ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS SAMPLE PROBLEMS

Solve for x in the equation 3x2 4xi + 4 = 0

a.
b.
c.
d.

-2i and -2i/3

2i and -2i/3
-2i and 2i/3
2i and 2i/3

In a quadratic equation problem, one student made a mistake

in copying the coefficient of x and got a root of +3 and -2.
Another student made a mistake in copying the constant term
and got a root of +3 and +2. Find the correct equation.
a.
b.
c.
d.

x2 + 2x 1 = 0
x2 5x 6 = 0
3x2 + 4x 10 = 0
2x2 + 5x 1 = 0

Two turtle A and B start to move at the same time towards

each other at a distance of 150 m. The rate of A is 10 m/s while
that of B is 20 m/s. A fly flies from one turtle to another at the
same time that the turtles start to move towards each other.
The speed of the fly is 100 m/s. Find the total distance traveled
by the fly until the turtles meet.
a.
b.
c.
d.

600 m
450 m
500 m
750 m

A mechanical engineer bought 24 boxes of screws for Php

2200. There were three types of screws bought. Screw A costs
Php 300 per box, screw B costs Php 150 per box and screw C
costs Php 50 per box. How many boxes of screw A did he buy?
a.
b.
c.
d.

2
17
5
14

At what time after 3 oclock will the angle between the hands of
the clock bisected by the second hand?
a.
b.
c.
d.

3:00:05:57
3:00:07:57
3:00:06:57
3:00:08:57

Key: Quadratic Equation

x = [-b (b2 4ac)]/2a
a = 3, b = -4i and c = 4
First root: 2i and Second root: -2i/3
Key: Quadratic Equation
(x a) (x b) = 0 (any degree)
#1: (x 3) (x + 2) = 0
#2: (x 3) (x 2) = 0

x2 x 6 = 0; coefficient is wrong
x2 5x + 6 = 0; constant term is wrong

Correct equation: x2 5x 6 = 0
Key: Motion Problem
Va*t + Vb*t = Total distance
10 m/s (t) + 20 m/s (t) = 150 m
t = 5 seconds
100 m/s (5 sec) = 500 meters
Key: Diophantine Equation
Total No. of item sold: 24 boxes
Total Sales: 2200
Equation #1: A + B + C = 24
Equation #2: 300A + 150B + 50C = 2200
Elimination by subtraction: Equation #2 (Equation #1)*(50)
250A + 100B = 1000
Substitution of values
250(2) + 100B = 1000; B = 5 answer is 2
250(17) + 100B = 1000; B = -32.5
250(5) + 100B = 1000; B = -2.5
250(14) + 100B = 1000; B = -25
Rules of Application: negative values are not allowed
Key: Clock Problem
H S = S M;
H = 1/120 deg per sec, M = 1/10 deg per sec & S = 6 deg per sec
90 degrees = 3 oclock
90 + t/120 6t = 6t t/10
t = 7:568325158
t = 3:00:07:57

ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS SAMPLE PROBLEMS

A man who is on a diet losses 24 lbs. In 3 months, 16 lbs, in the

next 3 months and so on for a long time. What is the maximum
total weight loss?
a.
b.
c.
d.

72 lbs
54 lbs
64 lbs
81 lbs

Find the quotient of the sum of all odd integers between 100
and 1000 when it is divided by 9.
a.
b.
c.
d.

247500
27500
27561
24805

When a certain polynomial f(x) is divided by (x 1), the

remainder is 12. When the same polynomial is divided by (x
4), the remainder is 3. Find the remainder when the
polynomial is divided by (x 1) (x 4).
a.
b.
c.
d.

x+5
-2x 8
-3x + 15
4x 1

Three people A, B and C rode in a minibus that has a six vacant

seats on each side. In how many ways can they be seated if A
insists sitting at the right side of the minibus?
a.
b.
c.
d.

