AQA Core 1 Differentiation

1 of 3 10/01/13 MEI
Section 1: Introduction to differentiation

Solutions to Exercise

1. (i) f( ) 2 1 x x
f ( ) 2 x

(ii)
3
f( ) 5 x x x

2
f ( ) 3 5 x x

(iii)
2
f( ) ( 2) 2 x x x x x
f ( ) 2 2 x x


2. (i)
3
2
12
d
12 3
d
y x x
y
x
x



When x = 0,
d
12
d
y
x

The gradient of the curve at the origin is 12.

(ii) When gradient is zero,
2
2
12 3 0
4 0
(2 )(2 ) 0
2 or 2
x
x
x x
x x





When x = -2,
3
12 2 ( 2) 24 8 16 y
When x = 2,
3
12 2 2 24 8 16 y
The gradient is zero at (-2, -16) and (2, 16).

3.

3 2
2
2
d
3 4
d
y x x
y
x x
x

Where gradient is 4,



2
2
2
3
3 4 4
3 4 4 0
(3 2)( 2) 0
or 2
x x
x x
x x
x



4.
4
1 y x x

3
d
4 1
d
y
x
x

AQA C1 Differentiation 1 Exercise solutions

2 of 3 10/01/13 MEI
When x = 1,
3
d
4 1 1 4 1 3
d
y
x

When x = 1,
4
1 1 1 1 y
The tangent is the straight line with gradient 3 passing through (1, 1).
Equation of tangent is


1 3( 1)
1 3 3
3 2
y x
y x
y x



5.
2
y x x

d
2 1
d
y
x
x

When x = 3,
d
2 3 1 5
d
y
x

Gradient of tangent = 5, so gradient of normal
1
5
.
The normal is the straight line with gradient
1
5
passing through (3, 6).
Equation of normal is



1
5
6 ( 3)
5( 6) ( 3)
5 30 3
5 33
y x
y x
y x
y x


Where the normal meets the x-axis, y = 0 so x = 33.
The normal meets the x-axis at (33, 0).


6. (i) When x = 1,
3 3
2 2 1 2 y x
When x = 1,
2 2
3 1 3 1 1 2 y x
so the point (1, 2) lies on both curves.

(ii)
3
2
d
6
d
y x
y
x
x

When x = 1, gradient 6 1 6

2
3 1
d
6
d
y x
y
x
x

When x = 1, gradient 6 1 6
so the curves have the same gradient at this point.
(iii) The two curves touch each other at (1, 2).


AQA C1 Differentiation 1 Exercise solutions

3 of 3 10/01/13 MEI
7.
3
y ax bx
When x = 1, 8 y a b a b
2
d
3
d
y
ax b
x

When x = 1, gradient 3 3 12 a b a b

3 12
8
a b
a b



Subtracting: 2 4
2, 6
a
a b

8.
3
2 y x x

2
d
3 1
d
y
x
x

When x = 1,
2
d
3 1 1 4
d
y
x

When x = 1,
3
1 1 2 4 y
The tangent has gradient 4 and passes through the point (1, 4).
Equation of tangent is

4 4( 1)
4 4 4
4
y x
y x
y x

So the tangent passes through the origin.

Gradient of normal
1
4

Equation of normal is



1
4
4 ( 1)
4( 4) ( 1)
4 16 1
4 17
y x
y x
y x
y x

When y = 0, x = 17, so Q is (17, 0).

Area of triangle
1 1
2 2
base height 17 4 34
P (1, 4)
Q (17, 0)