OCR MEI C4 — Question 5 18 marks

Exam BoardOCR MEI
ModuleC4 (Core Mathematics 4)
Marks18
PaperDownload PDF ↗
Mark schemeDownload PDF ↗
TopicParametric differentiation
TypeGradient condition leads to trig equation
DifficultyStandard +0.3 This is a standard C4 parametric equations question with routine techniques: finding stationary points by setting dx/dθ=0, computing dy/dx using the chain rule, and using R-cos(θ+α) form to solve a trigonometric equation. Each part follows textbook methods with no novel insight required, making it slightly easier than average for A-level.
Spec1.03g Parametric equations: of curves and conversion to cartesian1.05n Harmonic form: a sin(x)+b cos(x) = R sin(x+alpha) etc1.07s Parametric and implicit differentiation

5 Part of the track of a roller-coaster is modelled by a curve with the parametric equations $$x = 2 \theta - \sin \theta , \quad y = 4 \cos \theta \quad \text { for } 0 \leqslant \theta \leqslant 2 \pi .$$ This is shown in Fig. 8. B is a minimum point, and BC is vertical. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{c443a5b6-247d-411d-8371-4d6ebd5c3489-3_598_1443_598_385} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Fig. 8}
\end{figure}
  1. Find the values of the parameter at A and B . Hence show that the ratio of the lengths OA and AC is \(( \pi - 1 ) : ( \pi + 1 )\).
  2. Find \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x }\) in terms of \(\theta\). Find the gradient of the track at A .
  3. Show that, when the gradient of the track is \(1 , \theta\) satisfies the equation $$\cos \theta - 4 \sin \theta = 2$$
  4. Express \(\cos \theta - 4 \sin \theta\) in the form \(R \cos ( \theta + \alpha )\). Hence solve the equation \(\cos \theta - 4 \sin \theta = 2\) for \(0 \leqslant \theta \leqslant 2 \pi\).

Question 5:
Part (i):
AnswerMarks Guidance
Answer/WorkingMarks Guidance
At A, \(y=0\), \(x\)-coord of \(A = 2 \times \frac{\pi}{2} - \sin\frac{\pi}{2} = \pi - 1\)B1
\(x\)-coord of \(B = 2\pi - \sin\pi = 2\pi\)B1 for either A or B/C
\(OA = \pi - 1\), \(AC = 2\pi - \pi + 1 = \pi + 1\)M1 A1 for both A and B/C
Ratio is \((\pi-1):(\pi+1)\)E1
[5]
Part (ii):
AnswerMarks Guidance
Answer/WorkingMarks Guidance
\(\frac{dy}{d\theta} = -4\sin\theta\)B1 either \(dx/d\theta\) or \(dy/d\theta\)
\(\frac{dx}{d\theta} = 2 - \cos\theta\)
\(\frac{dy}{dx} = \frac{dy/d\theta}{dx/d\theta} = -\frac{4\sin\theta}{2-\cos\theta}\)M1 A1
At A, gradient \(= -\frac{4\sin(\pi/2)}{2-\cos(\pi/2)} = -2\)A1 www
[4]
Part (iii):
AnswerMarks Guidance
Answer/WorkingMarks Guidance
\(\frac{dy}{dx} = 1 \Rightarrow -\frac{4\sin\theta}{2-\cos\theta} = 1\)M1 their \(dy/dx = 1\)
\(-4\sin\theta = 2 - \cos\theta\)
\(\cos\theta - 4\sin\theta = 2\)E1
[2]
Part (iv):
AnswerMarks Guidance
Answer/WorkingMarks Guidance
\(\cos\theta - 4\sin\theta = R\cos(\theta + \alpha) = R(\cos\theta\cos\alpha - \sin\theta\sin\alpha)\)M1 corr pairs
\(R\cos\alpha = 1\), \(R\sin\alpha = 4\)B1
\(R^2 = 1^2 + 4^2 = 17\), \(R = \sqrt{17}\)
\(\tan\alpha = 4\), \(\alpha = 1.326\)M1 A1 accept \(76.0°\), \(1.33\) radians
\(\sqrt{17}\cos(\theta + 1.326) = 2\)
\(\cos(\theta + 1.326) = \frac{2}{\sqrt{17}}\)
\(\theta + 1.326 = 1.064, 5.219, 7.348\)M1 inv \(\cos(2/\sqrt{17})\) ft their \(R\) for method
\(\theta = (-0.262), 3.89, 6.02\)A1 A1 \(-1\) extra solutions in the range
[7]
## Question 5:

