Please subscribe to KruBase Walkthroughs

Proof by Contradiction

1. [P4 Jan 2024/Q8]

Use proof by contradiction to prove that the curve with equation
𝑦 = 2𝑥 + 𝑥 3 + cos 𝑥 has no stationary points.
(4)

2. [P4 Jan 2023/Q9]

A student was asked to prove, for 𝑝 ∈ ℕ, that
“if 𝑝 3 is a multiple of 3, then 𝑝 must be a multiple of 3”
The start of the student’s proof by contradiction is shown below.

Assumption:
There exists a number 𝑝, 𝑝 ∈ ℕ, such that 𝑝3 is a multiple of 3, and 𝑝 is
NOT a multiple of 3
Let 𝑝 = 3𝑘 + 1, 𝑘 ∈ ℕ.
Consider
𝑝3 = (3𝑘 + 1)3 = 27𝑘 3 + 27𝑘 2 + 9𝑘 + 1
= 3(9𝑘 3 + 9𝑘 2 + 3𝑘) + 1 , which is not a multiple of 3

(a) Show the calculations and statements that are required to

complete the proof. (3)
3
(b) Hence prove, by contradiction, that √3 is an irrational
number. (5)
 Please subscribe to KruBase Walkthroughs
Partial Fractions

1 [P4 Oct 2021/Q3a]

Given
3𝑥 3 +8𝑥 2 −3𝑥−6 𝐶 𝐷
g(x) = ≡ 𝐴𝑥 + 𝐵 + 𝑥 + 𝑥+3.
𝑥(𝑥+3)

Find the values of the constants A, B, C and D. (5)

2 [P4 Jan 2024/Q2a]

Given that
3𝑥+4 𝐴 𝐵 𝐶
= 𝑥−2 + 2𝑥+1 + (2𝑥+1)2 ,
(𝑥−2)(2𝑥+1)2

Find the values of constants A,B and C. (4)

 Please subscribe to KruBase Walkthroughs
Coordinate geometry in the (x, y) plane

1. [P4 June 2021/ Q5]

A curve has equation
𝑦 2 = 𝑦𝑒 −2𝑥 − 3𝑥
(a) Show that

d𝑦 2𝑦𝑒 −2𝑥 +3
= (4)
d𝑥 𝑒 −2𝑥−2𝑦

The curve crosses the 𝑦-axis at the origin and at the point 𝑃.

The tangent to the curve at the origin and the tangent to the
curve at 𝑃 meet at the point 𝑅.

(b) Find the coordinates of 𝑅. (5)

 Please subscribe to KruBase Walkthroughs

2. [P4 October 2020/Q4]

Figure 2 shows a sketch of part of the curve with parametric

equations
𝑥 = 2𝑡 2 − 6𝑡, 𝑦 = 𝑡 3 − 4𝑡, 𝑡 ∈ ℝ.
The curve cuts the x-axis at the origin and at the points A
and B, as shown in Figure 2.
(a) Find the coordinates of A and show that B has
coordinates (20, 0). (3)
(b) show that the equation of the tangent to the curve at B is
tangent equation is
7𝑦 + 4𝑥 − 80 = 0 (5)
The tangent to the curve at B cuts the curve again at the
point P.
(c) Find, using algebra, the x coordinate of P. (4)
 Please subscribe to KruBase Walkthroughs
Binomial Expansion

1 [P4 June 2023/Q1]

(a) Find the first 4 terms of the binomial expansion, in
ascending powers of x, of
3
1 1 1
(4 − 2 𝑥)−2 , |𝑥| < 2
giving each term in simplest form.
(5)

Given that
1 1 1 1 3 1 1 1
( − 𝑥)𝑛 ( − 𝑥)−2 = ( − 𝑥)2
4 2 4 2 4 2
(b) write down the value of n. (1)

(c) Hence, or otherwise, find the first 3 terms of the binomial

expansion, in ascending powers of x, of
1
1 1 1
(4 − 2 𝑥) ,
2 |𝑥| < 2
giving each term in simplest form. (3)
 Please subscribe to KruBase Walkthroughs
2 [P4 June 2022/Q1]
The binomial expansion of
(3 + 𝑘𝑥)−2 , |𝑘𝑥| < 3
where 𝑘 is a non-zero constant, may be written in the form
𝐴 + 𝐵𝑥 + 𝐶𝑥 2 + 𝐷𝑥 3 + ⋯
where A,B,C and D are constants.
(a) Find the value of A. (1)

Given that 𝐶 = 3𝐵
(b) show that 𝑘 2 + 6𝑘 = 0. (3)

(c) Hence
(i) find the value of 𝑘.
(ii) find the value of 𝐷.
(3)
 Please subscribe to KruBase Walkthroughs
Differentiation
1 [P4 October 2021/Q1]
The curve C has equation
2𝑥 − 4𝑦 2 + 3𝑥 2 𝑦 = 4𝑥 2 + 8.
The point P(3, 2) lies on C.
Find the equation of the normal to C at the point P, writing
your answer in the form 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑦 + 𝑐 = 0 where a, b and c are
integers to be found. (7)

2 [P4 October 2020/Q6] (5 marks)

