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800 most-asked Class 11 & 12 (+1 / +2) questions across Physics, Chemistry, Maths and Biology — each with a model answer and the exact marking-scheme points examiners reward. Revise smart, walk in calm.
MathsClass 123 marksmedium
Determinants
Using determinants, find the area of the triangle whose vertices are (1, 0), (6, 0) and (4, 3).
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The area of a triangle with vertices (x1, y1), (x2, y2), (x3, y3) is (1/2)|x1(y2 - y3) + x2(y3 - y1) + x3(y1 - y2)|. Substituting: area = (1/2)|1(0 - 3) + 6(3 - 0) + 4(0 - 0)| = (1/2)|-3 + 18 + 0| = (1/2)(15) = 7.5 square units.
Area = (1/2)|x1(y2-y3) + x2(y3-y1) + x3(y1-y2)|
Marking-scheme points
- ✓Area = (1/2)|x1(y2-y3) + x2(y3-y1) + x3(y1-y2)|
- ✓= (1/2)|-3 + 18 + 0|
- ✓= 7.5 square units
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Determinants
Find the inverse of the matrix A = [[2, 3],[1, 4]] using the adjoint method.
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First find the determinant: |A| = (2)(4) - (3)(1) = 8 - 3 = 5, which is non-zero, so the inverse exists. For a 2 x 2 matrix [[a, b],[c, d]], the adjoint is [[d, -b],[-c, a]], so adj A = [[4, -3],[-1, 2]]. Then the inverse is A inverse = (1/|A|) adj A = (1/5)[[4, -3],[-1, 2]] = [[4/5, -3/5],[-1/5, 2/5]].
A inverse = (1/|A|) adj A
Marking-scheme points
- ✓|A| = 8 - 3 = 5 (non-zero, so inverse exists)
- ✓adj A = [[4, -3],[-1, 2]]
- ✓A inverse = (1/5)[[4, -3],[-1, 2]]
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Determinants
Solve the system of equations 2x + 3y = 8 and x + 2y = 5 using determinants (Cramer's rule).
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Write D = determinant of coefficients = |[[2, 3],[1, 2]]| = (2)(2) - (3)(1) = 4 - 3 = 1. Dx (replace first column by constants) = |[[8, 3],[5, 2]]| = (8)(2) - (3)(5) = 16 - 15 = 1. Dy (replace second column by constants) = |[[2, 8],[1, 5]]| = (2)(5) - (8)(1) = 10 - 8 = 2. By Cramer's rule, x = Dx/D = 1/1 = 1 and y = Dy/D = 2/1 = 2. So x = 1, y = 2.
x = Dx/D, y = Dy/D
Marking-scheme points
- ✓D = 1, Dx = 1, Dy = 2
- ✓Cramer's rule: x = Dx/D, y = Dy/D
- ✓x = 1, y = 2
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Continuity and Differentiability
Find the value of k for which the function f(x) = kx + 1 for x <= 5 and f(x) = 3x - 5 for x > 5 is continuous at x = 5.
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For continuity at x = 5, the left-hand limit, the right-hand limit and f(5) must all be equal. Left-hand value (using kx + 1): f(5) = 5k + 1. Right-hand limit (using 3x - 5): as x approaches 5, 3(5) - 5 = 10. For continuity, 5k + 1 = 10, so 5k = 9, giving k = 9/5.
LHL = RHL = f(a)
Marking-scheme points
- ✓Left value at 5: 5k + 1; right limit at 5: 3(5) - 5 = 10
- ✓Equate for continuity: 5k + 1 = 10
- ✓k = 9/5
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Continuity and Differentiability
If x^2 + y^2 = 25, find dy/dx by implicit differentiation.
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Differentiate both sides with respect to x, treating y as a function of x. d/dx(x^2) + d/dx(y^2) = d/dx(25). This gives 2x + 2y (dy/dx) = 0. Solving for dy/dx: 2y (dy/dx) = -2x, so dy/dx = -2x/(2y) = -x/y.
dy/dx = -x/y
Marking-scheme points
- ✓Differentiate both sides: 2x + 2y (dy/dx) = 0
- ✓Solve for dy/dx
- ✓dy/dx = -x/y
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Continuity and Differentiability
Differentiate y = x^x with respect to x using logarithmic differentiation.
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Take the natural logarithm of both sides: ln y = ln(x^x) = x ln x. Now differentiate both sides with respect to x. On the left: (1/y)(dy/dx). On the right, using the product rule on x ln x: (1)(ln x) + x(1/x) = ln x + 1. So (1/y)(dy/dx) = ln x + 1, which gives dy/dx = y(ln x + 1) = x^x (1 + ln x).
dy/dx = x^x (1 + ln x)
Marking-scheme points
- ✓Take log: ln y = x ln x
- ✓Differentiate: (1/y)(dy/dx) = ln x + 1
- ✓dy/dx = x^x (1 + ln x)
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Continuity and Differentiability
If y = e^x sin x, find the second order derivative d2y/dx2.
