13.

Mensuration
HKDSE (2012-2024) U. Perimeter, Area and Arc Length
Mathematics(Compulsory Part) V. Volumes and Surface Areas of Solids
Paper1 Past Paper (by topics) 16. Coordinate Geometry
M. Transformation of Points on a Rectangular Coordinate Plane
N. Polar Coordinate System
W. Coordinate geometry , Equations Straight Lines , circles and Locus
Section A
17. Inequalities and Linear Programming
1. Formulas and Identities
O. Inequalities
A. Change of Subject
20. Probability
2. Indices, Surds and Numeral System
Z. Probability Short Questions
B. Laws of Indices
21. Statistics
3. Estimation
X. Interpretation of Statistical Tables/Graphs
C. Numerical Estimation and Approximation
Y. Measures of Central Tendency and Dispersion
D. Errors
4. Percentages
E. Percentage Increase, Decrease and Change Section B
F. Profit/Loss, Discount 6. Equations and Complex Numbers
5. Polynomials AA. Complex Numbers
G. Factorization 7. Functions and Graphs
H. Operations of Rational Functions AB. Completing square , Centres of Triangles , Transformation of Functions
P. Polynomial , Remainder and Factor Theorem 8. Exponential Functions & Logarithmic Functions
Q. Polynomial , Division Algorithm AC. Exponential / Logarithmic Equations and Functions
6. Equations and Complex Numbers 15. Trigonometry II
I. Simultaneous Linear Equations AD. Applications to 3-D problems
J. Quadratic Functions 16. Coordinate Geometry
9. Rate, Ratio and Variation AE. Centres of Triangles , Tangent to the circle
K. Rate, Travel Graph 17. Inequalities and Linear Programming
L. Ratio AF. Linear Programming
R. Variation 18. Sequence and Series
11. Geometry I – Plane Geometry AG. Sequences, AS/ GS
S. Plane geometry , Similar/Congruent triangles 20. Probability
12. Geometry II – Circles AH. Probability , nCr , n!
T. Circle 21. Statistics
AI. Standard Score
1
 Past Public Exam Questions (Section A)
A. Change of Subject
[2024-DSE-MATH 1-Q2]
Ax  C
Make x the subject of the formula  3x .
B

[2023-DSE-MATH 1-Q1]
5 k
Make h the subject of the formula  . (3 marks)
hk h3

[2021-DSE-MATH 1-Q2]
4  3a
Make a the subject of the formula 5 . (3 marks)
b

[2019-DSE-MATH 1-Q1]
Make h the subject of the formula 9( h  6k )  7 h  8 . (3marks)

[2018-DSE-MATH 1-Q1]
a  4 b 1
Make b the subject of the formula  . (3 marks)
3 2

2
[2017-DSE-MATH 1-Q1]
3x  y
Make y the subject of the formula k  . (3 marks)
y

[2016-DSE-MATH 1-Q2]
Make x the subject of the formula Ax  (4 x  B)C . (3 marks)

[2015-DSE-MATH 1-Q2]
4a  5b  7
Make b the subject of the formula  8. (3 marks)
b

[2014-DSE-MATH 1-Q5]
Consider the formula 2(3m  n)  m  7 .
(a) Make n the subject of the above formula.
(b) If the value of m is increased by 2, write down the change in the value of n.
(4 marks)

[2013-DSE-MATH 1-Q2]
3 1
Make k the subject of the formula   2. (3 marks)
h k

3
[2012-DSE-MATH 1-Q2]
3a  b
Make a the subject of the formula  b 1 . (3 marks)
8

[PP-DSE-MATH 1-Q2]
5b
Make a the subject of the formula  3b . (3 marks)
1 a

[DSE-MATH 1-Q2 (Sample paper)]

Make b the subject of the formula a(b  7)  a  b . (3 marks)

B. Laws of Indices
[2023-DSE-MATH 1-Q2]
x 8 y
Simplify and express your answer with positive indices. (3 marks)
x y9 
7 6

[2022-DSE-MATH 1-Q1]
( 3  2 ) 4
Simplify and express your answer with positive indices. (3 marks)
 5  6

4
[2021-DSE-MATH 1-Q1]
Simplify ( 3 )( 2  4 ) 5 and express your answer with positive indices. (3 marks)

[2020-DSE-MATH 1-Q1]
(mn 2 ) 5
Simplify and express your answer with positive indices. (3 marks)
m 4

[2018-DSE-MATH 1-Q2]
xy 7
Simplify and express your answer with positive indices. (3 marks)
( x 2 y 3 )4

[2017-DSE-MATH 1-Q2]
(m 4 n 1 )3
Simplify and express your answer with positive indices. (3 marks)
(m 2 )5

[2016-DSE-MATH 1-Q1]
( x8 y 7 ) 2
Simplify and express your answer with positive indices. (3 marks)
x5 y 6

5
[2015-DSE-MATH 1-Q1]
m9
Simplify and express your answer with positive indices. (3 marks)
(m3n 7 )5

[2014-DSE-MATH 1-Q1]
( xy 2 )3
Simplify and express your answer with positive indices. (3 marks)
y4

[2013-DSE-MATH 1-Q1]
x 20 y13
Simplify and express your answer with positive indices. (3 marks)
( x5 y )6

[2012-DSE-MATH 1-Q1]
m 12 n8
Simplify and express your answer with positive indices. (3 marks)
n3

[PP-DSE-MATH 1-Q1]
(m5 n 2 )6
Simplify and express your answer with positive indices. (3 marks)
m 4 n 3

6
[DSE-MATH 1-Q1 (Sample Paper)]
( xy) 2
Simplify 5 6 and express your answer with positive indices. (3 marks)
x y

C. Numerical Estimation/Approximation
[2020-DSE-MATH 1-Q3]
(a) Round up 5.34.7698 to the nearest hundred.
(b) Round down 5.34.7698 to 2 decimal places.
(c) Round off 5.34.7698 to 2 significant figures.
(3 marks)

[2018-DSE-MATH 1-Q3]
(a) Round up 265.473 to the nearest integer.
(b) Round down 265.473 to 1 decimal place.
(c) Round off 265.473 to 2 significant figures.
(3 marks)

[2014-DSE-MATH 1-Q3]
(a) Round up 123.45 to 1 significant figure.
(b) Round off 123.45 to the nearest integer.
(c) Round down 123.45 to 1 decimal place.
(3 marks)

[2011-CE-MATH 1-Q4]
(a) Round off 8091.1908 to the nearest ten.
(b) Round up 8091.1908 to 3 significant figures.
(c) Round down 8091.1908 to 3 decimal places.
(3 marks)

7
D. Errors
[2023-DSE-MATH 1-Q3]
A packet of cheese is termed regular if its weight is measured as 220g correct to the nearest 10g.
Someone claims that the total weight of 250 regular packets of cheese can be measured as 53.6kg correct
to the nearest 0.1kg. Is the claim correct? Explain your answer. (3 marks)

[2017-DSE-MATH 1-Q9]
A bottle is termed standard if its capacity is measured as 200 mL correct to the nearest 10 mL.
(a) Find the least possible capacity of a standard bottle.
(b) Someone claims that the total capacity of 120 standard bottles can be measured as 23.3 L correct to
the nearest 0.1 L. Do you agree? Explain your answer.
(5 marks)

[2013-DSE-MATH 1-Q8]
A pack of sea salt is termed regular if its weight is measured as 100 g correct to the nearest g.
(a) Find the least possible weight of a regular pack of sea salt.
(b) Is it possible that the total weight of 32 regular packs of sea salt is measured as 3.1 kg correct to the
nearest 0.1 kg? Explain your answer.
(5 marks)

8
[2007-CE-MATH 1-Q10]
(a) If the length of a piece of thin metal wire is measured as 5 cm correct to the nearest cm, find the least
possible length of the metal wire. (2 marks)
(b) The length of a piece of thin metal wire is measured as 2.0 m correct to the nearest 0.1 m.
(i) Is it possible that the actual length of this metal wire exceeds 206 cm? Explain your answer.
(ii) Is it possible to cut this metal wire into 46 pieces of shorter metal wires, with each length
measured as 5 cm correct to the nearest cm? Explain your answer.
(5 marks)

[2006-CE-MATH 1-Q11]
In the figure, ABCDEF is a thin six-sided polygonal metal sheet, where all the measurements are correct
to the nearest cm.

(a) Write down the maximum absolute error of the measurements. (1 mark)
(b) Find the least possible area of the metal sheet. (3 marks)
(c) The actual area of the metal sheet is x cm2. Find the range of values of x. (4 marks)

9
E. Percentage Increase/Decrease/Change
[2023-DSE-MATH 1-Q5]

On a ferry, the number of female passengers is 40% more than the number of male passengers. If 24
female passengers leave the ferry, then the number of male passengers is 40% more than the number of
female passengers. Find the number of male passengers on the ferry. (4 marks)

[2020-DSE-MATH 1-Q5]
In a recruitment exercise, the number of male applicants is 28% more than the number of female
applicants. The difference of the number of male applicants and the number of female applicants is 91.
Find the number of male applicants in the recruitment exercise.
(4 marks)

[2012-DSE-MATH 1-Q4]
The daily wage of Ada is 20% higher than that of Billy while the daily wage of Billy is 20% lower than
that of Christine. It is given that the daily wage of Billy is $ 480.
(a) Find the daily wage of Ada.
(b) Who has the highest daily wage? Explain your answer.
(4 marks)

10
[2010-CE-MATH 1-Q7]
Mary has 50 badges. The number of badges owned by Tom is 30% less than that owned by Mary.
(a) How many badges does Tom have?
(b) If Mary gives a certain number of her badges to Tom, will they have the same number of badges?
Explain your answer.
(4 marks)

[2009-CE-MATH 1-Q7]
In a survey, there are 172 male interviewees. The number of female interviewees is 75 % less than that of
male interviewees. Find
(a) the number of female interviewees,
(b) the percentage of female interviewees in the survey.
(4 marks)

[2008-CE-MATH 1-Q8]
There are 625 boys in a school and the number of girls is 28 % less than that of boys.
(a) Find the number of girls in the school.
(b) There are 860 local students in the school.
(i) Find the percentage of local students in the school.
(ii) It is given that 80% of the boys are local students. If x% of the girls are also local students,
write down the value of x.
(5 marks)

11
[2006-CE-MATH 1-Q6]
The weight of Tom is 20% more than that of John. It is given that Tom weighs 60kg.
(a) Find the weight of John.
(b) The weight of Susan is 20% less than that of Tom. Are Susan and John of the same weight?
Explain your answer.
(4 marks)

F. Profit/Loss, Discount
[2024-DSE-MATH 1-Q6]
The marked price of a calculator is 40% higher than its cost. The calculator is sold at a discount of 25%
on its marked price and the profit is $13. Find the marked price of the calculator. (4 marks)

[2022-DSE-MATH 1-Q5]
A fan is sold at a discount of 30% on its marked price. After selling the fan, the profit is $ 78 and the
percentage profit is 26% . Find the marked price of the fan. (4 marks)

[2021-DSE-MATH 1-Q6]
The marked price of a shirt is higher than its cost by $80 . The shirt is sold at a discount of 10% on its
marked price. After selling the shirt, the percentage profit is 30% . Find the marked price of the shirt.
(4 marks)

12
[2019-DSE-MATH 1-Q5]
A wallet is sold at a discount of 25% on its marked price. The selling price of the wallet is $690.
(a) Find the marked price of the wallet.
(b) After selling the wallet, the percentage profit is 15%. Find the cost of the wallet.
(4 marks)

[2018-DSE-MATH 1-Q7]
The marked price of a vase is 30% above its cost. A loss of $88 is made by selling the vase at a
discount of 40% on its marked price. Find the marked price of the vase.

(5 marks)

[2015-DSE-MATH 1-Q6]
The cost of a book is $250. The book is now sold and the percentage profit is 20%.
(a) Find the selling price of the book.
(b) If the book is sold at a discount of 25% on its marked price, find the marked price of the book.
(4 marks)

[2014-DSE-MATH 1-Q6]
The marked price of a toy is $255. The toy is now sold at a discount of 40% on its marked price.
(a) Find the selling price of the toy.
(b) If the percentage profit if 2%, find the cost of the toy.
(4 marks)

13
[PP-DSE-MATH 1-Q4]
The cost of a chair is $ 360. If the chair is sold at a discount of 20% on its marked price, then the
percentage profit is 30%. Find the marked price of the chair.
(4 marks)

[DSE-MATH 1-Q4 (Sample Paper)]

The marked price of a handbag is $560. It is given that the marked price of the handbag is 40% higher
than the cost.
(a) Find the cost of the handbag.
(b) If the handbag is sold at $460, find the percentage profit.
(4 marks)

[2011-CE-MATH 1-Q7]
The marked price of a birthday cake is $360. The birthday cake is sold at a discount of 45% on its
marked price.
(a) Find the selling price of the birthday cake.
(b) If the marked price of the birthday cake is 80% above its cost, determine whether there will be a gain
or a loss after selling the birthday cake. Explain your answer.
(4 marks)

14
[2007-CE-MATH 1-Q6]
The marked price of a vase is $400. The vase is sold at a discount of 20% on its marked price.
(a) Find the selling price of the vase.
(b) A profit of $70 is made by selling the vase. Find the percentage profit.
(4 marks)

[2005-CE-MATH 1-Q6]
The cost of a calculator is $160. If the calculator is sold at its marked price, then the percentage profit is
25%.
(a) Find the marked price of the calculator.
(b) If the calculator is sold at a 10% discount on the marked price, find the percentage profits or
percentage loss.
(4 marks)

[2003-CE-MATH 1-Q5]
A handbag costs $400. The marked price of the handbag is 20% above the cost. It is sold at a 25%
discount on the marked price.
(a) Find the selling price of the handbag.
(b) Find the percentage profit or percentage loss.
(4 marks)

[2001-CE-MATH 1-Q8]
The price of a textbook was $80 last year. The price is increased by 20% this year.
(a) Find the new price.
(b) Peter is given a 20% discount when buying the textbook from a bookstore this year. How much
does he pay for this book?
(4 marks)

15
G. Factorization
[2024-DSE-MATH 1-Q3]
Factorize
(a) 6r 2 13rs  28s 2 .
(b) 4r 14s  6r 2 13rs  28s 2 .
(3 marks)

[2022-DSE-MATH 1-Q4]
Factorize
(a) 9c 2  6c  1 ,
(b) (4c  d ) 2  9c 2  6c  1 .
(4 marks)

[2021-DSE-MATH 1-Q3]
Factorize
(a) 6 x 2  xy  2 y 2
(b) 8 x  4 y  6 x 2  xy  2 y 2
(3 marks)

[2020-DSE-MATH 1-Q2]
Factorize
(a)  2    6 ，
(b)  4   3  6 2 。
(3 marks)

16
[2019-DSE-MATH 1-Q4]
Factorize
(a) 4 m 2  9 ,
(b) 2m 2 n  7 mn  15n ,
(c) 4m 2  9  2m 2 n  7 mn  15n .
(4 marks)

[2018-DSE-MATH 1-Q5]
Factorize
(a) 9r 3  18r 2 s ,
(b) 9r 3  18r 2 s  rs 2  2s 3 .
(4 marks)

[2017-DSE-MATH 1-Q3]
Factorize
(a) x 2  4 xy  3 y 2 ,
(b) x 2  4 xy  3 y 2  11x  33 y .
(3 marks)

[2016-DSE-MATH 1-Q4]
Factorize
(a) 5m  10n ,
(b) m 2  mn  6n 2 ,
(c) m 2  mn  6n 2  5m  10n .
(4 marks)

[2015-DSE-MATH 1-Q4]
Factorize
(a) x3  x 2 y  7 x 2 ,
(b) x3  x 2 y  7 x 2  x  y  7 .
(4 marks)

17
[2014-DSE-MATH 1-Q2]
Factorize
(a) a 2  2a  3 ,
(b) ab 2  b 2  a 2  2a  3 .
(3 marks)

[2013-DSE-MATH 1-Q3]
Factorize
(a) 4m 2  25n 2 ,
(b) 4m 2  25n 2  6m  15n .
(3 marks)

[2012-DSE-MATH 1-Q3]
Factorize
(a) x 2  6 xy  9 y 2 ,
(b) x 2  6 xy  9 y 2  7 x  21y .
(3 marks)

[PP-DSE-MATH 1-Q3]
Factorize
(a) 9 x 2  42 xy  49 y 2 ,
(b) 9 x 2  42 xy  49 y 2  6 x  14 y .
(3 marks)

[DSE-MATH 1-Q3 (Sample Paper)]

Factorize
(a) 3m 2  mn  2n 2 ,
(b) 3m 2  mn  2n 2  m  n .
(3 marks)

18
H. Operations of Rational Functions
[2024-DSE-MATH 1-Q1]

2 3
Simplify  . (3 marks)
4h  7 6h  5

[2022-DSE-MATH 1-Q3]
3 2
Simplify  . (3 marks)
k  9 5k  6

[2019-DSE-MATH 1-Q2]
3 2
Simplify  . (3 marks)
7 x  6 5x  4

[2016-DSE-MATH 1-Q3]
2 3
Simplify  . (3 marks)
4x  5 1 6x

19
I. Simultaneous Linear Equations
[2022-DSE-MATH 1-Q2]
Let x and y be two numbers. The sum of x and y is 456 while the product of 7 and x is y. Find x .
(3 marks)

[2021-DSE-MATH 1-Q5]
The number of sticker owned by a boy is 3 times that owned by a girl. If the boy gives 20 of his
stickers to the girl, then the number of stickers owned by the girl is 2 times that owned by the boy. Find
the total number of stickers owned by the boy and the girl.
(4 marks)

[2018-DSE-MATH 1-Q9]
A car travels from city P to city Q at an average speed of 72 km/h and then the car travels from city Q
to city R at an average speed of 90 km/h. It is given that the car travels 210 km in 161 minutes for the
whole journey. How long does the car take to travel from city P to city Q? (5 marks)

20
[2017-DSE-MATH 1-Q4]
There are only two kinds of admission tickets for a theatre: regular tickets and concessionary tickets.
The prices of a regular ticket and a concessionary ticket are $126 and $78 respectively. On a certain day,
the number of regular tickets sold is 5 times the number of concessionary tickets sold and the sum of
money for the admission tickets sold is $50976. Find the total number of admission tickets sold that day.
(4 marks)

