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VCE Mathematical Methods — Examination 1

VCE Mathematical Methods — Examination 1 — Free Online Pack 0

Read VCE Mathematical Methods — Examination 1 online for free, including every question, worked solution, marking note and diagnostic action. No public PDF download or checkout is provided.

VCE Year 12 Final Exam 2026 Edition - Pack 0 v2.0
Updated 31 Aug 2026

2026 Edition

Study Design alignment: VCAA VCE Mathematics Study Design — from 2023

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This pack is an original, independently prepared exam simulation. The governing document for this 2026 edition is identified in the course alignment above. Numbered packs in this course series are distinct resources for repeated full-paper exam practice. It is not an official VCAA resource, and Skill Align is not affiliated with or endorsed by VCAA.

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VCE Mathematical Methods — Examination 1

9 questions

40 marks

Reading: 15 minutes · Writing: 1 hour

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What Pack 0 covers

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Covered in this pack

  • Calculus 32 marks · 12 questions
  • Functions and Calculus 10 marks · 1 question
  • Functions, Relations and Graphs 31 marks · 11 questions
  • Probability and Statistics 47 marks · 11 questions

Read VCE Mathematical Methods — Examination 1 online

Skill Align

Skill Align VCE Mathematical Methods Units 3&4 - Free Online Pack 0

Examination 1 showcase | Technology-free | Required VCAA formula sheet linked separately

Paper
Examination 1 Showcase
Reading
15 minutes
Writing
1 hour
Assessment
40 marks

Required separately and not included in this Skill Align paper: the current VCAA Mathematical Methods Examination 1 Formula Sheet, available through the linked external resource. Students are not permitted to use technology or notes of any kind.

Questions

Answer all questions. In all questions where a numerical answer is required, give an exact value unless otherwise specified. In questions where more than one mark is available, show appropriate working. Unless otherwise indicated, diagrams are not drawn to scale.

Question 1

4 marks
Let f(x)=√(2x-1) and g(x)=3-f(x+2).
(a) 2 marks
State the domain and range of g.
(b) 2 marks
Solve g(x)=1.

Question 2

4 marks
Let f(x)=x⁴-4x^3.
(a) 1 mark
Find f'(x) in fully factorised form.
(b) 2 marks
Find the coordinates of all stationary points.
(c) 1 mark
Classify both stationary points.

Question 3

4 marks
For events A and B, Pr(A)=0.55, Pr(B)=0.40 and Pr(Acap B)=0.25.
(a) 1 mark
Find Pr(Acup B).
(b) 1 mark
Find Pr(Bmid A).
(c) 2 marks
Determine whether A and B are independent. Justify your answer.

Question 4

5 marks
The graph shows the region enclosed by y=4-x² and y=x+2.
Graph PreviewABxy
(a) 2 marks
Find the coordinates of the two intersection points.
(b) 3 marks
Find the exact area of the enclosed region.

Question 5

4 marks
A continuous random variable X has density f(x)=k(1+x) for 0leq xleq2, and f(x)=0 otherwise.
(a) 1 mark
Find k.
(b) 2 marks
Find E(X).
(c) 1 mark
Find Pr(X>1).

Question 6

4 marks
Let Xsim N(72,8²), and let Z denote a standard normal random variable.
(a) 1 mark
Express Pr(X>84) in terms of Z.
(b) 2 marks
Write an expression for the 95th percentile of X, and give its approximate value using z_(0.95)=1.645.
(c) 1 mark
State the interval of values within one standard deviation of the mean of X.

Question 7

4 marks
A quantity is modelled by N(t)=120e^(-0.15t), where t is measured in hours.
(a) 2 marks
State the initial value and find the exact half-life.
(b) 2 marks
Find the exact time at which N(t)=30.

Question 8

5 marks
An open box is made from a square sheet of side 12 cm by cutting equal squares of side x cm from each corner and folding the sides upward.
(a) 2 marks
Show that the volume is V(x)=x(12-2x)², and state the practical domain.
(b) 3 marks
Find the value of x that maximises the volume, and find the maximum volume.

