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

1999
6 (a) Let f ( x) = 2(3 x − 1), x ∈ R.
Find the value of x for which f (x) = 0.

(b) Differentiate from first principles

x2 + 5x
with respect to x.

(c) Let f ( x) = x3 − 6 x 2 + 12 for x ∈ R.

Find the derivative of f (x).
At the two points (x1, y1) and (x2, y2), the tangents to the curve y = f (x) are
parallel to the x axis, where x2 > x1.
Show that
(i) x2 − x1 = 4
(ii) y2 = y1 − 32.
SOLUTION
6 (a)
f ( x) = 2(3 x − 1)
f ( x) = 0 ⇒ 2(3 x − 1) = 0
⇒ 3x − 1 = 0
⇒ 3x = 1
∴ x = 13

6 (b)
The Δx approach: The h approach:
1. y = x + 5 x
2
1. f ( x) = x 2 + 5 x
2. y + Δy = ( x + Δx) 2 + 5( x + Δx) 2. f ( x + h) = ( x + h) 2 + 5( x + h)
⇒ y + Δy = x 2 + 2 x(Δx) + (Δx) 2 + 5 x + 5(Δx) ⇒ f ( x + h) = x 2 + 2 xh + h 2 + 5 x + 5h
3. f ( x + h) − f ( x)
3. y + Δy = x 2 + 2 x(Δx) + (Δx) 2 + 5 x + 5(Δx) = x 2 + 2 xh + h 2 + 5 x + 5h − x 2 − 5 x
y = x2 + 5x = 2 xh + h 2 + 5h
∴Δy = 2 x ( Δx ) + ( Δ x ) 2 + 5(Δx) f ( x + h) − f ( x) 2 xh + h 2 + 5h
4. =
Δy 2 x(Δx) + (Δx) 2 + 5(Δx) h h
4. =
Δx Δx f ( x + h) − f ( x )
5. = 2x + h + 5
Δy h
5. = 2 x + Δx + 5
Δx ⎛ f ( x + h) − f ( x ) ⎞
Δy
6. lim ⎜ ⎟ = 2 x + (0) + 5
6. lim = 2 x + (0) + 5 = 2 x + 5
x →0
⎝ h ⎠
x → 0 Δx = 2x + 5
dy dy
7. = 2x + 5 7. = 2x + 5
dx dx
6 (c)
f ( x) = x3 − 6 x 2 + 12
⇒ f ′( x) = 3 x 2 − 12 x

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.

As the tangents are parallel to the x-axis, their slopes are zero.
1. y = f ( x) = x3 − 6 x 2 + 12
dy
⇒ = f ′( x) = 3 x 2 − 12 x
dx
dy
2. = 0 ⇒ 3 x 2 − 12 x = 0
dx
⇒ 3 x( x − 4) = 0
∴ x = 0, 4
3. x = 0 : y = f (0) = (0)3 − 6(0) 2 + 12 = 12 ⇒ (0, 12) is a point of contact.
x = 4 : y = f (4) = (4)3 − 6(4) 2 + 12 = 64 − 96 + 12 ⇒ (4, − 20) is a point of contact.

First point: ( x1 , y1 ) = (0, 12)

Second point: ( x2 , y2 ) = (4, − 20)
6 (c) (i)
x2 − x1 = 4 − 0 = 4 [This is true.]
6 (c) (ii)
y2 = y1 − 32
⇒ −20 = 12 − 32 [This is true.]
7 (a) Differentiate
2 x3 − 7
with respect to x.

dy
(b) (i) Find when y = (3 − 7 x)5 .
dx
dy x2 dy
(ii) Find when y = , x ≠ 1. Show that = 0 at x = 0.
dx 1− x dx

(c) The speed, v, in metres per second, of a body after t seconds is given by
v = 3t (4 − t ).
(i) Find the acceleration at each of the two instants when the speed is 9 metres per
second.
(ii) Find the speed at the instant when the acceleration is zero.
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
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 = 2 x3 − 7
dy
⇒ = 2 × 3x 2 − 0 = 6 x 2
dx

7 (b) (i) 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.

du
u = 3 − 7x ⇒ = −7
dx
dy
y = (3 − 7 x)5 ⇒ = 5(3 − 7 x) 4 (−7) = −35(3 − 7 x) 4
dx
7 (b) (ii) u
du THE QUOTIENT RULE: If y = then:
u=x ⇒ 2
= 2x v
dx du dv
v −u
dv dy dx dx ....... 3
v = (1 − x) ⇒ = −1 =
dx v2
dx

x2
y=
1− x
du dv
−u v
dy (1 − x)(2 x) − x 2 (−1)
⇒ = dx 2 dx =
dx v (1 − x) 2
dy 2 x − 2 x 2 + x 2 2 x − x 2
⇒ = =
dx (1 − x) 2 (1 − x) 2
⎛ dy ⎞ 2(0) − (0) 2 0
∴⎜ ⎟ = = = 0 [This is true.]
⎝ dx ⎠ x =0 (1 − 0) 2 1