[2016-DSE-MATH 1-Q5]
In a recreation club, there are 180 members and the number of male members is 40% more than the
number of female members. Find the difference of the number of male members and the number of
female members.
(4 marks)

[2015-DSE-MATH 1-Q7]
The number of apples owned by Ada is 4 times that owned by Billy. If Ada gives 12 of her apples to
Billy, they will have the same number of apples. Find the total number of apples owned by Ada and
Billy. (4 marks)

21
[2013-DSE-MATH 1-Q4]
The price of 7 pears and 3 oranges is $ 47 while the price of 5 pears and 6 oranges is $49. Find the price
of a pear. (4 marks)

[2012-DSE-MATH 1-Q5]
There are 132 guards in an exhibition centre consisting of 6 zones. Each zone has the same number of
guards. In each zone, there are 4 more female guards than male guards. Find the number of male
guards in the exhibition centre. (4 marks)

[PP-DSE-MATH 1-Q5]
The ratio of the capacity of a bottle to that of a cup is 4 : 3. The total capacity of 7 bottles and 9 cups is
11 litres. Find the capacity of a bottle. (4 marks)

22
[DSE-MATH 1-Q5 (Sample paper)]
In a football league, each team gains 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 point for a loss. The
champion of the league plays 36 games and gains a total of 84 points. Given that the champion does not
lose any games, find the number of games that the champion wins. (4 marks)

[2011-CE-MATH 1-Q6]
In a summer camp, the ratio of the number of boys to the number of girls is 7 : 6. If 17 boys and 4 girls
leave the summer camp, then the number of boys and the number of girls are the same. Find the original
number of girls in the summer camp. (4 marks)

[2010-CE-MATH 1-Q6]
The cost of a bottle of orange juice is the same as the cost of 2 bottles of milk. The total cost of 3 bottles
of orange juice and 5 bottles of milk is $66. Find the cost of a bottle of milk. (4 marks)

[2009-CE-MATH 1-Q6]
The total number of stamps owned by John and Mary is 300. If Mary buys 20 stamps from a post office,
the number of stamps owned by her will be 4 times that owned by John. Find the number of stamps
owned by John. (4 marks)

23
[2007-CE-MATH 1-Q7]
The consultation fees charged to an elderly patient and a non-elderly patient by a doctor are $120 and
$160 respectively. On a certain day, 67 patients consulted the doctor and the total consultation fee
charged was $9 000. How many elderly patients consulted the doctor on that day? (4 marks)

[2005-CE-MATH 1-Q5]
The ratio of the number of marbles owned by Susan to the number of marbles owned by Teresa is 5 : 2 .
Susan has n marbles. If Susan gives 18 of her own marbles to Teresa, both of them will have the same
number of marbles. Find n. (3 marks)

[2004-CE-MATH 1-Q7]
The price of an orange and an apple are $2 and $3 respectively. A sum of $46 is spent buying some
oranges and apples. If the total number of oranges and apples bought is 20, find the number of oranges
bought. (4 marks)

[2003-CE-MATH 1-Q6]
There are only two kinds of tickets for a cruise: first-class tickets and economy-class tickets. A total of
600 tickets are sold. The number of economy-class tickets sold is three times that of first-class tickets sold.
If the price of a first-class ticket is $850 and that of an economy-class ticket is $500, find the sum of
money for the ticket sold. (4 marks)

24
J. Quadratic Functions
[2020-DSE-MATH 1-Q7]

Let p( x)  4 x 2  12 x  c , where c is a constant. The equation p( x )  0 has equal roots. Find

(a) c ,
(b) The x-intercept(s) of the graph of y  p( x)  169 .
(5 marks)

[2007-CE-MATH 1-Q5]
Let k be a constant. If the quadratic equation x 2 14 x  k  0 has no real roots, find the range of values
of k. (4 marks)

[2011-CE-MATH 1-Q12]
In Figure 3, ABCD is a trapezium, where AB is parallel to CD. P is a point lying on BC such that BP = x
cm. It is given that AB = 3 cm, BC = 11 cm, CD = k cm and ABP = APD = 90.

Figure 3
(a) Prove that ABP ~ PCD. (3 marks)
(b) Prove that x 2  11x  3k  0 . (2 marks)
(c) If k is an integer, find the greatest value of k. (4 marks)

25
K. Rate, Travel Graph
[2014-DSE-MATH 1-Q10]
Town X and Town Y are 80 km apart. Figure 2 shows the graphs for car A and car B travelling on the
same straight road between town X and town Y during the period 7:30 to 9:30 in a morning. Car A
travels at a constant speed during the period. Car B comes to rest at 8:15 in the morning.

Figure 2
(a) Find the distance of car A from town X at 8:15 in the morning. (2 marks)
(b) At what time after 7:30 in the morning do car A and car B first meet? (2 marks)
(c) The driver of car B claims that the average speed of car B is higher than that of car A during the
period 8:15 to 9:30 in the morning. Do you agree? Explain your answer. (2 marks)

26
[PP-DSE-MATH 1-Q12]
Figure 2 shows the graphs for Ada and Billy running on the same straight road between town P and town
Q during the period 1:00 to 3:00 in an afternoon. Ada runs at a constant speed. It is given that town P
and town Q are 16 km apart.

Figure 2
(a) How long does Billy rest during the period? (2 marks)
(b) How far from town P do Ada and Billy meet during the period? (3 marks)
(c) Use average speed during the period to determine who runs faster. Explain your answer.
(2 marks)

[DSE-MATH 1-Q12 (Sample paper)]

Figure 5 shows the graph for John driving from town A to town D (via town B and town C) in a morning.
The journey is divided into three parts: Part I (from A to B), Part II (from B to C) and Part III (from C to
D).

Figure 5
(a) For which part of the journey is the average speed the lowest? Explain your answer. (2 marks)
(b) If the average speed for Part II of the journey is 56 km/h, when is John at C? (2 marks)
(c) Find the average speed for John driving from A to D in m/s. (3 marks)

27
L. Ratio
[2024-DSE-MATH 1-Q5]

2b  7c 5a  8b
Let a, b and c be non-zero numbers such that 5a = 6c and  4 . Find . (4 marks)
bc 2b  3c

[2023-DSE-MATH 1-Q6]
4 a  3c
Let a , b and c be non-zero numbers such that 7 a  6b and  9 . Find
2b  c
(a) a :b:c ,
5a  8b
(b) .
7b  3c
(4 marks)

[2020-DSE-MATH 1-Q4]
a 6 b  2c
Let a , b and c be non-zero number such that  and 3a  4c . Find .
b 7 a  2b
(3 marks)

[2019-DSE-MATH 1-Q7]
In a playground, the ratio of the number of adults to the number of children is 13: 6. If 9 adults and 24
children enter the playground, then the ratio of the number of adults to the number of children is 8: 7.
Find the original number of adults in the playground.
(4 marks)

28
M. Transformation of Points on a Rectangular Coordinate Plane
[2022-DSE-MATH 1-Q7]
The coordinates of the points S and T are (12 , 5) and (3 , 7) respectively. S is rotated
anticlockwise about O through 90  to S  , where O is the origin. T  is the reflection image of T
with respect to the x-axis.
(a) Write down the coordinates of S  and T  .
(b) Find the slope of S T  . (4 marks)

[2017-DSE-MATH 1-Q6]
The coordinates of the points A and B are (–3, 4) and (9, –9) respectively. A is rotated anticlockwise
about the origin through 90 to A. B is the reflection image of B with respect to the x-axis.
(a) Write down the coordinates of A and B.
(b) Prove that AB is perpendicular to AB.
(4 marks)

[2014-DSE-MATH 1-Q8]
The coordinates of the points P and Q are (–3, 5) and (2, –7) respectively. P is rotated anticlockwise
about the origin O through 270 to P. Q is translated leftwards by 21 units to Q.
(a) Write down the coordinates of P and Q.
(b) Prove that PQ is perpendicular to PQ.
(5 marks)

29
[DSE-MATH 1-Q8 (Sample paper)]
In Figure 3, the coordinates of the point A are (−2, 5). A is rotated clockwise about the origin O through
90° to A. A is the reflection image of A with respect to the y-axis.

Figure 3
(a) Write down the coordinates of A and A.
(b) Is OA perpendicular to AA? Explain your answer.
(5 marks)

[2011-CE-MATH 1-Q8]
The coordinates of the point A are (–4, 6). A is rotated anticlockwise about the origin O through 90 to
B. M is the mid-point of AB.
(a) Find the coordinates of M.
(b) Is OM perpendicular to AB? Explain your answer.
(5 marks)

[2009-CE-MATH 1-Q9]
The coordinates of the points A and B are (–1, –2) and (5, 2) respectively. A is translated vertically
upward by 6 units to A. B is the reflection image of B with respect to the y-axis.
(a) Write down the coordinates of A and B.
(b) Is AB parallel to AB? Explain your answer.
(5 marks)

30
[2006-CE-MATH 1-Q7]
The coordinates of the points A and B are (–2, 7) and (–5, 5) respectively. A is rotated clockwise about
the origin O through 90 to A. B is the reflection image of B with respect to the y-axis.
(a) Write down the coordinates of A and B.
(b) Are the lengths of AB and AB equal? Explain your answer.
(4 marks)

[2008-CE-MATH 1-Q12]
The coordinates of the point A are (4, 3). A is rotated anticlockwise about the origin O through 90 to B.
C is the reflectional image of A with respect to the x-axis.
(a) Write down the coordinates of B and C. (2 marks)
(b) Are O, B and C collinear? Explain your answer. (3 marks)
(c) A is translated horizontally to D such that BCD = 90. Find the equation of the straight line
passing through C and D. Hence, or otherwise, find the coordinates of D. (4 marks)

31
N. Polar Coordinate System
[2024-DSE-MATH 1-Q7]
In a polar coordinate system, O is the pole. The polar coordinates of the points P , Q and R are
(11, 59°) , (60, 149°) and (144, 239°) respectively.
(a) Find POQ .
(b) Are P, O and R collinear? Explain your answer.
(c) Find the perimeter of PQR .
(4 marks)

[2021-DSE-MATH 1-Q7]
In a polar coordinate system, O is the pole. The polar coordinates of the points P and Q are
(r , 80) and (r , 140) respectively, where r is a positive constant. It is give that the distance
between P and Q is 21 . Find
(a) POQ ,
(b) r ,
(c) the perimeter of OPQ .
(4 marks)

[2016-DSE-MATH 1-Q7]
In a polar coordinate system, O is the pole. The polar coordinates of the points A and B are (12, 75)
and (12, 135) respectively.
(a) Find AOB.
(b) Find the perimeter of AOB.
(c) Write down the number of folds of rotational symmetry of AOB.
(4 marks)

32
[2013-DSE-MATH 1-Q6]
In a polar coordinate system, O is the pole. The polar coordinates of the points A and B are (26, 10)
and (26, 130) respectively. Let L be the axis of reflectional symmetry of OAB.
(a) Describe the geometric relationship between L and AOB.
(b) Find the polar coordinates of the point of intersection of L and AB.
(4 marks)

[PP-DSE-MATH 1-Q6]
In a polar coordinate system, the polar coordinates of the points A, B and C are (13, 157°), (14, 247°) and
(15, 337°) respectively.
(a) Let O be the pole. Are A, O and C collinear? Explain your answer.
(b) Find the area of ABC.
(4 marks)

[2009-CE-MATH 1-Q8]
In a polar coordinate system, O is the pole. The polar coordinates of the points P and Q are (k, 123)
and (24, 213) respectively, where k is a positive constant. It is given that PQ = 25.
(a) Is OPQ a right-angled triangle? Explain your answer.
(b) Find the perimeter of OPQ.
(5 marks)

33
O. Inequalities
[ 2024-DSE-MATH 1-Q4]
5x  7
(a) Find the range of values of x which satisfy both  1  2 x and 3x  9  0 .
4
(b) Write down the least integer satisfying both inequalities in (a).
(4 marks)

[ 2023-DSE-MATH 1-Q4]
Consider the compound inequality
4x  5
3x  2  and 3𝑥 – 2 < 7 ………… (*)
2
(a) Solve (*) .
(b) How many negative integers satisfy (*) ?
(4 marks)

[2022-DSE-MATH 1-Q6]
Consider the compound inequality

2(3x  2)  x  10 or 2 x  8 …………… (*) .

(a) Solve (*) .

(b) Write down the greatest integer satisfying (*) .
(4 marks)

34
[2021-DSE-MATH 1-Q4]
7 ( x  2)
(a) Find the range of values of x which satisfy both  11  3( x  1) and x  4  0 .
5
(b) How many positive integers satisfy both inequalities in (a)?
(4 marks)

[2020-DSE-MATH 1-Q6]
Consider the compound inequality
7x
3 x  or 5  x  4 ………………(*)
2
(a) Solve (*).
(b) Write down the greatest negative integer satisfying (*).
(4 marks)

[2019-DSE-MATH 1-Q6]
7 x  26
(a) Solve the inequality  2(3 x  1) .
4
7 x  26
(b) Find the number of integers satisfying both inequalities  2(3 x  1) and 45  5x  0 .
4
(4 marks)

35
[2018-DSE-MATH 1-Q6]
3 x
(a) Find the range of values of x which satisfy both  2 x  7 and x  8  0 .
2
(b) Write down the greatest integer satisfying both inequalities in (a).
(4 marks)

[2017-DSE-MATH 1-Q5]
11x  8
(a) Find the range of values of x which satisfy both 7( x  2)  and 6  x  5 .
3
(b) How many integers satisfy both inequalities in (a)?
(4 marks)

[2016-DSE-MATH 1-Q6]
Consider the compound inequality
x  6  6( x  11) or x  5 ……………(*).
(a) Solve (*).
(b) Write down the greatest negative integer satisfying (*).
(4 marks)

[2015-DSE-MATH 1-Q5]
7  3x
(a) Find the range of values of x which satisfy both  2( x  2) and 4 x 13  0 .
5
(b) Write down the least integer which satisfies both inequalities in (a).
(4 marks)

36
[2013-DSE-MATH 1-Q5]
19  7 x
(a) Solve the inequality  23  5 x .
3
19  7 x
(b) Find all integers satisfying both the inequalities  23  5 x and 18 – 2x  0.
3
(4 marks)

[2012-DSE-MATH 1-Q6]
4x  6
(a) Find the range of values of x which satisfy both  2( x  3) and 2x – 10  0.
7
(b) How many positive integers satisfy both the inequalities in (a)?
(4 marks)

[2010-CE-MATH 1-Q2]
29 x  22
(a) Solve the inequality  3x .
7
(b) Write down the greatest integer satisfying the inequality in (a).
(3 marks)

[2008-CE-MATH 1-Q2]
14 x
(a) Solve the inequality  2x  7 .
5
14 x
(b) Write down the least integer satisfying the inequality  2x  7 .
5
(3 marks)

37
[2006-CE-MATH 1-Q2]
x  25
(a) Solve the inequality x  1  .
6
x  25
(b) Write down the greatest integer satisfying the inequality x  1  .
6
(3 marks)

[2005-CE-MATH 1-Q4]
 3x  1
Solve the inequality  x 5.
4
 3x  1
Also write down all integers which satisfy both the inequalities  x  5 and 2x + 1  0.
4
(3 marks)

[2003-CE-MATH 1-Q2]
3  5x
Find the range of values of x which satisfy both  2  x and x + 8 > 0.
4
(3 marks)

[2002-CE-MATH 1-Q7]
(a) Solve the inequality 3x + 6  4 + x.
(b) Find all integers which satisfy both the inequalities 3x + 6  4 + x and 2x – 5 < 0.
(4 marks)

38
P. Polynomial , Remainder Theorem and Factor Theorem
[2024-DSE-MATH 1-Q14]

Let F( x)  (6 x  x  p)(qx  rx  10) , where p, q and r are constants. The constant term of F(x) is 40.
2 2

(a) Write down the value of p. (1 marks)

(b) When F(x) is divided by x  1 , the remainder is 12 . It is given that x  2 is a factor of F(x).
(i) Find q and r.
(ii) How many irrational roots does the equation F( x)  0 have? Explain your answer.
(7 marks)

39
[2018-DSE-MATH 1-Q12]
Let f( x)  4 x( x  1) 2  ax  b , where a and b are constants. It is given that x  3 is a factor of f( x) .
When f( x) is divided by x  2 , the remainder is 2b  165 .
(a) Find a and b. (3 marks)
(b) Someone claims that the equation f( x )  0 has at least one irrational root. Do you agree?
Explain your answer. (4 marks)

40
[2017-DSE-MATH 1-Q14]
Let f( x)  6 x3  13x 2  46 x  34 . When f( x) is divided by 2 x 2  ax  4 , the quotient and the
remainder are 3x  7 and bx  c respectively, where a, b and c are constants.
(a) Find a. (3 marks)
(b) Let g( x) be a quadratic polynomial such that when g( x) is divided by 2 x 2  ax  4 , the
remainder is bx  c .
(i) Prove that f( x)  g( x) is divisible by 2 x 2  ax  4 .
(ii) Someone claims that all the roots of the equation f( x)  g( x)  0 are integers. Do you agree?
Explain your answer. (5 marks)

41
[2016-DSE-MATH 1-Q14]
Let p( x)  6 x 4  7 x3  ax 2  bx  c , where a, b and c are constants.
When p( x) is divided by x  2
and when p( x ) is divided by x  2 , the two remainders are equal. It is given that
p( x)  (lx 2  5 x  8)(2 x 2  mx  n) , where l, m and n are constants.
(a) Find l, m and n. (5 marks)
(b) How many real roots does the equation p( x)  0 have? Explain your answer. (5 marks)

42
[2015-DSE-MATH 1-Q11]
Let f( x)  ( x  2)2 ( x  h)  k , where h and k are constants. When f(x) is divided by x  2 , the
remainder is –5. It is given that f(x) is divisible by x – 3.
(a) Find h and k. (3 marks)
(b) Someone claims that all the roots of the equation f(x) = 0 are integers. Do you agree? Explain
your answer. (3 marks)

43
[2014-DSE-MATH 1-Q7]
Let f( x)  4 x3  5 x 2  18 x  c , where c is a constant. When f(x) is divided by x  2 , the remainder
is –33.
(a) Is x + 1 a factor of f(x)? Explain your answer.
(b) Someone claims that all the roots of the equation f(x) = 0 are rational numbers. Do you agree?
Explain your answer.
(5 marks)

44
[2013-DSE-MATH 1-Q12]
Let f( x)  3x3  7 x 2  kx  8 , where k is a constant. It is given that f( x)  ( x  2)(ax 2  bx  c) , where a,
b and c are constants.
(a) Find a, b and c. (4 marks)
(b) Someone claims that all the roots of the equation f(x) = 0 are real numbers. Do you agree?
Explain your answer. (3 marks)

45
[DSE-MATH 1-Q10 (Sample Paper)]
(a) Find the quotient when 5 x 3  12 x 2  9 x  7 is divided by x 2  2 x  3 . (2 marks)
(b) Let g( x)  (5 x  12 x  9 x  7)  (ax  b) , where a and b are constants. It is given that g(x) is
3 2

divisible by x 2  2 x  3 .
(i) Write down the values of a and b.
(ii) Solve the equation g(x) 0.
(4 marks)

46
[2012-DSE-MATH 1-Q13]
(a) Find the value of k such that x  2 is a factor of kx3  21x 2  24 x  4 . (2 marks)
(b) Figure 4 shows the graph of y  15 x  63x  72 . Q is a variable point on the graph in the first
2

quadrant. P and R are the feet of the perpendiculars from Q to the x-axis and the y-axis
respectively.

