DIFFERENTIATION & FUNCTIONS (Q 6, 7 & 8, PAPER 1)

1997
6 (a) f (x)

x
0
5 10 15 20 25

The graph shows portion of a periodic function f : x → f ( x).

Write down the period and range of the function.
What is the value of f (77.5)?

(b) Differentiate from first principles

3x 2 − 2
with respect to x.

(c) Let f ( x) = ax3 + bx + c, for all x ∈ R and for a, b, c ∈ R.

Use the information which follows to find the value of a, of b and of c:
(i) f (0) = 3
(ii) the slope of the tangent to the curve of f (x) at x = 1 is −18
(iii) the curve of f (x) has a local maximum at x = 2.
SOLUTION
6 (a)
Every periodic function has two important features:
1. PERIOD:
The length of the wave along the x-axis before it repeats itself.
2. RANGE:
This is the interval between the lowest y value and the highest y value.

Period = 10
Range = [0, 3]

The value of the function at any value of x can be worked out from
the first wave by dividing the value of x by the period and finding
the remainder.
f (x) = f (Remainder)

f (77.5) = f (7.5) = 3
6 (b)
The Δx approach: The h approach:
1. y = 3 x 2 − 2 1. f ( x) = 3 x 2 − 2

2. y + Δy = 3( x + Δx) 2 − 2 2. f ( x + h) = 3( x + h) 2 − 2
⇒ y + Δy = 3 x 2 + 6 x(Δx) + 3(Δx) 2 − 2 ⇒ f ( x + h) = 3 x 2 + 6 xh + 3h 2 − 2

3. y + Δy = 3 x 2 + 6 x(Δx) + 3(Δx) 2 − 2 3. f ( x + h) − f ( x)
y = 3x 2
−2 = 3 x 2 + 6 xh + 3h 2 − 2 − 3 x 2 + 2
∴Δy = 6 x(Δx) + 3(Δx) 2 = 6 xh + 3h 2

Δy 6 x(Δx) + 3(Δx) 2 f ( x + h) − f ( x) 6 xh + 3h 2
4. = 4. =
Δx Δx h h

Δy f ( x + h) − f ( x )
5. = 6 x + 3Δx 5. = 6 x + 3h
Δx h

Δy ⎛ f ( x + h) − f ( x ) ⎞
6. lim = 6 x + 3(0) = 6 x 6. lim ⎜ ⎟ = 6 x + 3(0)
x → 0 Δx x →0
⎝ h ⎠
= 6x
dy
7. = 6x
dx dy
7. = 6x
dx

6 (c) (i)
f ( x) = ax3 + bx + c
f (0) = 3 ⇒ a (0)3 + b(0) + c = 3
∴c = 3
6 (c) (ii)
⎛ dy ⎞
To find the slope of the tangent to the curve at x = 1, find ⎜ ⎟ and put it equal to −18.
⎝ dx ⎠ x =1
y = f ( x) = ax + bx + 3
3

dy
∴ = 3ax 2 + b
dx
⎛ dy ⎞
⇒ ⎜ ⎟ = 3a (1) 2 + b = −18
⎝ dx ⎠ x =1
∴ 3a + b = −18......(1)
6 (c) (iii)
dy
To find the local maximum you put = 0 and solve for x. You are told that you get an
dx
answer of x = 2 when you do this.
dy
= 0 ⇒ 3ax 2 + b = 0
dx
∴ 3a (2) 2 + b = 0
⇒ 12a + b = 0....(2)
You need to solve equations (1) and (2) to find a and b.

3a + b = −18..(1)(× − 1) −3a − b = 18
12a + b = 0......(2)
→ 12a + b = 0
9a = 18 ⇒ a = 2
Substitute a = 2 into Equation (2).
∴12(2) + b = 0 ⇒ 24 + b = 0
∴ b = −24
ANS: a = 2, b = −24, c = 3
7 (a) Differentiate with respect to x
(i) −x 2
(ii) x 4 + x + 1.

dy
(b) (i) Find when y = ( x 2 − 3)(1 − x).
dx
dy
(ii) Find the value of at x = −1 when y = (3 x + 1) 4 .
dx

