Differentiation

Differentiation - Past Edexcel Exam Questions

1. (Question 2 - C1 May 2018)

Given
√
y = 3 x − 6x + 4, x>0

(a) (Integration Question)

dy
(b) i. Find dx
.
dy
ii. Hence find the value of x such that dx
= 0.
[4]

2. (Question 10 - C1 May 2018)

Figure 3 shows a sketch of part of the curve C with equation

1 27
y = x+ − 12, x>0
2 x
The point A lies on C and has coordinates 3, − 32 .

(a) Show that the equation of the normal to C at the point A can be written as
10y = 4x − 27. [5]

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 Differentiation

(b) (Simultaneous Equations Question)

3. (Question 2 - C1 May 2017)

Given
√ 4
y= x + √ + 4, x>0
x
dy
√
find the value of dx
when x = 8, writing your answer in the form a 2, where a is a
rational number. [5]

4. (Question 7 - C1 May 2017)

The curve C has equation y = f (x), x > 0, where

6 − 5x2
f 0 (x) = 30 + √ .
x

Given that the point (4, −8) lies on C,

(a) find the equation of the tangent to C at P , giving your answer in the form
y = mx + c, where m and c are constants. [4]
(b) (Integration Question)

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 Differentiation

5. (Question 10 - C1 May 2017)

This figure shows a sketch of part of the curve y = f (x), x ∈ R, where

f (x) = (2x − 5)2 (x + 3).

(a) (Transformations Question)

(b) Show that f 0 (x) = 12x2 − 16x − 35. [3]

Points A and B are distinct points that lie on the curve y = f (x).
The gradient of the curve at A is equal to the gradient of the curve at B.
Given that point A has x-coordinate 3,
(c) find the x-coordinate of point B. [5]

6. (Question 7 - C1 May 2016)

Given that
1 2x3 − 7
y = 3x2 + 6x 3 + √ , x>0
3 x
dy
find dx
. Give each term in your answer in its simplest form. [6]

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 Differentiation

7. (Question 11 - C1 May 2016)

The curve C has equation y = 2x3 + kx2 + 5x + 6, where k is a constant.
dy
(a) Find dx
. [2]

The point P , where x = −2, lies on C.

The tangent to C at the point P is parallel to the line with equation 2y − 17x − 1 = 0.
Find
(b) the value of k, [4]
(c) the value of the y-coordinate of P , [2]
(d) the equation of the tangent to C at P , giving your answer in the form
ax + by + c = 0, where a, b and c are integers. [2]

8. (Question 3 - C1 May 2015)

5
Given that y = 4x3 − x2
, x 6= 0, find in their simplest form
dy
(a) dx
[3]
(b) (Integration Question)

9. (Question 6 - C1 May 2015)

The curve C has equation

(x2 + 4)(x − 3)
y= , x 6= 0
2x
dy
(a) Find dx
in its simplest form. [5]
(b) Find an equation of the tangent to C at the point where x = −1.
Give your answer in the form ax + by + c = 0 where a, b and c are integers. [5]

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 Differentiation

10. (Question 10 - C1 May 2015)

A curve with equation y = f (x) passes through the point (4, 9).
Given that √
0 3 x 9
f (x) = − √ + 2, x>0
2 4 x
(a) (Integration Question)
Point P lies on the curve.
The normal to the curve at P is parallel to the line 2y + x = 0.
(b) Find the x-coordinate of P . [5]

11. (Question 7 - C1 May 2014)

Differentiate with respect to x, giving each answer in its simplest form.

(a) (1 − 2x)2 [3]

√
x5 +6 x
(b) 2x2
[4]

12. (Question 6 - C1 May 2015)

A curve with equation y = f (x) passes through the point (4, 25).
Given that
3 1
f 0 (x) = x2 − 10x− 2 + 1, x>0
8
(a) (Integration Question)
(b) Find an equation of the normal to the curve at the point (4, 25).
Give your answer in the form ax + by + c = 0, where A, b and c are integers to be
found. [5]

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 Differentiation

13. (Question 9 - C1 May 2013)

2
(3 − x2 )
f 0 (x) = , x 6= 0
x2
(a) Show that
f 0 (x) = 9x−2 + A + Bx2 ,
where A and B are constants to be found. [3]
(b) Find f 00 (x). [2]
(c) (Integration Question)

14. (Question 11 - C1 May 2013)

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 Differentiation

15. (Question 11 - C1 January 2013)

The curve C has equation
√
y = 2x − 8 x + 5, x ≥ 0
dy
(a) Find dx
, giving each term in its simplest form. [3]

The point P on C has x-coordinate equal to 14 .

