Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2003/ia/paper-2/5d/b/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2003 ia Paper 2 5D b Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
After multiplication by , recognize both sides as derivatives:The nontrivial first integral is thereforeIt necessarily depends on the derivative, correcting the printed notation . A second integration giveson the specified interval. Since , . A finite derivative at zero also implies there, forcing . A positive particular solution is consequentlyThe negative of this function is the other sign choice. Near zero, , so the positive branch has and ; the negative branch has derivative .
For the positive branch, . Its second derivative has numerator , multiplied by a positive factor. This numerator is zero at zero and has derivative , so the curve is convex for positive . It starts tangent to and rises without bound as , with . The third panel of the sketch above shows this branch.
New to topics? Read the docs here!