EdExcel Core 3

Differentiation
Topic assessment
1. Using the chain rule, differentiate (x2 1)6.

[3]

2. Show that the derivative of cosec x is cosec x cot x.

[3]

3. Show that the gradient of y = (x2 1)(x 2)3 is given by

dy
( x 2) 2 (5 x 2 4 x 3)
dx
4. Find the gradient of the curve y

[4]

x 1
at the point where x = 2.
x2 3

[5]

5. Find the equation of the tangent to the curve y = ln(3x 5) at the point where
x = 3.
[5]
6. Show that the curve y = x ln x has one turning point only, and give the
coordinates of this point.

[4]

7. A curve has y e 2 x cos x .

(i) Show that the turning points of the curve occur at the points for which
tan x 2 .
[5]
(ii) Find the equation of the normal to the curve at the point for which x = 0. [5]
8. For the curve y x 2 e x ,
(i) Write down the co-ordinates of the point(s) where the curve cuts the
coordinate axes.
[1]
(ii) Find the gradient function for the curve and hence the co-ordinates of any
turning points, distinguishing between them.
[8]
(iii) Describe the behaviour of the graph for large positive and large negative
values of x.
[2]
(iv) Sketch the curve.
[3]
9. Three pieces of wire are cut and used to make two equal circles and a square. The
total length of wire used is 100 cm. If the radius of each circle is x cm and the side
of the square y cm:
(i) Write down an equation that connects x and y and simplify as far as possible.
[3]
(ii) Write down an expression for the total area enclosed, A, in terms of x and y.
[2]
(iii) Eliminate y from your expression in (ii) using a substitution from your
equation in (i) and hence express A in terms of x only.
[2]
(iv) Find a value for x that will minimise A.
[5]
Total 60 marks

Solutions to Topic assessment

MEI, 04/11/08

EdExcel C3 Differentiation Assessment solutions

2
6
1. y ( x 1)
2
Let u x 1

y u6

dy
du

du
2x
dx

6u5
dy

dy

du
6u5 2x
Using the chain rule: dx du dx
12x( x2 1)5

[3]
1
(sin x)1
sin x
du
cos x
Let u sin x
dx
dy
1
y u1
u2 2
du
u
dy

2. y cosec x

dy

du
1
cos x
2 cos x
dx du dx
u
sin2 x
Using the chain rule:
1
cos x

cosec x cot x
sin x sin x

[3]
2
3
3. y ( x 1)( x 2)

du
2x
dx
dv
3
3( x 2)2
Let v ( x 2)
dx
dy
dv
du
u
v
dx
dx
dx
2
( x 1) 3( x 2)2 ( x 2)3 2x
Using the product rule:
( x 2)2 3( x2 1) 2x( x 2)
( x 2)2(3x2 3 2x2 4x)
2
Let u x 1

( x 2)2(5 x2 4x 3)
[4]

MEI, 04/11/08

EdExcel C3 Differentiation Assessment solutions

4. y

x 1
x2 3

du
1
dx
dv
2
2x
Let v x 3
dx
Let u x 1

du
dv
u
dx 2 dx
dx
v
2
( x 3) 1 ( x 1) 2x

( x2 3)2
Using the quotient rule:
x2 3 2 x2 2x

( x2 3)2
x2 3 2x

( x2 3)2
22 3 2 2 4 3 4

3 .
When x = 2, gradient
(22 3)2
12
dy

[5]
y ln(3x 5)
5. dy
dx

1
3
3
3x 5
3x 5

3
3

3 3 5 4
y

ln(3

5) ln4 2ln2
When x = 3,
y 2ln 2 43( x 3)
When x = 3, gradient

Equation of tangent is 4y 8ln2 3x 9

4y 3x 8ln 2 9
[5]
y x ln x
6. dy
1
1
dx
x
1

1
0
x

At turning points, 1
1
x
x 1
The only turning point is at x = 1.
When x = 1, y 1 ln 1 1 0 1
The turning point is (1, 1).

MEI, 04/11/08

EdExcel C3 Differentiation Assessment solutions

[4]
2x
7. (i) y e cos x
du
2e2 x
dx
dv
sin x
Let v cos x
dx
2x
Let u e

dy

e2 x sin x 2e2 x cos x

dx
e2 x sin x 2e2 x cos x 0

Using the product rule:

At turning points, sin x 2cos x

tan x 2
[5]
(ii)

dy

e2 x sin x 2e2 x cos x

dx
When x = 0, gradient e0 sin0 2e0 cos0 2
Gradient of normal 21
0
When x = 0, y e cos0 1
y 1 21( x 0)
Equation of normal is

2( y 1) x
2y 2 x
2y x 2

[5]
2 x
8. (i) y x e
When x = 0, y = 0.
The only point where the curve cuts the axes is (0, 0).

[1]
(ii)

2
Let u x

x
Let v e

du
2x
dx

dv
e x
dx

Using the product rule,

dy

x2e x 2 xe x xe x(2 x)

dx
xe (2 x) 0
At turning points,
x 0 or x 2
When x = 0, y = 0
4
When x = 2, y 2
e
x

x<0

0<x<
2

x>2

MEI, 04/11/08

EdExcel C3 Differentiation Assessment solutions

dy

-ve

+ve

-ve

dx
4

From table, (0, 0) is a minimum point and 2, 2 is a

e

maximum point.
[8]
(iii)When x is large and positive (e.g. x = 100). y is close
to zero.
When x is large and negative (e.g. x = -100), y
becomes very large and
positive.
[2]
(iv)

2, 4

e2

[3]
9. (i) Wire used for square 4y
Wire used for each circle 2 x
4y 4 x 100
Total length is 100 cm y x 25
[3]
2
(ii)
Area of square y
Area of each circle x2
2
2
Total area is given by A y 2 x
[2]
(iii)From (i), y 25 x
Substituting into expression in (ii): A (25 x)2 2 x2
[2]
(iv)The expression for A is quadratic, with positive term in
x, so the turning
point is a minimum point.

MEI, 04/11/08

EdExcel C3 Differentiation Assessment solutions

dA
2(25 x) 4 x
dx
2(25 x) 4 x
2 (25 x) 4 x 0
25 x 2x 0
At stationary point, (2 )x 25
x
Therefore x

25
2

25
minimises the value of A.
2

[5]

MEI, 04/11/08