Question 9

6 marks
Let f(x)=x³+ax²+bx+c. The graph has stationary points at x=-1 and x=2, and f(0)=6.
(a) 3 marks
Find a, b and c.
(b) 3 marks
Find the coordinates of both stationary points and classify them.

VCE and VCAA are trade marks of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority. Skill Align is an independent publisher and is not affiliated with, authorised by, sponsored by, approved by, or endorsed by VCAA.

Copyright (c) 2026 Skill Align. Free for personal, non-commercial online viewing at https://skillalign.au. You may share the Skill Align page link. Except as permitted by law or with Skill Align's prior written permission, the pack itself must not be resold, copied, redistributed, republished, automatically extracted, or uploaded to a question bank.

Worked Solutions And Marking Guide

Question 1

(a) Domain: xgeq-frac32. Range: g(x)leq3.

Since g(x)=3-√(2x+3), the radicand requires 2x+3geq0. The square root is non-negative, so subtracting it from 3 gives values at most 3.

(b) x=frac12.

The equation gives √(2x+3)=2. Squaring gives 2x+3=4, hence x=1 / 2, which is in the domain.

Detailed marking criteria

Part a (2 marks)

Award one mark for each observable outcome: states the domain xgeq-frac32; states the range g(x)leq3. Apply consequential marking only when a clearly identified earlier result is used consistently.

Acceptable alternatives: Accept a mathematically equivalent response to Domain: xgeq-frac32. Range: g(x)leq3. that preserves every stated condition. Accept an alternative valid method that establishes the same observable steps described by: Since g(x)=3-√(2x+3), the radicand requires 2x+3geq0. The square root is non-negative, so subtracting it from 3 gives values at most 3.

Do not credit by itself: Do not award a method mark unless its corresponding observable setup or intermediate step is present.

Part b (2 marks)

Award one mark for each observable outcome: forms √(2x+3)=2; obtains x=frac12 and verifies that it is in the domain. Apply consequential marking only when a clearly identified earlier result is used consistently.

Acceptable alternatives: Accept a mathematically equivalent response to x=frac12. that preserves every stated condition. Accept an alternative valid method that establishes the same observable steps described by: The equation gives √(2x+3)=2. Squaring gives 2x+3=4, hence x=1 / 2, which is in the domain.

Do not credit by itself: Do not award a method mark unless its corresponding observable setup or intermediate step is present.

Question 2

(a) f'(x)=4x²(x-3).

Differentiate term by term and factor out 4x^2.

(b) (0,0) and (3,-27).

Solving 4x²(x-3)=0 gives x=0 and x=3. Substitute each value into f.

(c) (0,0) is a stationary point of inflection and (3,-27) is a local minimum.

The derivative is negative on both sides of x=0, then changes from negative to positive at x=3.

Detailed marking criteria

Part a (1 mark)

Award the mark for the correct response f'(x)=4x²(x-3). Working is not required because this question part does not ask for proof, verification, explanation or justification.

Acceptable alternatives: Accept a mathematically equivalent response to f'(x)=4x²(x-3). that preserves every stated condition.

Part b (2 marks)

Award one mark for each observable outcome: solves f'(x)=0 to obtain x=0,3; states the stationary points (0,0) and (3,-27). Apply consequential marking only when a clearly identified earlier result is used consistently.

Acceptable alternatives: Accept a mathematically equivalent response to (0,0) and (3,-27). that preserves every stated condition. Accept an alternative valid method that establishes the same observable steps described by: Solving 4x²(x-3)=0 gives x=0 and x=3. Substitute each value into f.

Do not credit by itself: Do not award a method mark unless its corresponding observable setup or intermediate step is present.

Part c (1 mark)

Award the mark for the correct response (0,0) is a stationary point of inflection and (3,-27) is a local minimum. Working is not required because this question part does not ask for proof, verification, explanation or justification.

