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

2005
x+5
6 (a) Let g ( x) = , x ∈ R.
2
Find g(0) + g(2).

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

(c) Let f ( x) = x 2 + px + 10, x ∈ R, where p ∈ Z.

(i) Find f ′( x), the derivative of f (x).
(ii) The minimum value of f (x) is at x = 3. Find the value of p.
(iii) Find the equation of the tangent to f (x) at the point (0, 10).
SOLUTION
6 (a)
x+5
g ( x) =
2
( 0) + 5 5
⇒ g ( 0) = =
2 2
( 2) + 5 7
⇒ g ( 2) = =
2 2
∴ g (0) + g (2) = 2 + 2 = 122 = 6
5 7

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

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

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

y = 3x − x2 = 3 x + 3h − x 2 − 2 xh − h 2 − 3 x − x 2
∴Δy = 3(Δx) − 2 x(Δx) − (Δx) 2 = 3h − 2 xh − h 2
f ( x + h) − f ( x) 3h − 2 xh − h 2
4. =
Δy 3(Δx) − 2 x(Δx) − (Δx) 2 h h
4. = f ( x + h) − f ( x )
Δx Δx 5. = 3 − 2x − h
Δy h
5. = 3 − 2 x − Δx
Δx ⎛ f ( x + h) − f ( x ) ⎞
6. lim ⎜ ⎟ = 3 − 2 x − (0)
Δy x →0
⎝ h ⎠
6. lim = 3 − 2 x − (0) = 3 − 2 x
x → 0 Δx = 3 − 2x
dy dy
7. = 3 − 2x 7. = 3 − 2x
dx dx
6 (c) (i) 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
f ( x) = x 2 + px + 10
⇒ f ′( x) = 2 x + p × 1 + 0 = 2 x + p
6 (c) (ii)
To find the turning point which you are told is a dy
Turning Point ⇒ =0 ....... 6
minimum, put f ′( x) = 0. dx

f ′( x) = 0 ⇒ 2 x + p = 0
You are told that this minimum is at x = 3.
∴ 2(3) + p = 0 ⇒ 6 + p = 0 ⇒ p = −6

6 (c) (iii) C
STEPS TO FINDING THE EQUATION OF A TANGENT, T, T
AT A POINT (x1, y1), ON THE CURVE, C
(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.

dy
1. y = f ( x) = x 2 − 6 x + 10 ⇒ = 2x − 6
dx
⎛ dy ⎞
2. ⎜ ⎟ = 2(0) − 6 = −6 ⇒ m = −6
⎝ dx ⎠ x =0
3. Point of contact is (0, 10) = (x1, y1).
4. y − y1 = m( x − x1 )
⇒ y − 10 = −6( x − 0)
⇒ y − 10 = −6 x
⇒ 6 x + y − 10 = 0
7 (a) Differentiate 9 + 3 x − 5 x 2 with respect to x.

(b) (i) Differentiate (3 x 2 − 2)( x 2 + 4) with respect to x.

x2 dy
(ii) Given that y = , find when x = 3.
x −1 dx

(c) A car begins to slow down at p in order to stop at a red traffic light at q.

q p

The distance of the car from p, after t seconds, is given by

s = 12t − 32 t 2
where s is in metres.
(i) Find the speed of the car as it passes p.
(ii) Find the time taken to stop.
(iii) The car stops exactly at q. Find the distance from p to q.
SOLUTION
6 (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 = 9 + 3x − 5 x 2
dy
⇒ = 0 + 3 ×1 − 5 × 2 x
dx
dy
⇒ = 3 − 10 x
dx
6 (b) (i)
y = (3 x 2 − 2)( x 2 + 4) THE PRODUCT RULE: If y = u × v then:

du dy dv du
=u +v
u = (3 x 2 − 2) ⇒ = 3× 2x − 0 = 6x dx dx dx
....... 2
dx
dv
v = ( x 2 + 4) ⇒ = 2x + 0 = 2x
dx

