QUESTIONS 1 TOPIC: 7 DIFFERENTIATION

The diagram shows a glass window consisting of a rectangle of height h m and width 2r m and a
semicircle of radius r m. The perimeter of the window is 8 m.

(i) Express h in terms of r. [2]

(ii) Show that the area of the window, A m2 , is given by

A = 8r − 2r 2 − 12 π r2 . [2]

Given that r can vary,

(iii) find the value of r for which A has a stationary value, [4]
(iv) determine whether this stationary value is a maximum or a minimum. [2]

Find the gradient of the curve y = at the point where x = 3.

12
2 [4]
x2 − 4x
3

The diagram shows the cross-section of a hollow cone and a circular cylinder. The cone has radius
6 cm and height 12 cm, and the cylinder has radius r cm and height h cm. The cylinder just fits inside
the cone with all of its upper edge touching the surface of the cone.

(i) Express h in terms of r and hence show that the volume, V cm3 , of the cylinder is given by

V = 12π r2 − 2π r3 . [3]

(ii) Given that r varies, find the stationary value of V . [4]

 QUESTIONS 2 TOPIC: 7 DIFFERENTIATION

4 A function f is defined by f : x !→ (2x − 3)3 − 8, for 2 ≤ x ≤ 4.

(i) Find an expression, in terms of x, for f ′ (x) and show that f is an increasing function. [4]

(ii) Find an expression, in terms of x, for f −1 (x) and find the domain of f −1 . [4]

k
5 A curve has equation y = . Given that the gradient of the curve is −3 when x = 2, find the value of
x
the constant k. [3]

The diagram shows an open container constructed out of 200 cm2 of cardboard. The two vertical end
pieces are isosceles triangles with sides 5x cm, 5x cm and 8x cm, and the two side pieces are rectangles
of length y cm and width 5x cm, as shown. The open top is a horizontal rectangle.

200 − 24x2
(i) Show that y = . [3]
10x

(ii) Show that the volume, V cm3 , of the container is given by V = 240x − 28.8x3 . [2]

Given that x can vary,

(iii) find the value of x for which V has a stationary value, [3]
(iv) determine whether it is a maximum or a minimum stationary value. [2]

7 The equation of a curve is y = ( 2x − 3)3 − 6x.

dy d2 y
(i) Express and 2 in terms of x. [3]
dx dx

(ii) Find the x-coordinates of the two stationary points and determine the nature of each stationary
point. [5]

8 The function f is such that f(x) = ( 3x + 2)3 − 5 f o r x ≥ 0.

(i) Obtain an expression for f ′ (x) and hence explain why f is an increasing function. [3]

(ii) Obtain an expression for f −1 (x) and state the domain of f −1 . [4]
 QUESTIONS 3 TOPIC: 7 DIFFERENTIATION

r cm

x cm

A wire, 80 cm long, is cut into two pieces. One piece is bent to form a square of side x cm and the
other piece is bent to form a circle of radius r cm (see diagram). The total area of the square and the
circle is A cm2 .

(π + 4)x2 − 160x + 1600

(i) Show that A = . [4]
π
(ii) Given that x and r can vary, find the value of x for which A has a stationary value. [4]

10 The equation of a curve is y = 5 − 8

x
(i) Show that the equation of the normal to the curve at the point P (2, 1) is 2y + x = 4. [4]

This normal meets the curve again at the point Q.

(ii) Find the coordinates of Q. [3]

(iii) Find the length of PQ. [2]

12
11 The equation of a curve is y = .
x2 + 3
dy
(i) Obtain an expression for . [2]
dx

(ii) Find the equation of the normal to the curve at the point P (1, 3). [3]

(iii) A point is moving along the curve in such a way that the x-coordinate is increasing at a constant
rate of 0.012 units per second. Find the rate of change of the y-coordinate as the point passes
through P. [2]
 QUESTIONS 4 TOPIC: 7 DIFFERENTIATION

12 y

y=2– 18
2x + 3
A
x
O

18
The diagram shows part of the curve y = 2 − , which crosses the x-axis at A and the y-axis at B.
2x + 3
The normal to the curve at A crosses the y-axis at C .

(i) Show that the equation of the line AC is 9x + 4y = 27. [6]

(ii) Find the length of BC . [2]

13 A solid rectangular block has a square base of side x cm. The height of the block is h cm and the total
surface area of the block is 96 cm2 .

