OCR MEI Paper 3 Specimen — Question 14 3 marks

Exam BoardOCR MEI
ModulePaper 3 (Paper 3)
SessionSpecimen
Marks3
PaperDownload PDF ↗
Mark schemeDownload PDF ↗
TopicComplex Numbers Arithmetic
TypeArgument relationships and tangent identities
DifficultyStandard +0.8 This question requires proving equivalence of two expressions involving complex number arguments and tangent identities, likely requiring manipulation of inverse tangent functions and understanding of argument properties. It's above average difficulty as it demands both technical facility with trigonometric identities and careful reasoning about equivalence, but is still within standard A-level pure mathematics scope.
Spec1.02b Surds: manipulation and rationalising denominators

14 Show that the two values of \(b\) given on line 36 are equivalent.

Question 14:
AnswerMarks Guidance
AnswerMarks Guidance
\(\left(\frac{\sqrt{6}-\sqrt{2}}{2}\right)^2 = \frac{8-2\sqrt{12}}{4}\)M1 Attempt to square
\(= \frac{8-4\sqrt{3}}{4} = 2-\sqrt{3}\)A1 Answer in exact form
\(\frac{\sqrt{6}-\sqrt{2}}{2}\) is positive so it is equal to \(\sqrt{2-\sqrt{3}}\)E1 Completion of argument to show the two values are equal
# Question 14:
| Answer | Marks | Guidance |
|--------|-------|----------|
| $\left(\frac{\sqrt{6}-\sqrt{2}}{2}\right)^2 = \frac{8-2\sqrt{12}}{4}$ | M1 | Attempt to square |
| $= \frac{8-4\sqrt{3}}{4} = 2-\sqrt{3}$ | A1 | Answer in exact form |
| $\frac{\sqrt{6}-\sqrt{2}}{2}$ is positive so it is equal to $\sqrt{2-\sqrt{3}}$ | E1 | Completion of argument to show the two values are equal |

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14 Show that the two values of $b$ given on line 36 are equivalent.

\hfill \mbox{\textit{OCR MEI Paper 3  Q14 [3]}}