Theory paper · 13 questions

WAEC · 2014 · Nov/Dec · General Maths · Paper 2

Topics include Expressions, formulae & change of subject, Indices & standard form, Linear & simultaneous equations, Commercial arithmetic, Angles, triangles & polygons, Trigonometric ratios.

Sit this paper

Answer every question in order, timed if you like (suggested 3 h 15 min). You're marked when you hand in, then you see where to focus and the working for each question.

Or read it here: every question below has a worked solution.

Question 1

  1. (a)

    Factorize completely: m2−2mn+n2−9r2m^2 - 2mn + n^2 - 9r^2.

    Show the answer

    (m−n+3r)(m−n−3r)(m - n + 3r)(m - n - 3r)

  2. (b)

    Solve simultaneously the equations 5x−4y=65x - 4y = 6 and 33(y−x)=1273^{3(y - x)} = \frac{1}{27}.

    Separate values with commas, e.g. 3, −2

Worked solution (try it first)

Loading the worked solution…

Report a problem with this question

Question 2

  1. (a)

    A man has a wife and 6 children and his total income in a year was GH¢ 850.00. He was given the following tax-free allowances: personal GH¢ 120.00; wife GH¢ 30.00; children GH¢ 25.00 per child, for a maximum of 4 children; medical GH¢ 40.00. The rest was taxed as follows: first GH¢ 200.00 at 10%10\%; next GH¢ 200.00 at 15%15\%; next GH¢ 200.00 at 20%20\%; remainder at 25%25\%. Calculate his: (i) taxable income; (ii) monthly tax.

    Separate values with commas, e.g. 3, −2

Worked solution (try it first)

Loading the worked solution…

Report a problem with this question

Question 3

  1. (a)

    In the diagram, QSPQSP and QTRQTR are straight lines, ∣PS∣=6 cm|PS| = 6\text{ cm}, ∣QS∣=4 cm|QS| = 4\text{ cm}, ∣QT∣=5 cm|QT| = 5\text{ cm} and ∠QTS=∠RPQ\angle QTS = \angle RPQ. Calculate ∣TR∣|TR|.

    4 cm6 cm5 cmQTRSP
  2. (b)

    If sin⁡x=513\sin x = \frac{5}{13}, 0∘≤x≤90∘0^\circ \le x \le 90^\circ, evaluate, without tables or a calculator, cos⁡x−2sin⁡x2tan⁡x\dfrac{\cos x - 2\sin x}{2\tan x}.

Worked solution (try it first)

Loading the worked solution…

Report a problem with this question

Question 4

  1. (a)

    Without using tables or a calculator, evaluate log⁡10(7510)−2log⁡10(59)+log⁡10(100243)\log_{10}\left(\frac{75}{10}\right) - 2\log_{10}\left(\frac59\right) + \log_{10}\left(\frac{100}{243}\right).

  2. (b)

    Given that X={x:10≤x<15}X = \{x : 10 \le x < 15\} and Y={even numbers<18}Y = \{\text{even numbers} < 18\} are subsets of U={10,11,12,…,20}U = \{10, 11, 12, \ldots, 20\}, find: (i) X∩YX \cap Y; (ii) n(X′∩Y)n(X' \cap Y).

Worked solution (try it first)

Loading the worked solution…

Report a problem with this question

Question 5

The diagram shows a right pyramid with a rectangular base WXYZWXYZ and vertex OO. If ∣WX∣=8 cm|WX| = 8\text{ cm}, ∣ZW∣=6 cm|ZW| = 6\text{ cm} and ∣OX∣=13 cm|OX| = 13\text{ cm}, calculate the:

8 cm6 cm13 cmWXYZO
Not to scale.
  1. (a)

    height of the pyramid;

  2. (b)

    value of ∠OXZ\angle OXZ, correct to the nearest degree;

  3. (c)

    volume of the pyramid.

Worked solution (try it first)

Loading the worked solution…

Report a problem with this question

Question 6

  1. (a)

    In a class of 52 students, 16 are Science students. If 13\frac13 of the boys and 14\frac14 of the girls are Science students, how many boys are in the class?