(c) The distance s metres of an object from a fixed point at t seconds is given by
t +1
. s=
t +3
(i) At what time is the object 0.75 m from a fixed point?
(ii) What is the speed of the object, in terms of t, at t seconds?
(iii) After how many seconds will the speed of the object be less than 0.02 m/s?
SOLUTION
REMEMBER IT AS:
7 (a) (i)
dy Multiply down by the power and
y = xn ⇒ = nx n −1 ....... 1
dx subtract one from the power.

dy
CONSTANT RULE: If y = Constant ⇒ =0
dx
dy du
MULTIPLY BY A CONSTANT RULE: If y = cu, where c is a constant and u is a function of x, = c× .
dx dx
dy
y = − x2 ⇒ = −1 × 2 x = − 2 x
dx

7 (a) (ii)
dy
y = x4 + x + 1 ⇒ = 4 x3 + 1 + 0 = 4 x3 + 1
dx
7 (b) (i)
You can multiply out the brackets and differentiate term by term or you can use the
product rule.
METHOD 1: Multiply out the brackets.
y = ( x 2 − 3)(1 − x) = x 2 − x3 − 3 + 3 x
∴ y = − x3 + x 2 + 3x − 3
dy
⇒ = −3 x 2 + 2 x + 3
dx
METHOD 2: Product rule
du THE PRODUCT RULE: If y = u × v then:
u = ( x 2 − 3) ⇒ = 2x
dx dy dv du
dv =u +v ....... 2
v = (1 − x) ⇒ = −1 dx dx dx
dx

y = ( x 2 − 3)(1 − x)
dy dv du
∴ =u +v = ( x 2 − 3)(−1) + (1 − x)(2 x)
dx dx dx
dy
⇒ = − x2 + 3 + 2 x − 2 x2
dx
dy
⇒ = −3 x 2 + 2 x + 3
dx
7 (b) (ii) REMEMBER IT AS:
dy du
y = (u ) n ⇒ = n(u ) n −1 × ... 1 Push the power down in front of
dx dx the bracket and subtract one from
the power. Multiply by the differen-
tiation of the inside of the bracket.

du
u = 3x + 1 ⇒ =3
dx
dy
y = (3 x + 1) 4 ⇒ = 4(3 x + 1)3 (3) = 12(3 x + 1)3
dx
⎛ dy ⎞
∴⎜ ⎟ = 12(3(−1) + 1)3 = 12(−3 + 1)3
⎝ dx ⎠ x =−1
= 12(−2)3 = 12(−8) = −96

7 (c) (i)
Find the time t at which the distance s = 0.75 m.
t +1 t +1
s= ⇒ 0.75 = [Multiply each side by (t + 3).]
t +3 t +3
⇒ 0.75(t + 3) = t + 1
⇒ 0.75t + 2.25 = t + 1
⇒ 2.25 − 1 = t − 0.75t
⇒ 1.25 = 0.25t
1.25
∴t = =5 s
0.25
7 (c) (ii)
t +1 ds
You need to differentiate s = with respect to t to find the v= ...... 8
t +3 dt
speed v. This requires you to use the quotient rule.

u
du THE QUOTIENT RULE: If y = then:
u = t +1 ⇒ =1 v
dt du dv
v −u
dv dy dx dx
v = t +3⇒ =1 = 2
....... 3
dt dx v

t +1
s=
t +3
du dv
v −u
ds (t + 3)(1) − (t + 1)(1)
⇒ = dt 2 dt =
dt v (t + 3) 2
ds t + 3 − t − 1 2
⇒ = =
dt (t + 3) 2
(t + 3) 2
2
∴v =
(t + 3) 2

7 (c) (iii)
Find out the time t it takes to reach a speed v = 0.02 m/s.
2 2
v= ⇒ 0.02 = [Multiply across by (t + 3)2.]
(t + 3) 2
(t + 3) 2
⇒ 0.02(t + 3) 2 = 2
2
⇒ (t + 3) 2 = = 100
0.02
⇒ (t + 3) = ±10 [Take the square root of both sides.]
∴ t = 7, − 13 [Ignore the negative solution as time must by positive.]
Therefore, t = 7 seconds. After 7 seconds, the speed will be less than 0.02 m/s.
8 (a) Let f ( x) = x 2 − 4 x, for x ∈ R.
Find f ′( x), the derivative of f (x).
For what value of x is f ′( x) = 0 ?