Acceptable alternatives: Accept a mathematically equivalent response to (0,0) is a stationary point of inflection and (3,-27) is a local minimum. that preserves every stated condition.

Question 3

(a) 0.70.

Use 0.55+0.40-0.25=0.70.

(b) frac5(11).

Conditional probability gives 0.25 / 0.55=5 / 11.

(c) The events are not independent.

Independence would require Pr(Acap B)=0.55(0.40)=0.22, but the given intersection probability is 0.25.

Detailed marking criteria

Part a (1 mark)

Award the mark for the correct response 0.70. Working is not required because this question part does not ask for proof, verification, explanation or justification.

Acceptable alternatives: Accept a mathematically equivalent response to 0.70. that preserves every stated condition.

Part b (1 mark)

Award the mark for the correct response frac5(11). Working is not required because this question part does not ask for proof, verification, explanation or justification.

Acceptable alternatives: Accept a mathematically equivalent response to frac5(11). that preserves every stated condition.

Part c (2 marks)

Award one mark for each observable outcome: compares Pr(A)Pr(B)=0.22 with Pr(Acap B)=0.25; concludes that the events are not independent. Apply consequential marking only when a clearly identified earlier result is used consistently.

Acceptable alternatives: Accept a mathematically equivalent response to The events are not independent. that preserves every stated condition. Accept an alternative valid method that establishes the same observable steps described by: Independence would require Pr(Acap B)=0.55(0.40)=0.22, but the given intersection probability is 0.25.

Do not credit by itself: Do not award a method mark unless its corresponding observable setup or intermediate step is present.

Question 4

(a) (-2,0) and (1,3).

Equating the functions gives x²+x-2=0=(x+2)(x-1). Substitute each root into y=x+2.

(b) frac92 square units.

The parabola is above the line, so the area is int_(-2)¹(2-x-x²),dx=9 / 2.

Detailed marking criteria

Part a (2 marks)

Award one mark for each observable outcome: solves 4-x²=x+2 to obtain x=-2,1; states the intersection points (-2,0) and (1,3). Apply consequential marking only when a clearly identified earlier result is used consistently.

Acceptable alternatives: Accept a mathematically equivalent response to (-2,0) and (1,3). that preserves every stated condition. Accept an alternative valid method that establishes the same observable steps described by: Equating the functions gives x²+x-2=0=(x+2)(x-1). Substitute each root into y=x+2.

Do not credit by itself: Do not award a method mark unless its corresponding observable setup or intermediate step is present.

Part b (3 marks)

Award one mark for each observable outcome: uses the area integral int_(-2)¹(2-x-x²),dx; evaluates an antiderivative at both limits; obtains the exact area frac92 square units. Apply consequential marking only when a clearly identified earlier result is used consistently.

Acceptable alternatives: Accept a mathematically equivalent response to frac92 square units. that preserves every stated condition. Accept an alternative valid method that establishes the same observable steps described by: The parabola is above the line, so the area is int_(-2)¹(2-x-x²),dx=9 / 2.

Do not credit by itself: Do not award a method mark unless its corresponding observable setup or intermediate step is present.

Question 5

(a) k=frac14.

Normalisation requires kint_0²(1+x),dx=4k=1.

(b) E(X)=frac76.

Evaluate frac14int_0^2x(1+x),dx=frac14(2+8 / 3)=7 / 6.

(c) frac58.

Evaluate frac14int_1²(1+x),dx=5 / 8.

Detailed marking criteria

Part a (1 mark)

Award the mark for the correct response k=frac14. Working is not required because this question part does not ask for proof, verification, explanation or justification.

Acceptable alternatives: Accept a mathematically equivalent response to k=frac14. that preserves every stated condition.

Part b (2 marks)

Award one mark for each observable outcome: uses E(X)=frac14int_0^2x(1+x),dx; obtains E(X)=frac76. Apply consequential marking only when a clearly identified earlier result is used consistently.

