June 2024 Paper 2 Q5
5. Given that \(\theta\) is small and in radians, use the small angle approximations to find an approximate numerical value of\[\frac{\theta\tan 2\theta}{1 - \cos 3\theta}\] (3)
| Scheme | Marks | AO |
|---|---|---|
| One of \(\theta\tan 2\theta = \theta \times 2\theta\) or \(1 - \cos 3\theta = 1 - \left(1 - \frac{(3\theta)^2}{2}\right)\) or equivalents. | B1 | 1.1a |
| \(\dfrac{\theta\tan 2\theta}{1 - \cos 3\theta} = \dfrac{\theta \times 2\theta}{1 - \left(1 - \frac{(3\theta)^2}{2}\right)}\) | M1 | 2.1 |
| \(= \dfrac{4}{9}\) or exact equivalent. | A1 | 1.1b |
| (3) | ||
| (3 marks) |
Notes
B1: Award this mark for \(\theta\tan 2\theta = \theta \times 2\theta\) or \(1 - \cos 3\theta = 1 - \left(1 - \frac{(3\theta)^2}{2}\right)\) or equivalents.
May be seen when working on numerator or denominator separately or within the fraction.
This is a B mark so if awarding for \(\cos 3\theta\) do not condone missing brackets e.g. \(1 - \dfrac{3\theta^2}{2}\) unless they are recovered or are implied by subsequent work.
M1: Attempts to use both correct small angle approximations in the given expression.
For this mark they must have attempted to use \(\tan 2\theta = 2\theta\) and \(\cos 3\theta = 1 - \dfrac{(3\theta)^2}{2}\) in the given expression but condone poor bracketing e.g. \(\dfrac{\theta \times 2\theta}{1 - \left(1 - \tfrac{3\theta^2}{2}\right)}\) or e.g. \(\dfrac{\theta \times 2\theta}{1 - 1 - \tfrac{3\theta^2}{2}}\)
Do not allow e.g. \(\dfrac{\theta \times 2\theta}{1 - \frac{(3\theta)^2}{2}}\) as this suggests they are approximating \(\dfrac{\theta\tan 2\theta}{\cos 3\theta}\)
A1: Correct value. Do not allow rounded decimals e.g. 0.444 but allow if recurring decimals are clearly indicated e.g. \(0.\dot{4}\) Do not allow e.g. \(\dfrac{2}{4.5}\). Ignore any units if given.
Isw once a correct answer is seen.
Examples:
| \(\dfrac{\theta \times 2\theta}{1 - \left(1 - \tfrac{3\theta^2}{2}\right)} = \dfrac{4}{3}\left(\text{or } -\dfrac{4}{3}\right)\) | scores B1M1A0 (Missing brackets not recovered) |
| \(\dfrac{\theta \times 2\theta}{1 - \frac{(3\theta)^2}{2}}\) | scores B1M0A0 (Missing “1 –“ in the denominator so M0) |
| \(\dfrac{\theta \times 2\theta}{1 + \left(1 - \frac{(3\theta)^2}{2}\right)}\) | scores B1M0A0 (Has “1 +“ in the denominator so M0) |
| \(\dfrac{\theta \times \theta}{1 - \left(1 - \tfrac{3\theta^2}{2}\right)} = \ldots\) | scores B0M0A0 (The B mark could be recovered but M0 because of the incorrect numerator) |
| \(\dfrac{\theta \times 2\theta}{1 - \left(1 - \tfrac{3\theta^2}{2}\right)} = \dfrac{2\theta^2}{\frac{9\theta^2}{2}} = \dfrac{2}{9}\) | scores B1M1A0 (Missing brackets recovered) |
| \(\dfrac{\theta \times 2\theta}{1 - \left(1 - \left(\frac{3\theta}{2}\right)^2\right)}\) | Scores B1M0A0 (The denominator suggests an incorrect expansion – unless it was recovered.) |
| \(\dfrac{\theta \times 2\theta}{\frac{9\theta^2}{2}} = \dfrac{2}{18}\) | B1M1A0 (The B1 is awarded for the numerator but can be implied by the denominator. The M1 is implied) |
| \(\dfrac{\theta \times 2\theta}{1 - \left(1 - \tfrac{3\theta^2}{2}\right)} = \dfrac{4}{9}\) | B1M1A1 (The correct value implies correct recovery of missing brackets.) |
Note that other approaches are possible using identities.