(i) Express h in terms of x and show that the volume, V cm3 , of the block is given by

V = 24x − 12 x3 . [3]

Given that x can vary,

(ii) find the stationary value of V , [3]
(iii) determine whether this stationary value is a maximum or a minimum. [2]

3
14 The equation of a curve is y = 61 (2x − 3) − 4x.

dy
(i) Find . [3]
dx
(ii) Find the equation of the tangent to the curve at the point where the curve intersects the y-axis.
[3]

(iii) Find the set of values of x for which 16 (2x − 3)3 − 4x is an increasing function of x. [3]
 QUESTIONS 5 TOPIC: 7 DIFFERENTIATION

15
y

C (5, 4)

A
(–1, 2)
x
O

The diagram shows a rhombus ABCD in which the point A is (−1, 2), the point C is (5, 4) and the
point B lies on the y-axis. Find
(i) the equation of the perpendicular bisector of AC, [3]
(ii) the coordinates of B and D, [3]
(iii) the area of the rhombus. [3]

16 The function f : x "→ 2x2 − 8x + 14 is defined for x ∈ %.

(i) Find the values of the constant k for which the line y + kx = 12 is a tangent to the curve y = f (x).
[4]

(ii) Express f (x) in the form a(x + b)2 + c, where a, b and c are constants. [3]

(iii) Find the range of f. [1]

The function g : x "→ 2x2 − 8x + 14 is defined for x ≥ A.

(iv) Find the smallest value of A for which g has an inverse. [1]

(v) For this value of A, find an expression for g−1 (x) in terms of x. [3]

17 The length, x metres, of a Green Anaconda snake which is t years old is given approximately by the
formula
√
x = 0.7 (2t − 1),
where 1 ≤ t ≤ 10. Using this formula, find
dx
(i) , [2]
dt
(ii) the rate of growth of a Green Anaconda snake which is 5 years old. [2]
 QUESTIONS 6 TOPIC: 7 DIFFERENTIATION

18
y
2
y=
1–x

y = 3x + 4
B

A
x
O

2
The diagram shows part of the curve y = and the line y = 3x + 4. The curve and the line meet at
1−x
points A and B.

(i) Find the coordinates of A and B. [4]

(ii) Find the length of the line AB and the coordinates of the mid-point of AB. [3]

19
5
4
x
4
5
x

1
2
x
x

The diagram shows an open rectangular tank of height h metres covered with a lid. The base of the
tank has sides of length x metres and 21 x metres and the lid is a rectangle with sides of length 54 x metres
and 45 x metres. When full the tank holds 4 m3 of water. The material from which the tank is made is
of negligible thickness. The external surface area of the tank together with the area of the top of the
lid is A m2 .
24
(i) Express h in terms of x and hence show that A = 32 x2 + . [5]
x
(ii) Given that x can vary, find the value of x for which A is a minimum, showing clearly that A is a
minimum and not a maximum. [5]

1
20 A curve has equation y = + x.
x−3

dy d2 y
(i) Find and 2 . [2]
dx dx
(ii) Find the coordinates of the maximum point A and the minimum point B on the curve. [5]
 QUESTIONS 7 TOPIC: 7 DIFFERENTIATION

21 The volume of a spherical balloon is increasing at a constant rate of 50 cm3 per second. Find the rate
of increase of the radius when the radius is 10 cm. [Volume of a sphere = 43 π r3 .] [4]

A curve has equation y = and P (2, 2) is a point on the curve.

4
3x − 4
22

(i) Find the equation of the tangent to the curve at P. [4]

(ii) Find the angle that this tangent makes with the x-axis. [2]

x y
23 The line + = 1, where a and b are positive constants, meets the x-axis at P and the y-axis at Q.
a b √
Given that PQ = (45) and that the gradient of the line PQ is − 12 , find the values of a and b. [5]

dy 2
24 A curve is such that = √ − 1 and P (9, 5) is a point on the curve.
dx x

(i) Find the equation of the curve. [4]

(ii) Find the coordinates of the stationary point on the curve. [3]

d2 y
(iii) Find an expression for and determine the nature of the stationary point. [2]
dx2

(iv) The normal to the curve at P makes an angle of tan−1 k with the positive x-axis. Find the value
of k. [2]

25 A curve has equation y = 3x3 − 6x2 + 4x + 2. Show that the gradient of the curve is never negative.
[3]

26
x

2y
3y
3x

4x

The diagram shows the dimensions in metres of an L-shaped garden. The perimeter of the garden is
48 m.

