ADD MATH DIFFERENTIATION PAST PAPER QUESTIONS

DIFFERENTIATION
𝑑𝑦
𝑦 = 𝑥! = 𝑛𝑥𝑛−1
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
𝑦 = sin 𝑥 = cos 𝑥
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
𝑦 = cos 𝑥 = −sin 𝑥
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑣 𝑑𝑢
Product Rule =𝑢∙ +𝑣∙
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑣
Quotient Rule 𝑑𝑦 𝑣 ∙ 𝑑𝑥 − 𝑢 ∙ 𝑑𝑥
=
𝑑𝑥 𝑣"
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑢
Chain Rule = ×
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
For stationary points, =0
𝑑𝑥

Nature of Turning
Gradient Pattern
Point
+𝑣𝑒 → 0 → −𝑣𝑒 Maximum
First Derivative Test
−𝑣𝑒 → 0 → +𝑣𝑒 Minimum
−𝑣𝑒 → 0 → −𝑣𝑒
Point of inflection
+𝑣𝑒 → 0 → +𝑣𝑒

Nature of Turning
Second Derivative
Point
−𝑣𝑒 Maximum
Second Derivative Test
+𝑣𝑒 Minimum
Inconclusive, use first
0
derivative test.

𝑑𝑦
Gradient of a tangent to the curve 𝑚#$! =
𝑑𝑥
()
Gradient of a normal to the curve 𝑚!%&' = negative reciprocal of (*
2025

a. Differentiate the following expression with respect to x simplifying your answer

3
𝑦 = sin 4𝑥 + +
𝑥
[3]
b.
i. Determine the coordinates of all the stationary points of the curve
, . ,
𝑦 = - 𝑥 - − " 𝑥 " + 4𝑥 − " [4]

ii. Hence determine nature of each of the stationary points [3]

c. The length of each edge of a cube is increasing at a rate of 0.25𝑐𝑚𝑠 /, . Calculate the rate of change
of the volume of the cube at the instant when the length is 8 cm. [5]

2024

a.
i. Use the definition of the derivative as a limit to find 𝑓 0 (𝑥) for the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 " − 3
[4]
ii. Hence determine the value of 𝑓 00 (5) [2]

123 * () ,
b. Given that 𝑦 = 451 * show that, (* = 451! * [4]

c. The equation of the curve 𝑦 = (5𝑥 " − 7)+ . Determine the equation of the gradient of the curve
[5]

2023
,
a. A function given by 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 " + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 has a gradient of 9 − " 𝑥 at a stationary value of 5.
i. Determine the values of 𝑎, 𝑏 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑐 in the function [5]
ii. Determine the nature of the stationary point [2]

2022

a. Given that 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥(5 − 𝑥)" , determine 𝑓 00 (𝑥) [3]

b. Differentiate each of following expressions with respect to 𝑥, simplifying your answer where
possible
i. 2 sin 3𝑥 + cos 𝑥 [3]
ii. (1 + 2𝑥)- (𝑥 + 2) [3]
c.
i. Determine the stationary points on the curve 𝑦 = 𝑥 - − 4𝑥 " + 4𝑥 [4]
ii. Providing details, determine the nature of each stationary point. [2]
2021
a.
i. Differentiate sin 𝑥 + cos 4𝑥 with respect to 𝑥 [2]
!" ! #!
ii. Differentiate with respect to 𝑥 [3]
!"#$

b. Use the principles of differentiation to compute the stationary value of the function
𝑦 = 𝑥 " − 4𝑥 + 2 [4]

2019
"
a. The stationary points of a curve are given by (5, 11 -) and (3,15)
()
i. Derive an expression for (* [2]

ii. Determine the nature of each stationary point. [5]

iii. Determine the equation of the curve [4]

"
b. Differentiate F(2𝑥 + 3)" with respect to 𝑥, giving your answer in its simplest form [3]

2018

a. Given that 𝑦 = 𝑥 - + 2𝑥 " − 1, determine

i. The coordinates of the stationary points [5]
ii. The nature of each stationary point [5]

b. Differentiate 𝑦 = 2𝑥F(4 − 8𝑥) with respect to 𝑥, simplifying your answer [4]

2017

a. Differentiate (1 + 2𝑥)- (𝑥 + 3) with respect to 𝑥, simplifying your answer [4]

b. The point 𝑃 (−2, 0)lies on the curve 𝑦 = 3𝑥 - + 2𝑥 " − 24𝑥. Determine the equation of the normal
to the curve at point P. [5]

c. Water is poured into a cylindrical container of radius 15cm. The height of the water increases at a
rate of 2 cms-1. Given that the formula for the volume of a cylinder is 𝜋𝑟 " ℎ, determine the rate of
increase of the volume of water in the container in terms of 𝜋. [5]
2016

()
a. Find (* given that 𝑦 = √5𝑥 " − 4, simplifying your answer. [4]

b. The point 𝑃 (1, 8) lies on the curve with equation 𝑦 = 2𝑥(𝑥 + 1)" . Determine the equation of the
normal to the curve at P. [5]

c. Obtain the equation for EACH of the tangents to the curve 𝑦 = 𝑥 " at the points where 𝑦 = 16
[5]

2015

a. Differentiate the following expression with respect to 𝑥, simplifying your answer. [4]

(2𝑥 - + 3) sin 5𝑥

b.
i. Find the coordinates of all the stationary points of the curve 𝑦 = 𝑥 - − 5𝑥 " + 3𝑥 + 1 [3]
ii. Determine the nature of EACH point in (i) above [2]

+
c. A spherical balloon of volume 𝑉 = - 𝜋𝑟 - is being filled with air at the rate of 200𝑐𝑚- 𝑠 /, . Calculate,

in terms of 𝜋, the rate at which the radius is increasing when the radius of the balloon is 10 cm.
[5]

2014

a. The equation of a curve is 𝑦 = 3 + 4𝑥 − 𝑥 " . The point 𝑃 (3, 6)lies on the curve.
Find the equation of the tangent to the curve at P, giving your answer in the form
𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑦 + 𝑐 = 0 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 ∈ ℤ. [4]

b. Given that 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 - − 9𝑥 " − 24𝑥 + 7

i. Find ALL the stationary points of 𝑓(𝑥) [5]

ii. Determine the nature of EACH of the stationary points [5]
2013

a. Given that 𝑦 = 𝑥 - − 3𝑥 " + 2. Find

i. The coordinates of the stationary points of y [5]
ii. The second derivative of y and hence determine the nature of EACH of the stationary
points. [5]

b. Differentiate (5𝑥 + 3)- sin 𝑥 with respect to 𝑥, simplifying your answer as far as possible [4]

2012

a. Differentiate the following expression with respect to 𝑥, simplifying your answer. [4]
3𝑥 + 4
𝑥−2

b. The point 𝑃(2, 10) lies on the curve 𝑦 = 3𝑥 " + 5𝑥 − 12. Find equations for
i. The tangent to the curve at P
ii. The normal to the curve at P [5]

c. The length of the side of a square is increasing at a rate of 4 𝑐𝑚𝑠 /, . Find the rate of increase of the
area when the length of the side is 5 cm. [5]

SPECIMEN

a. Differentiate the following with respect to 𝑥, simplifying your answer. [4]

(5 − 2𝑥)(1 + 𝑥)+

b. The point 𝑃 lies on the curve 𝑦 = 𝑥 " . The value of 𝑥 at 𝑃 is −2.

Find the equation of the tangent to the curve at 𝑃 [4]

c. Find the stationary points on the curve 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 - − 9𝑥 " + 12𝑥 and
distinguish their nature. [6]