CAIE P3 2011 November — Question 1 4 marks

Exam BoardCAIE
ModuleP3 (Pure Mathematics 3)
Year2011
SessionNovember
Marks4
PaperDownload PDF ↗
Mark schemeDownload PDF ↗
TopicGeneralised Binomial Theorem
TypeFactoring out constants first
DifficultyModerate -0.8 This is a straightforward application of the binomial expansion requiring students to factor out the constant (rewrite as 16·2^(-2)·(1+x/2)^(-2)), then apply the standard formula for negative integer powers. It's routine bookwork with clear steps, easier than average but not trivial since it requires recognizing the factoring technique and careful arithmetic with negative powers.
Spec1.04c Extend binomial expansion: rational n, |x|<1

1 Expand \(\frac { 16 } { ( 2 + x ) ^ { 2 } }\) in ascending powers of \(x\), up to and including the term in \(x ^ { 2 }\), simplifying the coefficients.

Question 1:
AnswerMarks Guidance
Answer/WorkingMark Guidance
Obtain correct unsimplified version of \(x\) or \(x^2\) term in expansion of \((2+x)^{-2}\) or \((1+\frac{1}{2}x)^{-2}\)M1 Either method
Correct first term 4 from correct workB1
Obtain \(-4x\)A1
Obtain \(+3x^2\)A1 [4]
Differentiate and evaluate \(f(0)\) and \(f''(0)\) where \(f''(x) = k(2+x)^{-3}\)M1 Or method
State correct first term 4B1
Obtain \(-4x\)A1
Obtain \(+3x^2\)A1 [4]
## Question 1:

| Answer/Working | Mark | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Obtain correct unsimplified version of $x$ or $x^2$ term in expansion of $(2+x)^{-2}$ or $(1+\frac{1}{2}x)^{-2}$ | M1 | Either method |
| Correct first term 4 from correct work | B1 | |
| Obtain $-4x$ | A1 | |
| Obtain $+3x^2$ | A1 | [4] |
| Differentiate and evaluate $f(0)$ and $f''(0)$ where $f''(x) = k(2+x)^{-3}$ | M1 | Or method |
| State correct first term 4 | B1 | |
| Obtain $-4x$ | A1 | |
| Obtain $+3x^2$ | A1 | [4] |

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1 Expand $\frac { 16 } { ( 2 + x ) ^ { 2 } }$ in ascending powers of $x$, up to and including the term in $x ^ { 2 }$, simplifying the coefficients.

\hfill \mbox{\textit{CAIE P3 2011 Q1 [4]}}