Chapter 3 Equations

TEMASEK JUNIOR COLLEGE

2023 JC1 H1 MATHEMATICS (8865)

Chapter 3 Equations

[Practise on Your Own]

1 Solve the following simultaneous equations:

2x − 3 y = 3 and 4x2 − 9 y 2 = 3 .

[Solution]
2 x − 3 y = 3  2 x = 3 + 3 y --- (1)
4 x 2 − 9 y 2 = 3  (2 x) 2 − 9 y 2 = 3 --- (2)

Sub equation (1) into eqn (2): (3 + 3 y ) 2 − 9 y 2 = 3

 9 + 18 y + 9 y 2 − 9 y 2 − 3 = 0
 18 y + 6 = 0
1
 y=−
3
1  1
When y = − , from (1), 2 x = 3 + 3  −  = 2  x = 1
3  3
1
 x = 1, y = −
3

2 If the line y = 2x − 3k is a tangent to the curve y = x2 + 3kx + 1, find the possible values of k.

[Solution]
x2 + 3kx + 1 = 2x − 3k
x2 + 3kx + 1 − 2x + 3k = 0
x2 + 3kx − 2x + 3k + 1 = 0
x2 + (3k − 2)x + (3k + 1) = 0
Since the line y = 2x − 3k is a tangent to the curve y = x2 + 3kx + 1 = 0
D = (3k − 2) 2 − 4 (1)( 3k + 1) = 0
 9k 2 − 12k + 4 − 12k − 4 = 0
 9k 2 − 24k = 0  3k(3k − 8) = 0
8
 k = 0 or k =
3

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 Chapter 3 Equations

3 Show that there are no real values of k for which 2k + ( k − 4 ) x − 2 x 2 is always negative. [4]
[2015/A Level/I/1]

[Solution]

Let y = 2k + (k − 4) x − 2 x
2

Discriminant

for all real values of k.

Thus, the equation y = 0 has at least one real root for all real values of k.
Hence there are no real values of k for y to be always negative.

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 Chapter 3 Equations

4 Three large companies P, Q and R recruit graduates. The companies take part in a scheme to
train the graduates as accountants, financial advisers or consultants. The training cost for each
accountant is the same for each company, as are the training costs for each financial adviser
and each consultant.

Last year, Company P paid $294 100 to train 5 accountants, 12 financial advisers and 8
consultants.
Company Q paid $270 100 to train 9 accountants, 7 financial advisers and 3 consultants.
Company R paid $122 700 to train 3 accountants and 6 financial advisers.
(i) Express this information as 3 linear equations and hence find the cost of training one
financial adviser last year. [5]

Company S decides to join the scheme this year. The company will train an equal number of
accountants and financial advisers but no consultants. Training costs have increased by 10%.
The company has $200 000 to spend on this training.
(ii) What is the greatest possible number of accountants that company S will be able to train
this year? [3]
[2018/A Level/I/3]
[Solution]

(i) Let a, f and c be the cost of training an accountant, financial adviser and consultant
respectively.
5a + 12 f + 8c = 294100 − − − − − (1)
9a + 7 f + 3c = 270100 − − − − − −(2)
3a + 6 f = 122700 − − − − − −(3)
From GC, a = 18500, f = 11200 and c = 8400

The cost of training one financial adviser last year was $11200.
[Answer the question by writing down this statement]

(ii) New accountant training cost = 1.1(18500 ) = $20350

New financial adviser training cost = 1.1(11200 ) = $12320
Let the number of accountants and financial advisers each be x.
$20350 x + $12320 x  $200000
32670 x  200000
x  6.12

The greatest possible number of accountants is 6.

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 Chapter 3 Equations

5 A company produces three types of sport shoes: Supers, Runners and Walkers. The
manufacturing cost of a pair of Supers is twice the manufacturing cost of a pair of Walkers.
The total manufacturing cost of 10 pairs of Runners is $50 more than the total cost
manufacturing cost of 7 pairs of Supers. The total manufacturing cost of 2 pairs of Supers, 6
pairs of Runners and 4 pairs of Walkers is $481.
(i) By writing down three linear equations, find the manufacturing cost of a pair of Runners.
[5]
An economist advises the company on how to increase their profit.
[Profit = selling price − manufacturing cost]
In a simple model, the economist suggests that the selling price of all sports shoes should be
$80 a pair.
(ii) Find the profit from the sale of 100 pairs of each of Supers, Runners and Walkers. [2]

The company is trialling a new type of sport shoes, Extremes. The economist predicts that the
profit $P will be related to the manufacturing cost ($x) by the equation

P = 7 x − 0.9 x.

(iii) Sketch the graph of P against x, stating the coordinates of the intersections with the x-
axis. [2]
(iv) Use your calculator to estimate the maximum value of P. State also the value of x for
which this maximum value occurs. [2]
(v) Given that the manufacturing cost of a pair of Extremes is $55, find the selling price.[1]
(vi) If the manufacturing cost of a pair of Extremes increased to $65, would you advise the
company to produce Extremes? Justify your answer. [1]
[2017/A Level/I/5]

[Solution]
(i) Let S, R and W be the manufacturing costs of Supers, Runners and Walkers shoes.
1S + 0 R − 2W = 0
7 S − 10 R + 0W = −50
2 S + 6 R + 4W = 481
Using GC, S = 55, R = 43.5, W = 27.5
Manufacturing cost of Runners = $43.50

(ii) Total selling price of shoes = 80  300 = 24000

Total manufacturing cost of shoes = 55 100 + 43.5 100 + 27.5 100 = 12600
Total profit = $11400

(iii) P

(15.12, 13.61)

x
0 (60.49, 0)

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 Chapter 3 Equations

(iv) Max value of P = $13.61 when x = $15.12

(v) When x = 55 , P = 7 55 − 0.9(55) = 2.41

Selling price of Extremes = 55 + 2.41 = $57.41

(vi) No, since the company will be making a loss of $2.06

6 The equation mx 2 + 3nx + 4m = 0 has real and equal roots, where m and n are positive real
constants. Find the ratio of m : n and solve the equation.

[Solution]
Since equation has real and equal roots,
 Discriminant = 0
 (3n)2 − 4(m)(4m) = 0
 9n 2 = 16m 2
2
m2 9  3 
 = = 
n 2 16  4 
m 3 m 3 m
 = or = − (rejected 0)
n 4 n 4 n
 m : n = 3: 4

m 3 4m
Since = , we have n =
n 4 3
Then we have: mx 2 + 3  4m  x + 4m = 0
 3 
 mx + 4mx + 4m = 0
2

 x2 + 4x + 4 = 0
 ( x + 2) 2 = 0
 x = −2

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 Chapter 3 Equations

7 A two-digit number is such that the product of its digits is greater than the sum of its digits
8
by 7. The sum of the reciprocal of its digits is . Find the possible values of the number.
15
[2008/TJC/Promo/3]
[Solution]
Let the digit in the tens position be x and the digit in the ones position be y.
xy − ( x + y ) = 7  x + y = xy − 7 --- (1)
1 1 8 x+ y 8
+ =  = --- (2)
x y 15 xy 15
xy − 7 8
Sub (1) into (2): =
xy 15
 15( xy − 7) = 8 xy
 7 xy = 105
 xy = 15 --- (3)
Sub xy = 15 into (1): x + y = 15 − 7 = 8  x = 8 − y --- (4)
Sub (4) into (3): (8 − y ) y = 15
 y 2 − 8 y + 15 = 0
 ( y − 5)( y − 3) = 0
 y = 5 or y = 3
When y = 5 , x = 3
When y = 3 , x = 5
 possible values of the number is 53 or 35.