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

2007

6 (a) Let g ( x) = x 2 − 6 x, x ∈ R.
(i) Write down g ′( x), the derivative of g(x).

(ii) For what value of x is g ′( x) = 0 ?

(b) A cold object is placed in a warm room.

Its temperature C degrees after time t minutes is shown in the following graph.
3
Temperature
2 C in degrees

1 Time t in
minutes
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
-1
-2
-3

(i) After what time interval is the temperature of the object 0 degrees?

(ii) What is the rise in temperature of the object in the first 10 minutes?

(iii) The relationship between the temperature C and the time t is given by
C = 12 (t + k ).
Find the value of k.

(c) Let f ( x) = (5 x − 2) 4 for x ∈ R.

(i) Find f ′( x), the derivative of f (x).

(ii) Find the co-ordinates of the point on the curve y = f (x) at which the slope
of the tangent is 20.
SOLUTION
6 (a) (i) REMEMBER IT AS:
dy Multiply down by the power and
y = xn ⇒ = nx n −1 ....... 1
dx subtract one from the power.

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 2 − 6 x ⇒ g ′( x) = 2 x − 6
6 (a) (ii)
g ′( x) = 0 ⇒ 2 x − 6 = 0
⇒ 2x = 6 ⇒ x = 3
6 (b) (i)
Look at the graph. After 0 minutes the temperature is −3 degrees.
After 6 minutes the temperature reaches 0 degrees.
ANS: 6 minutes

3
Temperature
2 C in degrees

1 Time t in
6 mins minutes
5 degrees 0 1 3 4 7 8 9 10
2 5 6 11 12
-1
-2
-3

6 (b) (ii)
Look at the graph. After 0 minutes the temperature is −3 degrees.
After 10 minutes the temperature is 2 degrees.
Therefore, the change in temperature in the first 10 minutes is 2 − (−3) = 5 degrees.
6 (b) (iii)
From the graph you can see that C = 2 degrees when t = 10 minutes.
C = 12 (t + k )
⇒ 2 = 12 (10 + k )
⇒ 4 = 10 + k
⇒ k = −6
REMEMBER IT AS:
6 (c) (i) 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-
f ( x) = (5 x − 2) 4 tiation of the inside of the bracket.
⇒ f ′( x) = 4(5 x − 2)3 (5)
⇒ f ′( x) = 20(5 x − 2)3
6 (c) (ii)
GOING BACKWARDS: Given the slope of the tangent C
to the curve, you can work out the point(s) of T
contact of the tangent with the curve. m
(x1, y1)

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. f ′( x) = 20(5 x − 2)3

2. f ′( x) = 20 ⇒ 20(5 x − 2)3 = 20
⇒ (5 x − 2)3 = 1
⇒ 5x − 2 = 1
⇒ 5x = 3
⇒x= 3
5

3. f ( x) = (5 x − 2) 4
⇒ f ( 53 ) = (5( 53 ) − 2) 4
⇒ f ( 53 ) = (3 − 2) 4
⇒ f ( 53 ) = (1) 4 = 1
Point: ( 53 , 1)

7 (a) Differentiate 6 x 4 − 3 x 2 + 7 x with respect to x.

(b) (i) Differentiate ( x 2 + 9)(4 x3 + 5) with respect to x.

3x dy
(ii) Given that y = , find .
2x + 3 dx
k
Write your answer in the form , where k , n ∈ N.
(2 x + 3) n

(c) A car starts from rest at the point a.

b a

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

s = 2t 2 + 2t
where s is in metres.
(i) Find the speed of the car after 2 seconds.
(ii) Find the acceleration of the car.
(iii) The distance from a to the point b is 24 metres. After how many seconds does
the car reach the point b?
SOLUTION REMEMBER IT AS:
7 (a)
dy Multiply down by the power and
y = xn ⇒ = nx n −1 ....... 1
dx subtract one from the power.