Figure 4
(i) Let (m, 0) be the coordinates of P. Express the area of the rectangle OPQR in terms of m.
(ii) Are there three different positions of Q such that the area of the rectangle OPQR is 12?
Explain your answer.
(5 marks)

47
[2006-CE-MATH 1-Q10]
Let f( x)  ( x  a )( x  b)( x  1)  3 , where a and b are positive integers with a  b . It is given that
f(1)  1 .
(a) (i) Prove that (a  1)(b  1)  2 .
(ii) Write down the values of a and b.
(3 marks)
(b) Let g( x)  x  6 x  2 x  7 . Using the results of (a)(ii), find f( x)  g( x) .
3 2
Hence find the exact
values of all the roots of the equation f( x )  g( x ) .
(4 marks)

48
Q. Polynomial , Division Algorithm

[PP-DSE-MATH 1-Q10]
Let f(x) be a polynomial. When f(x) is divided by x 1 , the quotient is 6 x 2  17 x  2 . It is given that
f(1) = 4.

(a) Find f(–3). (3 marks)

(b) Factorize f(x). (3 marks)

49
[2023-DSE-MATH 1-Q13]

Define g( x)  x  5 x  12 x  1 . Let h( x)  3x  ax  16 x  bx  c , where a, b and c are constants.

3 2 4 3 2

When h(x) is divided by g(x), the quotient and the remainder are equal.

(a) Find the quotient when h(x) is divided by g(x) . (3 marks)

(b) How many rational roots does the equation h(x) = 0 have? Explain your answer. (4 marks)

50
[2022-DSE-MATH 1-Q14]
Let p( x)  2 x3  a x 2  b x  20 , where a and b are constants. When p( x) is divided by x 2  2x  3 , the
remainder is x  13 .
(a) Find a and b . (3 marks)
(b) Is x  5 a factor of p( x) ? Explain your answer. (2 marks)
(c) Someone claims that the equation p( x)  0 has two irrational roots. Do you agree?
Explain your answer. (3 marks)

51
[2021-DSE-MATH 1-Q12]
The polynomial p( x ) is divisible by x  5 . When p( x ) is divided by x 2  x  1 , the quotient and the
remainder are 2 x 2  37 and cx  c 1 respectively, where c is a constant.
(a) Find c . (3 marks)

(b) Prove that x  3 is factor of p( x ) . (1 mark)

(c) Someone claims that all the roots of the equation p( x )  0 are real numbers. Is the claim correct?
Explain your answer. (3 marks)

52
[2020-DSE-MATH 1-Q13]

The cubic polynomial f ( x) is divisible by x  1 . When f ( x) is divided by x 2  1, the remainder is

kx  8 , where k is a constant.
(a) Find k .
(3 marks)
(b) It is given that x  3 is a factor of f ( x) . When f ( x) is divided by x . The remainder is 24.
Someone claims that all roots of the equation f ( x)  0 are integers. Is the claim correct? Explain
your answer.
(5 marks)

53
[2019-DSE-MATH 1-Q11]
Let p( x) be a cubic polynomial. When p( x) is divided by x 1 , the remainder is 50. When p( x) is
divided by x  2 , the remainder is –52. It is given that p( x) is divisible by 2 x 2  9 x  14 .
(a) Find the quotient when p( x) is divided by 2 x 2  9 x  14 . (3 marks)
(b) How many rational roots does equation p( x)  0 have? Explain your answer. (3 marks)

54
R. Variation
[2024-DSE-MATH 1-Q10]
It is given that g(x) is partly constant and partly varies as x. Suppose that g(  3) =  21 and g(7) = 9.
(a) Find g(x). (3 marks)
(b) Let h( x)  xg( x)  k , where k is a real constant. If all the roots of the equation h( x)  0 are real
numbers, find the range of values of k. (3 marks)

[2023-DSE-MATH 1-Q12]

It is given that f(x) is partly constant and partly varies as x2. Suppose that f(10) = 62 and f(15) = 122.

(a) Find f(5). (3 marks)

(b) Suppose that U (0,u) and V (5,v) are points lying on the graph of y = f(x). The horizontal line passing
through V cuts the y-axis at the point W . Denote the circle which passes through U, V and W by C .
Express the circumference of C in terms of  . (4 marks)

55
 [2022-DSE-MATH 1-Q10]
It is given that f(x) partly varies as x2 and partly varies as x . Suppose that f(4) = 96 and f(−5) = 15 .
(a) Find f(x) . (3 marks)
(b) Write down the x-intercept(s) of the graph of y = 8f(x). (1 mark)
(c) Let k be a real constant. Find the range of values of k such that the equation f(x) = k has two distinct
real roots. (2 marks)

[2021-DSE-MATH 1-Q10]
It is given that f ( x ) is partly constant and partly varies as ( x  4) 2 . Suppose that f (3)  0 and
f ( 2)  105 .
(a) Find f (0) . (3 marks)
(b) Denote the graph of y  f ( x)  3 by G .
(i) Write down the y-intercept of G .
(ii) Find the x-intercept(s) of G .
(3 marks)

56
[2020-DSE-MATH 1-Q10]
The price of a brand X souvenir of height h cm is $P. P is partly constant and partly varies as h 3 .
When h  3 , P  59 and when h  7 , P  691 .
(a) Find the price of a brand X souvenir of height 4 cm . (4 marks)
(b) Someone claims that the price of a brand X souvenir of height 5 cm is higher than the total price of
two brand X souvenirs of height 4 cm . Is the claim correct? Explain your answer.
(2 marks)

[2019-DSE-MATH 1-Q10]
It is given that h( x) is partly constant and partly varies as x . Suppose that h(2)  96 and
h(5)  72 .
(a) Find h( x) . (3 marks)
(b) Solve the equation h( x)  3x 2 . (2 marks)

57
[2017-DSE-MATH 1-Q8]
It is given that y varies inversely as x . When x  144 , y  81 .
(a) Express y in terms of x.
(b) If the value of x is increased from 144 to 324, find the change in the value of y.
(5 marks)

[2016-DSE-MATH 1-Q8]
It is given that f( x) is the sum of two parts, one part varies as x and the other part varies as x 2 .
Suppose that f(3)  48 and f(9)  198 .
(a) Find f( x) .
(b) Solve the equation f( x )  90 .
(5 marks)

58
[2015-DSE-MATH 1-Q10]
When Susan sells n handbags in a month, her income in that month is $S. It is given that S is a sum of
two parts, one part is a constant and the other part varies as n. When n = 10, S = 10600; when n = 6, S =
9000.
(a) When Susan sells 20 handbags in a month, find her income in that month. (4 marks)
(b) Is it possible that when Susan sells a certain number of handbags in a month, her income in that
month is $18000? Explain your answer. (2 marks)

[2013-DSE-MATH 1-Q11]
The weight of a tray of perimeter metres is W grams. It is given that W is the sum of two parts, one
part varies directly as and the other part varies directly as 2 . When  1 , W = 181 and when
 2 , W = 402.
(a) Find the weight of a tray of perimeter 1.2 metres. (4 marks)
(b) If the weight of a tray is 594 grams, find the perimeter of the tray. (2 marks)

59
[2012-DSE-MATH 1-Q11]
Let $C be the cost of painting a can of surface area A m2. It is given that C is the sum of two parts, one
part is a constant and the other part varies as A. When A = 2, C = 62; when A = 6, C = 74.
(a) Find the cost of painting a can of surface area 13 m2. (4 marks)
(b) There is a larger can which is similar to the can described in (a). If the volume of the larger can is 8
times that of the can described in (a), find the cost of painting the larger can. (2 marks)

[PP-DSE-MATH 1-Q11]
Let $ C be the cost of manufacturing a cubical carton of side x cm. It is given that C is partly constant
and partly varies as the square of x. When x = 20, C = 42; when x = 120, C = 112.
(a) Find the cost of manufacturing a cubical carton of side 50 cm. (4 marks)
(b) If the cost of manufacturing a cubical carton is $ 58, find the length of a side of the carton.
(2 marks)

60
[DSE-MATH 1-Q11 (Sample paper)]
In a factory, the production cost of a carpet of perimeter s metres is $C. It is given that C is a sum of two
parts, one part varies as s and the other part varies as the square of s. When s 2, C 356; when s 5,
C 1 250.
(a) Find the production cost of a carpet of perimeter 6 metres. (4 marks)
(b) If the production cost of a carpet is $ 539, find the perimeter of the carpet. (2 marks)

[2014-DSE-MATH 1-Q13]
It is given that f(x) is the sum of two parts, one part varies as x 2 and the other part is a constant.
Suppose that f(2) = 59 and f(7) = –121.
(a) Find f(6). (4 marks)
(b) A(6, a) and B(–6, b) are points lying on the graph of y = f(x). Find the area of ABC, where C is a
point lying on the x-axis. (4 marks)

61
S. Plane geometry , Similar / Congruent triangles
[2024-DSE-MATH 1-Q8]
In figure 1, E is the point of intersection of AC and BD. It is given that ACB  ADB  90 and
AD = BC.

(a) Prove that ABC  BAD .

(b) If AD = 12 cm and DE = 9 cm, find the area of the pentagon ABCED.
(5 marks)

[2023-DSE-MATH 1-Q7]
In Figure 1, PR is a diameter of the circle PQRS . Denote the point of intersection of PR and QS by T.

Figure 1
If  PSQ  41 and  PTQ  68 , find  RQS and  PQS . (4 marks)

62
 [2023-DSE-MATH 1-Q8]

In Figure 2, AB and CD intersect at the point E . It is given that AC / / DB .

Figure 2
(a) Prove that ACE ~ BDE .
(b) Suppose that AB  AC  BD  and CE  . Is BDE a right-angled
triangle? Explain your answer.
(5 marks)

[2022-DSE-MATH 1-Q8]
In Figure 1, A is a point lying inside the quadrilateral BCDE such that AC // ED and AD // BC . It is
given that  ABC   AED and AB  AE .

(a) Prove that  ABC   AED .

(b) If  ABC  39 and DAE  87 , find  ACD . (5 marks)

63
[[2021-DSE-MATH 1-Q8]
In Figure 1, AB produced and CD produced meet at the point E . It is given that CAE  BDE .

Figure 1
(a) Prove that ACE ~ DBE .
(b) It is given that AC  25 cm, AE  60 cm, CE  65 cm and BD  15 cm.
(i) Is ACE a right-angled triangle? Explain your answer.
(ii) Find the area of BDE .
(5 marks)

[2020-DSE-MATH 1-Q8]
In Figure 1, B and D are points lying on AC and AE respectively. BE and CD intersect at the point F. It is
given that AB  BE , BD // CE , CAE  30 and ADB  42 .

Figure 1
(a) Find BEC .
(b) Let BDC   . Express CFE in terms of  .
(5 marks)

64
[2019-DSE-MATH 1-Q3]
The length and the breadth of a rectangle are 24 cm and (13 + r) cm respectively. If the length of a
diagonal of the rectangle is (17 – 3r) cm , find r. (3 marks)

[2014-DSE-MATH 1-Q9]
In Figure 1, D is a point lying on AC such that BAC = CBD.

Figure 1
(a) Prov e that ABC ~ BDC.
(b) Suppose that AC = 25 cm, BC = 20 cm and BD = 12 cm. Is BCD a right-angled triangle?
Explain your answer.
(5 marks)

[2013-DSE-MATH 1-Q7]
In Figure 1, ABCD is a quadrilateral. The diagonals AC and BD intersect at E. It is given that BE = CE
and BAC = BDC.

Figure 1
(a) Prove that ABC  DCB.
(b) Consider the triangles in Figure 1.
(i) How many pairs of congruent triangles are there?
(ii) How many pairs of similar triangles are there?
(4 marks)

65
[2019-DSE-MATH 1-Q14]
In figure 2, ABCD is a square. It is given that E is a point lying on AD. BD and CE intersect at the
point F. Let G be a point such that BG // EC and CG // DB.

Figure 2
(a) Prove that
(i) ΔBCG  ΔCBF ,
(ii) ∆BCF ~ ∆DEF.
(4marks)
(b) Suppose that BCF  BGC .
(i) Let BC = l . Express DF in terms of l .
(ii) Someone claims that AE > DF . Do you agree? Explain your answer.
(4marks)

66
[2018-DSE-MATH 1-Q13]
In Figure 2, ABCD is a trapezium with ABC  90 and AB // DC. E is a point lying on BC such that
AED  90 .

Figure 2
(a) Prove that ABE ~ ECD . (2 marks)
(b) It is given that AB = 15 cm, AE = 25 cm and CE = 36 cm.
(i) Find the length of CD.
(ii) Find the area of ADE.
(iii) Is there a point F lying on AD such that the distance between E and F is less than 23 cm?
Explain your answer.
(6 marks)

67
[2016-DSE-MATH 1-Q13]
In Figure 1, ABC is a triangle. D, E and M are points lying on BC such that BD  CE ,
ADC  AEB and DM  EM .

Figure 1
(a) Prove that ACD  ABE . (2 marks)
(b) Suppose that AD = 15 cm, BD = 7 cm and DE = 18 cm.
(i) Find AM.
(ii) Is ABE a right-angled triangle? Explain your answer.
(5 marks)

68
[2015-DSE-MATH 1-Q13]
In Figure 2, ABCD is a square. E and F are points lying on BC and CD respectively such that AE = BF.
AE and BF intersect at G.

Figure 2
(a) Prove that ABE  BCF. (2 marks)
(b) Is BGE a right-angled triangle? Explain your answer. (3 marks)
(c) If CF = 15 cm and EG = 9 cm, find BG. (2 marks)

69
T. Circle
[2019-DSE-MATH 1-Q13]
In figure 1, O is the center of circle ABCDE. AC is a diameter of the circle. BD and OC intersect at the
point F. It is given that AED  115 .
(a) Find CBF . (3 marks)
(b) Suppose that BC //OD and OB = 18 cm . is the perimeter of the sector OBC less than 60 cm ?
Explain your answer. (5 marks)

Figure 1

70
[2018-DSE-MATH 1-Q8]
In Figure 1, ABCDE is a circle. It is given that AB // ED. AD and BE intersect at the point F.
Express x and y in terms of . (5 marks)

Figure 1

[2015-DSE-MATH 1-Q8]
In Figure 1, ABCD is a circle. E is a point lying on AC such that BC = CE. It is given that AB = AD,
ADB = 58 and CBD = 25.
Find BDC and ABE. (5 marks)

Figure 1

71
[2012-DSE-MATH 1-Q8]
In Figure 1, AB. BC, CD and AD are chords of the circle. AC and BD intersect at E. It is given that BE
= 8 cm, CE = 20 cm and DE = 15 cm.
(a) Write down a pair of similar triangles in Figure 1. Also find AE.
(b) Suppose that AB = 10 cm. Are AC and BD perpendicular to each other? Explain your answer.
(5 marks)

Figure 1

[PP-DSE-MATH 1-Q7]
In Figure 1, BD is a diameter of the circle ABCD. If AB = AC and BDC = 36°, find ABD.
(4 marks)

Figure 1

[DSE-MATH 1-Q7 (Sample paper)]

In Figure 2, O is the centre of the semicircle ABCD . If AB // OC and BAD 38, find BDC.
(4 marks)

Figure 2

72
U. Perimeter/Area and Arc Length of Plane Figures
[2017-DSE-MATH 1-Q10]
In Figure 1, OPQR is a quadrilateral such that OP  OQ  OR . OQ and PR intersect at the point S. S
is the mid-point of PR.

Figure 1
(a) Prove that OPS  ORS . (2 marks)
(b) It is given that O is the centre of the circle which passes through P, Q and R. If OQ = 6 cm and
PRQ  10 , find the area of the sector OPQR in terms of . (4 marks)

[2015-DSE-MATH 1-Q9]
The radius and the area of a sector are 12 cm and 30 cm2 respectively.
(a) Find the angle of the sector.
(b) Express the perimeter of the sector in terms of .
(5 marks)

73
[2007-CE-MATH 1-Q9]
In Figure 2, the radius of the sector AOB is 40 cm. It is given that AB  16 cm.
(a) Find AOB.
(b) Find the area of the sector AOB in terms of .
(5 marks)

Figure 2

[2006-CE-MATH 1-Q4]
In Figure 1, the radius of the sector OAB is 12 cm. Find the length of AB in terms of . (3 marks)

Figure 1

74
[2004-CE-MATH 1-Q9]
In Figure 3, the area of the sector is 162 cm2.

(a) Find the radius of the sector.

(b) Find the perimeter of the sector in terms of .

Figure 3

(5 marks)

V. Volumes and Surface Areas of Solids , Similar Solids

[2012-DSE-MATH 1-Q9]
In Figure 2, the volume of the solid right prism ABCDEFGH is 1020 cm3. The base ABCD of the prism
is a trapezium, where AD is parallel to BC. It is given that BAD = 90, AB = 12 cm, BC = 6 cm and
DE = 10 cm.