(b) Find the equation of the tangent to C at the point P , giving your answer in the
form y = ax + b, where a and b are constants. [4]

The tangent to C at the point Q is parallel to the line with equation 2x − 3y + 18 = 0.

(c) Find the coordinates of Q. [5]

16. (Question 4 - C1 May 2012)

4
y = 5x3 − 6x 3 + 2x − 3.
dy
(a) Find dx
, giving each term in its simplest form. [4]
d2 y
(b) Find dx2
. [2]

17. (Question 7 - C1 May 2012)

The point P (4, −1) lies on the curve C with equation y = f (x), x > 0, and
1 6
f 0 (x) = x − √ + 3
2 x

(a) Find the equation of the tangent to C at the point P , giving your answer in the
form y = mx + c, where m and c are integers. [4]
(b) (Integration Question)

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 Differentiation

18. (Question 1 - C1 January 2012)

1
Given that y = x4 + 6x 2 , find in their simplest form
dy
(a) dx
, [3]
(b) (Integration Question)

19. (Question 8 - C1 January 2012)

The curve C1 has equation
y = x2 (x + 2)
dy
(a) Find dx
. [2]
(b) Sketch C1 , showing the coordinates of the points where C1 meets the x-axis. [3]
(c) Find the gradient of C1 at each point where C1 meets the x-axis. [2]

The curve C2 has equation

y = (x − k)2 (x − k + 2)
where k is a constant and k > 2.
(d) Sketch C2 , showing the coordinates of the points where C2 meets the x and y
axes. [3]

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 Differentiation

20. (Question 10 - C1 January 2012)

21. (Question 2 - C1 May 2011)

1
Given that y = 2x5 + 7 + x3
, x 6= 0, find, in their simplest form,
dy
(a) dx
, [3]
(b) (Integration Question)

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 Differentiation

22. (Question 10 - C1 May 2011)

The curve C has equation
y = (x + 1)(x + 3)2 .

(a) Sketch C, showing the coordinates of the points at which C meets the axes. [4]
dy
(b) Show that dx
= 3x2 + 14x + 15. [3]

The point A, with x-coordinate −5, lies on C.

(c) Find the equation of the tangent to C at A, giving your answer in the form
y = mx + c, where m and c are constants. [4]

Another point B also lies on C. The tangents to C at A and B are parallel.

(d) Find the x-coordinate of B. [3]

23. (Question 11 - C1 January 2011)

The curve C has equation
1 3 8
y = x3 − 9x 2 + + 30, x > 0.
2 x
dy
(a) Find dx
. [4]
(b) Show that the point P (4, −8) lies on C. [2]
(c) Find an equation of the normal to C at the point P , giving your answer in the
form ax + by + c = 0, where a, b and c are integers. [6]

24. (Question 7 - C1 May 2010)

Given that
√ 3x2 + 2
y = 8x3 − 4 x + , x > 0,
x
dy
find dx
. [6]

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 Differentiation

25. (Question 11 - C1 May 2010)

26. (Question 1 - C1 January 2010)

1 dy
Given that y = x4 + x 3 + 3, find dx
. [3]

27. (Question 6 - C1 January 2010)

The curve C has equation

(x + 3)(x − 8)
y= , x > 0.
x
dy
(a) Find dx
in its simplest form. [4]
(b) Find an equation of the tangent to C at the point where x = 2. [4]

28. (Question 3 - C1 June 2009)

3
Given that y = 2x3 + x2
, x 6= 0, find

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 Differentiation

dy
(a) dx
, [3]
(b) (Integration Question)

29. (Question 9 - C1 June 2009)

√
(3 − 4 x)2
f (x) = √ , x>0
x
1 1
(a) Show that f (x) = 9x− 2 + Ax 2 + B, where A and B are constants to be found. [3]
(b) Find f 0 (x). [3]
(c) Evaluate f 0 (9). [2]

30. (Question 11 - C1 June 2009)

The curve C has equation

y = x3 − 2x2 − x + 9, x>0

The point P has coordinates (2,7).

(a) Show that P lies on C. [1]

(b) Find the equation of the tangent to C at P , giving your answer in the form
y = mx + c, where m and c are constants. [5]

The point Q also lies on C.

Given that the tangent to C at Q is perpendicular to the tangent to C at P ,
√
(c) show that the x-coordinate of Q is 31 (2 + 6). [5]

31. (Question 6 - C1 January 2009)

3
2x2 −x 2
Given that √
x
can be written in the form 2xp − xq ,

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 Differentiation

(a) write down the value of p and the value of q. [2]

3
2x2√−x 2
Given that y = 5x4 − 3 + x
, x > 0,
dy
(b) find dx
, simplifying the coefficient of each term. [4]

32. (Question 11 - C1 January 2009)

The curve C has equation
8
y = 9 − 4x − , x > 0.
x
The point P on C has x-coordinate equal to 2.