dy dv dv
∴ = u + v = (3 x 2 − 2)(2 x) + ( x 2 + 4)(6 x)
dx dx dx
dy
⇒ = 6 x3 − 4 x + 6 x3 + 24 x = 12 x3 + 20 x
dx
7 (b) (ii)
u
du THE QUOTIENT RULE: If y = then:
x2 u = x2 ⇒ = 2x v
y= dx
x −1 v
du
−u
dv
dv dy dx dx
v = x −1 ⇒ =1 = ....... 3
dx v2
dx

du dv
v −u
dx = ( x − 1)(2 x) − x (1)
2
dy dx
=
dx v2 ( x − 1) 2
dy 2 x 2 − 2 x − x 2
⇒ =
dx ( x − 1) 2
dy x 2 − 2 x
⇒ =
dx ( x − 1) 2
⎛ dy ⎞ (3) 2 − 2(3) 9 − 6
⇒⎜ ⎟ = =
⎝ dx ⎠ x =3 ((3) − 1)
2
( 2) 2
⎛ dy ⎞ 3
⇒⎜ ⎟ =
⎝ dx ⎠ x =3 4
7 (c) (i)
Draw up a s, v, a table as shown on the right. ds
v= ...... 8
You are asked to calculate the speed v at t = 0 seconds. dt
v = 12 − 3t = 12 − 3(0) = 12 m/s
dv
a= ...... 9
dt
7 (c) (ii)
When the car stops its speed v is zero. Put the speed
equation equal to zero and solve for t. s = 12t − 32 t 2
v = 12 − 3t ⇒ 0 = 12 − 3t ds
v= = 12 − 32 × 2t = 12 − 3t
⇒ 3t = 12 dt
∴t = 4 s a=
dv
= 0 − 3 = −3
dt
7 (c) (iii)
It takes 4 s to stop. Put t = 4 in the distance s equation.
s = 12t − 32 t 2
⇒ s = 12(4) − 32 (4) 2
⇒ s = 48 − 32 (16)
⇒ s = 48 − 24
∴ s = 24 m
 1
8 Let f ( x) = , x ∈ R , x ≠ 1.
x −1

(i) Find f (−3), f (−1.5), f (0.5), f (1.5), f (5).

(ii) Draw the graph of the function f from x = −3 to x = 5.

(iii) On the same diagram, draw the graph of the function

g(x) = x +1
in the domain −2 ≤ x ≤ 2, x ∈ R.

(iv) Use your graphs to estimate the values of x for which f (x) = g(x).

(v) Find, using algebra, the values of x for which f (x) = g(x).
SOLUTION
8 (i)
1
f ( x) =
x −1
1 1
f (−3) = = − = −0.25
(−3) − 1 4
1 1
f (−1.5) = =− = −0..4
(−1.5) − 1 2.5
1 1
f (0.5) = =− = −2
(0.5) − 1 0.5
1 1
f (1.5) = = =2
(1.5) − 1 0.5
1 1
f (5) = = = 0.25
(5) − 1 4

8 (ii) 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 − 1 = 0 ⇒ x = 1 is the asymptote.

2. You generated points in part (i) which you can use to draw the graph.
Points: (−3, − 0.25), (−1.5, − 0.4), (−2, 0.5), (1.5, 2), (5, 0.25)
3. Draw the graph.
8 (iii)
g(x) = x + 1 is a straight line graph so you just need 2 points to draw the graph. Use the end
values of the domain.
x = −2 : g ( x) = x + 1 ⇒ g (−2) = (−2) + 1 = −1 ⇒ (−2, − 1) is a point.
x = 2 : g ( x) = x + 1 ⇒ g (2) = (2) + 1 = 3 ⇒ (2, 3) is a point.
Plot these two points using the same axes and draw a straight line through them.

8 (iv)
Find out where the two graphs intersect and read off the x values.
You can see that x = 1.4 and x = −1.4.

8 (v)
1
f ( x) = g ( x) ⇒ = x + 1 [Multiply across by ( x −1). ]
x −1
⇒ 1 = ( x + 1)( x − 1) [Multiply out the brackets.]
⇒ 1 = x2 − 1
⇒ 2 = x2
⇒x=± 2

f (x)
3

1
-1.4

-3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 x
1.4
-1

-2
x=1