Figure 2
Find
(a) the length of AD,
(b) the total surface area of the prism ABCDEFGH.
(5 marks)

75
[2024-DSE-MATH 1-Q13]
The base of a solid right pyramid is a square of side 64 cm. The height of the pyramid is 24 cm. The
pyramid is divided into a frustum X and a pyramid Y by a plane which is parallel to its base. It is given
that the height of Y is 18 cm.
(a) Find the volume of X. (3 marks)
(b) The base of another solid right pyramid is a square. This pyramid is divided into a frustum Z and a
pyramid by a plane which is parallel to its base. The height and the total surface area of Z are 3 cm and
960 cm2 respectively. Are X and Z similar? Explain your answer. (4 marks)

76
[2023-DSE-MATH 1-Q14]
The base radius and the curved surface area of a solid metal right circular cone are 14 cm and 700π cm2
respectively.
(a) Find the height of the circular cone. (3 marks)
(b) The circular cone is divided into a right circular cone X and a frustum Y by a plane which is
parallel to its base. The curved surface area of Y is 15 times the curved surface area of X .
(i) Express the volume of Y in terms of π .
(ii) If Y is melted and recast into 2 identical solid spheres, find the diameter of each sphere.
(3 marks)

77
[2022-DSE-MATH 1-Q13]
There are two solid metal spheres. The ratio of the surface area of the smaller sphere to the surface area of
the larger sphere is 4 : 9 . The radius of the larger sphere is 9 cm .
(a) Express, in terms of  , the volume of the smaller sphere. (3 marks)
(b) The two spheres are melted and recast into two solid right circular cones. Denote these two
circular cones by A and B. It is given that the height and the base radius of A are 10 cm and 6 cm
respectively. A student finds that the base radius of B is 12 cm. The student claims that A and B are
similar. Is the claim correct? Explain your answer. (4 marks)

78
[2021-DSE-MATH 1-Q14]
The base radius of the solid right circular cylinder X and the base radius of the solid right circular cone
Y are equal. The heights of X and Y are 20 cm and 24 cm respectively. The volume of the solid
right circular cone Z is equal to the sum of the volume of X and the volume of Y . The base radius of
Z is equal to the base diameter of X . A craftsman finds that the volume of Y is 800 cm3 .
(a) Find the base radius of Y . (2 marks)
(b) Are Y and Z similar? Explain your answer. (3 marks)
(c) The craftsman claims that the sum of the curved surface area of X and the curved surface area of
Y is greater than the curved surface area of Z . Do you agree? Explain your answer.
(3 marks)

79
[2020-DSE-MATH 1-Q12]
The height and the base radius of a solid right circular cone are 36 cm and 15 cm respectively. The
circular cone is divided into three parts by two planes which are parallel to its base. The heights of the
three parts are equal. Express, in terms of  ,
(a) the volume of the middle part of the circular cone; (3 marks)
(b) the curved surface area of the middle part of the circular cone. (3 marks)

[2019-DSE-MATH 1-Q9]
The sum of the volumes of two spheres is 324 cm3 . The radius of the larger sphere is equal to the
diameter of the smaller sphere. Express, in terms of  ,
(a) the volume of the larger sphere;
(b) the sum of the surface areas of the two spheres
(5 marks)

80
 [2018-DSE-MATH 1-Q14]
A right circular cylindrical container of base radius 8 cm and height 64 cm and an inverted right
circular conical vessel of base radius 20 cm and height 60 cm are held vertically. The container is
fully filled with water. The water in the container is now poured into the vessel.

(a) Find the volume of water in the vessel in terms of . (2 marks)

(b) Find the depth of water in the vessel. (4 marks)
(c) If a solid metal sphere of radius 14 cm is then put into the vessel and the sphere is totally
immersed in the water, will the water overflow? Explain your answer. (3 marks)

81
[2017-DSE-MATH 1-Q12]
A solid metal right prism of base area 84 cm2 and height 20 cm is melted and recast into two similar solid
right pyramids. The bases of the two pyramids are squares. The ratio of the base area of the smaller
pyramid to the base area of the larger pyramid is 4 : 9.
(a) Find the volume of the larger pyramid. (3 marks)
(b) If the height of the larger pyramid is 12 cm, find the total surface area of the smaller pyramid.
(4 marks)

82
[2016-DSE-MATH 1-Q11]
An inverted right circular conical vessel contains some milk. The vessel is held vertically. The depth
of milk in the vessel is 12 cm. Peter then pours 444 cm3 of milk into the vessel without overflowing.
He now finds that the depth of milk in the vessel is 16 cm.
(a) Express the final volume of milk in the vessel in terms of . (3 marks)
2
(b) Peter claims that the final area of the wet curved surface of the vessel is at least 800 cm .
Do you agree? Explain your answer.
(3 marks)

83
[2014-DSE-MATH 1-Q14]
Figure 3 shows a vessel in the form of a frustum which is made by cutting off the lower part of an
inverted right circular cone of base radius 72 cm and height 96 cm. The height of the vessel is 60 cm.
The vessel is placed on a horizontal table. Some water is now poured into the vessel. John finds that
the depth of water in the vessel is 28 cm.

Figure 3
(a) Find the area of the wet curved surface of the vessel in terms of . (4 marks)
3
(b) John claims that the volume of water in the vessel is greater than 0.1 m . Do you agree? Explain
your answer. (4 marks)

84
[2012-DSE-MATH 1-Q12]
Figure 3(a) shows a solid metal right circular cone of base radius 48 cm and height 96 cm.

(a) Find the volume of the circular cone in terms of . (2 marks)

(b) A hemispherical vessel of radius 60 cm is held vertically on a horizontal surface. The vessel is
fully filled with milk.
(i) Find the volume of the milk in the vessel in terms of .
(ii) The circular cone is now held vertically in the vessel as shown in Figure 3(b). A craftsman
claims that the volume of the milk remaining in the vessel is greater than 0.3 m3.
Do you agree? Explain your answer.
(5 marks)

85
[2013-DSE-MATH 1-Q13]
In a workshop, 2 identical solid metal right circular cylinders of base radius R cm are melted and recast
into 27 smaller identical solid right circular cylinders of base radius r cm and height 10 cm. It is given
that the base area of a larger circular cylinder is 9 times that of a smaller one.
(a) Find
(i) r : R,
(ii) the height of a larger circular cylinder.
(5 marks)
(b) A craftsman claims that a smaller circular cylinder and a larger circular cylinder are similar. Do
you agree? Explain your answer. (2 marks)

[DSE-MATH 1-Q6 (Sample paper)]

Figure 1 shows a solid consisting of a hemisphere of radius r cm joined to the bottom of a right circular
cone of height 12 cm and base radius r cm . It is given that the volume of the circular cone is twice the
volume of the hemisphere.
(a) Find r.
(b) Express the volume of the solid in terms of .
(4 marks)

86
[2010-CE-MATH 1-Q13]
In Figure 3(a), ABCDEF is a wooden block in the form of a right prism. It is given that
AB = AC = 17 cm, BC = 16cm and CD = 20 cm.

Figure 3(a)
(a) Find the area of ABC . (2 marks)
(b) Find the volume of the wooden block ABCDEF. (2 marks)
(c) The plane PQRS which is parallel to the face BCDF cuts the wooden block ABCDEF into two
blocks APQRES and BCQPSFDR as shown in Figure 3(b). It is given that PQ = 4 cm.

Figure 3(b)
(i) Find the volume of the wooden block APQRES.
(ii) Are the wooden blocks APQRES and ABCDEF similar? Explain your answer.
(5 marks)

87
[2009-CE-MATH 1-Q13]
(a) The height and the base radius of an inverted right circular conical container are 18 cm and 12 cm
respectively.
(i) Find the capacity of the circular conical container of in terms of  .
(ii) Figure (a) shows a frustum which is made by cutting off the lower part of the container. The
height of the frustum is 6 cm. Find the volume of the frustum in terms of .
(4 marks)

Figure 4(a) Figure 4(b)

(b) Figure (b) shows a vessel which is held vertically. The vessel consists of two parts with a common
base: the upper part is the frustum shown in Figure (a) and the lower part is a right circular cylinder
of height 10 cm. Some water is poured into the vessel. The vessel now contains 884  cm3 of
water.
(i) Find the depth of water in the vessel.
(ii) If a piece of metal of volume 1 000 cm3 is then put into the vessel and the metal is totally
immersed in the water, will the water overflow? Explain your answer.
(5 marks)

88
W. Coordinate geometry , Equations Straight Lines , circles and Locus
[2024-DSE-MATH 1-Q12]
Denote the origin by O.
(a) A and B are points lying on the positive x-axis such that the x-coordinate of A is greater than the
x-coordinate of B. A vertical line which passes through B cuts the straight line y  mx at the point
C such that AB =BC, where m is a positive constant. Let D be a point such that ABCD is a square.
Express the slope of OD in terms of m. (3 marks)

(b) The coordinates of the points M and N are (6, 5) and (10, 0) respectively. Let P and Q be points lying
on OM and MN respectively while R and S be points lying on the x-axis. If the quadrilateral PQRS is
a square, find the x-coordinate of P. (4 marks)

89
[2023-DSE-MATH 1-Q10]
It is given that A and B are two distinct points in a rectangular coordinate plane. Let P be a
moving point in the rectangular coordinate plane such that P is equidistant from A and B .
Denote the locus of P by  .

(a) Describe the geometric relationship between  and AB . (1 mark)

(b) Suppose that the coordinates of A are (2, −4) and the equation of  is 3x  y  12  0 . Find
(i) the equation of the straight line which passes through A and B,
(ii) the equation of the circle with AB as a diameter.
(5 marks)

90
[2023-DSE-MATH 1-Q16]
(a) Let a and b be real constants. If the roots of the equation x2  ax  b  0 are p and 5p , prove that
5a2 = 36b . (2 marks)
(b) Denote the circle x 2  y 2  6 x  12 y  20  0 by C . Find the constant m such that the straight line
y  mx cuts C at the points Q and R with OQ : QR  1: 4 , where O is the origin.
(3 marks)

91
[2022-DSE-MATH 1-Q12]

The equation of the circle C is x 2 y 2 154x  128y  224  0 . Denote the centre of C by G. The

coordinates of the point H are (65 , 48).

(a) Find the distance between G and H . (3 marks)

(b) Let P be a moving point on C. When the area of GHP is the greatest,
(i) describe the geometric relationship between GH and GP;
(ii) find the perimeter of GHP .
(4 marks)

92
[2022-DSE-MATH 1-Q19]
The centre of the circle C is the point G(83, 112). It is found that the point A(158, 12) lies outside C .
AP and AQ are the tangents to C at the points P and Q respectively. It is given that C passes through
the point (23 , 67).
(a) Find the equation of the straight line passing through A and G . (2 marks)
(b) Find the coordinates of the point of intersection of AG and PQ . (3 marks)
(c) Find the equation of the inscribed circle of  APQ . (4 marks)
(d) Someone claims that the ratio of the area of the inscribed circle to the area of the circumcircle
of  APQ is 1 : 4 . Do you agree? Explain your answer. (3 marks)

93
[2021-DSE-MATH 1-Q13]
The equation of circle C is x 2  y 2  12 x  16 y  69  0 . Let G be the centre of C . Denote the
origin by O .
(a) Find OG . (2 marks)

(b) Does O lie inside C ? Explain your answer. (1 mark)

(c) Let P be a moving point in the rectangular coordinate plane such that OP  GP . Denote the locus
of P by  . Suppose that  cuts C at the points M and N . Find the area of the quadrilateral
OMGN .
(4 marks)

94
[2020-DSE-MATH 1-Q14]
The coordinates of points A and B are (10,0) and (30,0) respectively. The circle C passes
through A and B . Denote the center of C by G . It is given that the y-coordinate of G is  15 .
(a) Find the equation of C .
(3 marks)
(b) The straight line L passes through B and G . Another straight line  is parallel to L . Let P be
a moving point in the rectangular coordinate plane such that the perpendicular distance from P to
L is equal to the perpendicular distance from P to  . Denote the locus of P by  . It is given
that  passes through A .
(i) Describe the geometric relationship between  and L .
(ii) Find the equation of  .
(iii) Suppose that  cuts C at another point H . Someone claims that GAH  70 . Do you
agree? Explain your answer.
(6 marks)

95
[2017-DSE-MATH 1-Q13]
The coordinates of the points E, F and G are (–6, 5), (–3, 11) and (2, –1) respectively. The circle C
passes through E and the centre of C is G.
(a) Find the equation of C. (2 marks)
(b) Prove that F lies outside C. (2 marks)
(c) Let H be a moving point on C. When H is farthest from F,
(i) describe the geometric relationship between F, G and H;
(ii) find the equation of the straight line which passes through F and H.
(3 marks)

96
[2016-DSE-MATH 1-Q10]
The coordinates of the points A and B are (5, 7) and (13, 1) respectively. Let P be a moving point in the
rectangular coordinate plane such that P is equidistant from A and B. Denote the locus of P by  .
(a) Find the equation of  . (2 marks)
(b)  intersects the x-axis and the y-axis at H and K respectively. Denote the origin by O. Let C be the
circle which passes through O, H and K. Someone claims that the circumference of C exceeds 30.
Is the claim correct? Explain your answer. (3 marks)

[PP-DSE-MATH 1-Q8]
The coordinates of the points A and B are (−3, 4) and (−2, −5) respectively. A is the reflection image of
A with respect to the y-axis. B is rotated anticlockwise about the origin O through 90° to B.
(a) Write down the coordinates of A and B.
(b) Let P be a moving point in the rectangular coordinate plane such that P is equidistant from A and B.
Find the equation of the locus of P.
(5 marks)

97
[2015-DSE-MATH 1-Q14]
The coordinates of the points P and Q are (4, –1) and (–14, 23) respectively.
(a) Let L be the perpendicular bisector of PQ.
(i) Find the equation of L.
(ii) Suppose that G is a point lying on L. Denote the x-coordinate of G by h. Let C be the circle
which is centred at G and passes through P and Q.
Prove that the equation of C is 2 x 2  2 y 2  4hx  (3h  59) y  13h  93  0 .
(6 marks)
(b) The coordinates of the point R are (26, 43). Using (a)(ii), or otherwise, find the diameter of the
circle which passes through P, Q and R. (3 marks)

98
[2014-DSE-MATH 1-Q12]
The circle C passes through the point A(6, 11) and the centre of C is the point G(0, 3).
(a) Find the equation of C. (2 marks)
(b) P is a moving point in the rectangular coordinate plane such that AP = GP. Denote the locus of P
by .
(i) Find the equation of .
(ii) Describe the geometric relationship between  and the line segment AG.
(iii) If  cuts C at Q and R, find the perimeter of the quadrilateral AQGR.
(5 marks)

99
[2013-DSE-MATH 1-Q14]
The equation of the circle C is x 2  y 2  12 x  34 y  225  0 . Denote the centre of C by R.
(a) Write down the coordinates of R. (1 mark)
(b) The equation of the straight line L is 4x + 3y + 50 = 0. It is found that C and L do not intersect.
Let P be a point lying on L such that P is nearest to R.
(i) Find the distance between P and R.
(ii) Let Q be a moving point on C. When Q is nearest to P,
(1) describe the geometric relationship between P, Q and R;
(2) find the ratio of the area of OPQ to the area of OQR, where O is the origin.
(8 marks)

100
[2012-DSE-MATH 1-Q14]
The y-intercepts of two parallel lines L and are –1 and –3 respectively and the x-intercept of L is 3.
P is a moving point in the rectangular coordinate plane such that the perpendicular distance from P to L is
equal to the perpendicular distance from P to . Denote the locus of P by .
(a) (i) Describe the geometric relationship between  and L.
(ii) Find the equation of .
(5 marks)
(b) The equation of the circle C is ( x  6)  y  4 . Denote the centre of C by Q.
2 2

(i) Does  pass through Q? Explain your answer.

(ii) If L cuts C at A and B while  cuts C at H and K, find the ratio of the area of AQH to the area
of BQK.
(4 marks)

101
[PP-DSE-MATH 1-Q14]
In Figure 3, OABC is a circle. It is given that AB produced and OC produced meet at D.

Figure 3
(a) Write down a pair of similar triangles in Figure 3. (2 marks)
(b) Suppose that AOD = 90°. A rectangular coordinate system, with O as the origin, is introduced in
Figure 3 so that the coordinates of A and D are (6, 0) and (0, 12) respectively. If the ratio of the
area of BCD to the area of OAD is 16 : 45, find
(i) the coordinates of C,
(ii) the equation of the circle OABC.
(7 marks)

102
[DSE-MATH 1-Q13 (Sample paper)]
In Figure 6, the straight line e L1: 4x − 3y +12 = 0 and the straight line L2 are perpendicular to each other
and intersect at A. It is given that L1 cuts the y-axis at B and L2 passes through the point (4, 9).

Figure 6
(a) Find the equation of L2 . (3 marks)
(b) Q is a moving point in the coordinate plane such that AQ = BQ. Denote the locus of Q by Γ.
(i) Describe the geometric relationship between Γ and L2. Explain your answer.
(ii) Find the equation of Γ.
(6 marks)

103
X. Interpretation of Statistical Tables/Graphs
[2022-DSE-MATH 1-Q9]
The frequency distribution table and the cumulative frequency distribution table below show the
distribution of the times taken to complete a 3 km race by a group of students.

Time taken Frequenc Time taken less than Cumulative

(minutes) y (minutes) frequency
10 – 14 a 14.5 3
15 – 19 9 19.5 x
20 – 24 b 24.5 y
25 – 29 3 29.5 20

(a) Write down the value of x .

(b) Find the mean of the distribution.
(c) Find the probability that the time taken to complete the 3 km race by a randomly selected student
from the group is less than 19.5 minutes.
(5 marks)

[2016-DSE-MATH 1-Q9]
The frequency distribution table and the cumulative frequency distribution table below show the
distribution of the heights of the plants in a garden.
Height (m) Frequency Height less than (m) Cumulative frequency
0.1 – 0.3 a 0.35 2
0.4 – 0.6 4 0.65 x
0.7 – 0.9 b 0.95 13
1.0 – 1.2 c 1.25 y
1.3 – 1.5 15 1.55 37
1.6 – 1.8 3 1.85 z

(a) Find x, y and z.

(b) If a plant is randomly selected from the garden, find the probability that the height of the selected
plant is less than 1.25 m but not less than 0.65 m.
(5 marks)

104
[2008-CE-MATH 1-Q10]
The frequency distribution table and the cumulative frequency distribution table below show the
distribution of the weights of the 50 babies born in a hospital during the last week, where a, b, c, k, l and
m are integers.

