TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

Level 5 exemplar and comments

Level 4 exemplar and comments
Level 3 exemplar and comments
Level 2 exemplar and comments
Level 1 exemplar and comments

2012-DSE-MATH-EP(M1)1

2012-DSE-MATH-EP(M1)2

- - 2102

2012

20

20

65

90%

10

= 51.5

2012-DSE-MATH-EP(M1)3

(ii)
(i)

(b)

(ii)

90%

56
56

36
55

48
62

63
46

57
55

41
69

50
38

43
50

(i)

(a)

16

12.

12

2012-DSE-MATH-EP(M1)4

(a)(ii)
( b)

2012-DSE-MATH-EP(M1)5

(ii)

(i)

10

(c)

(b)
(a)

2.3

13.

13

2012-DSE-MATH-EP(M1)6

= 2)

( a)

P (X

( c)(ii)

( a)

( b)

( c)(i)

2012-DSE-MATH-EP(M1)7

95%

(b)

(a)

36

70 kg

36

6.

kg

67

15

2012-DSE-MATH-EP(M1)8

( b)

dx 2
d2 y
1 dy

y dx

x=3
x

x>2

(a)

3x 1
x2

(b)

y=3

(a)

4.

2012-DSE-MATH-EP(M1)9

(1 + 3 x)n

(b)

e 2 x

x2

e 2 x (1 + 3 x) n

62

x2

(1 + 3x) n

(b)
(a)
1.

x2

INTRODUCTION
The results of the first HKDSE Examination were released on 20 July 2012. To enhance the understanding of
the standards of the HKDSE Examination, authentic samples of candidates scripts are selected to form this set
of exemplars to illustrate the typical performance standards at different levels.
There is one paper in each Module of the Extended Part. This set of exemplars is selected from candidates
scripts to illustrate the typical performance standards at different levels.
It is advisable to read this set of exemplars together with the question paper and the marking scheme in order
to understand the requirements of the questions and the marking criteria. The question paper and the
marking scheme are published in the Examination Report and Question Papers for 2012 HKDSE
Examination.

2012-DSE-MATH-EP(M1)10

10

HONG KONG DIPLOMA OF SECONDARY EDUCATION EXAMINATION

MATHEMATICS EXTENDED PART
MODULE 1 (CALCULUS AND STATISTICS)
EXEMPLARS AND COMMENTS
Level 5 exemplar and comments
Section B Question 11
11. In a research of the radiation intensity of a city, an expert modelled the rate of change of the radiation intensity R
(in suitable units) by

dR a(30 t ) + 10
=
dt
(t 35) 2 + b
where t (0 t T )
positive constants.

is the number of days elapsed since the start of the research,

a ,

b and

are

It is known that the intensity increased to the greatest value of 6 units at t = 35 , and then decreased to the
level as at the start of the research at t = T . Moreover, the decrease of the intensity from t = 40 to
61
t = 41 is ln
units.
50

(a)

Find the value of

a.
(2 marks)

(b)

Find the value of

T.
(4 marks)

(c)

Express

in terms of

t.
(4 marks)

(d)

For

0 t 35 , when would the rate of change of the radiation intensity attain its greatest value?
(4 marks)

2012-DSE-MATH-EP(M1)11

11

12

13

Comments
The candidate presents the solution in a clear and concise way and shows an ability to
communicate precisely and logically using mathematical language and notations.

Also, the

candidate shows he/she understands the given conditions very well and possesses an excellent
ability to integrate knowledge, understanding and skills from the topics of logarithm,
differentiation and integration.

14

Level 4 exemplar and comments

Section B Question 10
10. Let

(a)

I=

4
1

e 2 dt .

(i)

Use the trapezoidal rule with

sub-intervals to estimate

(ii)

Is the estimate in (a)(i) an over-estimate or under-estimate?

I.
Justify your answer.
(7 marks)

(b)

Using a suitable substitution, show that

I =2

x2
e 2 dx

(3 marks)

(c)

Using the above results and the Standard Normal Distribution Table on page 14, show that
< 3.25 .
(3 marks)

15

Comments
In (a) and (b), the candidate is able to present the solution in a clear and concise way and shows an
ability to communicate accurately using mathematical language and notations.

Also, the

candidate demonstrates how to work out the trapezoidal rule accurately with an ability to conclude
the over-estimated nature of the approximated value using the second derivative of the integrand.
The proof in (b) is also done with full details given and to a degree of high accuracy.
candidate is able to use the given Standard Normal Distribution Table.

In (c), the

However, the candidate is

unable to merge the results in (b) with the results from the Normal Distribution Table to get the
remaining marks.

16

Level 3 exemplar and comments

Section A Question 8
8.

Let

be a discrete random variable with probability function shown below:

1
0.1

x
P ( X = x)
where

and

3
a

are constants.

(a)

Find the values of

and

(b)

Let

(i)

Are

6
0.15

It is known that

9
b

13
0.05

E ( X ) = 5 .5 .

Find P ( F G ) .

(ii)

4
0.25

be the event that

and

b.

X 4

and

independent events?

be the event that

X <8 .

Justify your answer.

(6 marks)

Comments
The candidate demonstrates adequate knowledge and understanding on the concept of expectation
and basic probability laws by solving the unknowns correctly in (a).

However, the candidate

wrongly assumes the independence of the events F and G in (b)(i) and hence gets an incorrect
answer.

The candidate has the idea of using a fraction of two decimals to calculate the

conditional probability in (b)(ii), but the candidate uses incorrect probabilities in the fraction.
Generally, the candidate is capable of using some mathematical techniques to solve problems and
using mathematical language and notations to present the workings in an appropriate way.

17

Level 2 exemplar and comments

Section A Question 5
5.

The slope of the tangent to a curve

be the tangent to

at the point

at any point ( x , y )

A(0 , 1)

on

(a)

Find the equation of

Find the equation of

Find the area of the region bounded by S ,

is given by

dy
= e2x .
dx

Let

S.

L.

(c)

S.

(b)

on

and the line

x =1 .
(7 marks)

Comments
The candidate demonstrates basic knowledge and understanding of calculus by integrating the
given derivative to obtain the equation of S.

However, the dependent variable y is not clearly

stated and the integration constant is not found by using the given information.
candidate finds the required equation of L correctly.

In (c), the candidate is unable to formulate

the required integral for the area of the bounded region.

Conclusively, the candidate can use

mathematical language, notations and graph to express some ideas.

18

In (b), the

Level 1 exemplar and comments

Section A Question 2
2.

dV
t
=
, where
dt
4t + 1
t is the number of years since the beginning of 2012. The value of the flat is 3 million dollars at
the beginning of 2012. Find the percentage change in the value of the flat from the beginning of 2012
to the beginning of 2014.
(5 marks)
The rate of change of the value

(in million dollars) of a flat

is given by

Comments
The candidate demonstrates elementary knowledge of calculus by using the method of
substitution.

However, the candidate misses a multiple of 1/4 when changing variables.

Though the candidate does not attempt to find the required percentage change, ideas can still be
expressed using mathematical language and notations.

19