(b) Find the equation of the tangent to the curve

y = x3 − 4 x + 7
at the point where x = 1.

(c) Draw a graph of

1
g ( x) =
x+2
for 0 ≤ x ≤ 4, x ∈ R.
Using the same axes and the same scales draw the graph of
h( x) = x − 2.
Show how your graphs may be used to estimate the value of 5.
SOLUTION
8 (a) REMEMBER IT AS:
dy Multiply down by the power and
y = xn ⇒ = nx n −1 ....... 1
dx subtract one from the power.

dy
CONSTANT RULE: If y = Constant ⇒ =0
dx
dy du
MULTIPLY BY A CONSTANT RULE: If y = cu, where c is a constant and u is a function of x, = c× .
dx dx
y = f ( x) = x 2 − 4 x
dy
⇒ = f ′( x) = 2 x − 4
dx
f ′( x) = 0 ⇒ 2 x − 4 = 0
⇒ 2x = 4
∴x = 2
8 (b) STEPS TO FINDING THE EQUATION OF A TANGENT, T, C
AT A POINT (x1, y1), ON THE CURVE, C
T

(x1, y1)

STEPS
dy
1. Differentiate the equation of the curve: .
dx

⎛ dy ⎞
2. Substitute x1 in for x to find the slope of the tangent: ⎜ ⎟
⎝ dx ⎠ x = x1
3. Find the point of contact (x1, y1) by substituting x1 into the equation of
the curve to find y1.
4. Find the equation of the line of the tangent using formula 4.
 Equation of a line: y − y1 = m( x − x1 ) ....... 4
(x1, y1) is a point on the line and m is the slope of the line.

1. y = f ( x) = x3 − 4 x + 7
dy
⇒ = 3x 2 − 4
dx
⎛ dy ⎞
2. ⎜ ⎟ = 3 x 2 − 4 = 3(1) 2 − 4 = 3 − 4 = −1 ⇒ m = −1
⎝ dx ⎠ x =1
3. x = 1 : y = f (1) = (1)3 − 4(1) + 7 = 1 − 4 + 7 = 4 ⇒ ( x1 , y1 ) = (1, 4)
4. y − y1 = m( x − x1 )
⇒ y − 4 = −1( x − 1)
⇒ y − 4 = −x +1
⇒ x+ y −5 = 0

8 (c)
DRAWING RECIPROCAL GRAPHS
STEPS
1. Find the gap first by putting the bottom of the function equal to
zero and solving for x.
2. Find other values of f (x) by putting in values of x as given in the
domain.
3. Plot these points by joining up smoothly and continuing towards
the vertical line but never touching it.

1. Put x + 2 = 0 ⇒ x = −2. This line represents the gap or asymptote.

1
2. g ( x) =
x+2
1 1
g (0) = = ⇒ (0, 12 ) is a point on the graph.
0+2 2
1 1
g (1) = = ⇒ (0, 13 ) is a point on the graph.
1+ 2 3
1 1
g (2) = = ⇒ (0, 14 ) is a point on the graph.
2+2 4
1 1
g (3) = = ⇒ (0, 15 ) is a point on the graph.
3+ 2 5
1 1
g (4) = = ⇒ (0, 16 ) is a point on the graph.
4+2 6
3. Plot the graph.
 g(x)
3

-3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 x

-1

-2
x = -2

The graph of h( x) = x − 2 is a straight line graph. You just need to get 2 points on it to graph
it. Choose the end points of the domain.
x = 0 : h(0) = (0) − 2 = −2 ⇒ (0, − 2) is a point on the graph.
x = 4 : h(4) = (4) − 2 = 2 ⇒ (4, 2) is a point on the graph.

g(x) and h(x)

3

-3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 x
2.2
-1

-2
x = -2

STEPS
1. Draw each graph on the same diagram using the same scales.
2. Mark the points of intersection and read off their x value.
3. Solve f (x) = g(x) exactly by algebra.
4. Hence, estimate the solution.

1. Graphs drawn as above.

2. x = 2.2 is their point of intersection.
1
3. g ( x) = h( x) ⇒ = x−2
x+2
⇒ 1 = ( x − 2)( x + 2) ⇒ 1 = x 2 − 4 ⇒ x 2 = 5
∴x = 5
4. ∴ 5 ≈ 2.2