660 ways
650 ways
670 ways
60 ways

Key: Sum of Infinity Series

Ratio: 16/24 = 2/3 a1 = 24
Sum = a1/(1 r)
Sum = 24/(1 2/3)
Sum = 72 lbs
Key: Sum of Arithmetic Progression
a1 = 101
an = 999
a1 = an + (n 1)*d
101 = 999 + (n 1)*2
n = 450
s = (n/2)*(a1 + an)
s = 247500
q = s/9
q = 27500
Key: Remainder Theorem
f(x) = (x 1)*(x 4)q(x) + r(x); r(x) = Ax + B
R1 = 12
R2 = 3
12 = r(1); r(1) = A(1) + B Equation #1
3 = r(4); r(4) = A(4) + B Equation #2
A(x) + B = -3x + 15
Key: Combinatorics and Permutations
We can choose a seat on the right for A in 6 ways. That leaves
11 seats (6 on the left and 5 on the right). For each of the 6
ways we can choose a seat for A, we can choose a seat for B in
11 ways. That's 611 or 66 ways to seat A and B. That leaves
10 vacant seats. For each of those 66 ways we can seat A & B,
we can seat C in any one of those remaining 10 seats.
So that's a total of 1066 = 660 ways

ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS SAMPLE PROBLEMS

Situation I

Key: Permutations & Combinatorics

Given the following digits: 4, 3, 5, 8, 9 and 1.

First digit: 1 (1 choice)

How many three-digit numbers less than 500 can be made

without repeating any digit?

Second digit: any of the remaining (5 choice)

a.
b.
c.
d.

180
120
60
100

How many four-digit numbers greater than 8500 can be made

without repeating any digit?
a.
b.
c.
d.

60
72
125
84

One box contain four cards numbered 1, 3, 5 and 6. Another

box contains three cards numbered 2, 4 and 7. One card is
drawn from each box. Find the probability that the sum is even.
a.
b.
c.
d.

5/12
3/7
7/12
5/7

Luffy and Zoro each throw two dice. If Luffy gets a sum of 4,
what is the probability that Zoro will get less?
a.
b.
c.
d.

5/6
9/11
1/12

Third digit: any of the remaining (4 choice)

First digit: 3 (1 choice)
Second digit: any of the remaining (5 choice)
Third digit: any of the remaining (4 choice)
First digit: 4 (1 choice)
Second digit: any of the remaining (5 choice)
Third digit: any of the remaining (4 choice)
1*5*4 + 1*5*4 + 1*5*4 = 60
Key: Permutations & Combinatorics
85xx 89xx (2 sets)
91xx 93xx 94xx 95xx 98xx (5 sets)
7sets*(4 remaining)*(3 remaining) = 84
Proof:
8513
8514
8519
8531
8534
8539
8541
8543
8549
8594
8593
8594

8913
8914
8915
8931
8934
8935
8941
8943
8945
8954
8953
8954

9134
9135
9138
9143
9145
9148
9153
9154
8158
9183
9184
9185

9314
9314
9318
9341
9345
9348
9351
9354
9358
9381
9384
9385

9413
9415
9418
9431
9435
8438
9451
9453
9458
9481
9483
9485

9513
9514
9518
9531
9534
9538
9541
9543
9548
9581
9583
9584

9813
9814
9815
9831
9834
9835
9841
9843
9845
9851
9853
9854

Key: Permutations & Combinatorics

Probability = No. of Favorable Ways/ No. of Total Ways
Probability = 5 possibilities/ 12 ways
Proof: *1/3 = 1/12 => Total Ways
1+7
3+7
5+7
6+2
6+4
5 possibilities

8
10
12
8
10

Answer: 5*(1/12) = 5/12

Key: Permutations & Combinatorics
Probability = No. of Favorable Ways/ No. of Total Ways
Probability = 3/36 = 1/12

ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS SAMPLE PROBLEMS

Situation II
A spherical ball having a radius of 3 cm is placed inside an
empty conical vessel having a top base radius of 6 cm and an
altitude of 8 cm. The spherical ball is just level with the top
base of the conical vessel.
Compute the radius of circle of contact of the spherical ball and
cone.
a.
b.
c.
d.

1.98 cm
2.54 cm
1.75 cm
2.40 cm

Compute the volume of the spherical segment below the circle

of contact.
a.
b.
c.
d.

12.34 cm3
15.24 cm3
11.76 cm3
9.27 cm3

If water is poured into the conical vessel, how much water is

needed to keep the conical vessel full assuming no water gets
inside the circle of contact between the sphere and the cone?
a.
b.
c.
d.