Weight (kg) Frequency Weight less than (kg) Cumulative Frequency

2.6 – 2.8 a 2.85 4
2.9 – 3.1 12 3.15 k
3.2 – 3.4 b 3.45 37
3.5 – 3.7 10 3.75 l
3.8 – 4.0 c 4.05 m

(a) Find a, b and c. (4 marks)

(b) Find estimates of the mean and the standard deviation of the weights of the 50 babies born in the
hospital during the last week. (3 marks)

[2019-DSE-MATH 1-Q8]
The pie chart below shows the distribution of the numbers of rings owned by the girls in a group.
Distribution of the numbers of rings owned by the girls in the group

(a) Write down the mode of the distribution.

(b) Find the mean of the distribution.
(c) If a girl is randomly selected from the group, find the probability that the selected girl owns more
than 3 rings.
(5 marks)

105
[2017-DSE-MATH 1-Q7]
The pie chart below shows the distribution of the seasons of birth of the students in a school.
Distribution of the seasons of birth of the students in the school

If a student is randomly selected from the school, then the probability that the selected student was born
1
in spring is .
9
(a) Find x.
(b) In the school, there are 180 students born in winter. Find the number of students in the school.
(4 marks)

[DSE-MATH 1-Q9 (Sample paper)]

In Figure 4, the pie chart shows the distribution of the numbers of traffic accidents occurred in a city in a
year. In that year, the number of traffic accidents occurred in District A is 20% greater than that in
District B.
The distribution of the numbers of traffic accidents occurred in the city

Figure 4
(a) Find x.
(b) Is the number of traffic accidents occurred in District A greater than that in District C? Explain
your answer.
(5 marks)

106
[2007-CE-MATH 1-Q12]
The bar chart and pie chart in Figure 4 show the distribution of the numbers of keys owned by the
students in class A. The numbers of students having 2 keys, 3 keys and 4 keys are 12, 17 and k
respectively.

Figure 4
(a) Find the value of k. (2 marks)
(b) Find the number of students in class A. (2 marks)
(c) Find the probability that a randomly selected student in class A has only 1 key. (3 marks)
(d) It is given that the numbers of students in class A and class B are the same. The distributions of the
numbers of keys owned by the students in class A and class B are also the same. The two classes
are now combined to form a group. On each of the bar chart and the pie chart in Figure 4, is there a
modification needed in order that the statistical chart can show the distribution of the numbers of
keys owned by the students in this group? If your answer is ‘yes’, write down the modification
needed. (2 marks)

107
Y. Measures of Central Tendency and Dispersion
[2024-DSE-MATH 1-Q9]
The table below shows the distribution of the numbers of keys owned by a group of housewives.
Number of keys 3 4 5 6 7 8
Number of housewives 10 9 4 3 4 k
If a housewife is randomly selected from the group, then the probability that she owns more than 6 keys is
5
.
18
(a) Find k.
(b) Write down the mean, the mode and the median of the distribution.
(5 marks)

[2023-DSE-MATH 1-Q11]
The table below shows the distribution of the numbers of calculators owned by a class of students.
Number of calculators owned 1 2 3 4
Number of students 8 5 n 1
The mean of the distribution is 2 .
(a) Find the median, the inter-quartile range and the variance of the distribution. (5 marks)
(b) Two students now withdraw from the class. It is found that the mean of the distribution remains
unchanged. Is there any change in the range of the distribution due to the withdrawal of the two
students? Explain your answer. (2 marks)

108
[2020-DSE-MATH 1-Q9]
The table below shows the distribution of the numbers of subjects taken by a class of students.

Number of subjects taken 4 5 6 7

Number of students 8 12 16 4

(a) Write down the mean, the median and the standard deviation of the above distribution.
(b) A new student now joins the class. The number of subjects taken by the new student is 5. Find the
change in the median of the distribution due to the joining of this student.
(5 marks)

[2014-DSE-MATH 1-Q4]
The table below shows the distribution of the numbers of calculators owned by some students.

Number of calculators 0 1 2 3
Number of students 7 14 15 4

Find the median, the mode and the standard deviation of the above distribution. (3 marks)

109
[PP-DSE-MATH 1-Q9]
The following table shows the distribution of the numbers of online hours spent by a group of children on
a certain day.
Number of online hours 2 3 4 5
Number of children r 8 12 s

It is given that r and s are positive numbers.

(a) Find the least possible value and the greatest possible value of the inter-quartile range of the
distribution.
(b) If r = 9 and the median of the distribution is 3, how many possible values of s are there? Explain
your answer.
(5 marks)

[2021-DSE-MATH 1-Q11]
The table below shows the distribution of the numbers of tokens got by a group of children in a game.

Number of tokens got 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Number of children 15 9 2 5 4 2 5

(a) Find the mean of the distribution. (2 marks)

(b) Are the median and the mode of the distribution equal? Explain your answer. (2 marks)
(c) If n more children play the game and each of them gets 5 tokens, write down
(i) the value of n such that the mean of the distribution is increased by 1 ;
(ii) the least value of n such that the median of the distribution is increased by 2 ;
(iii) the greatest value of n such that the mode of the distribution remains unchanged.
(3 marks)

110
[2018-DSE-MATH 1-Q11]
The following table shows the distribution of the numbers of children of some families:

Number of children 0 1 2 3 4
Number of families k 2 9 6 7

It is given that k is a positive integer.

(a) If the mode of the distribution is 2, write down
(i) the least possible value of k;
(ii) the greatest possible value of k. (2 marks)

(b) If the median of the distribution is 2, write down

(i) the least possible value of k;
(ii) the greatest possible value of k. (2 marks)

(c) If the mean of the distribution is 2, find the value of k. (2 marks)

[2024-DSE-MATH 1-Q11]
The stem-and-leaf diagram below shows the distribution of the numbers of hours spent on reading
journals in a month by a group of researchers.
Stem (tens) Leaf (units)
2 0 0 1 a a a 8 8 9 9
3 0 0 2 3 4 4 7 9
4 0 b
The mean of the distribution is 30 .
(a) Find a and b. (3 marks)
(b) Write down the least possible range of the distribution. (1 marks)
(c) Find the greatest possible inter-quartile range of the distribution. (3 marks)

111
[2023-DSE-MATH 1-Q9]
The stem-and-leaf diagram below shows the distribution of the numbers of working hours of a group of
workers in a week.
Stem (tens) Leaf (units)
2 a 5 5 6 6 8 8
3 3 3 3 4 5 5 9 9
4 0 1 4 4 5 6 7 7 9
The range of the distribution is 27 .
(a) Find the mean and the mode of the distribution.
(b) If a worker is randomly selected from the group, find the probability that the number of working
hours of the selected worker in the week exceeds the mode of the distribution.
(5 marks)

[2022-DSE-MATH 1-Q11]
The stem-and-leaf diagram below shows the distribution of the ages of the players of a football team.
Stem (tens) Leaf (units)
1 7 8 9
2 0 a a 8 8 9
3 b b 5 5 6 6 6 6 7 8
4 3
The inter-quartile range and the median of the distribution are 14 and 31 respectively.
(a) Find a and b . (3 marks)
(b) A player now leaves the football team.
(i) Is there any change in the mode of the distribution due to the leaving of the player? Explain
your answer.
(ii) If the range of the distribution is decreased, find the greatest possible standard deviation of
the distribution. (4 marks)

112
[2020-DSE-MATH 1-Q11]
The stem-and-leaf diagram below shows the distribution of the weights (in grams) of the letters in a bag.

Stem (tens) Leaf (units)

1 1 2 3 3
2 3 3 4 5 6 9 9
3 1 6 7 8 8 8
4 2
5 0 w

It is given that the range of the above distribution is the triple of its inter-quartile range.
(a) Find w . (4 marks)
(b) If a letter is randomly chosen from the bag, find the probability that the weight of the chosen letter is
not less than the mode of the distribution. (2 marks)

[2019-DSE-MATH 1-Q12]
The stem-and-leaf diagram below shows the distribution of the results (in seconds) of some boys in a
400m race.
Stem (tens) Leaf (units)
5 a
6 0 0 3 c c 8 9 9 9
7 0 1 1 1 2 2 5 6 9
8 b
It is given that the inter-quartile range of the distribution is 8 seconds.
(a) Find c. (2 marks)
(b) It is given that the range of the distribution exceeds 34 seconds and the mean of the distribution is 69
seconds. Find
(i) a and b,
(ii) the least possible standard deviation of the distribution.
(6 marks)

113
[2017-DSE-MATH 1-Q11]
The stem-and-leaf diagram below shows the distribution of the hourly wages (in dollars) of the workers in
a group.
Stem (tens) Leaf (units)
6 1 1 1 3 4 6 8 9 9
7 a 7 7 8
8 1 b
It is given that the mean and the range of the above distribution are $70 and $22 respectively.
(a) Find the median and the standard deviation of the above distribution. (5 marks)
(b) If a worker is randomly selected from the group, find the probability that the hourly wage of the
selected worker exceeds $70. (2 marks)

[2013-DSE-MATH 1-Q10]
The ages of the members of Committee A are shown as follows:
17 18 21 21 22 22 23 23 23 31
31 34 35 36 47 47 58 68 69 69

(a) Write down the median and the mode of the ages of the members of Committee A. (2 marks)
(b) The stem-and-leaf diagram below shows the distribution of the ages of the members of Committee B.
It is given that the range of this distribution is 47.
Stem (tens) Leaf (units)
2 a 5 6 7
3 3 3 8
4 3
5 1 2 9
6 7 b
(i) Find a and b.
(ii) From each committee, a member is randomly selected as the representative of that committee.
The two representatives can join a competition when the difference of their ages exceeds 40.
Find the probability that these two representatives can join the competition.
(4 marks)

114
[2015-DSE-MATH 1-Q12]
The stem-and-leaf diagram below shows the distribution of the weights (in kg) of the students in a
football club.
Stem (tens) Leaf (units)
4 0 2 3 3 3 3 9
5 1 1 2 2 3 7 9
6 3 5 8 9
7 8 9
(a) Find the mean, the median and the range of the above distribution. (3 marks)
(b) Two more students now join the club. It is found that both the mean and the range of the
distribution of the weights are increased by 1 kg. Find the weight of each of these two students.
(4 marks)

[2012-DSE-MATH 1-Q10]
Tom conducts a survey on the numbers of hours spent on doing homework in a week by secondary
students. Questionnaires are sent out and twenty of them are returned. The stem-and-leaf diagram
below shows the numbers of hours recorded in the twenty questionnaires.

Stem (tens) Leaf (units)

1 0 0 1 1 2 3 4 5 5 6 6 7 7
2 0 0 0 5 8
3 4 6

(a) Find the mean and the median of the numbers of hours recorded in the twenty questionnaires.
(2 marks)
(b) Tom receives four more questionnaires. He finds that the mean of the numbers of hours recorded in
these four questionnaires is 18. It is found that the numbers of hours recorded in two of these four
questionnaires are 19 and 20.
(i) Write down the mean of the numbers of hours recorded in the twenty-four questionnaires.
(ii) Is it possible that the median of the numbers of hours recorded in the twenty-four
questionnaires is the same as the median found in (a)? Explain your answer.
(4 marks)

115
[2021-DSE-MATH 1-Q9]
The bar chart below shows the distribution of the numbers of books read by a group of students in a year.

If a student is randomly selected from the group, then the probability that the selected student reads fewer
7
than 26 books in the year is .
10
(a) Find k .
(b) Write down the range, the inter-quartile range and the standard deviation of the distribution.
(5 marks)

[2016-DSE-MATH 1-Q12]
The bar chart below shows the distribution of the ages of the children in a group, where a  11 and
4  b  10 . The median of the ages of the children in the group is 7.5.

(a) Find a and b. (3 marks)

(b) Four more children now join the group. It is found that the ages of these four children are all
different and the range of the ages of the children in the group remains unchanged. Find
(i) the greatest possible median of the ages of the children in the group,
(ii) the least possible mean of the ages of the children in the group.
(4 marks)

116
[2013-DSE-MATH 1-Q9]
The bar chart below shows the distribution of the numbers of family members of the employees of
company D.

(a) Find the mean, the inter-quartile range and the standard deviation of the above distribution.
(b) An employee leaves company D. The number of family members of this employee is 7. Find the
change in the standard deviation of the numbers of family members of the employees of company D
due to the leaving of this employee.
(5 marks)

[PP-DSE-MATH 1-Q13]
The bar chart below shows the distribution of the most favourite fruits of the students in a group. It is
given that each student has only one most favourite fruit.

If a student is randomly selected from the group, then the probability that the most favourite fruit is apple
3
is .
20
(a) Find k. (3 marks)
(b) Suppose that the above distribution is represented by a pie chart.
(i) Find the angle of the sector representing that the most favourite fruit is orange.
(ii) Some new students now join the group and the most favourite fruit of each of these students is
orange. Will the angle of the sector representing that the most favourite fruit is orange be
doubled? Explain your answer.
(4 marks)

117
[2018-DSE-MATH 1-Q10]
The box-and-whisker diagram below shows the distribution of the ages of the clerks in team X of a
company. It is given that the range and the inter-quartile range of this distribution are 43 and 21
respectively.

(a) Find a and b. (3 marks)

(b) There are five clerks in team Y of the company and three of them are of age 38. It is given that the
range of the ages of the clerks in team Y is 20. Team X and team Y are now combined to form a section.
The manager of the company claims that the range of the ages of the clerks in the section and the range of
the ages of the clerks in team X must be the same. Do you agree? Explain your answer.
(2 marks)

[2012-DSE-MATH 1-Q7]
The box-and-whisker diagram below shows the distribution of the times taken by a large group of
students of an athletic club to finish a 100 m race:

The inter-quartile range and the range of the distribution are 3.2 s and 6.8 s respectively.
(a) Find a and b.
(b) The students join a training program. It is found that the longest time taken by the students to
finish a 100 m race after the training is 2.9 s less than that before the training. The trainer claims
that at least 25% of the student show improvement in the time taken to finish a 100 m race after the
training. Do you agree? Explain your answer.
(4 marks)

118
[2014-DSE-MATH 1-Q11]
There are 33 paintings in an art gallery. The box-and-whisker diagram below shows the distribution of
the prices (in thousand dollars) of the paintings in the art gallery. It is given that the mean of this
distribution is 53 thousand dollars.

(a) Find the range and the inter-quartile range of the above distribution. (3 marks)
(b) Four paintings of respective prices (in thousand dollars) 32, 34, 58 and 59 are now donated to a
museum. Find the mean and the median of the prices of the remaining paintings in the art gallery.
(3 marks)

[DSE-MATH 1-Q14 (Sample paper)]

The data below show the percentages of customers who bought newspaper A from a magazine stall in city
H for five days randomly selected in a certain week:

62% 63% 55% 62% 58%

(a) Find the median and the mean of the above data. (2 marks)
(b) Let a% and b% be the percentages of customers who bought newspaper A from the stall for the
other two days in that week. The two percentages are combined with the above data to form a set
of seven data.
(i) Write down the least possible value of the median of the combined set of seven data.
(ii) It is known that the median and the mean of the combined set of seven data are the same as that
found in (a). Write down one pair of possible values of a and b.
(3 marks)
(c) The stall-keeper claims that since the median and the mean found in (a) exceed 50%, newspaper A
has the largest market share among the newspapers in city H. Do you agree? Explain your
answer.
(2 marks)

119
Z. Probability Short Questions
[2018-DSE-MATH 1-Q4]
A bag contains n white balls, 5 black balls and 8 red balls. If a ball is randomly drawn from the box,
2
then the probability of drawing a red ball is . Find the value of n. (3 marks)
5

[2015-DSE-MATH 1-Q3]
Bag A contains four cards numbered 1, 3, 5 and 7 respectively while bag B contains five cards numbered
2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 respectively. If one card is randomly drawn from each bag, find the probability that the
sum of the two numbers drawn is less than 9. (3 marks)

[2009-CE-MATH 1-Q5]
The table below shows the distribution of the ages of all employees in a department of a company.

Age (x)
x < 30 30  x < 40 x  40
Employee
Administrative officer 7 21 30
Clerk 53 57 32

If an employee is randomly selected from the department, find the probability that the selected employee
is an administrative officer under the age of 40. (3 marks)

120
[2008-CE-MATH 1-Q5]
A box contains three cards numbered 2, 3 and 4 respectively while a bag contains two balls numbered 6
and 7 respectively. If one card and one ball are randomly drawn from the box and the bag respectively,
find the probability that the sum of the numbers drawn is 10. (3 marks)

[2006-CE-MATH 1-Q8]
There are ten cards numbered 2, 3, 5, 8, 11, 11, 12, 15, 19 and k respectively, where k is a positive integer.
It is given that the mean of the ten numbers is 11.
(a) Find the value of k.
(b) A card is randomly drawn from the ten cards. Find the probability that the number drawn is a
multiple of 3.
(5 marks)

[2004-CE-MATH 1-Q8]
A box contains nine cards numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 respectively.
(a) If one card is randomly drawn from the box, find the probability that the number drawn is odd.
(b) If two cards are randomly drawn from the box one by one with replacement, find the probability that
he product of the numbers draw is even.
(5 marks)

121
 Past Public Exam Questions (Section B)
AA. Complex Numbers
[PP-DSE-MATH 1-Q17]
1
(a) Express in the form of a + bi, where a and b are real numbers. (2 marks)
1  2i
10 10
(b) The roots of the quadratic equation x 2  px  q  0 are and . Find
1  2i 1  2i
(i) p and q,
(ii) the range of value of r such that the quadratic equation x 2  px  q  r has real roots.
(5 marks)

122
AB. Completing square, Centres of Triangles,
Transformation of Functions
[2024-DSE-MATH 1-Q19]

Let f ( x)  2 x 2  4mx  8 x  2m 2  8m  n , where m and n are real constants such that mn < 0. Denote the

vertex of the graph of y = f(x) by P.

