THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES

EXAMINATIONS OF DECEMBER 2014

Code and Name of Course: ECON 1003 – INTRODUCTION TO MATHEMATICS Paper:

Date and Time: Duration: 2 hours

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES: This paper has 4 pages and 5 questions.

Candidates are required to answer ALL Questions.

Silent Cordless Non Programmable Calculators may be used.

The University of the West Indies Course Code: ECON 1003 2014/…./…..

DO NOT WRITE ON THE BACK OF THIS SHEET: USE ONE SIDE ONLY

INSTRUCTIONS: Each page must be signed by the Examiners and where applicable, the University Examiner and/or the
External Examiner. Where the examination does not require a University Examiner, the form must be signed by the First and
Second Examiners. Completed forms should be handed to the Assistant Registrar (Examinations). The EXTERNAL EXAMINER
is requested to sign the question paper and return it with comments, if any, (on a separate sheet) , to the Assistant Registrar
(Examinations).

……………………………………….. ……………………………………………..
First Examiner University Examiner

……………………………………….. ……………………………………………..
Second Examiner External Examiner (where applicable)

Date: 2014……/……/… Date: 2014……/……/……

 page 2
ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS

1. Complete each of the following:

a. Given the functions g(x) = x³ and f(w) = (3w – 4)², find g(f(w)) and f(g(x)). [4 marks]

b. Using factorization, simplify the following expression:

𝑞3 𝑝 + 5𝑞2 𝑝
[4 marks]
𝑞𝑝− 𝑞 + 5𝑝 −5

c. Solve the following equation for x:

2log(x+1)-log(4) = log(2x-1) [5 marks]

d. A manufacturer’s total revenue function is given by 𝑅(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 − 6𝑥 2 − 19𝑥 + 24. At what

value(s) of 𝑥 is the firm making zero revenue? [7 marks]

2. The Caribbean Leather Company wants to add handmade belts and wallets to its product line and
faces the following constraints in their production process (where b and w denote the number of
belts and wallets produced respectively):

2𝑏 + 3𝑤 ≤ 12
6𝑏 + 3𝑤 ≤ 18
𝑏+𝑤 ≥1
𝑏≥0
𝑤≥0

Solve this system of inequalities and show your solution graphically. [20 marks]

The University of the West Indies Course Code: ECON 1003 2014/..../...../

DO NOT WRITE ON THE BACK OF THIS SHEET: USE ONE SIDE ONLY

INSTRUCTIONS: Each page must be signed by the Examiners and where applicable, the University Examiner and/or the
External Examiner. Where the examination does not require a University Examiner, the form must be signed by the First and
Second Examiners. Completed forms should be handed to the Assistant Registrar (Examinations). The EXTERNAL EXAMINER
is requested to sign the question paper and return it with comments, if any, (on a separate sheet) , to the Assistant Registrar
(Examinations).

……………………………………….. ……………………………………………..
First Examiner University Examiner

……………………………………….. ……………………………………………..
Second Examiner External Examiner (where applicable)

Date: 2014……/……/… Date: 2014……/……/……

 page 3
3. A function C(q) is generically defined by:

C(q) = aq−3 + 2bq + c

where a, b and c are real constants. Additionally, C(q) and its derivative satisfy the following
conditions:
C(1) = 3, C(−1) = 7 and C′ (1) = 10.

a. Using the information above, show that the constants are related by the following system of
linear equations: [6 marks]
a + 2b +c = 3
-a – 2b + c = 7
-3a + 2b = 10

b. Using matrices, solve for the constants a, b and c. [14 marks]

4. Complete each of the following:

a. Evaluate
𝑥2 + 𝑥 − 2
i. lim𝑥→−1 [3 marks]
𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 3

26𝑡 −2 + 9𝑡 − 56𝑡 −3 − 35
ii. lim𝑡→∞ [5 marks]
17𝑡 −2 − 45𝑡 + 123

b. For what value of the coefficient β is the following piecewise function continuous at q = 2?

𝛽𝑞², 𝑞≤2
C(q) = { [4 marks]
𝑞 + 10, 𝑞>2

c. Research has shown that sending a Whatsapp chain message follows a geometric
progression. The University of the West Indies conducted its own Whatsapp chain message
survey and found that on the fourth round, eight times as many students from the first round
received the Whatsapp chain message. The same survey also found that after eight rounds
were completed, a total of 1,020 students indicated that they received the chain message.
Using this information, determine

i. The common ratio of the geometric progression? [3 marks]

ii. How many students would have received the Whatsapp chain message after the
first round? [3 marks]
iii. How many students would have received the Whatsapp chain message on the
thirteenth round? [2 marks]

The University of the West Indies Course Code: ECON 1003 2014/..../...../

DO NOT WRITE ON THE BACK OF THIS SHEET: USE ONE SIDE ONLY

INSTRUCTIONS: Each page must be signed by the Examiners and where applicable, the University Examiner and/or the
External Examiner. Where the examination does not require a University Examiner, the form must be signed by the First and
Second Examiners. Completed forms should be handed to the Assistant Registrar (Examinations). The EXTERNAL EXAMINER
is requested to sign the question paper and return it with comments, if any, (on a separate sheet) , to the Assistant Registrar
(Examinations).

……………………………………….. ……………………………………………..
First Examiner University Examiner

……………………………………….. ……………………………………………..
Second Examiner External Examiner (where applicable)

Date: 2014……/……/… Date: 2014……/……/……

 page 4

5. Complete the following:

a. Differentiate the following with respect to 𝑥:

i. ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 𝑙𝑛𝑥 [4 marks]

2𝑥 4 −5𝑥
ii. 𝑘(𝑥 ) = [6 marks]
√𝑥 2 +4𝑥

b. You are given the function

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 − 9𝑥 + 7

i. Find the turning points and points of inflection of this function. [6 marks]
ii. Classify each turning point. [4 marks]

END OF QUESTION PAPER

The University of the West Indies Course Code: ECON 1003 2014/..../...../

DO NOT WRITE ON THE BACK OF THIS SHEET: USE ONE SIDE ONLY

INSTRUCTIONS: Each page must be signed by the Examiners and where applicable, the University Examiner and/or the
External Examiner. Where the examination does not require a University Examiner, the form must be signed by the First and
Second Examiners. Completed forms should be handed to the Assistant Registrar (Examinations). The EXTERNAL EXAMINER
is requested to sign the question paper and return it with comments, if any, (on a separate sheet) , to the Assistant Registrar
(Examinations).

……………………………………….. ……………………………………………..
First Examiner University Examiner

……………………………………….. ……………………………………………..
Second Examiner External Examiner (where applicable)

Date: 2014……/……/… Date: 2014……/……/……