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

2001
1
6 (a) Let g ( x) = for x ∈ R.
x +1
2

Evaluate
(i) g(2)
(ii) g(3) and write your answers as decimals.

(b) Let f ( x) = 2 − 9 x + 6 x 2 − x3 for x ∈ R.

(i) Find f (−1), f (2) and f (5).
(ii) Find f ′( x), the derivative of f (x).
(iii) Find the co-ordinates of the local maximum and the local minimum of f (x).
(iv) Draw the graph of f (x) in the domain −1 ≤ x ≤ 5.
(v) Use your graph to find the range of real values of k for which f (x) = k has more
than one solution.
SOLUTION
6 (a)
1
g ( x) =
x +1
2

1 1 1
⇒ g ( 2) = = = = 0.2
( 2) + 1 4 + 1 5
2

1 1 1
⇒ g (3) = 2 = = = 0.1
(3) + 1 9 + 1 10
6 (b) (i)
f ( x) = 2 − 9 x + 6 x 2 − x3
⇒ f (−1) = 2 − 9(−1) + 6(−1) 2 − (−1)3 = 2 + 9 + 6(1) − (−1)
= 2 + 9 + 6 + 1 = 18

⇒ f (2) = 2 − 9(2) + 6(2) 2 − (2)3 = 2 − 18 + 6(4) − (8)

= 2 − 18 + 24 − 8 = 0

⇒ f (5) = 2 − 9(5) + 6(5) 2 − (5)3 = 2 − 45 + 6(25) − (125)

= 2 − 45 + 150 − 125 = −13
6 (b) (ii) REMEMBER IT AS:
dy
y = xn ⇒ = nx n −1 ....... 1
dx Multiply down by the power and
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
f ( x) = 2 − 9 x + 6 x − x
2 3

⇒ f ′( x) = 0 − 9 + 6 × 2 x − 3 x 2 = −9 + 12 x − 3 x 2
6 (b) (iii) STEPS FOR FINDING THE LOCAL MAXIMUM AND LOCAL MINIMUM OF A FUNCTION:
STEPS
dy d2y
1. Differentiate the function to find . Differentiate again to find .
dx dx 2
dy
2. Set = 0 and solve for x to find the turning points.
dx

d2y
3. Substitute the turning points into to decide if they are a local
dx 2
maximum or a local minimum.
4. Find the y coordinates of the turning points by substituting the x values
back into the equation of the original function.

1. y = f ( x) = 2 − 9 x + 6 x 2 − x3
dy
= f ′( x) = −9 + 12 x − 3 x 2
dx
d2y
= f ′′( x) = 12 − 6 x
dx 2
dy
2. = 0 ⇒ −9 + 12 x − 3 x 2 = 0
dx
⇒ x2 − 4x + 3 = 0
⇒ ( x − 1)( x − 3) = 0
∴ x = 1, 3
⎛ d2y ⎞
⎛ d2y ⎞ Local Maximum: ⎜ 2 ⎟ < 0
3. ⎜ 2 ⎟ = 12 − 6(1) = 12 − 6 = 6 ⎝ dx ⎠ TP
⎝ dx ⎠ x =1 ....... 7
⎛ d2y ⎞
⎛ d2y ⎞ Local Minimum: ⎜ 2 ⎟ > 0
⎜ 2 ⎟ = 12 − 6(3) = 12 − 18 = −6 ⎝ dx ⎠ TP
⎝ dx ⎠ x =3
4. x = 1 : y = f (1) = 2 − 9(1) + 6(1) 2 − (1)3 = 2 − 9 + 6 − 1 = −2 ⇒ (1, − 2) is a local minimum.
x = 3 : y = f (3) = 2 − 9(3) + 6(3) 2 − (3)3 = 2 − 27 + 54 − 27 = 2 ⇒ (3, 2) is a local maximum.

6 (b) (iv)
You have sufficient information from parts (i) f (x)
18
and (iii) to draw the cubic graph. 16
Points: (−1, 18), (2, 0), (5, − 13) 14
12
Local maximum: (3, 2); Local minimum: (1, − 2) 10
8
6 (b) (v) 6
The line f (x) = k is a horizontal line. You can 4
see from the graph that all lines drawn 2

between 2 and −2 will cut the graph in more -1 -2 1 2 3 4 5

than one place. -4

-6
∴−2 ≤ k ≤ 2 -8
-10
-12
-14
7 (a) Differentiate with respect to x
(i) 6 x5 + x 2
(ii) ( x − 3)( x + 3)
dy x2
(b) (i) Find when y = , x ≠ 4.
dx x−4
dy
(ii) Find the value of at x = 0 when y = ( x 2 − 7 x + 1)5 .
dx

(c) Two fireworks were fired straight up in the air at t = 0 seconds.