In such cases we will allow correct work leading to an expression that if terms in \(\theta^3\) and higher can be ignored will lead to \(\dfrac{4}{9}\)
But to score the M mark they must be using correct identities and correct approximations but condone bracketing errors as in the main scheme.
Examples:
\[\frac{\theta\tan 2\theta}{1 - \cos 3\theta} = \frac{\theta \times \dfrac{\sin 2\theta}{\cos 2\theta}}{1 - \cos 3\theta} = \frac{\theta \times \dfrac{2\theta}{1 - \frac{(2\theta)^2}{2}}}{1 - \left(1 - \dfrac{(3\theta)^2}{2}\right)} = \frac{2\theta^2}{1 - 2\theta^2} \times \frac{2}{9\theta^2} = \frac{4\theta^2}{9\theta^2 - 18\theta^4}\]\[= \frac{4\theta^2}{9\theta^2} = \frac{4}{9}\]Scores B1M1A1
\[\text{Similarly: } \frac{\theta\tan 2\theta}{1 - \cos 3\theta} = \frac{\theta \times \sin 2\theta}{\cos 2\theta(1 - \cos 3\theta)} = \frac{\theta \times 2\theta}{\left(1 - \dfrac{(2\theta)^2}{2}\right)\left(1 - \left(1 - \dfrac{(3\theta)^2}{2}\right)\right)} = \frac{2\theta^2}{1 - 2\theta^2} \times \frac{2}{9\theta^2} \text{ etc.}\]\[\frac{4\theta^2}{9\theta^2 - 18\theta^4} = \frac{4\theta^2}{9\theta^2} = \frac{4}{9}\]Scores B1M1A1
\[\frac{\theta\tan 2\theta}{1 - \cos 3\theta} = \frac{\theta \times \sin 2\theta}{\cos 2\theta(1 - \cos 3\theta)} = \frac{\theta \times 2\theta}{\left(1 - \dfrac{(2\theta)^2}{2}\right)\left(1 - \left(1 - \dfrac{(3\theta)^2}{2}\right)\right)} = \frac{2\theta^2}{1 - 2\theta^2} \times \frac{2}{9\theta^2}\]\[= \frac{4\theta^2}{9\theta^2 - 18\theta^4} = \frac{4}{9 - 18\theta^2} = \frac{4}{9}\]Scores B1M1A0
(They cannot just assume the term in \(\theta^2\) is 0 unless they provide a convincing limiting argument e.g. \(\displaystyle\lim_{\theta \to 0} \frac{4}{9 - 18\theta^2} = \frac{4}{9}\) or equivalent)
Example of a candidate’s response (handwritten in the mark scheme):
\[\begin{aligned}\tan 2\theta &= \frac{2\tan\theta}{1 - \tan^2\theta} \approx \frac{2\theta}{1 - \theta^2}\\\cos 3\theta &= \cos\theta\left(1 - 2\sin^2\theta\right) - 2\cos\theta\sin^2\theta\\&= \cos\theta\left(1 - 4\sin^2\theta\right)\\&\approx \left(1 - \frac{\theta^2}{2}\right)\left(1 - 4\theta^2\right)\\&= 1 - \frac{9}{2}\theta^2 + 2\theta^4\end{aligned}\]\[\text{So } \frac{\theta\tan 2\theta}{1 - \cos 3\theta} = \frac{\dfrac{2\theta^2}{1 - \theta^2}}{1 - \left(1 - \frac{9}{2}\theta^2 + 2\theta^4\right)} = \frac{\dfrac{2\theta^2}{1 - \theta^2}}{\frac{9}{2}\theta^2 - 2\theta^4}\]\[= \frac{\dfrac{4}{1 - \theta^2}}{9 - 4\theta^2} = \frac{4}{\left(9 - 4\theta^2\right)\left(1 - \theta^2\right)} = \frac{4}{9 - 13\theta^2 + 4\theta^4} \approx \frac{4}{9 - 13\theta^2}\]Scores B1M1A0
\[\frac{\theta\tan 2\theta}{1 - \cos 3\theta} = \frac{\theta \times \dfrac{2\tan\theta}{1 - \tan^2\theta}}{1 - \left(4\cos^3\theta - 3\cos\theta\right)} = \frac{\theta \times \dfrac{2\theta}{1 - \theta^2}}{1 - \left(4\left(1 - \dfrac{\theta^2}{2}\right)^3 - 3\left(1 - \dfrac{\theta^2}{2}\right)\right)}\]Scores B1M1A0
Note that attempts to use expansions in higher powers of \(\theta\) should be sent to review.