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

1996
6 (a) Let f (x) = 3x + k, x ∈ R.
If f (5) = 0, find the value of k.

(b) Let g ( x) = x 2 + bx + c, x ∈ R.
The solutions of g(x) = 0 are symmetrical about the line x = 1.
If x = −3 is one solution of g(x) = 0, find the other solution.
Find the value of b and the value of c.

(c) Let f ( x) = 1 , for x ∈ R and x ≠ 2.

x−2
Find the derivative of f (x).
Tangents to f (x) make an angle of 135o with the x axis.
Find the coordinates of the points on the curve of f (x) at which this occurs.
SOLUTION
6 (a)
f ( x) = 3x + k
f (5) = 0 ⇒ 3(5) + k = 0
⇒ 15 + k = 0
∴ k = −15

6 (b)
g ( x) = x 2 + bx + c is a quadratic graph as shown to the right. g(x)
The line x = 1 is its axis of symmetry.
4 4
−3 is a solution (root) which is a place where the graph x
-3 1 5
cuts the x-axis.
You can see from the diagram that the other solution is x = 5.
If you substitute solutions for x in the function g(x), you get
zero.
x = −3 : g (−3) = (−3) 2 + b(−3) + c = 0 ⇒ 9 − 3b + c = 0
∴−3b + c = −9....(1)

x = 5 : g (5) = (5) 2 + b(5) + c = 0 ⇒ 25 + 5b + c = 0

∴ 5b + c = −25....(2)
Solve equation (1) and (2) simultaneously.

−3b + c = −9....(1)(× − 1) 3b − c = 9
5b + c = −25..(2)
→ 5b + c = −25
8b = −16 ⇒ b = −2
Substitute this value of b into Eqn. (2).
5(−2) + c = −25 ⇒ −10 + c = −25 ⇒ c = −15
6 (c)
1
y = f ( x) = = ( x − 2) −1
x−2
dy 1
⇒ = f ′( x) = −1( x − 2) −2 (1) = −
dx ( x − 2) 2
You are find the slope by getting the tan of the angle with the x-axis.
m = tan135o = −1 [Using your calculator.] Slope m = tan θ

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
1. y = f ( x) =
x−2
dy 1
⇒ =−
dx ( x − 2) 2
dy 1
2. = −1 ⇒ − = −1
dx ( x − 2) 2
1
⇒ =1
( x − 2) 2
⇒ 1 = ( x − 2) 2
⇒ ±1 = x − 2
∴ x = 1, 3
1 1
3. x = 1 : y = f (1) = = = −1 ⇒ (1, − 1) is a point of contact.
(1) − 2 −1
1 1
x = 3 : y = f (3) = = = 1 ⇒ (3, 1) is a point of contact.
(3) − 2 1
7 (a) Differentiate from first principles
3x − 7
with respect to x.

dy 2x
(b) (i) Find when y = , for x ∈ R and x ≠ ±2.
dx 4 − x2
dy
Show that > 0.
dx
7
⎛ 1 ⎞
(ii) Differentiate ⎜ x5 − 2 ⎟ with respect to x, x ≠ 0.
⎝ x ⎠

(c) A stone is dropped from a height of 80 metres. Its height h metres above the ground
after t seconds is given by
h = 80 − t 2 .
Find
(i) its speed after t seconds
(ii) its speed after 2.5 seconds
(iii) the time it takes to fall the first 14.4 metres.
SOLUTION
7 (a)
The Δx approach: The h approach:
1. y = 3 x − 7 1. f ( x) = 3 x − 7

2. y + Δy = 3( x + Δx) − 7 2. f ( x + h) = 3( x + h) − 7
⇒ y + Δy = 3 x + 3(Δx) − 7 ⇒ f ( x + h) = 3 x + 3h − 7

3. y + Δy = 3 x + 3(Δx) − 7 3. f ( x + h) − f ( x)
y = 3x −7 = 3xx + 3h − 7 − 3 x + 7 = 3h
∴Δy = 3(Δx)
f ( x + h) − f ( x) 3h
4. =
Δy 3(Δx) h h
4. =
Δx Δx
f ( x + h) − f ( x )
5. =3
Δy h
5. =3
Δx
⎛ f ( x + h) − f ( x ) ⎞
Δy
6. lim ⎜ ⎟= 3
6. lim =3
x →0
⎝ h ⎠
x → 0 Δx

dy
7. =3
dy dx
7. =3
dx
7 (b) (i)
u
du THE QUOTIENT RULE: If y = then:
u = 2x ⇒ =2 v
dx du dv
v −u
dy dx dx
dv = ....... 3
v = 4 − x2 ⇒ = −2 x dx v2
dx
2x
y=
4 − x2
du dv
v −u
dx = (4 − x )(2) − 2 x(−2 x)
2
dy dx
⇒ =
dx v2 (4 − x 2 )2
dy 8 − 2 x 2 + 4 x 2 2 x2 + 8
⇒ = =
dx (4 − x 2 )2 (4 − x 2 ) 2

dy 2x2 + 8
= > 0 for both positive and negative values of x as when they are squared the
dx (4 − x 2 ) 2
answer will be positive.
7 (b) (ii) REMEMBER IT AS:
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-
tiation of the inside of the bracket.