  2. (b)

    The sum of the first and third terms of a Geometric Progression (G.P.) is 40 while the fourth and sixth terms are in the ratio 1:41 : 4. Find the: (i) common ratio; (ii) fifth term.

    Separate values with commas, e.g. 3, −2

Worked solution (try it first)

Loading the worked solution…

Report a problem with this question

Question 7

  1. (a)

    A spherical tank of diameter 3 m3\text{ m} is filled with water from a pipe of radius 30 cm30\text{ cm} at 0.2 m0.2\text{ m} per second. Calculate, correct to 3 significant figures, the time, in minutes, it takes to fill the tank. [Take π=227]\left[\text{Take }\pi = \frac{22}{7}\right]

  2. (b)

    When kk is added to the expression y2−12yy^2 - 12y, the expression becomes (y+p)2(y + p)^2. Find the values of pp and kk.

    Separate values with commas, e.g. 3, −2

Worked solution (try it first)

Loading the worked solution…

Report a problem with this question

Question 8

  1. (a)

    Using a ruler and a pair of compasses only, construct: (i) a parallelogram PQRSPQRS with RSRS as the base such that ∣PQ∣=7.8 cm|PQ| = 7.8\text{ cm}, ∣QR∣=5.6 cm|QR| = 5.6\text{ cm} and ∠QRS=120∘\angle QRS = 120^\circ; (ii) a rectangle ABRSABRS equal in area to the parallelogram PQRSPQRS.

    Model answer
    RSQP120°BA7.8 cm

    Use only a ruler and a pair of compasses: leave every construction arc visible, because the examiner looks for them. Draw the base RS=7.8RS = 7.8 cm. Construct 120∘120^\circ at RR and mark QQ with RQ=5.6RQ = 5.6 cm. Through QQ draw the line parallel to RSRS and mark PP with QP=7.8QP = 7.8 cm. For the rectangle, draw perpendiculars to RSRS at RR and SS to meet the line QPQP (produced) at BB and AA. It has the same base and lies between the same parallels, so it has the same area. Measured: ∣AP∣=2.8|AP| = 2.8 cm and ∣AS∣≈4.85|AS| \approx 4.85 cm.

  2. (b)

    Measure: (i) ∣AP∣|AP|; (ii) ∣AS∣|AS|.

    Separate values with commas, e.g. 3, −2

Worked solution (try it first)

Loading the worked solution…

Report a problem with this question

Question 9

  1. (a)

    An object was thrown vertically upwards from the top of a cliff and its height, yy metres, above sea level after tt seconds is given by y=−16t2+64t+5y = -16t^2 + 64t + 5. Copy and complete the table of values for 0≤t≤4.00 \le t \le 4.0.

    tt 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0
    yy 5 65 53
    Model answer
    tt 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0
    yy 5 33 53 65 69 65 53 33 5

    For example t=0.5t = 0.5: −4+32+5=33-4 + 32 + 5 = 33, and t=2.0t = 2.0: −64+128+5=69-64 + 128 + 5 = 69. The values are symmetrical about t=2t = 2.

  2. (b)

    Using scales of 2 cm to 0.5 seconds on the tt-axis and 2 cm to 10 m on the yy-axis, draw the graph of y=−16t2+64t+5y = -16t^2 + 64t + 5 for 0≤t≤4.00 \le t \le 4.0.

    Model answer
    0.511.522.533.5410203040506070tymax 69 my = 50

    Plot every point from the table, then join them with one smooth curve (not straight lines between points). Scale: 2 cm to 0.5 s across, 2 cm to 10 m up. The path is symmetrical about t=2t = 2.

    For (c): (i) at t=1.75t = 1.75 s the height is about 68 m; (ii) the line y=50y = 50 meets the curve at t≈0.9t \approx 0.9 s and 3.13.1 s; (iii) the maximum height is 69 m.

