2018 May Time Zone 2 Maths SL – Paper 1

Paper 2 (Click here to scroll down)

Paper 1 – Question 1

Part (a) asks to find the vector equation of a line that passes through two points.

Part (b) introduces a second vector which is perpendicular to our line. It asks you to solve for an unknown variable by using the scalar product.

2018 Mathematics SL Paper 1 May TZ2 Question 1 – 18M.1.sl.TZ2.1

Paper 1 – Question 2

Part (a) asks to find the indefinite integral of the function.

Part (b) asks to find the area under the quadratic function with given limits. This is a simple definite integral of the original function.

2018 Mathematics SL Paper 1 May TZ2 Question 2 – 18M.1.sl.TZ2.2

Paper 1 – Question 3

Part (a) asks to find the number of items in the original data set.

Part (b) asks to find the new mean and variance after the original data set is changed. This type of question appears frequency in IB Mathematics SL Past Papers and should be practised by IB students.

2018 Mathematics SL Paper 1 May TZ2 Question 3 – 18M.1.sl.TZ2.3

Paper 1 – Question 4

Information about the shaded sector is given (area and arc length given) and the question asks to find the radius of the sector. A very frequent IB Maths SL Past Paper Question and one to practice by students.

2018 Mathematics SL Paper 1 May TZ2 Question 4 – 18M.1.sl.TZ2.4

Paper 1 – Question 5

Part (a) asks to sketch the reflection of the function in the y-axis.

Part (b) is a difficult transformations question (4 marks) where a transformed function is given and you have to write down the transformations that have taken place. This type of question is typically seen in 20% – 30% of IB Maths SL Paper 1 Exams.

2018 Mathematics SL Paper 1 May TZ2 Question 5 – 18M.1.sl.TZ2.5

Paper 1 – Question 6

2018 Mathematics SL Paper 1 May TZ2 Question 6 – 18M.1.sl.TZ2.6

Paper 1 – Question 7

Part (a) asks you to find the common difference, d, in terms of the logarithms provided in the question.

Part (b) is a sigma notation question where the arithmetic series formula is needed.

When comparing to other IB Maths SL Past Papers, this question is a similar level of difficulty to other Question 7’s. You must know your log laws and how to find the value of an arithmetic series sum using sigma notation (see video for more details).

2018 Mathematics SL Paper 1 May TZ2 Question 7 – 18M.1.sl.TZ2.7

Paper 1 – Question 8

Part (a) asks to complete the tree diagram.

Part (b) asks to find the probability of an outcome where you simply need to multiply branches of the tree.

Part (c) asks to find the probability of an outcome where you need to add the multiplication of multiple branches. Not too difficult and a common IB Maths SL Past Paper Question.

Part (d) is a conditional probability question. Once again, not too difficult and a common IB Maths SL Past Paper Question.

Part (e) is a tricky 3 mark question where it asks to find the probability of an outcome occurring ‘at least once’ out of two days. The complement probability is needed to find the answer (see video for more details).

This is a fairly common Question 8 / Question 9 when comparing to other IB Mathematics Standard Level Paper 1 Exams. This is an opportunity for a student to start Section B with 14/14 marks.

2018 Mathematics SL Paper 1 May TZ2 Question 8 – 18M.1.sl.TZ2.8

Paper 1 – Question 9

Part (a) asks to express the height of the can in terms of the radius.

Part (b) asks find the cost equation (surface area) for the materials needed to make the can.

Part (c) asks to find the minimum cost (optimisation) for the materials needed to make the can.

This question is a very common IB Maths SL Optimisation question. If students have practised Optimisation Questions in IB Maths SL Past Papers, they shouldn’t find this too difficult.

2018 Mathematics SL Paper 1 May TZ2 Question 9 – 18M.1.sl.TZ2.9

Paper 1 – Question 10

Part (a) asks you to write down the value of the gradient at the known point using the tangent equation and it also asks for the y value at the known point. These 4 marks aren’t too difficult to get.

Part (b) introduces a new function (g(x) which is a transformation of the original function f(x). A different point is given on g(x) but is related to the given point in part (a). Part (b) then asks the gradient of g(x) at the given point. Many students will make mistakes here and lose marks as you firstly need to use the correct deriving laws to find g'(x) (see video for details).

Part (c) introduces and new tangent line (tangent to g(x)). The two tangent lines in the question intersect at an unknown point and the question asks to find the y coordinate of this intersection point.

This question is difficult and slightly more challenging than the typical Section B IB Maths SL Question. Watch the video solution twice to fully grasp part (b) as you need it for part (c). Only students aiming for a 6 or a 7 will get 12+ out of 16 for this question.

2018 Mathematics SL Paper 1 May TZ2 Question 10 – 18M.1.sl.TZ2.10

2018 May Time Zone 2 Maths SL – Paper 2

Paper 2 – Question 1

Part (a) asks you to find the regression line equation as well as the correlation coefficient.

Part (b) asks you to estimate a ‘y’ value using your regression line equation found in part (a).

This is a very common IB Maths SL Exam Question and appears in 60% – 80% of IB Maths SL Past Papers (Paper 2).

2018 Mathematics SL Paper 2 May TZ2 Question 1 – 18M.2.sl.TZ2.1

Paper 2 – Question 2

Part (a) asks you to find a side length (use sine rule).