(a) Using the method of completing the square, express the coordinates of P in terms of m and n .
(2 marks)
x
(b) Describe the geometric meaning represented by transforming f ( x) to f ( )  7 . (2 marks)
5
x
(c) Denote the vertex of the graph of y = f ( )  7 by Q. Let (a1 , b1) and (a2 , b2) be the coordinates of
5
P and Q respectively. It is given that a1 , 1+ n, a2 is an arithmetic sequence and b1 , 4  m , b2 is
a geometric sequence.
(i) Find the coordinates of P and Q.
(ii) The coordinates of the points R and S are (3t + 27, t) and (3t +3, 2t  3 ) respectively, where t
is a real number. Is it possible that PQRS is a rhombus? Explain your answer.
(8 marks)

123
[2023-DSE-MATH 1-Q19]
The coordinates of the points P and Q are (50, 0) and (32, t) respectively, where t > 0 . Denote the
origin by O . Let R be a point such that OQ is a median of OPR . Suppose that G and
H are the circumcentre and the orthocentre of OPR respectively.
(a) Express the coordinates of G and H in terms of t . (5 marks)
(b) Let S be a point lying on OP such that QS is perpendicular to OP . It is given that
∠PQS = ∠POQ .
(i) By considering tan ∠PQS , prove that t = 24 .
(ii) Are O , G and Q collinear? Explain your answer.
(iii) Denote the in-centre of OPR by I . Find the ratio of the area of GHR to the area of IPQ .
(7 marks)

124
[2022-DSE-MATH 1-Q16]

Let g( x)  3x 2  12k x  16k 2  8 , where k is a non-zero real constant.

(a) Using the method of completing the square, express, in terms of k, the coordinates of the vertex of
the graph of y = g(x). (2 marks)

(b) On the same rectangular coordinate system, denote the vertex of the graph of y = g(x) and the vertex
of the graph of y = 2g(−x) by A and B respectively. Let M be a point lying on AB such that the area of
OBM is the triple of the area of OAM , where O is the origin. Express, in terms of k , the
coordinates of M . (3 marks)

125
[2021-DSE-MATH 1-Q19]
Let f ( x)  x 2  12kx  14 x  36k 2  89k  53 , where k is a positive constant. On the same rectangular
coordinate system, denote the vertex of the graph of y  f ( x) and the vertex of the graph of
y  f (14  x) by Q and R respectively.
(a) Using the method of completing the square, express, in terms of k , the coordinates of Q .
(2 marks)
(b) Write down, in terms of k , the coordinates of R . (1 mark)
(c) The coordinates of the point S are (7, 4  3k ) . Denote the inscribed circle of QRS by C
(i) Express, in terms of k , the equation of the straight line which passes through Q and S .
(ii) Express, in terms of k , the equation of C .
(iii) Suppose that QS is the tangent to C at the point T . Let U be the centre of C . It is given
that the coordinates of the point V are (29,  14) . Is it possible that STUV is a rectangle?
Explain your answer.
(9 marks)

126
[2020-DSE-MATH 1-Q17]

Let g( x)  x 2  2kx  2k 2  4 , where k is a real constant.

(a) Using the method of completing the square, express, in terms of k , the coordinates of the vertex of
the graph of y  g ( x ) . (2 marks)
(b) On the same rectangular coordinate system, let D and E be the vertex of the graph of
y  g ( x  2) and the vertex of the graph of y   g( x  2 ) respectively. Is there a point F on this
rectangular coordinate system such that the coordinates of the circumcentre of DEF are (0,3) ?
Explain your answer. (4 marks)

127
[2019-DSE-MATH 1-Q19]

Let f ( x) 
1
1 k
 x 2   6k  2  x   9k  25  , where k is a positive constant. Denote the point (4, 33) by F.
(a) Prove that the graph of y  f ( x ) passes through F. (1 mark)
(b) The graph of y  g( x ) is obtained by reflecting the graph of y  f ( x ) with respect to the y-axis
and then translating the resulting graph upwards by 4 units. Let U be the vertex of the graph of
y  g( x ) . Denote the origin by O.
(i) Using the method of completing the square, express the coordinates of U in terms of k.
(ii) Find k such that the area of the circle passing through F, O and U is the least.
(iii) For any positive constant k , the graph of y  g( x ) passes through the same point G. Let V be
the vertex of the graph of y  g( x ) such that the area of the circle passing through F, O and V
is the least. Are F, G, O and V concyclic? Explain your answer.
(11 marks)

128
[2018-DSE-MATH 1-Q18]
It is given that f( x) partly varies as x 2 and partly varies as x. Suppose that f(2)  60 and f(3)  99 .
(a) Find f( x) . (3 marks)
(b) Let Q be the vertex of the graph of y  f( x) and R be the vertex of the graph of y  27  f( x) .
(i) Using the method of completing the square, find the coordinates of Q.
(ii) Write down the coordinates of R.
(iii) The coordinates of the point S are (56, 0). Let P be the circumcentre of QRS. Describe the
geometric relationship between P, Q and R. Explain your answer.
(5 marks)

129
[2017-DSE-MATH 1-Q18]
The equation of the parabola  is y  2 x 2  2kx  2 x  3k  8 , where k is a real constant. Denote the
straight line y  19 by L.
(a) Prove that L and  intersect at two distinct points. (3 marks)
(b) The points of intersection of L and  are A and B.
(i) Let a and b be the x-coordinates of A and B respectively. Prove that (a  b)2  k 2  4k  23 .
(ii) Is it possible that the distance between A and B is less than 4? Explain your answer.
(5 marks)

130
[2016-DSE-MATH 1-Q18]
1 2
Let f( x)  x  12 x  121 .
3
(a) Using the method of completing the square, find the coordinates of the vertex of the graph of
y  f( x) . (2 marks)

(b) The graph of y  g( x ) is obtained by translating the graph of y  f( x) vertically. If the graph of
y  g( x ) touches the x-axis, find g( x ) . (2 marks)
1 2
(c) Under a transformation, f( x) is changed to x  12 x  121 . Describe the geometric meaning
3
of the transformation. (2 marks)

131
[2015-DSE-MATH 1-Q18]
Let f( x)  2 x 2  4kx  3k 2  5 , where k is a real constant.
(a) Does the graph of y = f(x) cut the x-axis? Explain your answer. (2 marks)

(b) Using the method of completing the square, express, in terms of k, the coordinates of the vertex of
the graph of y = f(x). (3 marks)

(c) In the same rectangular coordinate system, let S and T be moving points on the graph of y = f(x) and
the graph of y = 2 – f(x) respectively. Denote the origin by O. Someone claims that when S and T
are nearest to each other, the circumcentre of OST lies on the x-axis. Is the claim correct?
Explain your answer. (4 marks)

132
[2013-DSE-MATH 1-Q17]
(a) Let f( x)  36 x  x 2 . Using the method of completing the square, find the coordinates of the vertex
of the graph of y = f(x) . (2 marks)
(b) The length of a piece of string is 108 m. A guard cuts the string into two pieces. One piece is
used to enclose a rectangular restricted zone of area A m2. The other piece of length x m is used to
divide this restricted zone into two rectangular regions as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2
(i) Express A in terms of x.
(ii) The guard claims that the area of this restricted zone can be greater than 500 m 2. Do you
agree? Explain your answer.
(4 marks)

133
AC. Exponential / Logarithmic Equations and Functions

[2024-DSE-MATH 1-Q15]

It is given that log9 y is a linear function of log3 x . Denote the graph of the linear function of L. The
slope of L is 4 and L passes through the point (5, 22). Express y in terms of x. (3 marks)

[2023-DSE-MATH 1-Q18]
Suppose that  , 7 ,  is a geometric sequence, where 1     .

(a) Express log7  in terms of log7 . (3 marks)

(b) If log   , log7  , log  is an arithmetic sequence, find the common difference of the arithmetic
sequence. (5 marks)

134
[2017-DSE-MATH 1-Q15]

Let a and b be constants. Denote the graph of y  a  logb x by G. The x-intercept of G is 9 and G
passes through the point (243, 3). Express x in terms of y. (4 marks)

[2014-DSE-MATH 1-Q15]
The graph in Figure 4 shows the linear relation between log 4 x and log8 y . The slope and the intercept
1
on the horizontal axis of the graph are and 3 respectively. Express the relation between x and y in the
3
form y  Ax k , where A and k are constants. (3 marks)

Figure 4

135
[DSE-MATH 1-Q17 (Sample paper)]
A researcher defined Scale A and Scale B to represent the magnitude of an explosion as shown in the
following table:
Scale Formula
A M  log 4 E
B N  log 8 E
It is given that M and N are the magnitudes of an explosion on Scale A and Scale B respectively while E is
the relative energy released by the explosion. If the magnitude of an explosion is 6.4 on Scale B, find
the magnitude of the explosion on Scale A.
(5 marks)

136
AD. Applications to 3-D problems
[2024-DSE-MATH 1-Q18]
(a) PQRS is a thin quadrilateral metal sheet, where PQ =12 cm , PS =10 cm , QR =13 cm , QPS =
82° and QRS = 65° . Find
(i) the length of QS.
(ii) RQS .
(4 marks)
(b) The metal sheet PQRS described in (a) is now folded along QS (see Figure 2 ). It is given that the
angle between the plane PQS and the plane QRS is 80°.

(i) Find the shortest distance from R to the plane PQS.

(ii) Let X be any point lying on the plane QRS. Someone claims that the distance between P and
X exceeds 8 cm. Is the claim correct? Explain your answer.
(4 marks)

137
[2023-DSE-MATH 1-Q17]

(a) It is given that is a triangle, where WX = 6 cm , XY = 5 cm and ∠WYX = 70°. Find ∠XWY .
(2 marks)

(b) Figure 3 shows the pyramid , where WZ = XZ = YZ. The base of this pyramid is the triangle WXY
described in (a).

Figure 3
It is given that the angle between WZ and the triangle WXY is 30° . Does the angle between the
triangles WXY and XYZ exceed 45° ? Explain your answer.
(4 marks)

138
[2022-DSE-MATH 1-Q18]
In Figure 2, the triangular paper card PQR is held such that PQ lies on the horizontal ground. It is
given that PQ  30 cm, PR  25 cm and QPR  95 .

(a) Find
(i) the length of QR,
(ii) PQR . (4 marks)
(b) Let M be the mid-point of QR. A craftsman finds that the angle between PR and the horizontal
ground is 70  . The craftsman claims that the angle between PM and the horizontal ground exceeds
40  . Is the claim correct? Explain your answer. (3 marks)

139
[2021-DSE-MATH 1-Q18]
(a) A thin metal sheet ABCD is in the shape of a trapezium, where AD// BC . It is given that
AB  45 cm , ADC  70 and BAD  50 . Find CD . (2 marks)

(b) The metal sheet ABCD described in (a) is now given. Let E be a point lying on AD such that
BE is perpendicular to AD . The metal sheet is folded along BE such that AE is perpendicular
to the plane BCDE . Three thin triangular metal sheets are placed to this folded metal sheet to form
a pyramid (see Figure 2). It is found that BC  40 cm.

Figure 2
(a) Find CAD .
(ii) Does the angle between the plane ACD and the plane BCDE exceed 30 ? Explain
your answer.
(5 marks)

140
[2020-DSE-MATH 1-Q19]
PQRS is a quadrilateral paper card, where PQ  60cm , PS  40cm , PQR  30 , PRQ  55 and
QPS  120 . The paper card is held with QR lying on the horizontal ground as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3
(a) Find the length of RS (3 marks)
(b) Find the area of the paper card. (2 marks)
(c) It is given that the angle between the paper card and the horizontal ground is 32 .
(i) Find the shortest distance from P to the horizontal ground.
(ii) A student claims that the angle between RS and the horizontal ground is at most 20 .Is the
claim correct? Explain your answer.
(7 marks)

141
[2019-DSE-MATH 1-Q18]
Figure 3 shows a tetrahedron ABCD. Let P be a point lying on AD such that BP is perpendicular to AD. A
craftsman finds that AC = AD = CD = 13 cm , BC = 8 cm , BD = 12 cm and ABD  72 .

Figure 3
(a) Find
(i) BAD ,
(ii) CP.
(5 marks)
(b) The craftsman claims that BPC is the angle between the face ABD and the face ACD . Is the
claim correct? Explain your answer. (2 marks)

142
[2018-DSE-MATH 1-Q17]
(a) In Figure 3(a), ABCD is a paper card in the shape of a parallelogram. It is given that AB  60 cm ,
ABD  20 and BAD  120 .

Figure 3(a)
Find the length of AD. (2 marks)

(b) The paper card in Figure 3(a) is folded along BD such that the distance between A and C is 40 cm
(see Figure 3(b)).

Figure 3(b)
(i) Find ABC.
(ii) Find the angle between the plane ABD and the plane BCD.
(5 marks)

143
[2017-DSE-MATH 1-Q19]
ABC is a thin triangular metal sheet, where BC = 24 cm, BAC  30 and ACB  42 .
(a) Find the length of AC. (2 marks)
(b) In Figure 2, the thin metal sheet ABC is held such that only the vertex B lies on the horizontal ground.
D and E are points lying on the horizontal ground vertically below the vertices A and C respectively.
AC produced meets the horizontal ground at the point F. A craftsman finds that AD = 10 cm and
CE = 2 cm.

Figure 2
(i) Find the distance between C and F.
(ii) Find the area of ABF.
(iii) Find the inclination of the thin metal sheet ABC to the horizontal ground.
(iv) The craftsman claims that the area of BDF is greater than 460 cm2. Do you agree? Explain
your answer.
(11 marks)

144
[2016-DSE-MATH 1-Q19]
Figure 2 shows a geometric model ABCD in the form of tetrahedron. It is given that BAD  86 ,
CBD  43 , AB = 10 cm, AC = 6 cm, BC = 8 cm and BD = 15 cm.

Figure 2
(a) Find ABD and CD. (4 marks)
(b) A craftsman claims that the angle between AB and the face BCD is ABC. Do you agree?
Explain your answer. (2 marks)

145
[2015-DSE-MATH 1-Q19]
In Figure 3(a), ABCDB is a pentagonal paper card. It is given that AB = AB = 40 cm, BC = BD = 24
cm and ABC = ABD = 80.

Figure 3(a) Figure 3(b)

(a) Suppose that 105  BCD  145.

(i) Find the distance between A and C.
(ii) find ACB.
(iii) Describe how the area of the paper card varies when BCD increases from 105 to 145.
Explain your answer.
(7 marks)
(b) Suppose that BCD = 132. The paper card in Figure 3(a) is folded along AC and AD such that AB
and AB join together to form a pyramid ABCD as shown in Figure 3(b). Find the volume of the
pyramid ABCD. (6 marks)

146
[2014-DSE-MATH 1-Q17]
Figure 6(a) shows a solid pyramid VABCD with a rectangular base, where AB = 18 cm, BC = 10 cm, VB =
VC = 30 cm and VAB = VDC = 110.

Figure 6(a) Figure 6(b)

(a) Find VBA. (2 marks)
(b) P, Q, M and N are the mid-points of AB, CD, VB and VC respectively. A geometric model is made
by cutting off PBCQNM from VABCD as shown in Figure 6(b). A craftsman claims that the area of
the trapezium PQNM is less than 70 cm2. Do you agree? Explain your answer.
(5 marks)

147
[2013-DSE-MATH 1-Q18]
(a) Figure 3(a) shows a piece of triangular paper card ABC with AB = 28 cm, BC = 21 cm and AC = 35
cm. Let M be a point lying on AC such that BMC = 75.

Figure 3(a)
Find
(i) BCM,
(ii) CM.
(3 marks)
(b) Peter folds the triangular paper card described in (a) along BM such that AB and BC lie on the
horizontal ground as shown in Figure 3(b). It is given that AMC = 107.

Figure 3(b)
(i) Find the distance between A and C on the horizontal ground.
(ii) Let N be a point lying on BC such that MN is perpendicular to BC. Peter claims that the angle
between the face BCM and the horizontal ground is ANM. Do you agree? Explain your
answer.
(5 marks)

148
[2012-DSE-MATH 1-Q18]
Figure 5(a) shows a right pyramid VABCD with a square base, where VAB = 72. The length of a side
of the base is 20 cm. Let P and Q be the points lying on VA and VD respectively such that PQ is parallel
to BC and PBA = 60. A geometric model is made by cutting off the pyramid VPBCQ from VABCD as
shown in Figure 5(b).

Figure 5(a) Figure 5(b)

(a) Find the length of AP. (2 marks)
(b) Let  be the angle between the plane PBCQ and the base ABCD.
(i) Find  .
(ii) Let  be the angle between PB and the base ABCD. Which one of  and  is greater?
Explain your answer.
(6 marks)

149
[PP-DSE-MATH 1-Q18]
Figure 4 shows a geometric model ABCD in the form of tetrahedron. It is found that ACB = 60°, AC =
AD = 20 cm, BC = BD = 12 cm and CD = 14 cm.

Figure 4
(a) Find the length of AB. (2 marks)
(b) Find the angle between the plane ABC and the plane ABD. (4 marks)
(c) Let P be a movable point on the slant edge AB. Describe how CPD varies as P moves from A to B.
Explain your answer. (2 marks)

150
[DSE-MATH 1-Q18 (Sample paper)]
In Figure 8(a), ABC is a triangular paper card. D is a point lying on AB such that CD is perpendicular to
AB. It is given that AC 20 cm, CAD 45and CBD 30.

Figure 8(a)
(a) Find, in surd form, BC and BD. (3 marks)
(b) The triangular paper card in Figure 8(a) is folded along CD such that ACD lies on the horizontal
plane as shown in Figure 8(b).

Figure 8(b)
(i) If the distance between A and B is 18 cm, find the angle between the plane BCD and the
horizontal plane.
(ii) Describe how the volume of the tetrahedron ABCD varies when ADB increases from 40to
140. Explain your answer.
(5 marks)

151
AE. Centres of Triangles , Tangent to the circle
[2024-DSE-MATH 1-Q17]
The coordinates of the points Q and R are (10, -1) and (-4, -9) respectively.
(a) Let P be a moving point in the rectangular coordinate plane such that PQ = PR. Denote the locus
of P by  .
(i) Describe the geometric relationship between  and QR .
(ii) Find the equation of  .
(3 marks)
(b) Let C be the circle which passes through Q, R and the point (4, 3).
(i) Find the equation of C.
(ii) The coordinates of the point U are (10, 4). It is found that U lies outside C. UV and UW are
the tangents to C at the points V and W respectively. Is the area of the circumcircle of
UVW greater than 100? Explain your answer.
(5 marks)

152
[2020-DSE-MATH 1-Q18]
In Figure 2, U , V and W are points lying on a circle. Denote the circle by C . TU is the tangent to
C at U such that TVW is a straight line.