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 = 6 x 4 − 3x 2 + 7 x ⇒ = 24 x3 − 6 x + 7
dx
7 (b) (i) THE PRODUCT RULE: If y = u × v then:

dy dv du
=u +v ....... 2
dx dx dx

dy dv du
=u +v u = x2 + 9 ⇒
du
= 2x + 0 = 2x
dx dx dx dx
dy
⇒ = ( x 2 + 9)(12 x 2 ) + (4 x3 + 5)(2 x) v = 4 x3 + 5 ⇒
dv
= 4 × 3 x 2 + 0 = 12 x 2
dx dx
dy
⇒ = 12 x 4 + 1008 x 2 + 8 x 4 + 10 x
dx
dy
⇒ = 20 x 4 + 108 x 2 + 10 x
dx
u
7 (b) (ii) THE QUOTIENT RULE: If y = then:
v
du dv
v −u
dy dx dx
= ....... 3
dx v2

du dv
v −u du
dy dx dx u = 3x ⇒ =3
=
dx v 2 dx
dy (2 x + 3)3 − (3 x)2 v = 2x + 3 ⇒
dv
= 2+0 = 2
⇒ =
dx (2 x + 3) 2 dx
dy 6x + 9 − 6x
⇒ =
dx (22 x + 3) 2
dy 9
⇒ =
dx (2 x + 3) 2

7 (c) (i)
Draw up an s, v, a table as shown on the right. s = 2t 2 + 2t
Put t = 2 s into the velocity equation. ds
ds
v= ...... 8 v= = 2 × 2t + 2 = 4t + 2
v = 4t + 2 dt dt
dv
⇒ v = 4(2) + 2 = 8 + 2 = 10 m/s a=
dv a= =4
dt ...... 9 dt
7 (c) (ii)
a = 4 m/s2
7 (c) (iii)
Put the distance equation equal to 24 m and solve for t.
s = 24 ⇒ 2t 2 + 2t = 24
⇒ 2t 2 + 2t − 24 = 0
⇒ t 2 + t − 12 = 0
⇒ (t + 4)(t − 3) = 0
⇒ t = −4, 3
Ignore the negative solution. Therefore t = 3 s.
8 (a) Let f ( x) = 14 (6 − 2 x) for x ∈ R. Evaluate f (5).

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

1
(c) Let f ( x) = , x ∈ R, x ≠ −7.
x+7
(i) Given that f (k) = 1, find k.
(ii) Find f ′( x), the derivative of f (x).
(iii) Show that the curve y = f (x) has no turning points.
SOLUTION
8 (a)
f ( x) = 14 (6 − 2 x)
⇒ f (5) = 14 (6 − 2(5))
⇒ f (5) = 14 (6 − 10)
⇒ f (5) = 14 (−4)
⇒ f (5) = −1

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

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

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

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

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

4. = 4. =
Δx Δx h h

Δy f ( x + h) − f ( x )
5. = 2 x + Δx − 3 5. = 2x + h − 3
Δx h

Δy ⎛ f ( x + h) − f ( x ) ⎞
6. lim = 2 x + (0) − 3 = 2 x − 3 6. lim ⎜ ⎟ = 2 x + (0) − 3
x → 0 Δx x →0
⎝ h ⎠
= 2x − 3
dy
7. = 2x − 3
dx dy
7. = 2x − 3
dx
8 (c) (i)
1
f ( x) =
x+7
1
f (k ) = 1 ⇒ = 1 [Multiply across by (k + 7).]
( k + 7)
⇒ k + 7 =1
⇒ k = −6
8 (c) (ii)
dy du
y = (u ) n ⇒ = n(u ) n −1 × ... 1
1 dx dx
f ( x) = = ( x + 7) −1
( x + 7) REMEMBER IT AS:
⇒ f ′( x) = −1( x + 7) (1)
−2
Push the power down in front of
1 the bracket and subtract one from
⇒ f ′( x) = − the power. Multiply by the differen-
( x + 7) 2 tiation of the inside of the bracket.
8 (c) (iii)
f ′( x) = 0 Turning Point ⇒
dy
= 0 ....... 6
dx
1
⇒− = 0 [Multiply across by ( x + 7) 2 . ]
( x + 7) 2
To find the turning points set
⇒ −1 = 0 [This equation is nonsense and has dy
no solutions.] = 0 and solve for x.
dx

As there are no solutions for f ′( x) = 0, the curve y = f (x) has no turning points.