(a) Show that the equation of the tangent to C at the point P is y = 1 − 2x. [6]
(b) Find an equation of the normal to C at the point P . [3]

The tangent at P meets the x-axis at A and the normal at P meets the x-axis at B.
(c) Find the area of the triangle AP B. [4]

33. (Question 4 - C1 June 2008)

f (x) = 3x + x3 , x > 0.

(a) Differentiate to find f 0 (x). [2]

Given that f 0 (x) = 15,

(b) find the value of x. [3]

34. (Question 9 - C1 June 2008)

The curve C has equation y = kx3 − x2 + x − 5, where k is a constant.

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 Differentiation

dy
(a) Find dx
. [2]

The point A with x-coordinate − 12 lies on C. The tangent to C at A is parallel

to the line with equation 2y − 7x + 1 = 0.
Find
(b) the value of k, [4]
(c) the value of the y-coordinate of A. [2]

35. (Question 5 - C1 January 2008)

√
2 x+3
(a) Write x
in the form 2xp + 3xq , where p and q are constants. [2]

√
2 x+3
Given that y = 5x − 7 + x
, x > 0,
dy
(b) find dx
, simplifying the coefficient of each term. [4]

36. (Question 9 - C1 January 2008)

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 Differentiation

37. (Question 10 - C1 January 2008)

38. (Question 3 - C1 May 2007)

√
Given that y = 3x2 + 4 x, x > 0, find
dy
(a) dx
, [2]
d2 y
(b) dx2
. [2]
(c) (Integration Question)

39. (Question 10 - C1 May 2007)

The curve C has equation y = x2 (x − 6) + x4 , x > 0.
The points P and Q lie on C and have x-coordinates 1 and 2 respectively.
√
(a) Show that the length of P Q is 170. [4]

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 Differentiation

(b) Show that the tangents to C at P and Q are parallel. [5]

(c) Find an equation for the normal to C at P , giving your answer in the form
ax + by + c = 0, where a, b and c are integers. [4]

40. (Question 1 - C1 January 2007)

Given that
1
y = 4x3 − 1 + 2x 2 , x > 0,
dy
find dx
. [4]

41. (Question 7 - C1 January 2007)

The curve C has equation y = f (x), x 6= 0, and the point P (2, 1) lies on C. Given that
8
f 0 (x) = 3x2 − 6 −
x2
(a) (Integration Question).
(b) Find an equation for the tangent to C at the point P , giving your answer in the
form y = mx + c, where m and c are integers. [4]

42. (Question 8 - C1 January 2007)

3
The curve C has equation y = 4x + 3x 2 − 2x2 , x > 0.
dy
(a) Find an expression for dx
. [3]
(b) Show that the point P (4, 8) lies on C. [1]
(c) Show that an equation of the normal to C at the point P is

3y = x + 20.

[4]
The normal to C at P cuts the x-axis at the point Q.

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 Differentiation

(d) Find the length P Q, giving your answer in a simplified surd form. [3]

43. (Question 5 - C1 May 2006)

Differentiate with respect to x
√
(a) x4 + 6 x, [3]
(x+4)2
(b) x
. [4]

44. (Question 10 - C1 May 2006)

45. (Question 4 - C1 January 2006)

6
Given that y = 2x2 − x3
, x 6= 0,
dy
(a) find dx
, [2]
(b) (Integration Question)

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 Differentiation

46. (Question 9 - C1 January 2006)

This figure shows part of the curve C with equation y = (x − 1) (x2 − 4).
y

C
4

x
P 1 Q

The curve cuts the x-axis at the points P , (1,0) and Q.

(a) Write down the x-coordinate of P and the x-coordinate of Q. [2]

dy
(b) Show that dx
= 3x2 − 2x − 4. [3]
(c) Show that y = x + 7 is an equation of the tangent to C at the point (−1, 6). [2]

The tangent to C at the point R is parallel to the tangent at the point (−1, 6).
(d) Find the exact coordinates of R. [5]

47. (Question 2 - C1 May 2005)

4
Given that y = 6x − x2
, x 6= 0,
dy
(a) find dx
. [2]
(b) (Integration Question)

48. (Question 10 - C1 May 2005)

The curve C has equation y = 13 x3 − 4x2 + 8x + 3.
The point P has coordinates (3, 0).

