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Mathematics 311 — Competency-Based Questions

20 Application MCQ + 20 Analysis Problems + 10 Advanced Synthesis = 50 · Cross-lesson application

Built from Notes, Formula Sheets and PYQ banks across all 23 public maths lessons (L13–L16, L20–L38). Competency: Application · Analysis · Problem-solving. No new topics — same concepts, scenario wording.
Repeated concepts: Cartesian distance & section · Straight lines & circles · Conics · Matrices, determinants & inverse · Functions & inverse trig · Limits & continuity · Differentiation toolkit · Applications of derivatives · Integration & definite integrals · Differential equations · 3D geometry, vectors, plane & line · Linear programming · Mathematical reasoning
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Application MCQ

0 / 20 correct

CQ1. A surveyor marks two posts at A(2, −1) and B(6, 2) on a map grid. Using the distance formula, how far apart are the posts (in map units)? (1 mark) | Competency: Application | L13 | Themes: Distance formula

Answer:  (B) 5

CQ2. A bridge is planned midway between towns P(4, −1) and Q(7, 2). What are the mid-point coordinates of the bridge site? (1 mark) | Competency: Application | L13 | Themes: Mid-point, section formula

Answer:  (A) (11/2, 1/2)

CQ3. A ramp runs from floor point A(2, 3) to platform B(6, −7) in a coordinate diagram (y vertical). What is the slope of the ramp? (1 mark) | Competency: Application | L13, L14 | Themes: Slope of a line

Answer:  (A) −5/2

CQ4. A straight road meets the axes at intercepts given by 3x + 2y − 12 = 0. What are the x- and y-intercepts? (1 mark) | Competency: Application | L14 | Themes: Intercept form of a line

Answer:  (D) (4 and 6)

CQ5. A circular park has equation x² + y² − 6x − 8y = 0. What is the radius of the park boundary? (1 mark) | Competency: Application | L15 | Themes: Circle centre and radius

Answer:  (C) 5

CQ6. A parabolic arch is modelled by y² = 12x (units metres). Where is the focus of this parabola? (1 mark) | Competency: Application | L16 | Themes: Parabola focus

Answer:  (A) (3, 0)

CQ7. In a stock system, A = [[1, 2], [3, 4]] and B = [[2, 0], [1, 3]]. What is the product AB? (1 mark) | Competency: Application | L20 | Themes: Matrix multiplication

Answer:  (A) [[4, 6], [10, 12]]

CQ8. A parallelogram is spanned by column vectors of [[2, 1], [0, 3]]. What is the absolute area ( |det| )? (1 mark) | Competency: Application | L21 | Themes: 2×2 determinant

Answer:  (C) 6

CQ9. For the linear system AX = B with A = [[1, 2], [2, 4]], why is there no unique solution via A⁻¹? (1 mark) | Competency: Application | L22 | Themes: Matrix inverse existence

Answer:  (A) det A = 0 (singular)

CQ10. A coding machine uses f(x) = 2x + 1 on real inputs. Is f one-one (injective)? (1 mark) | Competency: Application | L23 | Themes: One-one functions

Answer:  (A) Yes

CQ11. A robot arm angle sensor reports sin θ = 1/2 and returns the principal arcsine. What angle (radians) does sin⁻¹(1/2) give? (1 mark) | Competency: Application | L24 | Themes: Inverse sine principal value

Answer:  (A) π/6

CQ12. Near a camera pivot, a small angle x (radians) satisfies lim_{x→0} (sin 5x)/x. What is this limit? (1 mark) | Competency: Application | L25 | Themes: Standard limit sin x / x

Answer:  (B) 5

CQ13. The side of a square grows as s = t³ (metres). Instantaneous rate of change of side at general t is ds/dt. What is d/dt (t³)? (1 mark) | Competency: Application | L26 | Themes: Power rule differentiation

Answer:  (A) 3t²

CQ14. A pendulum angle (radians) is θ = sin 3t. What is dθ/dt? (1 mark) | Competency: Application | L27 | Themes: Trigonometric derivative

Answer:  (A) 3 cos 3t

CQ15. A bacterial count is modelled by N = e^{2t}. What is dN/dt? (1 mark) | Competency: Application | L28 | Themes: Exponential derivative

Answer:  (A) 2e^{2t}

CQ16. A path y = x² is lit at the point (1, 1). What is the slope of the tangent line there? (1 mark) | Competency: Application | L29 | Themes: Tangent to a curve

Answer:  (B) 2

CQ17. Accumulated water volume increases at rate x³ (arbitrary units). An antiderivative of x³ is: (1 mark) | Competency: Application | L30 | Themes: Indefinite integral power rule

Answer:  (A) x⁴/4 + C

CQ18. Net change of a quantity with rate 2x from x = 0 to x = 1 is ∫₀¹ 2x dx. Its value is: (1 mark) | Competency: Application | L31 | Themes: Definite integral FTC

Answer:  (B) 1

CQ19. Two drones are at (3, 5, −1) and (9, 2, −4). What is the straight-line distance between them? (1 mark) | Competency: Application | L33 | Themes: 3D distance

Answer:  (A) √54 = 3√6

CQ20. Forces represented by vectors a = i and b = j act at a joint. What is a · b? (1 mark) | Competency: Application | L34 | Themes: Dot product perpendicular

Answer:  (A) 0

Analysis Problems — Methods & multi-step reasoning

3 marks · Analyse procedures and apply lesson formulas to new scenarios · Try first, then show model answer.