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First derivative using the product rule: dy/dx = e^x sin x + e^x cos x = e^x(sin x + cos x). Differentiate again using the product rule: d2y/dx2 = e^x(sin x + cos x) + e^x(cos x - sin x) = e^x(sin x + cos x + cos x - sin x) = e^x(2 cos x) = 2 e^x cos x.
d2y/dx2 = 2 e^x cos x
Marking-scheme points
- ✓dy/dx = e^x(sin x + cos x)
- ✓Differentiate again by product rule
- ✓d2y/dx2 = 2 e^x cos x
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Application of Derivatives
The radius of a circle is increasing at the rate of 3 cm/s. Find the rate at which the area is increasing when the radius is 10 cm.
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Area A = pi r^2. Differentiate with respect to time t: dA/dt = 2 pi r (dr/dt). Given dr/dt = 3 cm/s and r = 10 cm, so dA/dt = 2 pi (10)(3) = 60 pi cm^2/s. Thus the area is increasing at the rate of 60 pi square cm per second (about 188.5 cm^2/s).
dA/dt = 2 pi r (dr/dt)
Marking-scheme points
- ✓A = pi r^2, so dA/dt = 2 pi r (dr/dt)
- ✓Substitute r = 10, dr/dt = 3
- ✓dA/dt = 60 pi cm^2/s
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Application of Derivatives
Find the intervals in which the function f(x) = x^2 - 4x + 3 is increasing or decreasing.
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Find the derivative: f'(x) = 2x - 4 = 2(x - 2). Set f'(x) = 0 to get the critical point: x = 2. For x < 2, f'(x) < 0, so the function is decreasing on (-infinity, 2). For x > 2, f'(x) > 0, so the function is increasing on (2, infinity). Thus f is decreasing on (-infinity, 2) and increasing on (2, infinity).
Marking-scheme points
- ✓f'(x) = 2x - 4 = 0 gives x = 2
- ✓x < 2: f'(x) < 0 -> decreasing
- ✓x > 2: f'(x) > 0 -> increasing
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Application of Derivatives
Find the equation of the tangent to the curve y = x^2 at the point (1, 1).
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The slope of the tangent is dy/dx = 2x. At the point (1, 1), the slope = 2(1) = 2. Using the point-slope form y - y1 = m(x - x1) with m = 2 and (x1, y1) = (1, 1): y - 1 = 2(x - 1), so y - 1 = 2x - 2, giving y = 2x - 1. This is the equation of the tangent.
y - y1 = m(x - x1)
Marking-scheme points
- ✓Slope dy/dx = 2x; at (1,1) slope = 2
- ✓y - 1 = 2(x - 1)
- ✓Tangent: y = 2x - 1
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Application of Derivatives
Find the local maximum and local minimum values of the function f(x) = x^3 - 3x + 2.
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Find the first derivative: f'(x) = 3x^2 - 3 = 3(x^2 - 1). Set f'(x) = 0: x^2 = 1, so x = 1 or x = -1. Second derivative: f''(x) = 6x. At x = 1, f''(1) = 6 > 0, so there is a local minimum; minimum value f(1) = 1 - 3 + 2 = 0. At x = -1, f''(-1) = -6 < 0, so there is a local maximum; maximum value f(-1) = -1 + 3 + 2 = 4.
f'(x) = 0; use f''(x) sign
Marking-scheme points
- ✓f'(x) = 3(x^2 - 1) = 0 gives x = 1, -1
- ✓f''(x) = 6x; x = 1 minimum, x = -1 maximum
- ✓Local minimum value 0, local maximum value 4
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Application of Derivatives
Find two positive numbers whose sum is 16 and whose product is maximum.
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Let the two numbers be x and 16 - x (since their sum is 16). Their product P = x(16 - x) = 16x - x^2. To maximise, differentiate: dP/dx = 16 - 2x, and set it to zero: 16 - 2x = 0, so x = 8. The second derivative d2P/dx2 = -2 < 0, confirming a maximum. So the numbers are x = 8 and 16 - 8 = 8, and the maximum product is 8 x 8 = 64.
Marking-scheme points
- ✓Let numbers be x and 16 - x; P = 16x - x^2
- ✓dP/dx = 16 - 2x = 0 gives x = 8
- ✓Both numbers are 8; maximum product = 64
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Integrals
Evaluate the integral of 2x/(1 + x^2) dx.