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 Differentiation

(a) Show that P lies on C. [1]

(b) Find the equation of the tangent to C at P , giving your answer in the form
y = mx + c, where m and c are constants. [5]

Another point Q also lies on C. The tangent to C at Q is parallel to the tangent to C

at P .
(c) Find the coordinates of Q. [5]

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 Differentiation

Solutions

1. (a) (Integration Question)

3 − 12
(b) i. 2
x −6
1
ii. x = 16

2. (a) -
(b) (Simultaneous Equations Question)
1
√
3. 16 2

4. (a) y = −7x + 20
(b) (Integration Question)

5. (a) (Transformations Question)

(b) -
5
(c) x = 3
2 3 3
6. 6x + 2x− 3 + 53 x 2 + 76 x− 2

7. (a) 6x2 + 2kx + 5

41
(b) k = 8
1
(c) y = 2

(d) −17x + 2y − 35 = 0
10
8. (a) 12x2 + x3

(b) (Integration Question)

9. (a) x − 32 + 6
x2

(b) 7x − 2y + 27 = 0

10. (a) (Integration Question)

(b) x = 1.5

11. (a) −4 + 8x
5
(b) 3 2
2
x − 92 x− 2

12. (a) (Integration Question)

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 Differentiation

(b) x + 2y − 54 = 0, a = 1, b = 2 and c = −54

13. (a) A = −6, B = 1

(b) −18x−3 + 2x
(c) (Integration Question)

14. (a) − 34 , 0

(b) x = 0, y = 4
(c) y = 3x + 12
√
(d) 4 10
1
15. (a) 2 − 4x− 2
(b) y = −6x + 3
(c) (9, −1)
1
16. (a) 15x2 − 8x 3 + 2
2
(b) 30x − 38 x− 3

17. (a) y = 2x − 9
(b) (Integration Question)
1
18. (a) 4x3 + 3x− 2
(b) (Integration Question)

19. (a) 3x2 + 4x

(b) See figure below.

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 Differentiation

y = x2(x + 2)

(−2, 0) (0, 0)
x

(c) (4,0)
(d) See figure below.
y

y = (x − k)2(x − k + 2)

(k, 0)
x
(k − 2, 0)

(0, 2k 2 − k 3)

1


20. (a) 2
,0
(b) -
(c) −8, 17


8

21. (a) 10x4 − 3x−4

(b) (Integration Question)

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 Differentiation

22. (a) .
y

(0, 9)

y = (x + 1)(x + 3)2

(−3, 0) (−1, 0)
x

(b) -
(c) y = 20x + 84
1
(d) x = 3

27 21
23. (a) 3 2
2
x − 2
x − 8x−2
(b) -
(c) 2x − 7y − 64 = 0
1
24. 24x2 − 2x− 2 + 3 − 2x−2

25. (a) (Integration Question)

(b) 15x − 2y − 50 = 0
2
26. 4x3 + 31 x− 3

27. (a) 1 + 24x−2

(b) y = 7x − 29

28. (a) 6x2 − 6x−3

(b) (Integration Question)

29. (a) A = 16, B = −24

3 1
(b) − 92 x− 2 + 8x− 2
5
(c) 2

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 Differentiation

30. (a) -
(b) y = 3x + 1
(c) -

31. (a) p = 32 , q = 1
1
(b) 20x3 + 3x 2 − 1

32. (a) -
(b) y = 12 x − 4
45
(c) 4
units2

33. (a) 3 + 3x2

(b) x = 2
dy
34. (a) dx
= 3kx2 − 2x + 1
(b) k = 2
(c) y = −6
1
35. (a) 2x− 2 + 3x−1
dy 3
(b) dx
= 5 − x− 2 − 3x−2

36. (a) (Integration Question)

(b) y = − 29 x + 17
9

37. (a) (Curve Sketching Question)

(b) -
4
(c) x = −2, x = 3
1
38. (a) 6x + 2x− 2
3
(b) 6 − x− 2
(c) (Integration Question)

39. (a) -
(b) -
(c) x − 13y − 14 = 0
1
40. 12x2 + x− 2

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 Differentiation

41. (a) (Integration Question)

(b) y = 4x − 7
1
42. (a) 4 + 92 x 2 − 4x
(b) -
(c) -
√
(d) 8 10
1
43. (a) 4x3 + 3x− 2
(b) 1 − 16x−2

44. (a) (Integration Question)

(b) -
(c) 13x + 4y + 6 = 0

45. (a) 4x + 18x−4

(b) (Integration Question)

46. (a) xP = −2, xQ = 2

(b) -
(c) -
5
, − 22


(d) 3 27

47. (a) 6 + 8x−3

(b) (Integration Question)

48. (a) -
(b) y = −7x + 21
(c) 5, − 46


3

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