158.45 cm3
180.95 cm3
165.78 cm3
172.31 cm3

A right circular cylinder has a height of 10 cm and radius of 4

cm. A point X and point Y lies on the surface of the cylinder. If
point X and point Y are to be far apart as possible from each
other, what is the maximum distance between X and Y?
a.
b.
c.
d.

12.81 cm
14.42 cm
10.77 cm
17.21 cm

If the length of the latus rectum of an ellipse is three-fourths of

the length of its minor axis, determine the eccentricity.
a.
b.
c.
d.

0.18
0.66
0.32
0.72

Situation III
The polar equation of a curve is expressed as r = 2/1 sin
Compute the ordinate of the vertex of the curve.
a.
b.
c.
d.

1
0
-1
2

Compute the length of latus rectum.

a.
b.
c.
d.

8
4
6
2

Key: Pythagorean Theorem, Spherical Segment and Cone

Formula
Alternate Key: Proof by Similar Triangle
a = 3, b = 5 and c = 4
18 = a2 + b2 c2
30 = 2*a*b
R = 3*sin [arcos (18/30)] = 2.40 cm
V = (h/6)*(3r h)
V = 11.7621229 cm3
V = [(h/3)*(R2 + r2 + R*r)] [(h2/3)*(3*r h)]
V = 180.9557368 cm3
Key: Pythagorean Theorem
Hypotenuse = distance required
Opposite side = 10 cm = height
Adjacent side = 8 cm = diameter = 2*radius
H2 = OS2 + AS2
H = 12.80624827 cm
Key: Plane Geometry: Ellipse
LR = 2b2/a
2b = length of minor axis
Given: LR = 3/4 (2b)
3/4 (2b) = 2b2/a
a = 4b/3
Substitute a to equation: a2 = b2 + c2
c = b*(7)/3
Eccentricity = c/a
Eccentricity = 7/4 0.6614378287
Key: Changing Polar Form to Trigonometric Form
r2 = x2 + y2, x = r*cos , y = r*sin
r r*sin = 2
(x2 + y2) y = 2; x2 + y2 = (2 + y)2
Standard Equation of Parabola: (x h)2 = 4a(y k)2
x2 = 4 + 4y
x2 = 4(y + 1)
(x 0)2 = 4(y (-1))2
h = 0 and k = -1

ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS SAMPLE PROBLEMS

Determine the distance from vertex to the directrix.

a.
b.
c.
d.

1
3
2
4

The vertices of a triangle are at A(1, 2), B(3, 8), and C(8, -1).
Locate the point of intersection of its altitudes.
a.
b.
c.
d.

(1/4, 19/12)
(-1/4, 19/12)
(19/12, 1/4)
(1/4, -19/12)

Find the second derivative of y = x/2*(3x+1)2 when x = 0.

a.
b.
c.
d.

6
0.5
-6
-0.5

A function given below, what value of x maximizes y? y2 + y + x2

2x = 0
a.
b.
c.
d.

0
2
1
3

Vertical Axis General Form: Ax2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0

x2 4y 4 = 0
A = 1; D = 0; E = -4; F = -4; k = (D2 4AF)/4AE
k = -4(1)(-4)/4(1)(-4) = -1
a = -E/4A
a = -(-4)/4(1) = 1
4a = 4(1) = 4
Length of latus rectum = 4a = 4
By inspection standard parabolic equation: (x h)2 = 4a(y k)2
4a = 4
a = distance of vertex to directrix
a=1
Key: Slope of a Line, Point-slope form and Perpendicular slope
of a line.
Slope of AB and BC
m = y2 y1/x2 x1
m = 8 2/3 1 = 3
m = 8 (-1)/3 8 = -9/5
Perpendicular Slope of AB and BC
m = -1/3
m = 5/9
Point-slope form
Equation#1

y (-1) = -1/3(x 8) y 5/3 = -x/3

Equation#2

y (2) = 5/9(x 1) y 13/9 = 5x/9

Subtract Equation#1 to Equation#2

-5/3 (-13/9) = -x/3 (5x/9)
x = 1/4
y = 19/12
Required coordinates (1/4, 19/12)
Key: Differentiation Formula: Algebraic Function
d(u/v) = vdu udv/v2
1st derivative: (-3x + 1)/2*(3x + 1)3
2nd derivative: (9x 6)/( 3x + 1)4 substitute x = 0
d2y/dx2 = -6