions like this to use a correct notation for partial derivatives.
2f
We can write fx instead of f
x and fxx instead of x2 , and so on, but it is a bad idea to invent
your own notation!
In order to find the critical points of the function, we solve fx = fy = 0. This is:
2x = 0 and 4y 3 16a2 y = 0.
The first equation shows x = 0 and the second shows y(y 2 4a2 ) = 0, giving solutions y = 0 and
2a. So the critical points are:
(0, 0), (0, 2a) and (0, 2a).
The second derivatives are:
fxx = 2, fxy = 0 and fyy = 12y 2 16a2 .
2
At (0, 0), we have fxx = 2 < 0 and H = fxx fyy fxy = 32a2 > 0, so this is a local maximum.
2
At each of the other two critical points, we have H = fxx fyy fxy = 64a2 < 0, so these are
both saddle points.
Question 6
Suppose the function f is given by

f (x, y) = cos(2y x) + ex ln(y 2 + 1).
Show that
2f 2f f f
+2 2 = 0.
xy x2 y x
We have:
fx = sin(2y x) + ex ln(y 2 + 1)
2y
fy = 2 sin(2y x) + ex
y2+1
2y
fxy = 2 cos(2y x) + ex
y2 + 1
fxx = cos(2y x) + ex ln(y 2 + 1).
Then:
2f 2f f f 2y
+2 2 2 = 2 cos(2y x) + ex 2 cos(2y x) + 2ex ln(y 2 + 1)
xy x y x y2 + 1
2y
+2 sin(2y x) ex 2 sin(2y x) 2ex ln(y 2 + 1)
y2 + 1
= 0.
17
Section B
Answer both questions from this section (20 marks each).
Question 7
(a) A firm is the only producer of two goods, X and Y . The demand quantities x
and y for X and Y (respectively) and the corresponding prices pX and pY are
related by the equations
pX + pY + 13 3x = 0,
pX 4pY + 26 3y = 0.
The firms joint total cost function (that is, the cost of producing x of X and y
of Y ) is 14x + 7y.
Find an expression in terms of x and y for the profit function.
Hence determine the quantities x and y that maximise the profit.

The profit function is given by:
= x pX + y pY T C.
We want to get this as a function of x and y, so we need to find pX and pY in terms of x

and y. Adding the two equations:
3pY + 39 3x 3y = 0
so:
pY = 13 x y.
Then:
pX = pY + 13 3x = 26 4x y.
So:
= x pX + y pY T C = 12x + 6y 4x2 y 2 2xy.
We solve x = 0 and y = 0, giving:
x = 12 8x 2y = 0 and y = 6 2y 2x = 0.
So x = 1 and y = 2.
We have xx = 8 < 0 and xx yy 2xy = (8)(2) (2)2 > 0, so this does indeed
maximise the profit.
(b) Suppose the function f is given by f (x) = ex x. Prove that, for x 0,

f 0 (x) 0. Hence show that, for all x 0,
ex 1 + x.
Now suppose the function g is given by

x2
g(x) = ex x .
2
Show that g 0 (x) 0 for all x 0. Hence show that, for all x 0,
x2
ex 1 + x + .
2
18
Now use a similar method (considering an appropriate function h and its

derivative) to show that, for all x 0,
x2 x3
ex 1 + x + + .
2 6

Differentiation is discussed in Chapter 3 of the subject guide.
This question was not well done. Some (using knowledge from other courses, such as
MT105b Mathematics 2) attempted to solve it using Taylors theorem, but that is not
the way to do it. The question indicates what to do at each stage. All that is needed is basic
calculus and an understanding of what it means for a function to be increasing.
We have f 0 (x) = ex 1. Since ex 1 for x 0, f 0 (x) 0 for all x 0. The function f is
therefore increasing for all x 0 and so f (x) f (0) = 1 for all x 0. That is, ex x 1
and so ex 1 + x.
We have g 0 (x) = ex (1 + x). By what we have just shown, g 0 (x) 0 for x 0. Hence,
g(x) g(0) = 1 and so:
x2
ex 1 + x + .
2
Let:
x2 x3
h(x) = ex x .
2 6
Then, for x 0, we have:
x2
h0 (x) = ex (1 + x + )0
2
and hence, for x 0, h(x) h(0) = 1, and so:
x2 x3
ex 1 + x + + .
2 6
Question 8
(a) On the first day of 2016 there are 1000 online book retailers in a particular
country. During each subsequent year, the number of new such retailers grows
by 30, but by the end of the year 2% of all the online book retailers that were in
business at the start of the year will have closed down. Find an expression, in
terms of N (and in as simple a form as possible) for the number of online book
retailers N years after the first of January 2016. What happens to the number
of such retailers in the long run?