Part (b) asks you to find another side length (use cosine rule).

This is a common IB Maths SL Exam Question and appears in 25% – 30% of IB Maths SL Past Papers (Paper 2).

2018 Mathematics SL Paper 2 May TZ2 Question 2 – 18M.2.sl.TZ2.2

Paper 2 – Question 3

Part (a) asks you to find the x-intercept of the function (use GDC).

Part (b) says that the region enclosed by the function and the x-axis is rotated around the x-axis. The question then asks to find the volume of the solid formed.

This is a common IB Mathematics Standard Level Exam Question and appears in 20% – 25% of IB Maths SL Past Papers (Paper 1 or Paper 2).

2018 Mathematics SL Paper 2 May TZ2 Question 3 – 18M.2.sl.TZ2.3

Paper 2 – Question 4

Part (a) asks you to find the common ration, r.

Part (b) asks you to find the sum of the first 8 terms in the sequence.

Part (c) is quite challenging where it asks you to find the the least value of terms such that the sum exceeds a certain value. You will need your GDC to solve this.

This is a common IB Mathematics Standard Level Exam Question and appears in 15% – 25% of IB Maths SL Past Papers (mostly Paper 2). You will need calculator skills to solve part (c).

2018 Mathematics SL Paper 2 May TZ2 Question 4 – 18M.2.sl.TZ2.4

Paper 2 – Question 5

This questions is a difficult IB Mathematics Standard Level Exam Question. Similar questions appears in 40% – 70% of IB Maths SL Past Papers (mostly Paper 2) however this question is slightly different in that you have to pair up two terms in order to solve for the unknown ‘k’. Quite challenging for a Question 5.

2018 Mathematics SL Paper 2 May TZ2 Question 5 – 18M.2.sl.TZ2.5

Paper 2 – Question 6

Part (a) asks you to find the initial height of the Ferris wheel, ‘k’.

Part (b) asks you to complete the trigonometric function by finding the amplitude.

Part (c) asks you to find the third time when the seat will reach a certain height. You will need to graph the curve and solve.

This question is a fairly common IB Mathematics Standard Level Exam Question. Circular function question like this appear in 30% – 40% of IB Maths SL Past Papers (mostly Paper 2). Calculator skills required.

2018 Mathematics SL Paper 2 May TZ2 Question 6 – 18M.2.sl.TZ2.6

Paper 2 – Question 7

Part (a) gives you the equation of the vertical asymptote and asks you to solve for the unknown coefficient,

Part (b) asks you to find the horizontal asymptote.

Part (c) is very challenging. The question asks when the modulus of the function will intersect with the line y=k at exactly one point, and to find the possible values of k (see video for more details). These 3 marks will be very difficult to get and will separate grade boundaries.

This question is a commonly seen IB Mathematics Standard Level Exam Question with an added twist (part c). Calculator skills are required and a deep understanding of functions is needed to get part (c). Part (c) doesn’t appear many times when going though IB Maths SL Past Papers.

2018 Mathematics SL Paper 2 May TZ2 Question 7 – 18M.2.sl.TZ2.7

Paper 2 – Question 8

Part (a) asks you to find the vector connecting the two given points and to also find the magnitude of this vector.

Part (b) asks you to find the angle between the vector in part (a) and a new vector provided. Scalar product needed.

Part (c) asks to find the area of the triangle formed.

Part (d) asks to find the shortest distance from a point to our vector.

This is a common IB Mathematics Standard Level Exam Question and appears in 40% – 50% of IB Maths SL Past Papers (mostly Paper 2). Part (d) is quite challenging (see video for more details).

2018 Mathematics SL Paper 2 May TZ2 Question 8 – 18M.2.sl.TZ2.8

Paper 2 – Question 9

Part (a) asks you to find the initial velocity.

Part (b) asks you to find the maximum speed (don’t be tricked into finding the maximum velocity… see video for details)

Part (c) asks to find the number of times the acceleration is zero.

Part (d) asks to find the acceleration when the particle changes direction.

Part (e) asks to find the total distance travelled by the particle.

This is a very common IB Mathematics Standard Level Exam Question and appears in 50% – 60% of IB Maths SL Past Papers (mostly Paper 2). Section B Kinematics questions like this can be the difference between achieving a 5 and a 6/7. Practice, practice, practice!

2018 Mathematics SL Paper 2 May TZ2 Question 9 – 18M.2.sl.TZ2.9

Paper 2 – Question 10

Part (a) asks you to find an unknown value in the table and to find the mean of the data.

Part (b) is a normal distribution question where it asks to find the probability of our random variable (apples) weighing less than a given weight. This is straight forward on the GDC (see video).

Part (c) & Part (d) are Binomial Distribution questions that get progressively more challenging. Calculator skills are required.

This is a common IB Mathematics Standard Level Exam Question (Section B) and appears in 40% – 50% of IB Maths SL Past Papers (mostly Paper 2). Students might struggle getting started as part (a) is a little bit tricky. Parts (c) & (d) are quite challenging but top students will hopefully get 17/17 for this question.

2018 Mathematics SL Paper 2 May TZ2 Question 10 – 18M.2.sl.TZ2.10

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