(i) Find an expression for y in terms of x. [1]

(ii) Given that the area of the garden is A m2 , show that A = 48x − 8x2 . [2]

(iii) Given that x can vary, find the maximum area of the garden, showing that this is a maximum
value rather than a minimum value. [4]
 QUESTIONS 8 TOPIC: 7 DIFFERENTIATION

27 A watermelon is assumed to be spherical in shape while it is growing. Its mass, M kg, and radius,
r cm, are related by the formula M = kr3 , where k is a constant. It is also assumed that the radius is
increasing at a constant rate of 0.1 centimetres per day. On a particular day the radius is 10 cm and
the mass is 3.2 kg. Find the value of k and the rate at which the mass is increasing on this day. [5]

28 It is given that a curve has equation y = f(x), where f(x) = x3 − 2x2 + x.

(i) Find the set of values of x for which the gradient of the curve is less than 5. [4]

(ii) Find the values of f (x) at the two stationary points on the curve and determine the nature of each
stationary point. [5]
√ 2
29 The equation of a curve is y = 4 x + √ .
x
dy
(i) Obtain an expression for . [3]
dx
(ii) A point is moving along the curve in such a way that the x-coordinate is increasing at a constant
rate of 0.12 units per second. Find the rate of change of the y-coordinate when x = 4. [2]
10
30 The curve y = − 2 intersects the x-axis at A. The tangent to the curve at A intersects the y-axis
2x + 1
at C.
(i) Show that the equation of AC is 5y + 4x = 8. [5]

(ii) Find the distance AC . [2]

31 An oil pipeline under the sea is leaking oil and a circular patch of oil has formed on the surface of the
sea. At midday the radius of the patch of oil is 50 m and is increasing at a rate of 3 metres per hour.
Find the rate at which the area of the oil is increasing at midday. [4]
1
32 A curve has equation y = 2x + . Verify that the curve has a stationary point at x = 2 and
(x − 1)2
determine its nature. [5]
33
y
1
y = (6x + 2)3

A (1, 2)

C x
O

1
The diagram shows the curve y = (6x + 2) 3 and the point A (1, 2) which lies on the curve. The tangent
to the curve at A cuts the y-axis at B and the normal to the curve at A cuts the x-axis at C.
(i) Find the equation of the tangent AB and the equation of the normal AC . [5]
(ii) Find the distance BC . [3]
(iii) Find the coordinates of the point of intersection, E, of OA and BC , and determine whether E is
the mid-point of OA. [4]
 QUESTIONS 9 TOPIC: 7 DIFFERENTIATION

34
X 2x m
B C

40 m
Playground
Y
xm
A D
60 m

The diagram shows a plan for a rectangular park ABCD, in which AB = 40 m and AD = 60 m. Points
X and Y lie on BC and CD respectively and AX , XY and YA are paths that surround a triangular
playground. The length of DY is x m and the length of XC is 2x m.

(i) Show that the area, A m2 , of the playground is given by

A = x2 − 30x + 1200. [2]

(ii) Given that x can vary, find the minimum area of the playground. [3]

1
35 It is given that f (x) = − x3 , for x > 0. Show that f is a decreasing function. [3]
x3

36 It is given that f! x" =! 2x − 5"3 + x, for x ∈ #. Show that f is an increasing function. [3]

37 The volume of a solid circular cylinder of radius r cm is 250! cm3 .

(i) Show that the total surface area, S cm2 , of the cylinder is given by
500!
S = 2!r2 + . !2"
r

(ii) Given that r can vary, find the stationary value of S. [4]

(iii) Determine the nature of this stationary value. [2]

38 The non-zero variables x, y and u are such that u = x2 y. Given that y + 3x = 9, find the stationary
value of u and determine whether this is a maximum or a minimum value. [7]

39
x metres

r metres
 QUESTIONS 10 TOPIC: 7 DIFFERENTIATION

The inside lane of a school running track consists of two straight sections each of length x metres,
and two semicircular sections each of radius r metres, as shown in the diagram. The straight sections
are perpendicular to the diameters of the semicircular sections. The perimeter of the inside lane is
400 metres.

(i) Show that the area, A m2 , of the region enclosed by the inside lane is given by A = 400r − "r2 .
[4]

(ii) Given that x and r can vary, show that, when A has a stationary value, there are no straight
sections in the track. Determine whether the stationary value is a maximum or a minimum. [5]

40
y

S (0, 12)

R Q (x, y)

T (16, 0)
x
O P

In the diagram, S is the point !0, 12" and T is the point !16, 0". The point Q lies on ST , between S
and T , and has coordinates !x, y". The points P and R lie on the x-axis and y-axis respectively and
OPQR is a rectangle.