The height, h metres, which each firework reached above the ground t seconds after
it was fired is given by
h = 80t − 5t 2.
The first firework exploded 5 seconds after it was fired.
(i) At what height was the first firework when it exploded?
(ii) At what speed was the first firework travelling when it exploded?
The second firework failed to explode and it fell back to the ground.
(iii) After how many seconds did the second firework reach its maximum height?
SOLUTION
7 (a) (i) REMEMBER IT AS:
dy
y = xn ⇒ = nx n −1 ....... 1
dx Multiply down by the power and
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 = 6 x5 + x 2
dy
⇒ = 6 × 5 x 4 + 2 x = 30 x 4 + 2 x
dx
7 (a) (ii)
You could use the product rule but it is easier to multiply out the brackets and differentiate
term by term.
y = ( x − 3)( x + 3) = x 2 + 3 x − 3 x − 9 = x 2 − 9
dy
⇒ = 2x − 0 = 2x
dx
u
THE QUOTIENT RULE: If y = then:
7 (b) (i) v
du dv
x2 v −u
y= dy
= dx dx ....... 3
( x − 4) dx v2
du dv
v −u
dy ( x − 4)(2 x) − x 2 (1) u = x2 ⇒
du
= 2x
⇒ = dx 2 dx =
dx v ( x − 1) 2 dx
du
dy 2 x 2 − 8 x − x 2 x 2 − 8 x v = ( x − 4) ⇒ =1
⇒ = = dx
dx ( x − 1) 2 ( x − 1) 2
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 = x2 − 7 x + 1 ⇒ = 2x − 7
dx
dy
y = ( x 2 − 7 x + 1)5 ⇒ = 5( x 2 − 7 x + 1) 4 (2 x − 7)
dx
dy
⇒ = (10 x − 35)( x 2 − 7 x + 1) 4
dx
⎛ dy ⎞
⇒ ⎜ ⎟ = (10(0) − 35)((0) 2 − 7(0) + 1) 4 = (−35)(1) 4 = −35
⎝ dx ⎠ x =0
7 (c) (i)
Draw up a s, v, a table as shown on the right. ds
v= ...... 8
The first firework exploded after 5 seconds. You are dt
asked to calculate the height h after a time t = 5 s.
dv
h = 80t − 5t 2 ⇒ h = 80(5) − 5(5) 2 a=
dt ...... 9
= 400 − 5 × 25 = 400 − 125
∴ h = 275 m h = 80t − 5t 2
7 (c) (ii) dh
v= = 80 − 10t
You are asked to calculate the speed v of the first dt
firework after a time t = 5 s. dv
a= = −10
v = 80 − 10t ⇒ v = 80 − 10(5) = 80 − 50 dt
∴ v = 30 m/s
7 (c) (iii)
The second firework reaches its maximum height when its velocity is zero. You need to
find out the time t it takes for its velocity v to be zero.
v = 80 − 10t ⇒ 0 = 80 − 10t
⇒ 10t = 80
∴t = 8 s
8 (a) Let g ( x) = x 4 − 32 x for x ∈ R.
(i) Write down g ′( x), the derivative of g(x).
(ii) For what value of x is g ′( x) = 0 ?

(b) Differentiate 3 x 2 − x from first principles with respect to x.

1
(c) Let f ( x) = for x ∈ R and x > −1.
x +1
(i) Find f ′( x).

(ii) Find the co-ordinates of the point on the curve of f (x) at which the tangent has
slope of − 14 .

(iii) Find the equation of the tangent to the curve which has slope of − 14 .
SOLUTION
8 (a) (i) REMEMBER IT AS:
dy
y = xn ⇒ = nx n −1 ....... 1
dx Multiply down by the power and
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
g ( x) = x 4 − 32 x
⇒ g ′( x) = 4 x3 − 32
8 (a) (ii)
g ′( x) = 0 ⇒ 4 x3 − 32 = 0
⇒ 4 x 3 = 32
⇒ x3 = 8
∴x = 2
8 (b)
The Δx approach: The h approach:
1. y = 3 x 2 − x 1. f ( x) = 3 x 2 − x

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

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

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

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

4. = 4. =
Δx Δx h h

Δy f ( x + h) − f ( x )
5. = 6 x + 3Δx − 1 5. = 6 x + 3h − 1
Δx h

Δy ⎛ f ( x + h) − f ( x ) ⎞
6. lim = 6 x + 3(0) − 1 = 6 x − 1 6. lim ⎜ ⎟ = 6 x + 3(0) − 1
x → 0 Δx x →0
⎝ h ⎠
= 6x −1
dy
7. = 6x −1
dx dy
7. = 6x −1
dx

8 (c) (i)
1
f ( x) = = ( x + 1) −1
( x + 1)
1
⇒ f ′( x) = −1( x + 1) −2 (1) = −
( x + 1) 2
8 (c) (ii)
Finding the coordinates of the point of contact of the tangent given the slope:

STEPS
dy
1. Differentiate the equation of the curve: .
dx
dy
2. Put equal to the slope, m, and solve the resulting equation for x to get
dx
the x coordinates of the points.
3. Substitute these values of x back into the equation of the curve to get the
y coordinates of the points.
 1
1. y = f ( x) =
( x + 1)
dy 1
⇒ = f ′( x) = −
dx ( x + 1) 2
dy 1 1
2. =0⇒− =−
dx ( x + 1) 2
4
⇒ ( x + 1) 2 = 4
⇒ ( x + 1) = ±2
∴ x = 1, − 3 [As x > −1 ignore one of the solutions.]
∴x =1
1
3. x = 1 : y = f (1) = = 12 ⇒ (1, 12 ) is the point of contact.
(1 + 1)

8 (c) (iii)
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.

Point (1, 12 ), m = − 14
y − 12 = − 14 ( x − 1)
⇒ 4( y − 12 ) = −1( x − 1)
⇒ 4 y − 2 = −1x + 1
⇒ x + 4y −3 = 0