A curve C has equation
𝑦 = 𝑥 sin 𝑥 , 𝑥>0 𝑦 > 0.
(a) Find, by firstly taking natural logarithms, an
𝑑𝑦
expression for 𝑑𝑥 in terms of 𝑥 and 𝑦. (5)

(b) Hence show that the x coordinates of the stationary

points of C are solutions of the equation
tan 𝑥 + 𝑥 ln 𝑥 = 0
(2)
 Please subscribe to KruBase Walkthroughs
Rates of Change

1. [P4 October 2024/Q5]

Figure 3 shows a container in the shape of a hollow, inverted, right

circular cone. The height of the container is 30cm and the radius
is 12cm, as shown in Figure 3. The container is initially empty
when water starts flowing into it. When the height of water is
ℎ cm, the surface of the water has radius 𝑟 cm and the volume of
water is 𝑉 cm3
(a) Show that
4𝜋ℎ3
𝑉=
75
1
[The volume 𝑉 of a right circular cone 𝑉 = 𝜋𝑟 2 ℎ] (2)
3

Given that water flows into the container at a constant rate of

2𝜋 cm3 s−1
(b) find, in cms−1 , the rate at which ℎ is changing, exactly 1.5
minutes after water starts flowing into the container. (4)
 Please subscribe to KruBase Walkthroughs
2. [P4 October 2022/ Q10]

A spherical ball of ice of radius 12cm is placed in a bucket of water.

In a model of the situation,

- the ball remains spherical as it melts
- 𝑡 minutes after the ball of ice is placed in the bucket, its radius is
𝑟 cm
- the rate of decrease of the radius of the ball of ice is inversely
proportional to the square of the radius
- the radius of the ball of ice is 6cm after 15 minutes

Using the model and the information given,

(a) find an equation linking 𝑟 and 𝑡,

(5)

(b) find the time taken for the ball of ice to melt completely.
(2)

(c) On Diagram 1 on page 27, sketch a graph of 𝑟 against 𝑡.

(1)
 Please subscribe to KruBase Walkthroughs
Integration

1. [P4 October 2024/Q10]

Figure 5 shows a sketch of the curve with parametric equations

𝜋
𝑥 = 3𝑡 2 𝑦 = sin 𝑡 sin 2𝑡 0≤𝑡≤
2
The region 𝑅, shown shaded in Figure 5, is bounded by the curve
and the x-axis.
(a) Show that the area of 𝑅 is
𝜋
2
𝑘 ∫ 𝑡sin2 𝑡cos 𝑡d𝑡
0

where 𝑘 is a constant to be found. (3)

(b) Hence, using algebraic integration, find the exact area of 𝑅,

giving your answer in the form

𝑝𝜋 + 𝑞
where 𝑝 and 𝑞 are constants. (5)
 Please subscribe to KruBase Walkthroughs
3. [P4 January 2021/Q7]

(a) Find ∫ 𝑒 2𝑥 sin 𝑥d𝑥 (5)

Figure 2 shows a sketch of part of the curve with equation

𝑦 = 𝑒 2𝑥 sin 𝑥 𝑥≥0

The finite region 𝑅 is bounded by the curve and the x-axis and is
shown shaded in Figure 2.

𝑒 2𝜋 +1
(b) Show that the exact area of 𝑅 is
5
(Solutions relying on calculator technology are not acceptable.)

(2)
 Please subscribe to KruBase Walkthroughs
Vectors

1. [P4 Jan 2025/Q8]

Relative to a fixed origin 𝑂, the line 𝑙 has equation
2 4
𝐫 = (−1) + 𝜆 ( 2 )
3 −1
where 𝜆 is a scalar parameter.
The point 𝐴 and the point 𝐵 lie on line 𝑙
Given that
𝐴 has coordinates (–2, a, 4)
𝐵 has coordinates (b, 3, 1)
(a) find the value of 𝑎 and the value of 𝑏. (2)
(b) Hence find vector ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐴𝐵 (2)

The point 𝐶 has coordinates (4, 7, –2).

(c) Find the size of angle 𝐶𝐴𝐵, giving your answer in degrees to
one decimal place. (4)

The point 𝐷 lies on the line 𝑙 so that the area of triangle 𝐶𝐴𝐷 is
twice the area of triangle 𝐶𝐴𝐵.
(d) Find the coordinates of the two possible positions of 𝐷.
(4)
 Please subscribe to KruBase Walkthroughs
2. [P4 October 2024/Q8]
Relative to a fixed origin O,
- point A has coordinates (–10, 5, –4)
- point B has coordinates (–6, 4, –1).
The straight line 𝑙1 passes through A and B.

(a) Find a vector equation for 𝑙1 . (2)

3 3
The line 𝑙2 has equation 𝐫 = (𝑝) + 𝜇 (−4)
𝑞 1
where p and q are constants and 𝜇 is a scalar parameter.
Given that 𝑙1 and 𝑙2 intersect at B,
(b) find the value of p and the value of q. (3)

The acute angle between 𝑙1 and 𝑙2 is 𝜃.

(c) Find the exact value of cos 𝜃. (3)

Given that the point C lies on 𝑙2 such that

AC is perpendicular to 𝑙2 .
(d) find the exact length of AC,
giving your answer as a surd. (2)