(i) Show that the area, A, of the rectangle OPQR is given by A = 12x − 34 x2 . [3]

(ii) Given that x can vary, find the stationary value of A and determine its nature. [4]

k2
41 A curve has equation y = + x, where k is a positive constant. Find, in terms of k, the values of
x+2
x for which the curve has stationary points and determine the nature of each stationary point. [8]

4
42 A curve has equation y = . Find the equation of the tangent to the curve at the point where
!3x + 1"2
the line x = −1 intersects the curve. [5]

15
43 A function f is such that f!x" = for 0 ≤ x ≤ 6.
2x + 3

(i) Find an expression for f ′ !x" and use your result to explain why f has an inverse. [3]

(ii) Find an expression for f −1 !x", and state the domain and range of f −1 . [4]

44 The base of a cuboid has sides of length x cm and 3x cm. The volume of the cuboid is 288 cm3.

(i) Show that the total surface area of the cuboid, A cm2, is given by
768
A = 6x 2 + . #3$
x
 QUESTIONS 11 TOPIC: 7 DIFFERENTIATION

12
45 A curve has equation y = .
3 − 2x
dy
(i) Find . [2]
dx
A point moves along this curve. As the point passes through A, the x-coordinate is increasing at a
rate of 0.15 units per second and the y-coordinate is increasing at a rate of 0.4 units per second.

(ii) Find the possible x-coordinates of A. [4]

46 (i) Express 9x2 − 12x + 5 in the form !ax + b"2 + c. [3]

(ii) Determine whether 3x3 − 6x2 + 5x − 12 is an increasing function, a decreasing function or neither.
[3]

47 (a) The functions f and g are defined for x ≥ 0 b y

1
f : x #→ !ax + b" 3 , where a and b are positive constants,
g : x #→ x2 .

Given that fg!1" = 2 and gf!9" = 16,

(i) calculate the values of a and b, [4]
(ii) obtain an expression for f −1!x" and state the domain of f −1 . [4]

48
y

y = 2x2

x
X !−2, 0" O P !p, 0"

The diagram shows the curve y = 2x2 and the points X !−2, 0" and P !p, 0". The point Q lies on the
curve and PQ is parallel to the y-axis.

(i) Express the area, A, of triangle XPQ in terms of p. [2]

The point P moves along the x-axis at a constant rate of 0.02 units per second and Q moves along the
curve so that PQ remains parallel to the y-axis.

(ii) Find the rate at which A is increasing when p = 2. [3]

 QUESTIONS 12 TOPIC: 7 DIFFERENTIATION

49 The equation of a curve is y = x3 + px2 , where p is a positive constant.

(i) Show that the origin is a stationary point on the curve and find the coordinates of the other
stationary point in terms of p. [4]

(ii) Find the nature of each of the stationary points. [3]

Another curve has equation y = x3 + px2 + px.

(iii) Find the set of values of p for which this curve has no stationary points. [3]

50 Variables u, x and y are such that u = 2x!y − x" and x + 3y = 12. Express u in terms of x and hence
find the stationary value of u. [5]

1 1
51 The function f is defined by f!x" = + for x > −1.
x + 1 !x + 1"2

(i) Find f ′ !x". [3]

(ii) State, with a reason, whether f is an increasing function, a decreasing function or neither. [1]

1 1
The function g is defined by g!x" = + for x < −1.
x + 1 !x + 1"2

(iii) Find the coordinates of the stationary point on the curve y = g!x". [4]

8
52 A curve has equation y = + 2x .
x

dy d2 y
(i) Find and 2 . [3]
dx dx

(ii) Find the coordinates of the stationary points and state, with a reason, the nature of each stationary
point. [5]
53
D C
m
40 c
F A B
B 30! 30!
A
30! 30!
h cm

E E
Fig. 1 Fig. 2

Fig. 1 shows an open tank in the shape of a triangular prism. The vertical ends ABE and DCF are
identical isosceles triangles. Angle ABE = angle BAE = 30!. The length of AD is 40 cm. The tank is
fixed in position with the open top ABCD horizontal. Water is poured into the tank at a constant rate
of 200 cm3 s−1 . The depth of water, t seconds after filling starts, is h cm (see Fig. 2).

(i) Show that, when the depth of water in the tank is h cm, the volume, V cm3 , of water in the tank
is given by V = !40#3"h2 . [3]

(ii) Find the rate at which h is increasing when h = 5. [3]

 QUESTIONS 13 TOPIC: 7 DIFFERENTIATION

54 (i) Express 3x2 − 6x + 2 in the form a!x + b"2 + c, where a, b and c are constants. [3]

(ii) The function f, where f!x" = x3 − 3x2 + 7x − 8, is defined for x ∈ #. Find f ′ !x" and state, with a
reason, whether f is an increasing function, a decreasing function or neither. [3]