7 (c) (i)
Draw up a v, a table as shown on the right. ds
v= ...... 8
Firstly, find the times t when the speed v = 9 m/s. dt
Then, find the accelerations a at these times.
dv
v = 12t − 3t 2 ⇒ 9 = 12t − 3t 2 a= ...... 9
dt
⇒ 3t − 12t + 9 = 0
2

⇒ t 2 − 4t + 3 = 0 v = 3t (4 − t ) = 12t − 3t 2
⇒ (t − 1)(t − 3) = 0 a=
dv
= 12 − 6t
∴ t = 1 s, 3 s dt
t = 1 : a = 12 − 6(1) = 12 − 6 = 6 m/s 2
t = 3 : a = 12 − 6(3) = 12 − 18 = −6 m/s 2

7 (c) (ii)
Firstly, find the time t at which the acceleration is
zero. Then, find the speed v at this time.
a = 12 − 6t ⇒ 0 = 12 − 6t
⇒ 6t = 12
∴t = 2 s
t = 2 : v = 3t (4 − t ) ⇒ v = 3(2)(4 − 2)
∴ v = 6(2) = 12 m/s
8 Let f ( x) = 2 x3 − 5 x 2 − 4 x + 3 for x ∈ R.
(i) Complete the table

x −1.5 −1 0 1 2 3 3.5
f (x) −9 13.5

(ii) Find the derivative of f (x).

Calculate the co-ordinates of the local minimum and show that the co-ordinates
of the local maximum are (− 13 , 100
27 ).
(iii) Draw the graph of
f ( x) = 2 x3 − 5 x 2 − 4 x + 3
for −1.5 ≤ x ≤ 3.5.
(iv) Write the equation 2 x3 − 5 x 2 − 6 x + 6 = 0 in the form
2 x3 − 5 x 2 − 4 x + 3 = ax + b, a, b ∈ Z.
Hence, use your graph to estimate the solutions of the equation
2 x3 − 5 x 2 − 6 x + 6 = 0.
SOLUTION
8 (i)
f ( x) = 2 x3 − 5 x 2 − 4 x + 3
⇒ f (−1.5) = 2(−1.5)3 − 5(−1.5) 2 − 4(−1.5) + 3 = −9 [Use your calculator.]
Find the other values of x in the same way.

x −1.5 −1 0 1 2 3 3.5
f (x) −9 0 3 −4 −9 0 13.5

8 (ii) 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) = 2 x3 − 5 x 2 − 4 x + 3
dy
= f ′( x) = 6 x 2 − 10 x − 4
dx
d2y
= f ′′( x) = 12 x − 10
dx 2
dy
2. = 0 ⇒ 6 x 2 − 10 x − 4 = 0
dx
⇒ 3x 2 − 5 x − 2 = 0
⇒ (3 x + 1)( x − 2) = 0
∴ x = − 13 , 2
⎛ d2y ⎞
⎛ d2y ⎞ Local Maximum: ⎜ 2 ⎟ < 0
3. ⎜ 2 ⎟ = 12(− 13 ) − 10 = −4 − 10 = −14 < 0 ⎝ dx ⎠ TP
⎝ dx ⎠ x =− 1 3 ....... 7
⎛ d2y ⎞
⎛d y⎞ 2
Local Minimum: ⎜ 2 ⎟ > 0
⎜ 2 ⎟ = 12(2) − 10 = 24 − 10 = 14 > 0 ⎝ dx ⎠ TP
⎝ dx ⎠ x = 2
27 ⇒ ( − 3 ,
4. x = − 13 : y = 2(− 13 )3 − 5(− 13 ) 2 − 4(− 13 ) + 3 = 100 1 100
27 ) is a local maximum.
x = 2 : y = 2(2)3 − 5(2) 2 − 4(2) + 3 = −9 ⇒ (2, − 9) is a local minimum.

8 (iii) f (x) 14
Draw the cubic graph using the information 12
from the previous parts.
10
Points: (−1.5, − 9), (−1, 0), (0, 3), (1, − 4)
8
(2, − 9), (3, 0), (3.5, 13.5) 6
Local maximum: (− , 1
3
100
27 ) = (−0.33, 3.7) 4

Local minimum: (2, − 9) 2

x
-2 -1 1 2 3 4
-2
8 (iv)
-4
2 x3 − 5 x 2 − 6 x + 6 = 0 -6
⇒ 2 x − 5x − 4 x + 3 = 2 x − 3
3 2
-8

Let h( x) = 2 x − 3 -10

∴ f ( x) = h( x). f (x) 14

h(x) is a straight line. You want to find where 12

the straight line and the cubic graph intersect. 10

Graph h(x) by using the first and last points of 8
the domain. 6

h(−1.5) = 2(−1.5) − 3 = −3 − 3 = −6 -1.4

4
0.7
⇒ (−1.5, − 6) is a point on the graph. 2
x
h(3.5) = 2(3.5) − 3 = 7 − 3 = 4 -2 -1
-2
1 2 3 4

⇒ (3.5, 4) is a point on the graph. -4

3.2

You can see the x values of the places where the -6

graphs intersect: -8

∴ x = −1.4, 0.7, 3.2 -10