### Part (i):

| Answer/Working | Marks | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| At A, $y=0$, $x$-coord of $A = 2 \times \frac{\pi}{2} - \sin\frac{\pi}{2} = \pi - 1$ | B1 | |
| $x$-coord of $B = 2\pi - \sin\pi = 2\pi$ | B1 | for either A or B/C |
| $OA = \pi - 1$, $AC = 2\pi - \pi + 1 = \pi + 1$ | M1 A1 | for both A and B/C |
| Ratio is $(\pi-1):(\pi+1)$ | E1 | |
| **[5]** | | |

### Part (ii):

| Answer/Working | Marks | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| $\frac{dy}{d\theta} = -4\sin\theta$ | B1 | either $dx/d\theta$ or $dy/d\theta$ |
| $\frac{dx}{d\theta} = 2 - \cos\theta$ | | |
| $\frac{dy}{dx} = \frac{dy/d\theta}{dx/d\theta} = -\frac{4\sin\theta}{2-\cos\theta}$ | M1 A1 | |
| At A, gradient $= -\frac{4\sin(\pi/2)}{2-\cos(\pi/2)} = -2$ | A1 | www |
| **[4]** | | |

### Part (iii):

| Answer/Working | Marks | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| $\frac{dy}{dx} = 1 \Rightarrow -\frac{4\sin\theta}{2-\cos\theta} = 1$ | M1 | their $dy/dx = 1$ |
| $-4\sin\theta = 2 - \cos\theta$ | | |
| $\cos\theta - 4\sin\theta = 2$ | E1 | |
| **[2]** | | |

### Part (iv):

| Answer/Working | Marks | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| $\cos\theta - 4\sin\theta = R\cos(\theta + \alpha) = R(\cos\theta\cos\alpha - \sin\theta\sin\alpha)$ | M1 | corr pairs |
| $R\cos\alpha = 1$, $R\sin\alpha = 4$ | B1 | |
| $R^2 = 1^2 + 4^2 = 17$, $R = \sqrt{17}$ | | |
| $\tan\alpha = 4$, $\alpha = 1.326$ | M1 A1 | accept $76.0°$, $1.33$ radians |
| $\sqrt{17}\cos(\theta + 1.326) = 2$ | | |
| $\cos(\theta + 1.326) = \frac{2}{\sqrt{17}}$ | | |
| $\theta + 1.326 = 1.064, 5.219, 7.348$ | M1 | inv $\cos(2/\sqrt{17})$ ft their $R$ for method |
| $\theta = (-0.262), 3.89, 6.02$ | A1 A1 | $-1$ extra solutions in the range |
| **[7]** | | |

---
5 Part of the track of a roller-coaster is modelled by a curve with the parametric equations

$$x = 2 \theta - \sin \theta , \quad y = 4 \cos \theta \quad \text { for } 0 \leqslant \theta \leqslant 2 \pi .$$

This is shown in Fig. 8. B is a minimum point, and BC is vertical.

\begin{figure}[h]
\begin{center}
  \includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{c443a5b6-247d-411d-8371-4d6ebd5c3489-3_598_1443_598_385}
\captionsetup{labelformat=empty}
\caption{Fig. 8}
\end{center}
\end{figure}

(i) Find the values of the parameter at A and B .

Hence show that the ratio of the lengths OA and AC is $( \pi - 1 ) : ( \pi + 1 )$.\\
(ii) Find $\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x }$ in terms of $\theta$. Find the gradient of the track at A .\\
(iii) Show that, when the gradient of the track is $1 , \theta$ satisfies the equation

$$\cos \theta - 4 \sin \theta = 2$$

(iv) Express $\cos \theta - 4 \sin \theta$ in the form $R \cos ( \theta + \alpha )$.

Hence solve the equation $\cos \theta - 4 \sin \theta = 2$ for $0 \leqslant \theta \leqslant 2 \pi$.

\hfill \mbox{\textit{OCR MEI C4  Q5 [18]}}