Acceptable alternatives: Accept a mathematically equivalent response to E(X)=frac76. that preserves every stated condition. Accept an alternative valid method that establishes the same observable steps described by: Evaluate frac14int_0^2x(1+x),dx=frac14(2+8 / 3)=7 / 6.

Do not credit by itself: Do not award a method mark unless its corresponding observable setup or intermediate step is present.

Part c (1 mark)

Award the mark for the correct response frac58. Working is not required because this question part does not ask for proof, verification, explanation or justification.

Acceptable alternatives: Accept a mathematically equivalent response to frac58. that preserves every stated condition.

Question 6

(a) Pr(Z>1.5).

Standardising gives (84-72) / 8=1.5.

(b) 72+8z_(0.95)approx85.16.

Scale the standard-normal percentile by 8 and add the mean 72.

(c) 64leq Xleq80.

One standard deviation below and above the mean gives 72-8=64 and 72+8=80.

Detailed marking criteria

Part a (1 mark)

Award the mark for the correct response Pr(Z>1.5). Working is not required because this question part does not ask for proof, verification, explanation or justification.

Acceptable alternatives: Accept a mathematically equivalent response to Pr(Z>1.5). that preserves every stated condition.

Part b (2 marks)

Award one mark for each observable outcome: states the percentile expression 72+8z_(0.95); uses z_(0.95)=1.645 to obtain approximately 85.16. Apply consequential marking only when a clearly identified earlier result is used consistently.

Acceptable alternatives: Accept a mathematically equivalent response to 72+8z_(0.95)approx85.16. that preserves every stated condition. Accept an alternative valid method that establishes the same observable steps described by: Scale the standard-normal percentile by 8 and add the mean 72.

Do not credit by itself: Do not award a method mark unless its corresponding observable setup or intermediate step is present.

Part c (1 mark)

Award the mark for the correct response 64leq Xleq80. Working is not required because this question part does not ask for proof, verification, explanation or justification.

Acceptable alternatives: Accept a mathematically equivalent response to 64leq Xleq80. that preserves every stated condition.

Question 7

(a) Initial value 120; half-life ((20ln2) / (3)) hours.

Use N(0)=120. For the half-life, solve e^(-0.15t)=1 / 2.

(b) t=((20ln4) / (3)) hours.

Since 30 / 120=1 / 4, solve e^(-0.15t)=1 / 4.

Detailed marking criteria

Part a (2 marks)

Award one mark for each observable outcome: states the initial value N(0)=120; solves e^(-0.15t)=frac12 to obtain the exact half-life ((20ln2) / (3)) hours. Apply consequential marking only when a clearly identified earlier result is used consistently.

Acceptable alternatives: Accept a mathematically equivalent response to Initial value 120; half-life ((20ln2) / (3)) hours. that preserves every stated condition. Accept an alternative valid method that establishes the same observable steps described by: Use N(0)=120. For the half-life, solve e^(-0.15t)=1 / 2.

Do not credit by itself: Do not award a method mark unless its corresponding observable setup or intermediate step is present.

Part b (2 marks)

Award one mark for each observable outcome: forms e^(-0.15t)=frac14; obtains t=((20ln4) / (3)) hours. Apply consequential marking only when a clearly identified earlier result is used consistently.

Acceptable alternatives: Accept a mathematically equivalent response to t=((20ln4) / (3)) hours. that preserves every stated condition. Accept an alternative valid method that establishes the same observable steps described by: Since 30 / 120=1 / 4, solve e^(-0.15t)=1 / 4.

Do not credit by itself: Do not award a method mark unless its corresponding observable setup or intermediate step is present.

Question 8

(a) V(x)=x(12-2x)², where 0<x<6.

The box has height x and a square base of side 12-2x. Both dimensions must be positive.

(b) The maximum occurs at x=2 cm and is 128 cm^3.

Differentiate to get V'(x)=(12-2x)(12-6x). The interior stationary point is x=2, giving V(2)=2(8)²=128.