AQ1. Three sensor posts sit at A(−1, −1), B(2, 3) and C(−2, 6). (a) Compute AB², BC², AC². (b) Explain why the triangle is isosceles right-angled at B. (c) How would area = 0 change the conclusion? (3 marks) | Competency: Analysis | L13 | Themes: Distance, collinearity, area

AQ2. Point R divides the join of P(2, −5) and Q(−3, 5) internally in ratio 1 : 4. (a) Find R. (b) Explain why internal division uses plus signs. (c) How would external division change the formula? (3 marks) | Competency: Analysis | L13, L14 | Themes: Section formula vs slope

AQ3. A safety fence must pass through (1, 2) with slope 3. (a) Write its equation. (b) Find perpendicular distance from (0, 0) to the line 3x − y − 1 = 0. (c) Why absolute value appears in the distance formula? (3 marks) | Competency: Analysis | L14 | Themes: Point–slope and distance to a line

AQ4. A circular fountain has equation x² + y² + 2x − 8 = 0. (a) Find centre and radius by completing the square. (b) Why must g² + f² − c > 0 for a real circle? (c) Does (3, 0) lie on the fountain rim? (3 marks) | Competency: Analysis | L15 | Themes: Completing the square for a circle

AQ5. Compare parabola y² = 4ax, ellipse x²/25 + y²/16 = 1 and hyperbola x²/9 − y²/16 = 1 via eccentricity e. (a) State e for each type. (b) Compute e for the given ellipse. (c) Why does e classify conics? (3 marks) | Competency: Analysis | L16 | Themes: Eccentricity of conics

AQ6. Let A = [[0, 1], [0, 0]] and B = [[0, 0], [1, 0]]. (a) Compute AB and BA. (b) What does AB ≠ BA show about matrix multiplication? (c) State the order condition for AB to exist. (3 marks) | Competency: Analysis | L20 | Themes: Matrix product non-commutativity

AQ7. For A = [[1, 2], [3, 4]]: (a) Find det A. (b) Write A⁻¹ using (1/det) adj A. (c) Explain why det A ≠ 0 is required for a unique solution of AX = B. (3 marks) | Competency: Analysis | L21, L22 | Themes: Determinant and inverse

AQ8. Let f(x) = x + 1 and g(x) = 2x. (a) Find (f ∘ g)(x) and (g ∘ f)(x). (b) Why is order important? (c) Find f⁻¹ if f is considered bijective on R. (3 marks) | Competency: Analysis | L23 | Themes: Composition and inverse of functions

AQ9. (a) State the range of sin⁻¹ x. (b) Evaluate sin⁻¹(sin 2π/3) and explain why it is not 2π/3. (c) Why does sin⁻¹ x + cos⁻¹ x = π/2 on [−1, 1]? (3 marks) | Competency: Analysis | L24 | Themes: Principal values of inverse trig

AQ10. For f(x) = (x² − 1)/(x − 1) when x ≠ 1 and f(1) = 3: (a) Find lim_{x→1} f(x). (b) Is f continuous at 1 with this definition? (c) What three conditions define continuity at a point? (3 marks) | Competency: Analysis | L25 | Themes: Limits and continuity

AQ11. Differentiate y = x² sin x. (a) Identify product rule parts. (b) Write y′. (c) How would chain rule appear if y = sin(x²) instead? (3 marks) | Competency: Analysis | L26, L27 | Themes: Product and chain rules

AQ12. For y = xˣ (x > 0): (a) Take ln both sides. (b) Differentiate to find y′. (c) Why is log differentiation preferred here? (3 marks) | Competency: Analysis | L28 | Themes: Logarithmic differentiation

AQ13. f(x) = x³ − 3x. (a) Find critical points. (b) Use f′′ to classify local max/min. (c) In a related-rates setup, why differentiate the geometric relation with respect to time t? (3 marks) | Competency: Analysis | L29 | Themes: Maxima and related rates

AQ14. (a) Evaluate ∫ x eˣ dx by parts. (b) Compute ∫₀¹ eˣ dx using FTC. (c) Why is +C omitted in definite integrals? (3 marks) | Competency: Analysis | L30, L31 | Themes: Integration by parts and FTC

AQ15. (a) Solve dy/dx = y (general solution). (b) Solve dy/dx + y = eˣ using integrating factor. (c) State order and degree of (y″)³ + y′ = 0. (3 marks) | Competency: Analysis | L32 | Themes: Separable and linear DE

AQ16. A line has direction ratios 2, −1, 2. (a) Find direction cosines. (b) Write the corresponding unit vector. (c) Why must l² + m² + n² = 1? (3 marks) | Competency: Analysis | L33, L34 | Themes: Direction cosines and unit vectors

