PastPaper.workedSolution
**(i)**
To find the vertical asymptotes, set the denominator to zero:
\[x^2 - 4 = 0 \implies x = 2 \text{ and } x = -2\]
Since the degree of the numerator is equal to the degree of the denominator, the horizontal asymptote is given by the ratio of the leading coefficients:
\[y = \lim_{x \to \pm\infty} \frac{2x^2 + 3x - 5}{x^2 - 4} = 2\]
Thus, the asymptotes are \(x = 2\), \(x = -2\), and \(y = 2\).
**(ii)**
Using the quotient rule to find the derivative \(y'\):
\[y' = \frac{(4x+3)(x^2-4) - (2x^2+3x-5)(2x)}{(x^2-4)^2}\]
\[y' = \frac{(4x^3 - 16x + 3x^2 - 12) - (4x^3 + 6x^2 - 10x)}{(x^2-4)^2}\]
\[y' = \frac{-3x^2 - 6x - 12}{(x^2-4)^2} = \frac{-3(x^2 + 2x + 4)}{(x^2-4)^2}\]
Completing the square for the quadratic term in the numerator:
\[x^2 + 2x + 4 = (x+1)^2 + 3 > 0 \quad \text{for all } x \in \mathbb{R}\]
Since the numerator is always strictly negative and the denominator is positive for all \(x \neq \pm 2\), we have \(y' < 0\) everywhere. Thus, \(y' \neq 0\) and \(C\) has no stationary points.
To find the intersection with the horizontal asymptote \(y = 2\):
\[2 = \frac{2x^2 + 3x - 5}{x^2 - 4} \implies 2x^2 - 8 = 2x^2 + 3x - 5 \implies 3x = -3 \implies x = -1\]
So, the coordinates of the intersection point are \((-1, 2)\).
**(iii)**
- **Intercepts with axes:**
- When \(y = 0\), \(2x^2 + 3x - 5 = 0 \implies (2x+5)(x-1) = 0 \implies x = -2.5\) and \(x = 1\).
- When \(x = 0\), \(y = \frac{-5}{-4} = 1.25\).
- **Asymptotes:** \(x = -2\), \(x = 2\), and \(y = 2\).
- **Branches:**
- For \(x < -2\), the branch starts near \(y=2\) (from below), passes through \((-2.5, 0)\), and decreases to \(-\infty\) as \(x \to -2^-\).
- For \(-2 < x < 2\), the branch decreases from \(+\infty\) near \(x = -2^+\), passes through \((-1, 2)\), \((0, 1.25)\), and \((1, 0)\), and decreases to \(-\infty\) as \(x \to 2^-\).
- For \(x > 2\), the branch decreases from \(+\infty\) near \(x = 2^+\) towards \(y = 2\) as \(x \to +\infty\).
**(iv)**
We solve \(-2 < \frac{2x^2+3x-5}{x^2-4} < 2\).
*First Inequality:* \(\frac{2x^2+3x-5}{x^2-4} < 2\)
\[\frac{2x^2+3x-5 - 2(x^2-4)}{x^2-4} < 0 \implies \frac{3x+3}{x^2-4} < 0 \implies \frac{3(x+1)}{(x-2)(x+2)} < 0\]
Critical values: \(x = -2, -1, 2\).
Testing intervals yields: \(x < -2\) or \(-1 < x < 2\).
*Second Inequality:* \(\frac{2x^2+3x-5}{x^2-4} > -2\)
\[\frac{2x^2+3x-5 + 2(x^2-4)}{x^2-4} > 0 \implies \frac{4x^2+3x-13}{x^2-4} > 0\]
For the numerator, the roots of \(4x^2+3x-13 = 0\) are:
\[x = \frac{-3 \pm \sqrt{217}}{8} \quad (x_1 \approx -2.22, \quad x_2 \approx 1.47)\]
Critical values: \(x = -2, 2\) and \(x_1, x_2\).
Testing intervals yields: \(x < x_1\) or \(-2 < x < x_2\) or \(x > 2\).
Combining both inequalities (finding the intersection of the two solution sets):
- For \(x < -2\), both hold when \(x < \frac{-3-\sqrt{217}}{8}\).
- For \(-2 < x < 2\), both hold when \(-1 < x < \frac{-3+\sqrt{217}}{8}\).
- For \(x > 2\), there is no common interval.
So the final solution is \(x < \frac{-3-\sqrt{217}}{8}\) or \(-1 < x < \frac{-3+\sqrt{217}}{8}\).
PastPaper.markingScheme
**(i)**
- **M1**: For setting the denominator to 0 to obtain vertical asymptotes.
- **A1**: Both vertical asymptotes \(x = 2\) and \(x = -2\) correct.
- **B1**: Horizontal asymptote \(y = 2\) correct.
**(ii)**
- **M1**: For attempting differentiation using the quotient or product rule.
- **A1**: Correct simplified derivative \(y' = \frac{-3(x^2+2x+4)}{(x^2-4)^2}\).
- **A1**: Showing \(x^2+2x+4 = (x+1)^2 + 3 > 0\) (or using discriminant) and concluding no stationary points.
- **B1**: Setting \(y = 2\) and solving to get \(x = -1\).
- **B0.5**: Correct coordinates \((-1, 2)\).
**(iii)**
- **B1**: Correct shape of the 3 branches with asymptotes drawn.
- **B1**: Intersection with horizontal asymptote at \((-1, 2)\) correctly shown.
- **B1**: Intersections with x-axis at \((-2.5, 0)\) and \((1, 0)\) correctly shown.
- **B1**: Intersection with y-axis at \((0, 1.25)\) correctly shown.
**(iv)**
- **M1**: For translating the absolute value inequality into two critical boundary inequalities.
- **A1**: Finding the critical values \(x = -1\) and \(x = \frac{-3 \pm \sqrt{217}}{8}\) (or 3 s.f. decimals \(-2.22\) and \(1.47\)).
- **M1**: Attempting to find overlapping regions via testing intervals or graphical analysis.
- **A1**: Correct final range of values (accept decimals): \(x < -2.22\) or \(-1 < x < 1.47\).