Figure 2
(b) Prove that UTV ~ WTU . (2 marks)
(c) It is given that VW is a diameter of C . Suppose that TU  780cm and TV  325cm .
(i) Express the circumference of C in terms of  .
(ii) Someone claims that the perimeter of UVW exceeds 35m . Do you agree? Explain your
answer.
(5 marks)

153
[2019-DSE-MATH 1-Q17]
(a) Let a and p be the area and perimeter of ∆CDE respectively. Denote the radius of the inscribed circle
of ∆CDE by r. Prove that pr = 2a. (2 marks)
(b) The coordinates of the points H and K are (9, 12) and (14, 0) respectively. Let P be a moving point
in the rectangular coordinate plane such that the perpendicular distance from P to OH is equal to the
perpendicular distance from P to HK, where O is the origin. Denote the locus of P by Γ
(i) Describe the geometric relationship between Γ and OHK .
(ii) Using (a), find the equation of Γ 
(5 marks)

154
[2018-DSE-MATH 1-Q19]
The coordinates of the centre of the circle C are (8, 2). Denote the radius of C by r. Let L be the
straight line kx  5 y  21  0 , where k is a constant. It is given that L is a tangent to C.
(a) Find the equation of C in terms of r. Hence, express r 2 in terms of k. (4 marks)
(b) L passes through the point D (18, 39).
(i) Find r.
(ii) It is given that L cuts the y-axis at the point E. Let F be a point such that C is the inscribed
circle of DEF. Is DEF an obtuse-angled triangle? Explain your answer.
(8 marks)

155
[2016-DSE-MATH 1-Q20]
OPQ is an obtuse-angled triangle. Denote the in-centre and the circumcentre of OPQ be I and J
respectively. It is given that P, I and J are collinear.
(a) Prove that OP  PQ . (3 marks)
(b) A rectangular coordinate system is introduced so that the coordinates of O and Q are (0, 0) and
(40, 30) respectively while the y-coordinate of P is 19. Let C be the circle which passes through O,
P and Q.
(i) Find the equation of C.
3
(ii) Let L1 and L2 be the tangents to C such that the slope of each tangent is and the
4
y-intercept of L1 is greater than that of L2 . L1 cuts the x-axis and the y-axis at S and T
respectively while L2 cuts the x-axis and the y-axis at U and V respectively. Someone claims
that the area of the trapezium STUV exceeds 17000. Is the claim correct? Explain your
answer.
(9 marks)

156
[2012-DSE-MATH 1-Q17]
The coordinates of the centre of the circle C are (6, 10). It is given that the x-axis is a tangent to C.
(a) Find the equation of C. (2 marks)
(b) The slope and the y-intercept of the straight line L is –1 and k respectively. If L cuts C at A and B,
express the coordinates of the mid-point of AB in terms of k.
(5 marks)

157
[DSE-MATH 1-Q19 (Sample paper)]
In Figure 9, the circle passes through four points A, B, C and D. PQ is the tangent to the circle at C and
is parallel to BD. AC and BD intersect at E. It is given that AB AD.

Figure 9
(a) (i) Prove that ABE ADE.
(ii) Are the in-centre, the orthocentre, the centroid and the circumcentre of ABD collinear?
Explain your answer.
(6 marks)
(b) A rectangular coordinate system is introduced in Figure 9 so that the coordinates of A, B and D are
(14, 4), (8, 12) and (4, 4) respectively. Find the equation of the tangent PQ.
(7 marks)

158
AF.Linear Programming
[2021-DSE-MATH 1-Q16]
The straight lines L1 and L2 are perpendicular to each other. The y-intercept of L1 is 3 . It is given
that L1 and L2 intersect at the point ( 2, 6) . Let R be the region (including the boundary) bounded by
L1 , L2 and the x-axis.
(a) It is given that R represents the solution of a system of inequalities. Find the system of inequalities.
(3 marks)
(b) Find the least value of 8 x  5 y , where ( x, y ) is a point lying in R .
(2 marks)

159
[2014-DSE-MATH 1-Q18]
(a) In Figure 7, the equation of the straight line L1 is 6x + 7y = 900 and the x-intercept of the straight
line L2 is 180. L1 and L2 intersect at the point (45, 90). The shaded region (including the
boundary) represents the solution of a system of inequalities. Find the system of inequalities.
(4 marks)

Figure 7

(b) A factory produces two types of wardrobes, X and Y. Each wardrobe X requires 6 man-hours for
assembly and 2 man-hours for packing while each wardrobe Y requires 7 man-hours for assembly
and 3 man-hours for packing. In a certain month, the factory has 900 man-hours available for
assembly and 360 man-hours available for packing. The profits for producing a wardrobe X and a
wardrobe Y are $440 and $665 respectively. A worker claims that the total profit can exceed $80
000 that month. Do you agree? Explain your answer. (4 marks)

160
AG. Sequences, Arithmetic Sequence / Geometric Sequence
[2022-DSE-MATH 1-Q17]

Let c be a real constant. The roots of the equation x 2  cx  9  0 are  and  .

(a) Express  2   2 in terms of c . (3 marks)

(b) The 1st term, the 2nd term and the 3rd term of an arithmetic sequence are c2,  2   2
and 85 respectively. Find the least value of n such that the sum of the first n terms of the sequence is
greater than 2  10 6 . (4 marks)

[2021-DSE-MATH 1-Q17]
Let A ( n) be the nth term of an arithmetic sequence. It is given that A(5)  26 and A (12)  61 .
(a) Find A(1) . (2 marks)
(b) Suppose that log 2 G(n)  A(n) for any positive integer n .
Find the greatest value of k such that log 8 G(1)G(2)G(3)G(k )   999 .
(5 marks)

161
[2020-DSE-MATH 1-Q16]
The 3rd term and the 6th term of a geometric sequence are 144 and 486 respectively.
(a) Find the 1st term of the sequence. (2 marks)
(b) Find the least value of n such that the sum of the first n terms of the sequence is greater than
8 1018 . (3 marks)

[2019-DSE-MATH 1-Q16]
   5  18
Let  and be real numbers such that  
     13  63
2

(a) Find  and  . (2 marks)

(b) The 1st term and the 2nd term of an arithmetic sequence are log and log respectively. Find the
least value of n such that the sum of the first n terms of the sequence is greater than 888 .
(4 marks)

[2018-DSE-MATH 1-Q16]
The 3rd term and the 4th term of a geometric sequence are 720 and 864 respectively.
(a) Find the 1st term of the sequence. (2 marks)
(b) Find the greatest value of n such that the sum of the (n  1) th term and the (2n  1) th term is less
than 5 1014 . (3 marks)

162
[2017-DSE-MATH 1-Q16]
A city adopts a plan to import water from another city. It is given that the volume of water imported in
the 1st year since the start of the plan is 1.5 107 m3 and in subsequent years, the volume of water
imported each year is 10% less than the volume of water imported in the previous year.

(a) Find the total volume of water imported in the first 20 years since the start of the plan. (2 marks)
(b) Someone claims that the total volume of water imported since the start of the plan will not exceed
1.6 108 m3 . Do you agree? Explain your answer. (2 marks)

[2016-DSE-MATH 1-Q17]
The 1st term and the 38th term of an arithmetic sequence are 666 and 555 respectively. Find
(a) the common difference of the sequence, (2 marks)
(b) the greatest value of n such that the sum of the first n terms of the sequence is positive. (3 marks)

[2015-DSE-MATH 1-Q17]
For any positive integer n, let A(n)  4n  5 and B(n)  104 n5 .
(a) Express A(1)  A(2)  A(3)   A(n) in terms of n. (2 marks)
(b) Find the greatest value of n such that log  B(1) B(2) B(3) B(n)   8000 . (3 marks)

163
[2014-DSE-MATH 1-Q16]
In Figure 5, the 1st pattern consists of 3 dots. For any positive integer n, the (n + 1)th pattern is formed
by adding 2 dots to the nth pattern. Find the least value of m such that the total number of dots in the
first m patterns exceeds 6888.

Figure 5
(4 marks)

[DSE-MATH 1-Q15 (Sample paper)]

The seats in a theatre are numbered in numerical order from the first row to the last row, and from left to
right, as shown in Figure 7. The first row has 12 seats. Each succeeding row has 3 more seats than the
previous one. If the theatre cannot accommodate more than 930 seats, what is the greatest number of
rows of seats in the theatre?
(4 marks)

164
**[2013-DSE-MATH 1-Q19]
The development of public housing in a city is under study. It is given that the total floor area of all
public housing flats at the end of the 1st year is 9  106 m2 and in subsequent years, the total floor area of
public housing flats built each year is r% of the total floor area of all public housing flats at the end of the
previous year, where r is a constant, and the total floor area of public housing flats pulled down each year
is 3  105 m2. It is found that the total floor area of all public housing flats at the end of the 3rd year is
1.026  107 m2.
(a) (i) Express, in terms of r, the total floor area of all public housing flats at the end of the 2nd year.
(ii) Find r.
(4 marks)
(b) (i) Express, in terms of n, the total floor area of all public housing flats at the end of the nth year.
(ii) At the end of which year will the total floor area of all public housing flats first exceed
4  10 7 m2?
(5 marks)
(c) It is assumed that the total floor area of public housing flats needed at the end of the nth year is
(a(1.21)n  b) m2 , where a and b are constants. Some research results reveal the following
information:
n The total floor area of public housing flats needed at the end of the nth year (m2)
1 1  107
2 1.063  107
A research assistant claims that based on the above assumption, the total floor area of all public
housing flats will be greater than the total floor area of public housing flats needed at the end of a
certain year. Is the claim correct? Explain your answer.
(4 marks)

165
** [2012-DSE-MATH 1-Q19]
In a city, the air cargo terminal X of an airport handles goods of weight A(n) tonnes in the nth year since
the start of its operation, where n is a positive integer. It is given that A(n) = ab2n, where a and b are
positive constants. It is found that the weights of the goods handled by X in the 1st year and the 2nd
year since the start of its operation are 254100 tonnes and 307461 tonnes respectively.

(a) (i) Find a and b.

Hence find the weight of the goods handled by X in the 4th year since the start of its operation.
(ii) Express, in terms of n, the total weight of the goods handled by X in the first n years since the
start of its operation.
(6 marks)
(b) The air cargo terminal Y starts to operate since X has been operated for 4 years. Let B(m) tonnes by
the weight of goods handled by Y in the mth year since the start of its operation, where m is a
positive integer. It is given that B(m)  2abm .

(i) The manager of the airport claims that after Y has been operated, the weight of the goods
handled by Y is less than that handled by X in each year. Do you agree? Explain your
answer.
(ii) The supervisor of the airport thinks that when the total weight of the goods handled by X and Y
since the start of the operation of X exceeds 20000000 tonnes, new facilities should be installed
to maintain the efficiency of the air cargo terminals. According to the supervisor, in which
year since the start of the operation of X should the new facilities be installed?
(7 marks)

166
** [PP-DSE-MATH 1-Q19]
The amount of investment of a commercial firm in the 1st year is $4000000. The amount of investment in
each successive year is r% less than the previous year. The amount of investment in the 4th year is
$1048576.
(a) Find r. (2 marks)
(b) The revenue made by the firm in the 1st year is $2000000. The revenue made in each successive
year is 20% less than the previous year.
(i) Find the least number of years needed for the total revenue made by the firm to exceed
$9000000.
(ii) Will the total revenue made by the firm exceed $10000000? Explain your answer.
(iii) The manager of the firm claims that the total revenue made by the firm will exceed the total
amount of investment. Do you agree? Explain your answer.
(10 marks)

167
AH. Probability , nCr , n!
[2019-DSE-MATH 1-Q15]
There are 21 boys and 11 girls in a class. If 5 students are selected from the class to form a committee
consisting of at least 1 boy, how many different committees can be formed? (3 marks)

[2018-DSE-MATH 1-Q15]
An eight-digit phone number is formed by a permutation of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.
(a) How many different eight-digit phone numbers can be formed? (1 mark)
(b) If the first digit and the last digit of an eight-digit phone number are odd numbers, how many
different eight-digit phone numbers can be formed? (2 marks)

[2024-DSE-MATH 1-Q16]
In a bag, there are 16 red cups and 4 white cups. If 5 cups are randomly drawn from the bag at the same
time, find
(a) the probability that exactly 1 white cup is drawn; (2 marks)

(b) the probability that at most 3 red cup is drawn. (2 marks)

[2023-DSE-MATH 1-Q15]
In a box, there are 5 red balls and 4 black balls. From the box, 2 balls are randomly chosen at the same
time.
(a) Find the probability that the 2 balls chosen are red. (2 marks)
(b) In a bag, there are 8 red balls. The 2 balls chosen from the box are put into the bag and then 3 balls
are randomly chosen at the same time from the bag. Find the probability that the 3 balls chosen are
of the same colour. (2 marks)

168
[2022-DSE-MATH 1-Q15]
There are 10 boys and 12 girls in a class. If 4 students are randomly selected from the class to form a
committee,
(a) find the probability that there are 2 boys and 2 girls in the committee; (2 marks)
(b) find the probability that the number of boys and the number of girls in the committee are different.
(2 marks)

[2021-DSE-MATH 1-Q15]
A queue is randomly formed by 7 teachers and 3 students.
(a) How many different queues can be formed? (1 mark)
(b) Find the probability that no students are next to each other in the q (3 marks)

[2020-DSE-MATH 1-Q15]
In a box, there are 3 blue plates, 7 green plates and 9 purple plates. If 4 plates are randomly selected from
the box at the same time, find
(a) the probability that 4 plates of the same colour are selected; (3 marks)
(b) the probability that at least 2 plates of different colours are selected. (2 marks)

[2018-DSE-MATH 1-Q4]
A bag contains n white balls, 5 black balls and 8 red balls. If a ball is randomly drawn from the box,
2
then the probability of drawing a red ball is . Find the value of n. (3 marks)
5

169
 [2017-DSE-MATH 1-Q17]
In a bag, there are 4 green pens, 7 blue pens and 8 black pens. If 5 pens are randomly drawn from the
bag at the same time,
(a) find the probability that exactly 4 green pens are drawn; (2 marks)
(b) find the probability that exactly 3 green pens are drawn; (2 marks)
(c) find the probability that not more than 2 green pens are drawn. (2 marks)

[2016-DSE-MATH 1-Q15]
If 4 boys and 5 girls randomly form a queue, find the probability that no boys are next to each other in the
queue. (3 marks)

[2015-DSE-MATH 1-Q3]
Bag A contains four cards numbered 1, 3, 5 and 7 respectively while bag B contains five cards numbered
2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 respectively. If one card is randomly drawn from each bag, find the probability that the
sum of the two numbers drawn is less than 9. (3 marks)

[2015-DSE-MATH 1-Q16]
A box contains 5 red bowls, 6 yellow bowls and 3 white bowls. If 4 bowls are randomly drawn from the
box at the same time,
(a) find the probability that exactly 2 red bowls are drawn; (2 marks)
(b) find the probability that at least 2 red bowls are drawn. (2 marks)

170
[2013-DSE-MATH 1-Q16]
A box contains 5 white cups and 11 blue cups. If 6 cups are randomly drawn from the box at the same
time,
(a) find the probability that at least 4 white cups are drawn; (2 marks)
(b) find the probability that at least 3 blue cups are drawn. (2 marks)

[2012-DSE-MATH 1-Q16]
There are 8 departments in a company. To form a task group of 16 members, 2 representatives are
nominated by each department. From the task group, 4 members are randomly selected.
(a) Find the probability that the 4 selected members are nominated by 4 different departments.
(2 marks)
(b) Find the probability that the 4 selected members are nominated by at most 3 different departments.
(2 marks)

[PP-DSE-MATH 1-Q16]
There are 18 boys and 12 girls in a class. From the class, 4 students are randomly selected to form the
class committee.
(a) Find the probability that the class committee consists of boys only. (2 marks)
(b) Find the probability that the class committee consists of at least 1 boy and 1 girl. (2 marks)

[DSE-MATH 1-Q16 (Sample paper)]

A committee consists of 5 teachers from school A and 4 teachers from school B. Four teachers are
randomly selected from the committee.
(a) Find the probability that only 2 of the selected teachers are from school A. (3 marks)
(b) Find the probability that the numbers of selected teachers from school A and school B are different.
(2 marks)

171
**[2014-DSE-MATH 1-Q19]
Ada and Billy play a game consisting of two rounds. In the first round, Ada and Billy take turns to
throw a fair die. The player who first gets a number ‘3’ wins the first round. Ada and Billy play the
first round until one of them wins. Ada throws the die first.
(a) Find the probability that Ada wins the first round of the game. (3 marks)
(b) In the second round of the game, balls are dropped one by one into a device containing eight tubes
arranged side by side (see Figure 8). When a ball is dropped into the device, it falls randomly into
one of the tubes. Each tube can hold at most three balls.

Figure 8
The player of this round adopts one of the following two options.
Option 1: Two balls are dropped one by one into the device. If the two balls fall into the same tube,
then the player gets 10 tokens. If the two balls fall into two adjacent tubes, then the
player gets 5 tokens. Otherwise, the player gets no tokens.
Option 2: Three balls are dropped one by one into the device. If the three balls fall into the same
tube, then the player gets 50 tokens. If the three balls fall into three adjacent tubes, then
the player gets 10 tokens. If the three balls fall into two adjacent tubes, then the player
gets 5 tokens. Otherwise, the player gets no tokens.
(i) If the player of the second round adopts Option 1, find the expected number of tokens got.
(ii) Which option should the player of the second round adopt in order to maximize the expected
number of tokens got? Explain your answer.
(iii) Only the winner of the first round plays the second round. It is given that the player of the
second round adopts the option which can maximize the expected number of tokens got. Billy
claims that the probability of Ada getting no tokens in the game exceeds 0.9. Is the claim
correct? Explain your answer.
(10 marks)

172
AI. Standard Score
[2016-DSE-MATH 1-Q16]
In a test, the mean of the distribution of the scores of a class of students is 61 marks. The standard
scores of Albert and Mary are –2.6 and 1.4 respectively. Albert gets 22 marks. A student claims that the
range of the distribution is at most 59 marks. Is the claim correct? Explain your answer.
(3 marks)

[2015-DSE-MATH 1-Q15]
The table below shows the means and the standard deviations of the scores of a large group of students in
a Mathematics examination and a Science examination:

Examination Mean Standard deviation

Mathematics 66 marks 12 marks
Science 52marks 10 marks

The standard score of David in the Mathematics examination is –0.5.