AQ17. Plane π: x + y + z − 3 = 0. (a) Give a normal vector. (b) Distance from origin to π. (c) When are two planes perpendicular? (3 marks) | Competency: Analysis | L34, L35 | Themes: Dot product and planes

AQ18. (a) Write the vector equation of the line through (1, 2, 3) parallel to <1, 0, 0>. (b) What does “skew lines” mean? (c) State the shortest-distance formula structure for skew lines r = a₁ + λb₁ and r = a₂ + μb₂. (3 marks) | Competency: Analysis | L36 | Themes: Line in 3D and skew lines

AQ19. Maximise z = 2x + 5y over feasible vertices (0, 0), (4, 0), (3, 3), (0, 2). (a) Evaluate z at each vertex. (b) State the optimum. (c) Why is the optimum at a corner for linear z? (3 marks) | Competency: Analysis | L37 | Themes: Linear programming corner method

AQ20. Statement: “If a number is divisible by 6, then it is divisible by 3.” (a) Write the contrapositive. (b) Write the converse. (c) Which is logically equivalent to the original, and why? (3 marks) | Competency: Analysis | L38 | Themes: Implication and contrapositive

Advanced Synthesis — Cross-chapter problem-solving

5 marks · Link 2–3 lessons · Deep application and analysis of existing maths concepts only.

ZQ1. A circular garden has equation x² + y² = 25. A straight path has slope −1 and passes through the centre. (a) Write the path equation. (b) Find intersection points of path and circle. (c) Show the chord is a diameter and find its length. Link distance and circle definitions. (5 marks) | Competency: Problem-solving | L13, L14, L15 | Themes: Coordinate geometry synthesis

ZQ2. Ellipse x²/25 + y²/9 = 1. (a) Find a, b, e and foci. (b) Using distance, verify for vertex (5, 0) that sum of distances to foci is 2a. (c) Contrast with parabola definition (e = 1). (5 marks) | Competency: Problem-solving | L16, L13 | Themes: Conics and coordinates

ZQ3. System: x + y = 3, x − y = 1. (a) Write as AX = B. (b) Compute det A and A⁻¹. (c) Solve X = A⁻¹B and verify by substitution. Analyse when this method fails. (5 marks) | Competency: Problem-solving | L20, L21, L22 | Themes: Linear systems matrix chain

ZQ4. Let f(x) = sin x on [−π/2, π/2]. (a) Why is f bijective onto [−1, 1]? (b) Identify f⁻¹. (c) Using lim_{x→0} sin x / x = 1, find lim_{x→0} sin⁻¹ x / x. Explain continuity of sin⁻¹ at 0. (5 marks) | Competency: Problem-solving | L23, L24, L25 | Themes: Functions, inverse trig, limits

ZQ5. A quantity y = e^{sin x}. (a) Find dy/dx using chain rule. (b) Find d/dx (x eˣ) with product rule. (c) At a critical point of a differentiable f, explain the roles of f′ = 0 and the second-derivative test. (5 marks) | Competency: Problem-solving | L26, L27, L28, L29 | Themes: Differentiation toolkit synthesis

ZQ6. (a) Find general antiderivative of 2x. (b) Evaluate net change ∫₀² 2x dx. (c) Solve the IVP dy/dx = 2x, y(0) = 3 and relate to (a)–(b). (5 marks) | Competency: Problem-solving | L30, L31, L32 | Themes: Integration and DE link

ZQ7. Points A(1, 0, 0), B(0, 1, 0), C(0, 0, 1). (a) Find vectors AB and AC. (b) Compute AB × AC and interpret |AB × AC|. (c) Find a Cartesian equation of plane ABC and its distance from origin. (5 marks) | Competency: Problem-solving | L33, L34, L35 | Themes: 3D geometry and vectors

ZQ8. Line L₁: r = <0,0,0> + λ <1,1,0>; L₂: r = <0,0,1> + μ <1,−1,0>. (a) Are directions parallel? (b) Compute b₁ × b₂. (c) Find shortest distance and interpret coplanarity if SD = 0. (5 marks) | Competency: Problem-solving | L34, L36 | Themes: Lines and vector products

ZQ9. Maximise profit z = 3x + 2y subject to x ≤ 100, y ≤ 200, x + y ≤ 250, x ≥ 0, y ≥ 0 (pens/pencils model from lesson themes). (a) List corner points of the feasible region. (b) Evaluate z at corners and state optimum. (c) How do linear inequalities relate to half-planes in L14? (5 marks) | Competency: Problem-solving | L37, L14, L13 | Themes: LPP and linear graphs

ZQ10. Claim: “Every invertible 2×2 matrix has non-zero determinant.” (a) Is this a mathematical statement? (b) Write it as an implication p ⇒ q. (c) Prove via contrapositive using det and invertibility from L21–L22. (d) Give a counter-example structure if the claim were “every matrix is invertible.” (5 marks) | Competency: Problem-solving | L38, L23, L21 | Themes: Reasoning with mathematical structures