1 du 2
u = x5 − 2
= x 5 − x −2 ⇒ = 5 x 4 + 2 x −3 = 5 x 4 + 3
x dx x
7 6
⎛ 1 ⎞ dy ⎛ 1 ⎞ ⎛ 2⎞
y = ⎜ x5 − 2 ⎟ ⇒ = 7 ⎜ x5 − 2 ⎟ ⎜ 5 x 4 + 3 ⎟
⎝ x ⎠ dx ⎝ x ⎠ ⎝ x ⎠
6
dy ⎛ 14 ⎞ ⎛ 1 ⎞
∴ = ⎜ 35 x 4 + 3 ⎟ ⎜ x5 − 2 ⎟
dx ⎝ x ⎠⎝ x ⎠

7 (c) (i)
Draw up a s, v, a table as shown on the right.
ds
v = −2t m/s v= ...... 8
dt
7 (c) (ii)
dv
Find its speed v after a time t = 2.5 seconds. a=
dt ...... 9
v = −2t = −2 × 2.5 = −5 m/s
h = 80 − t 2
7 (c) (iii)
dh
Find the time t it takes to fall a height h = 14.4 m. v= = −2t
dt
h = 80 − t 2 ⇒ 14.4 = 80 − t 2
dv
⇒ t 2 = 80 − 14.4 a= = −2
dt
⇒ t 2 = 65.6
∴ t = 65.6 = 8.1 s
 ds
8 (a) Find when s = 6t 2 − 3t + 7.
dt

(b) Let f ( x) = x3 − 3 x 2, for x ∈ R.

(i) Find f ′( x), the derivative of f (x). Hence, calculate the coordinates of the local
maximum and the local minimum of f (x).
(ii) Draw the graph of
f ( x) = x3 − 3x 2
for −1 ≤ x ≤ 3.
(iii) Use your graph to estimate the values of x for which
f (x) + 2 = 0.
(iv) Use your graph to estimate the range of values of x for which
f ′( x) < 0.
SOLUTION
8 (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
s = 6t 2 − 3t + 7
ds
⇒ = 6 × 2t − 3 + 0 = 12t − 3
dt
8 (b)
STEPS FOR FINDING THE LOCAL MAXIMUM AND LOCAL MINIMUM OF A FUNCTION:
STEPS
dy d2y
1. Differentiate the function to find . Differentiate again to find .
dx dx 2
dy
2. Set = 0 and solve for x to find the turning points.
dx

d2y
3. Substitute the turning points into to decide if they are a local
dx 2
maximum or a local minimum.
4. Find the y coordinates of the turning points by substituting the x values
back into the equation of the original function.

1. y = f ( x) = x3 − 3 x 2
dy
⇒ = f ′( x) = 3 x 2 − 6 x
dx
d2y
⇒ 2 = f ′′( x) = 6 x − 6
dx
CONT....
 dy
2. = 0 ⇒ 3x 2 − 6 x = 0
dx
⇒ 3 x( x − 2) = 0
∴ x = 0, 2
⎛ d2y ⎞
⎛ d2y ⎞ Local Maximum: ⎜ 2 ⎟ < 0
3. ⎜ 2 ⎟ = 6(0) − 6 = 0 − 6 = −6 < 0 ⎝ dx ⎠ TP
⎝ dx ⎠ x =0 ....... 7
⎛d y⎞
2 ⎛ d2y ⎞
Local Minimum: ⎜ 2 ⎟ > 0
⎜ 2 ⎟ = 6(2) − 6 = 12 − 6 = 6 > 0 ⎝ dx ⎠ TP
⎝ dx ⎠ x = 2
4. x = 0 : y = f (0) = (0)3 − 3(0) 2 = 0 − 0 = 0 ⇒ (0, 0) is a local maximum.
x = 2 : y = f (2) = (2)3 − 3(2) 2 = 8 − 12 = −4 ⇒ (2, − 4) is a local minimum.
8 (ii)
x = −1 : f (−1) = (−1)3 − 3(−1) 2 = −1 − 3 × 1 = −1 − 3 = −4 ⇒ (−1, − 4) is a point.
x = 0 : f (0) = (0)3 − 3(0) 2 = 0 − 3 × 0 = 0 − 0 = 0 ⇒ (0, 0) is a point.
x = 1 : f (1) = (1)3 − 3(1) 2 = 1 − 3 × 1 = 1 − 3 = −2 ⇒ (1, − 2) is a point.
x = 2 : f (2) = (2)3 − 3(2) 2 = 8 − 3 × 4 = 8 − 12 = −4 ⇒ (2, − 4) is a point.
x = 3 : f (3) = (3)3 − 3(3) 2 = 27 − 3 × 9 = 27 − 27 = 0 ⇒ (3, 0) is a point.

1 f (x)
x
-1 1 2 3
-1

-2

-3

-4

8 (iii)
-0.7 1 f (x) 2.7
f ( x ) + 2 = 0 ⇒ f ( x ) = −2 x
Go to −2 on the f (x) axis. Draw a line -1 1 2 3
-1
straight across until it meets the graph. Read
off the x values. -2
∴ x = −0.7, 1, 2.7 -3

-4

8 (iv)
f ′( x) < 0: Curve is decreasing; f ′( x) > 0: Curve is increasing.

You can see the graph is decreasing from values of x from 0 to 2.

∴ f ′( x) < 0 ⇒ 0 < x < 2