(a) Find the score of David in the Mathematics examination. (2 marks)
(b) Assume that the scores in each of the above examinations are normally distributed. David gets 49
marks in the Science examination. He claims that relative to other students, he performs better in the
Science examination than in the Mathematics examination. Is the claim correct? Explain your answer.
(2 marks)

173
[2013-DSE-MATH 1-Q15]
The box-and-whisker diagram below shows the distribution of the scores (in marks) of the students of a
class in a test. Susan gets the highest score while Tom gets 65 marks in the test. The standard scores of
Susan and Tom in the test are 3 and 0.5 respectively.

(a) Find the mean of the distribution. (2 marks)

(b) Susan claims that the standard scores of at least half of the students in the test are negative. Do you
agree? Explain your answer.
(2 marks)

[2012-DSE-MATH 1-Q15]
The standard deviation of the test scores obtained by a class of students in a Mathematics test is 10 marks.
All the students fail in the test, so the test score of each student is adjusted such that each score is
increased by 20% and then extra 5 marks are added.
(a) Find the standard deviation of the test scores after the score adjustment. (1 mark)
(b) Is there any change in the standard score of each student due to the score adjustment? Explain your
answer. (2 marks)

[PP-DSE-MATH 1-Q15]
The mean score of a class of students in a test is 48 marks. The scores of Mary and John in the test are
36 marks and 66 marks respectively. The standard score of Mary in the test is −2.
(a) Find the standard score of John in the test. (2 marks)
(b) A student, David, withdraws from the class and his test score is then deleted. It is given that his test
score is 48 marks. Will there be any change in the standard score of John due to the deletion of the
test score of David? Explain your answer. (2 marks)

174
 Answers
HKDSE
Paper 1

Sample paper
x7
1.
y4
6a
2. b
1 a
3. (a) (3m  2n)(m  n) (b) (m  n)(3m  2n  1)
4. (a) $400 (b) 15%
5. 24
6. (a) 3 (b) 54 cm3
7. 19
8. (a) A(5, 2) , A(2, 5) (b) no
9. (a) 60 (b) no
2
10. (a) 5x  2 (b) (i) a  2 , b  1 (ii) x  ,  3, 1
5
11. (a) $1644 (b) 2.75 metres
12. (a) Part I (b) 8:26 (c) 15 m/s
13. (a) 3 x  4 y  48  0 (b) (i)  is parallel to L2 (ii) 3 x  4 y  32  0
14. (a) median = 62%, mean = 60%
(b) (i) 58% (ii) a  63 , b  57 (or any other reasonable answers)
(c) (any suitable reason)
15. 21
10 11
16. (a) (b)
21 21
17. 9.6
18. (a) BC  20 2 cm , BD  10 6 cm
(b) (i) 46.6
(ii) When ADB increases from 40 to 90, the volume of the tetrahedron ABCD increases.
When ADB increases from 90 to 140, the volume of the tetrahedron ABCD decreases.
19. (a) (ii) yes (b) 2 x  y  1  0

175
Practice paper
m 26
1.
n9
2b  5
2. a
3b
3. (a) (3x  7 y)2 (b) (3x  7 y )(3x  7 y  2)

4. $585
4
5. litre
5
6. (a) yes (b) 196

7. 18

8. (a) A(3, 4) , B(5,  2) (b) x  3 y 1  0

9. (a) least possible value = 0, greatest possible value = 3 (b) 4

10. (a) 0 (b) ( x  3)(2 x  1)(3 x  2)

11. (a) $52.5 (b) 60 cm

12. (a) 31 minutes (b) 7.8 km (c) Billy

13. (a) 8 (b) (i) 45 (ii) no

14. (a) BCD ~ OAD (b) (i) (0, 4) (ii) ( x  3)2  ( y  2)2  13

15. (a) 3 (b) yes

68 530
16. (a) (b)
609 609
1 2
17. (a)  i (b) (i) p  4 , q  20 (ii) r  16
5 5
18. (a) 4 19 cm (or 17.4 cm) (b) 71.9

(c) CPD increases as P moves from A to Q and decreases as P moves from Q to B.

19. (a) 36 (b) (i) 11 (ii) no (iii) disagree

176
2012
n5
1.
m12
7b  8
2. a
3
3. (a) ( x  3 y)2 (b) ( x  3 y )( x  3 y  7)

4. (a) $576 (b) Christine

5. 54
24
6. (a) x (b) 4
5
7. (a) a  11.3 , b  15.3 (b) agree

8. (a) AED ~ BEC (or AEB ~ DEC ); AE  6 cm (b) yes

9. (a) 11 cm (b) 624 cm 2

10. (a) mean = 18, median = 16 (b) (i) 18 (ii) no

11. (a) $95 (b) $212

12. (a) 73728 cm3 (b) (i) 144000 cm3 (ii) disagree

13. (a) 5 (b) (i) 15m3  63m 2  72m (ii) no

14. (a) (i)  is parallel to L. (ii) x  3 y  6  0 (b) (i) yes (ii) 1:1

15. (a) 12marks (b) no

8 5
16. (a) (b)
13 13
k 4 k 4
17. (a) ( x  6)2  ( y  10)2  102 (b)  , 
 2 2 

18. (a) 23.3 cm (b) (i) 58.6 (ii) 

19. (a) (i) a  210000 , b  1.1; 450153.6501 tonnes (ii) 1210000((1.1)2 n  1) tonnes

(b) (i) agree (ii) 14th year

177
2013
y7
1.
x10
h
2. k
3  2h
3. (a) (2m  5n)(2m  5n) (b) (2m  5n)(2m  5n  3)

4. $5
25
5. (a) x (b) 7, 8, 9
4
6. (a) L is the angle bisector of AOB. (b) (13, 70)

7. (b) (i) 3 pairs (ii) 4 paris

8. (a) 99.5 g (b) no

7
9. (a) mean  , inter-quartile range = 2, standard deviation = 1.5 (b) decreases 0.0485
2
 a  0 a  1 a  2 8
10. (a) median = 31, mode = 23 (b) (i)  ,  or  (ii)
b  7 b  8 b  9 65
11
11. (a) 222grams (b) metres
4
12. (a) a  3 , b  1 , c  4 (b) disagree

13. (a) (i) 1: 3 (ii) 15 cm (b) disagree

14. (a) (6, 17) (b) (i) 25 (ii) (1) P, Q and R are collinear. (2) 3: 2

15. (a) 60 marks (b) agree

1 27
16. (a) (b)
28 28
3
17. (a) (18, 324) (b) (i) A  54 x  x 2 (ii) disagree
2
18. (a) (i) 53.1 (ii) 17.1 cm (b) (i) 28.1 cm (ii) disagree

19. (a) (i) (870  9r ) 104 m 2 (ii) 10

(b) (i) (6(1.1)n1  3) 106 m2 (ii) 21st year

(c) incorrect

178
2014
x3
1.
y10
2. (a) (a  1)(a  3) (b) (a  1)(b 2  a  3)

3. (a) 200 (b) 123 (c) 123.4

4. median = 1, mode = 2, standard deviation = 0.889

7  5m
5. (a) n (b) decrease by 5
2
6. (a) $153 (b) $150

7. (a) yes (b) agree

8. (a) P(5, 3) , Q(19,  7)

9. (b) yes

10. (a) 30 km (b) 8:36 (c) disagree

11. (a) range = 73 thousand dollars, inter-quartile range = 21 thousand dollars

(b) mean = 54 thousand dollars, median = 55 thousand dollars

12. (a) x 2  ( y  3)2  102

(b) (i) 3 x  4 y  37  0

(ii)  is the perpendicular bisector of the line segment AG.

(iii) 40

13. (a) –69 (b) 414

14. (a) 2625 cm2 (b) agree

1
15. y  8x 2

16. 83

17. (a) 35.7 (b) agree

6 x  7 y  900
2 x  3 y  360

18. (a)  (b) disagree
x  0
 y  0
6 75
19. (a) (b) (i) (ii) Option 1 (iii) incorrect
11 32

179
2015
n 35
1.
m6
4a  7
2. b
3
3
3.
10
4. (a) x 2 ( x  y  7) (b) ( x  1)( x  1)( x  y  7)
13
5. (a) x (b) 4
4
6. (a) $300 (b) $400

7. 40

8. BDC  39 , ABE  22

9. (a) 75 (b) (5  24) cm

10. (a) $14600 (b) no

11. (a) h  2 , k  5 (b) disagree

12. (a) mean = 55 kg, median = 52 kg, range = 39 kg (b) 52 kg, 80 kg

13. (b) yes (c) 12 cm

14. (a) (i) 3 x  4 y  59  0 (b) 50

15. (a) 60 分 (b) correct

360 5
16. (a) (b)
1001 11
17. (a) n(2n  3) (b) 64

18. (a) no (b) (k , k 2  5) (c) incorrect

19. (a) (i) 42.9 cm (ii) 66.6

(iii) When BCD increases from 105 to 111.59, the area of the paper card increases.

When BCD increases from 111.59 to 145, the area of the paper card decreases.

(b) 3690 cm3

180
2016
1. x11 y 20
BC
2. x
A  4C
13
3.
(4 x  5)(6 x  1)
4. (a) 5( m  2n) (b) (m  3n)(m  2n) (c) ( m  2n)( m  3n  5)

5. 30

6. (a) all real numbers (b) –1

7. (a) 60 (b) 36 (c) 3

8. (a) f( x)  13x  x 2 (b) 5, –18

2
9. (a) x  6 , y  22 , z  40 (b)
5
10. (a) 4 x  3 y  24  0 (b) correct

11. (a) 768 cm3 (b) do not agree

a  12 a  13
12. (a)  or  (b) (i) 8 (ii) 7.6
b  8 b  9
13. (b) (i) 12 cm (ii) yes

14. (a) l  3 , m  1 , n  4 (b) 2

5
15. 16. incorrect
42
17. (a) –3 (b) 444
1
18. (a) (18, –13) (b) g( x)  ( x  18) 2
13
(c) reflection about the y-axis (or leftward translation of 36 units)

19. (a) ABD  52.3 , CD  10.7 cm (b) disagree

20. (b) (i) x 2  y 2  112 x  66 y  0 (ii) correct

181
2017
3x
1. y
k 1
m 22
2.
n3
3. (a) ( x  3 y )( x  y ) (b) ( x  3 y )( x  y  1)

4. 432

5. (a) 1  x  5 (b) 4

6. (a) A(–4, –3), B(9, 9)

7. (a) 40 (b) 900

972
8. (a) y (b) decrease by 27
x
9. (a) 195 mL (b) disagree

10. (b) 4 cm2

2
11. (a) median = $69, standard deviation = $7.33 (b)
5
12. (a) 1296 cm3 (b) 384 cm2

13. (a) ( x  2)2  ( y  1)2  100 (c) (i) F, G and H are collinear. (ii) 12 x  5 y  19  0

14. (a) –9 (b) (ii) disagree

15. x  3 y  2

16. (a) 1.32 108 m3 (b) agree

5 35 3731
17. (a) (b) (c)
3876 969 3876
18. (b) (ii) yes

19. (a) 45.7 cm (b) (i) 11.4 cm (ii) 458 cm2 (iii) 21.4 (iv) disagree

182
2018
2a  5
1. b
3
x9
2.
y5
3. (a) 266 (b) 265.4 (c) 270

4. n=7

5. (a) 9r 2 ( r  2 s ) (b) (r  2 s )(3r  s )(3r  s )

11
6. (a) 8  x  (b) –3
5
7. $520

8. x  180   y  2  180

9. 105 minutes

10. (a) a  48, b  62 (b) disagree

11. (a)(i) 1 (ii) 8 (b)(i) 3 (ii) 19 (c) k = 9

12. (a) a = –19, b = –135 (b) disagree

13. (b)(i) BE = 20cm, CD = 48cm (ii) 750 cm2 (iii) No

14. (a) 4096 cm3 (b) 48 cm (c) the water will not overflow

15. (a) 40320 (b) 8640

16. (a) 500 (b) the greatest value of n = 75

17. (a) AD  31.9cm (b)(i) ABC  38.0 (ii) APQ  71.9

18. (a) f ( x)  3x 2  24 x (b)(i) Q (– 4, – 48) (ii) (– 4, 75) (iii) P is the mid-pt of QR

64k 2  496k  961

19 (a) r2  (b)(i) r=5 (ii) Yes
k 2  25

183
2019
1. h  4  27k
x
2.
(7 x  6)(5 x  4)

3. r = –3 or 19 (rej.)

4. (a) (2m  3)(2m  3) (b) n(2m  3)( m  5) (c) (2m  3)(2m  mn  5n  3)

5. (a) $920 (b) $600

6. (a) x2 (b) 8

7. 39
9
8. (a) 2 (b) 4 (c)
20
9. (a) 288 cm3 (b) 180 cm 2

10. (a) h( x)  24 x  48 (b) x = 4

11. (a) quotient = 5x – 3 (b) 1 rational root

a  0  a  1
12. (a) c = 4 (b)(i)  or  (ii) 7.34 s
b  7 b  6
13. (a) CBF  25 (b) the perimeter of the sector OBC is not less than 60 cm

14. (b)(i) DF  ( 2  1) (ii) agree

15. 200914

16. (a)   9,   27 (b) the least value of n = 60

17. (b)(i) Γ is the angle bisector of OHK (ii) 8x – y – 60 = 0

18. (a)(i) BAD  61.4 (ii) CP  11.4cm (b) Incorrect

1
19 (b)(i) U = (3k – 1, 28 – 9k) (ii) k = 3 or k = (rej.) (iii) No.
2

184
2020
m9
1.
n10

2. (a) (  3)(  2) (b)  2 (  3)(  2)

3. (a)600 (b) 534.76 (c) 530

4
4.
5
5. 416

6. (a) x  1 ( x  1 or x  1) (b)  2

7. (a) 9 (b)  8 及 5

8. (a) 12 (b) 168  

9. (a) mean = 5.4, median = 5.5, standard deviation = 0.917 (b) 0.5

10. (a) $133 (b) Incorrect

3
11. (a) 6 (b)
10

12. (a) 700 cm3 (b) 195 cm 2

13. (a) 8 (b) Correct

14. (a) ( x  10)2  ( y  15)2  252 or x2  y x  20 x  30 y  300  0

(b)(i) Γ is parallel to L (ii) 3x  4 y  30  0 (iii) Disagree

161 3715
15. (a) (b)
3876 3876
16. (a) 64 (b) 96

17. (a) (k , k 2  4) (b) No

18. (b)(i) 1547cm (ii) Agree

19. (a) 16.9 cm (b) 1400cm 2 (c)(i) 15.9cm (ii) Yes

185
2021
 23
1.
9
4  5b
2. (a) a 
3
3. (a) ( 2 x  y )(3 x  2 y ) (b) (2 x  y )( 4  3x  2 y )

4. 4 x 7 (b) 6

5. 48

6. $260

7. (a) 60 (b) 21 (c) 63

8. (a) ACE ~ DBE (AAA ) (b)(i) 是 (ii) 270 cm 2

9. (a) 28 (b) Range  5 , IQR  2 , SD  1.43

10. (a) 45 (b)(i) 48 (ii)  4

11. (a) 3 (b) No (c)(i) 42 (ii) 11 (iii) 10

12. (a)  67 (c) NO

13. (a) 10 (b) Yes (c) 120

14. (a) 10 cm (b) (2800pi cm3)No (c) Yes

7
15. (a) 3 628 800 (b)
15

3x  2 y  6  0

16. (a) 2 x  3 y  22  0 (b)  16
y  0


17. (a) 6 (b) 33

18. (a) 36.7 cm (b)(i) 35.5 (ii) Yes

19. (a) (6k  7 , 5k  4)

(b) (7  6k , 5k  4)

(c)(i) 4 x  3 y  9k  16  0 (ii) ( x  7) 2  ( y  2k  4) 2  9k 2 (iii) Yes

186
2022
a17
1.
 14
2. 57

17k
3.
(k  9)(5k  6)

4. (a) (3c  1) 2 (b) (7c  d  1)(c  d  1)

5. $540
6. (a) x  2 (b) -3
S '  (5,12) 5
7. (a) (b)
T '  ( 3,7) 8

8. (a) ABC  ADE (AAS) (b) 63

3
9. (a) 12 (b) 19 minutes (c)
5

10. (a) f ( x)  3x 2  12 x (b) 0, -4 (c) k > -12

a2
11. (a) (b)(i) 36 (b)(ii) 7.16
b 1
12. (a) 20 (b)(i) GH perpendicular to GP (b)(ii) 220
13. (a) 288π cm 3 (b) No
a  -15
14. (a) (b) x-5 is the factor of p(x) (c) No
b  29
54 79
15. (a) (b)
133 133

16. (a) (2k ,4k 2  8) (b) (-k ,5k 2  10)

17. (a) c 2  18 (b) 470

18. (a)(i) 40.7 cm (a)(ii) PQR  37.7 (b) No

19. (a) 4 x  3 y  668  0 (b) (110, 76) (c) ( x  128) 2  ( y  52) 2  30 2 (d) No

187
2023
15  k 2
1. h 
5k
34 55
2. x y
3. The claim is not correct.
9
4. (a) <x<3 (b) 4
2
5. 35
43
6. (a) 6: 7: 17 (b)
50
7. RPS  27 , PQS  63

8. (a) ACE  BDE  sum of  

(b) AE2 +CE2  AC , BDE is not a right-angled triangle.

7
9. (a)36, 33 (b)
12
10. (a)  is the perpendicular bisector of AB.

(ii)  x  5   y  3  10 / x 2  y 2  10 x  6 y  24  0
2 2
(b)(i) x - 3y - 14 = 0

11. (a) 2, 2, 0.9 (b) There is no change in the range of distribution.

12. (a) f (5) = 26 (b) 13
13. (a)3x+4
4 5  73
(b) x = 0, x = or x = . The equation h( x)  0 has two rational roots.
3 2
14. (a) 48 cm (b)(i) 3087 cm3 (ii) 21 cm
5 67
15. (a) (b)
18 90
 a 
2
3
16. (a) 5   b ,  5a  36b
2
(b) m 
 6  4
17. (a) XWY  51.5
(b) The angle between the triangles WXY and XYZ does not exceed 45
18. (a) log7   2  log7 

(b) log7   2 , the common difference of the arithmetric sequence is 1.

 t 2  126   252 
19. (a)  25,  ,  14, t 
 t   

(b)(i) t = 576 ,  t = 24
(ii) The slope of OG and the slope of OQ are equal. Thus, O, G and Q are collinear.
(iii) 11:12

188