Cambridge A Level Mathematics 9709 — 2017 May/June Paper 2 · Variant 3
9709/23/M/J/17 · 6 questions · 50 marks · ≈56 min
The question paper and its mark scheme, free to read here and free to download. This is Cambridge’s own paper, exactly as it was sat.
Question paper12 pages












Mark scheme9 pages
Answers below. Sit the paper first if you are practising.









Questions as text
Q1 · Solve the equation x a 2x , giving x in terms of the positive constant a
1 Solve the equation x a 2x , giving x in terms of the positive constant a. [3] + = −5a ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................
Mark scheme: 1 2 2 2 5 x a x a + = − or pair of linear equations B1 SR B1 for 6 x a Attempt solution of quadratic equation or of pair of linear equations M1 Allow M1 if 4 3 and 6 seen Obtain, as final answers, 6a and 4 3 a A1 Total: 3
Q2 · Use logarithms to solve the equation 52x, giving your answer correct to 3 significant…
2 Use logarithms to solve the equation 52x, giving your answer correct to 3 significant figures. 3x+4 = [4] ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................
Mark scheme: 2 Apply logarithms to both sides and apply power law *M1 Obtain ( ) 4 log3 2 log5 x x + = or equivalent A1 Solve linear equation for x DM1 dep *M Obtain 2.07 A1 Allow greater accuracy Total: 4 May be implied by part graph in first quadrant
Q3 · By sketching a suitable pair of graphs, show that the equation x3 11 = −2x has exactly…
3 (i) By sketching a suitable pair of graphs, show that the equation x3 11 = −2x has exactly one real root. [2] ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ (ii) Use the iterative formula xn+1 = 3 11 −2xn to find the root correct to 4 significant figures. Give the result of each iteration to 6 significant figures. [3] ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................
Mark scheme: 3(i) Draw sketch of 3 y x = *B1 Draw straight line with negative gradient crossing positive y-axis and indicate one intersection DB1 dep *B Total: 2 3(ii) Use iterative formula correctly at least once M1 Obtain final answer 1.926 A1 Show sufficient iterations to justify 4 sf or show sign change in interval ( ) 1.9255,1.9265 A1 Total: 3
Q4 · E4x 4 Find the equation of the tangent to the curve y at the point on the curve for which…
e4x 4 Find the equation of the tangent to the curve y at the point on the curve for which x 0. 2x 3 = = Give your answer in the form ax by c 0 where a,+b and c are integers. [5] + + = ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................
Mark scheme: 4 Use quotient rule (or product rule) to find first derivative M1 Obtain ( ) 4 4 2 8 e 10e 2 3 x x x x + + or equivalent A1 Substitute 0 x = to obtain gradient 10 9 A1 Form equation of tangent through ( ) 1 3 0, with numerical gradient M1 Obtain 10 9 3 0 x y − + = A1 Total: 5
Q7 · Find 2 cos cos 1 [4] Ó 1 −3 1 + d1
7 (a) Find 2 cos cos 1 [4] Ó 1 −3 1 + d1. ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ @ A 4 1 (b) (i) Find dx. [2] 2x Ô 2x 1 + + ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................ 4 @ A 4 1 (ii) Hence find dx, giving your answer in the form ln k. [3] 2x 1 2x + Ô 1 + ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................
Mark scheme: 7(a) 2 2cos cos 3 d θ θ θ − − ∫ B1 Attempt use of identity to obtain integrand involving cos2θ and cosθ M1 Integrate to obtain form 1 2 3 sin2 sin k k k θ θ θ + + for non-zero constants M1 Obtain 1 2 sin2 sin 2 c θ θ θ − − + A1 Total: 4 Question Answer Marks Guidance 7(b)(i) Integrate to obtain form ( ) ( ) 1 2 ln 2 1 ln k x k x + + or ( ) ( ) 1 2 ln 2 1 ln 2 k x k x + + M1 Obtain ( ) 1 2 2ln 2 1 ln x x + + or ( ) ( ) 1 2 2ln 2 1 ln 2 x x + + A1 Total: 2 7(b)(ii) Use relevant logarithm power law for expression obtained from application of limits M1 Use relevant logarithm addition / subtraction laws M1 Obtain ln18 A1 Total: 3
Q8 · Y 1, 4 3, 3 x O The diagram shows the curve with parametric equations x 2 2t, y 2 sin3t 3…
8 y 1, 4 3, 3 x O The diagram shows the curve with parametric equations x 2 2t, y 2 sin3t 3 cos3t 1 = −cos = + + for 0 The end-points of the curve are 1, 4 and 3, 3 . ≤t ≤120. dy 3 (i) Show that sin t cos t. [5] dx 2 4 = −9 ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ (ii) Find the coordinates of the minimum point, giving each coordinate correct to 3 significant figures. [3] ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ (iii) Find the exact gradient of the normal to the curve at the point for which x 2. [3] = ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................
Mark scheme: 8(i) Obtain d d 2sin2 x t t = B1 Obtain d 2 2 d 6sin cos 9cos sin y t t t t t = − B1 Use d d d / d d d y y x x t t = for their first derivatives M1 Use identity sin 2 2sin cos t t t = B1 Simplify to obtain 3 9 2 4 sin cos t t − with necessary detail present A1 Total: 5 Question Answer Marks Guidance 8(ii) Equate d d y x to zero and obtain tant k = M1 Obtain 3 2 tant = or equivalent A1 Substitute value of t to obtain coordinates ( ) 2.38, 2.66 A1 Total: 3 8(iii) Identify 1 4 t π = B1 Substitute to obtain exact value for gradient of the normal M1 Obtain gradient 4 3 2 , 8 3 2 or similarly simplified exact equivalent A1 Total: 3
What was in this paper
The subtopics covered by these 6 questions, and how many questions each got. Open one in a new tab to see every Cambridge question on it.
What you needed in this session
Cambridge’s own grade thresholds for 2017 May/June, Paper 2 · Variant 3. A higher threshold means an easier paper — the bar moves with how the cohort did.