Chapter 7 of the subject guide gives the required background material.
Let yN be the number of booksellers N years after the first day of 2016. Then we have
y0 = 1000, and:
y1 = (0.98)1000 + 30
y2 = (0.98) ((0.98)1000 + 30) + 30 = (0.98)2 1000 + (0.98)30 + 30
y3 = (0.98)y2 + 30 = (0.98)3 1000 + (0.98)2 30 + (0.98)30 + 30
19
and, in general:
yN = (0.98)N 1000 + (0.98)N 1 30 + (0.98)N 2 30 + + (0.98)30 + 30.
Simplifying:
yN = (0.98)N 1000 + (0.98)N 1 30 + (0.98)N 2 30 + + (0.98)30 + 30
30(1 (0.98)N )
= (0.98)N 1000 + .
1 0.98
This is:
1000(0.98)N + 1500(1 (0.98)N ) = 1500 500(0.98)N .
This increases with N , converging to 1500.
(b) Suppose the quantity y is defined as a function of x through the equation

x2 y 3 6x3 y 2 + 2xy = 1.
Find the value of y when x = 1/2. [You might find it useful to note that
y 3 3y 2 + 4y 4 = (y 2)(y 2 y + 2).]
dy
Find a general expression for the derivative y 0 (x) = .
dx
0
Hence determine the value of y (1/2).
Reading for this queston

Implicit differentiation is discussed in Section 5.5 of the subject guide.
Suppose x = 1/2. Put x = 1/2 into the defining equation, x2 y 3 6x3 y 2 + 2xy = 1. We
obtain:
1 3 3 2
y y +y =1
4 4
or:
y 3 3y 2 + 4y 4 = 0.
Using the hint given, this equation factorises as:
(y 2)(y 2 y + 2) = 0.
The quadratic y 2 y + 2 has negative discriminant and so has no zeroes. It follows that
when x = 1/2, y = 2.
The equation defining y implicitly as a function of x is of the form g(x, y) = 1 where
g(x, y) = x2 y 3 6x3 y 2 + 2xy. So:
dy g/x
= .
dx g/y
Now:
g g
= 2xy 3 18x2 y 2 + 2y and = 3x2 y 2 12x3 y + 2x.
x y
So:
dy 18x2 y 2 2xy 3 2y
= 2 2 .
dx 3x y 12x3 y + 2x
Substituting the values x = 1/2 and y = 2 into the expression for dy/dx, we see that the
derivative when x = 1/2 is 6.
Alternatively, we could simply argue (with the same conclusion) that:
2xy 3 + 3x2 y 2 y 0 18x2 y 2 12x3 yy 0 + 2y + 2xy 0 = 0.
Solving for y 0 gives:
18x2 y 2 2xy 3 2y
y0 = .
3x2 y 2 12x3 y + 2x
20

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Examiners commentaries 2016

Examiners commentaries 2016

Information about the subject guide and the Essential reading

Showing your working

Covering the syllabus and choosing questions

Expectations of the examination paper

Answer the question

Examination revision strategy

Examiners commentaries 2016

Information about the subject guide and the Essential reading

Comments on specific questions Zone A

Determine the profit function in terms of q.

Hence find the production level that maximises the profit.

Reading for this question

See Chapter 3 of the subject guide for related reading.

Approaching the question

where, since T C(0) = F C = 20, we have c = 20.

To maximise , we set 0 = 0, giving 16 2q 3q 2 = 0, so:

Reading for this question

Approaching the question

The system expressed in matrix form is:

(The system expressed in matrix form is not the augmented matrix.)

So, z = 1, y = (1/5)(8 z) = 1 and x = (1/4)(4 + z + y) = 1.

Reading for this question

Approaching the question

The Lagrangian is:

Determine the following integrals:

Reading for this question

Approaching the question

and so the integral is:

We then use integration by parts:

Suppose that a is a positive number and that the function f is given by

Reading for this question

This question uses the material in Chapter 5 of the subject guide.

Approaching the question

4x3 4a2 x = 0 and 2y = 0.

(0, 0), (a, 0) and (a, 0).

The second derivatives are:

fxx = 12x2 4a2 , fxy = 0 and fyy = 2.

Suppose the function f is given by

f (x, y) = sin(2x y) + ey ln(x2 + 1).

Reading for this question

Partial differentiation is discussed in Chapter 5 of the subject guide.

Approaching the question

Answer both questions from this section (20 marks each).

Find an expression in terms of x and y for the profit function.

Reading for this question

We want to get this as a function of x and y, so we need to find pX and pY in terms of x

x = 300 6x = 0 and y = 300 6y = 0.

(b) Suppose the function f is given by f (x) = ex x. Prove that, for x 0,

Now suppose the function g is given by

Reading for this question

Reading for this question

Approaching the question

yN = (0.95)N 10000 + (0.95)N 1 1000 + + (0.95)1000 + 1000.

This increases with N , converging to 20000.

(b) Suppose the quantity y is defined as a function of x through the equation

Reading for this question