  3. (c)

    Use the graph to find the: (i) height reached when t=1.75t = 1.75 seconds; (ii) times the object was at a height of 50 m50\text{ m}; (iii) maximum height reached.

    Separate values with commas, e.g. 3, −2

Try it on a graph

The height curve with the line y = 50.

Worked solution (try it first)

Loading the worked solution…

Report a problem with this question

Question 10

  1. (a)

    (i) Solve the inequality 12x−56(x+2)≤1+x\frac12x - \frac56(x + 2) \le 1 + x. (ii) Illustrate the solution on a number line.

    Model answer
    −3−2−10123

    (i) x≥−2x \ge -2. (ii) A solid dot at −2-2 (it is included) with an arrow to the right.

  2. (b)

    From a point PP on level ground and directly west of a pole, the angle of elevation of the top of the pole is 45∘45^\circ, and from a point QQ east of the pole, the angle of elevation of the top of the pole is 58∘58^\circ. If ∣PQ∣=10 m|PQ| = 10\text{ m}, calculate, correct to 2 significant figures, the: (i) distance from PP to the pole; (ii) height of the pole.

    Separate values with commas, e.g. 3, −2

Worked solution (try it first)

Loading the worked solution…

Report a problem with this question

Question 11

  1. (a)

    The probabilities that Manful, John and Ernest will pass an examination are 23\frac23, 58\frac58 and 34\frac34 respectively. Find the probability that all three will pass the examination.

  2. (b)

    The scores of students in a test were recorded as follows:

    4 2 1 6 5 3 5 6 1 2 1 5 5 6 3 4 3 5 1 5

    (i) Construct a frequency distribution table. (ii) Represent the information in a bar chart. (iii) Calculate the interquartile range.

Worked solution (try it first)

Loading the worked solution…

Report a problem with this question

Question 12

  1. (a)

    In the diagram, TS‾\overline{TS} is a tangent to the circle PQRSPQRS at SS, and OO is the centre of the circle (QOSQOS is a diameter). If ∠TSP=21∘\angle TSP = 21^\circ and ∠RQP=100∘\angle RQP = 100^\circ, find, with reasons: (i) ∠SPR\angle SPR; (ii) ∠QSR\angle QSR.

    100°21°OSQRPT

    Separate values with commas, e.g. 3, −2

  2. (b)

    Given the relation T=U1f+1gT = \sqrt{\dfrac{U}{\frac1f + \frac1g}}: (i) make gg the subject of the relation; (ii) find gg when T=3T = 3, f=4f = 4 and U=5U = 5.

Worked solution (try it first)

Loading the worked solution…

Report a problem with this question

Question 13

  1. (a)

    If x=(−24)\mathbf x = \begin{pmatrix} -2 \\ 4 \end{pmatrix} and y=(−31)\mathbf y = \begin{pmatrix} -3 \\ 1 \end{pmatrix}, find, correct to 1 decimal place, ∣x+y∣|\mathbf x + \mathbf y|.

  2. (b)

    P(6,4)P(6, 4), Q(−2,−2)Q(-2, -2) and R(4,−6)R(4, -6) are the vertices of triangle PQRPQR. (i) Determine the coordinates of MM and SS, the midpoints of PQ‾\overline{PQ} and PR‾\overline{PR} respectively. (ii) Find QR→\overrightarrow{QR} and MS→\overrightarrow{MS}. (iii) State the relationship between QR→\overrightarrow{QR} and MS→\overrightarrow{MS}. (iv) Find the equation of MS‾\overline{MS}.

    Show the answer

    (i) M(2,1)M(2, 1), S(5,−1)S(5, -1); (ii) QR→=(6−4)\overrightarrow{QR} = \begin{pmatrix} 6 \\ -4 \end{pmatrix}, MS→=(3−2)\overrightarrow{MS} = \begin{pmatrix} 3 \\ -2 \end{pmatrix}; (iii) QR→=2MS→\overrightarrow{QR} = 2\overrightarrow{MS}; (iv) 2x+3y=72x + 3y = 7

Worked solution (try it first)

Loading the worked solution…

Report a problem with this question