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Use the substitution t = 1 + x^2, so dt = 2x dx. The integral becomes the integral of (1/t) dt = ln|t| + C. Substituting back t = 1 + x^2, the answer is ln(1 + x^2) + C. (Note that 1 + x^2 is always positive, so the modulus sign is not needed.)
integral of f'(x)/f(x) dx = ln|f(x)| + C
Marking-scheme points
- ✓Substitute t = 1 + x^2, so dt = 2x dx
- ✓integral becomes integral of (1/t) dt = ln|t|
- ✓Answer: ln(1 + x^2) + C
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Integrals
Evaluate the integral of x e^x dx using integration by parts.
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Integration by parts uses the integral of u v dx = u (integral of v) - integral of (u' times integral of v). Take u = x (so u' = 1) and dv = e^x dx (so integral of dv = e^x). Then integral of x e^x dx = x e^x - integral of (1 x e^x) dx = x e^x - e^x + C = e^x(x - 1) + C.
integral u dv = u v - integral v du
Marking-scheme points
- ✓Take u = x, dv = e^x dx (by the ILATE rule)
- ✓integral = x e^x - integral of e^x dx
- ✓= e^x(x - 1) + C
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Integrals
Evaluate the integral of 1/((x - 1)(x - 2)) dx using partial fractions.
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Write 1/((x - 1)(x - 2)) = A/(x - 1) + B/(x - 2). Then 1 = A(x - 2) + B(x - 1). Putting x = 1: 1 = A(-1), so A = -1. Putting x = 2: 1 = B(1), so B = 1. Hence the integral = integral of [-1/(x - 1) + 1/(x - 2)] dx = -ln|x - 1| + ln|x - 2| + C = ln|(x - 2)/(x - 1)| + C.
Marking-scheme points
- ✓Decompose: 1/((x-1)(x-2)) = -1/(x-1) + 1/(x-2)
- ✓Integrate each term (logarithms)
- ✓= ln|(x - 2)/(x - 1)| + C
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Integrals
Evaluate the definite integral from 0 to 1 of x^2 dx.
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First find the indefinite integral: the integral of x^2 dx = x^3/3. Now apply the limits using the fundamental theorem of calculus: the integral from 0 to 1 of x^2 dx = [x^3/3] evaluated from 0 to 1 = (1^3/3) - (0^3/3) = 1/3 - 0 = 1/3.
integral(a to b) f(x) dx = F(b) - F(a)
Marking-scheme points
- ✓integral of x^2 dx = x^3/3
- ✓Apply limits 0 to 1: (1/3) - 0
- ✓Value = 1/3
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Integrals
Evaluate the definite integral from 0 to pi/2 of sin x dx.
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The integral of sin x dx = -cos x. Applying the limits from 0 to pi/2: the integral from 0 to pi/2 of sin x dx = [-cos x] from 0 to pi/2 = (-cos(pi/2)) - (-cos 0) = (-0) - (-1) = 0 + 1 = 1. So the value of the integral is 1.
integral of sin x dx = -cos x
Marking-scheme points
- ✓integral of sin x dx = -cos x
- ✓Apply limits: -cos(pi/2) + cos 0
- ✓= 0 + 1 = 1
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Integrals
Evaluate the definite integral from -1 to 1 of x^3 dx using a property of definite integrals.
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The function f(x) = x^3 is an odd function, because f(-x) = (-x)^3 = -x^3 = -f(x). By the property of definite integrals, the integral from -a to a of an odd function is zero. Therefore the integral from -1 to 1 of x^3 dx = 0. (We can also verify: [x^4/4] from -1 to 1 = 1/4 - 1/4 = 0.)
integral(-a to a) of odd function = 0
Marking-scheme points
- ✓x^3 is an odd function: f(-x) = -f(x)
- ✓Integral of an odd function from -a to a is 0
- ✓So the value is 0
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Application of Integrals
Find the area bounded by the curve y = x^2, the x-axis and the lines x = 0 and x = 3.
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The area is given by the definite integral of y with respect to x from 0 to 3: Area = the integral from 0 to 3 of x^2 dx = [x^3/3] from 0 to 3 = (3^3/3) - (0) = 27/3 = 9. So the required area is 9 square units.
Area = integral(a to b) y dx
Marking-scheme points
- ✓Area = integral from 0 to 3 of x^2 dx
- ✓= [x^3/3] from 0 to 3 = 27/3
- ✓Area = 9 square units
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Application of Integrals
Find the area bounded by the line y = 2x, the x-axis and the lines x = 0 and x = 3.
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The area is the definite integral of y = 2x from 0 to 3: Area = the integral from 0 to 3 of 2x dx = [x^2] from 0 to 3 = (3^2) - (0^2) = 9. So the required area is 9 square units. (This agrees with the area of the triangle of base 3 and height 6, which is (1/2)(3)(6) = 9.)
Area = integral(a to b) y dx
Marking-scheme points
- ✓Area = integral from 0 to 3 of 2x dx
- ✓= [x^2] from 0 to 3 = 9
- ✓Matches triangle area (1/2)(3)(6) = 9
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