Detailed marking criteria

Part a (2 marks)

Award one mark for each observable outcome: establishes V(x)=x(12-2x)²; states the practical domain 0<x<6. Apply consequential marking only when a clearly identified earlier result is used consistently.

Acceptable alternatives: Accept a mathematically equivalent response to V(x)=x(12-2x)², where 0<x<6. that preserves every stated condition. Accept an alternative valid method that establishes the same observable steps described by: The box has height x and a square base of side 12-2x. Both dimensions must be positive.

Do not credit by itself: Do not award a method mark unless its corresponding observable setup or intermediate step is present.

Part b (3 marks)

Award one mark for each observable outcome: obtains V'(x)=(12-2x)(12-6x); identifies the interior maximum at x=2; obtains the maximum volume V(2)=128 cm^3. Apply consequential marking only when a clearly identified earlier result is used consistently.

Acceptable alternatives: Accept a mathematically equivalent response to The maximum occurs at x=2 cm and is 128 cm^3. that preserves every stated condition. Accept an alternative valid method that establishes the same observable steps described by: Differentiate to get V'(x)=(12-2x)(12-6x). The interior stationary point is x=2, giving V(2)=2(8)²=128.

Do not credit by itself: Do not award a method mark unless its corresponding observable setup or intermediate step is present.

Question 9

(a) a=-frac32, b=-6 and c=6.

Since f'(x) has roots -1 and 2, f'(x)=3(x+1)(x-2)=3x²-3x-6. Compare coefficients with 3x²+2ax+b, and use f(0)=c.

(b) A local maximum at (-1,((19) / (2))) and a local minimum at (2,-4).

Substitute the two x-values into f. Since f''(x)=6x-3, it is negative at -1 and positive at 2.

Detailed marking criteria

Part a (3 marks)

Award one mark for each observable outcome: uses f'(x)=3(x+1)(x-2); compares coefficients to obtain a=-frac32 and b=-6; uses f(0)=6 to obtain c=6. Apply consequential marking only when a clearly identified earlier result is used consistently.

Acceptable alternatives: Accept a mathematically equivalent response to a=-frac32, b=-6 and c=6. that preserves every stated condition. Accept an alternative valid method that establishes the same observable steps described by: Since f'(x) has roots -1 and 2, f'(x)=3(x+1)(x-2)=3x²-3x-6. Compare coefficients with 3x²+2ax+b, and use f(0)=c.

Do not credit by itself: Do not award a method mark unless its corresponding observable setup or intermediate step is present.

Part b (3 marks)

Award one mark for each observable outcome: obtains the stationary points (-1,((19) / (2))) and (2,-4); uses f''(x)=6x-3 or an equivalent sign analysis; classifies the points respectively as a local maximum and a local minimum. Apply consequential marking only when a clearly identified earlier result is used consistently.

Acceptable alternatives: Accept a mathematically equivalent response to A local maximum at (-1,((19) / (2))) and a local minimum at (2,-4). that preserves every stated condition. Accept an alternative valid method that establishes the same observable steps described by: Substitute the two x-values into f. Since f''(x)=6x-3, it is negative at -1 and positive at 2.

Do not credit by itself: Do not award a method mark unless its corresponding observable setup or intermediate step is present.

Diagnostic Checklist

TopicQuestionsMarksMarks LostAction
Functions, relations and graphs Q1, Q7 and Q9 14 ___ Review domains and ranges, exponential models and polynomial conditions.
Calculus and applications Q2, Q4 and Q8 14 ___ Review stationary points, exact area and optimisation.
Probability and statistics Q3, Q5 and Q6 12 ___ Review conditional probability, continuous densities and normal distributions.

What is included

Examination 1 Showcase questions (40 marks)

Examination 2 Showcase questions (80 marks)

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Diagnostic checklist shown online

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  • 2026 edition · Pack 0 · v2.0
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Current VCAA Mathematical Methods Examination 1 Formula Sheet Official VCAA candidate resource, August 2024; supplied separately and not reproduced.

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