A2 Level Maths

Assignment 8 – Differentiation I

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Preparatory Work

Do the following questions; follow the links if you need help.

P1 The force of attraction, F N, between 2 spheres is inversely proportional to the square of the distance,
d m, between the centres of the spheres.
When 𝑑 = 2, 𝐹 = 0.006
(a) Express F in terms of d.
(b) Find F when 𝑑 = 2.5.
(c) Find d when 𝐹 = 0.001.

To get help/worked solutions, click here (solution start 13.25 sec in).

Revision Questions

R1 A teacher asks one of her students to solve the equation 2 cos 2𝑥 + √3 = 0 for 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 180. The
attempt is shown right.

a) Identify the mistake made by the student.

b) Write down the correct solutions to the equation.

R2 In ∆𝑂𝐴𝐵, ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ = 𝒃. 𝑃 divides 𝑂𝐴 in the ratio 3: 2 and 𝑄 divides 𝑂𝐵 in the ratio 3: 2.
𝑂𝐴 = 𝒂 and 𝑂𝐵

a) Show that 𝑃𝑄 is parallel to 𝐴𝐵.

b) Given that 𝐴𝐵 is 10 cm in length, find the length of 𝑃𝑄.

R3 A particle of mass 6 kg moves under the action of two force, 𝑭1 and 𝑭2 , where 𝑭1 = (8𝒊 − 10𝒋)N
and 𝑭2 = (𝑝𝒊 + 𝑞𝒋)N, 𝑝 and 𝑞 are constants. The acceleration of 𝑃 is 𝒂 = (3𝒊 − 2𝒋) ms-2.

a) Find, to 1 decimal place, the angle between the acceleration and 𝒊.

b) Find the values of 𝑝 and 𝑞.

c) Find the magnitude of the resultant force 𝑹 of the two forces 𝑭1 and 𝑭2 . Simplify your answer
fully.

R4 A fish tank in the shape of a cuboid is to be made from 1600 cm2 of glass. The fish tank will have a
square base of side length 𝑥 cm, and no lid. No glass is wasted. The glass can be assumed to be very
thin.

𝑥3
a) Show that the volume, 𝑉 cm3, of the fish tank is given by 𝑉 = 400𝑥 − .
4

b) Given that 𝑥 can vary, use differentiation to find the maximum or minimum value of 𝑉.

c) Justify that the value of 𝑉 you found in part (b) is a maximum.

1
R5 a) Sketch, on the same set of axes, the graphs of the curves y 
x 1
and y   2 x  5  x  1 x  3  .

Label the points where the curves cross the axes, where the curves intersect and any asymptotes.

b) Hence state the number of real solutions to the equation

1
  2 x  5  x  1 x  3 
x 1

R6 The function 𝑓 and 𝑔 are defined by

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑒 𝑥 𝑥∈ℝ 𝑔(𝑥) = ln(𝑥 − 𝑘) 𝑥 ∈ ℝ, 𝑥 > 𝑘

where 𝑘 is a positive constant.

a) State the range of 𝑓 and the range of 𝑔.
 b) Calculate 𝑓𝑔(2𝑘) in its simplest form.

c) Given 𝑔𝑓(𝑎) = 0, determine 𝑎 in terms of 𝑘.

R7 What set of single transformations and in what order would transform 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) into

𝑦 = 2f(𝑥 + 3) + 1?

R8 When 𝜃 is small enough for 𝜃 3 to be ignored, find approximate expressions for the following:
1−cos 2𝜃
a) 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝜃 b) tan 2𝜃𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃

R9 Using the formula for 𝑡𝑎𝑛2𝜃 and choosing a suitable value of 𝜃, show that

3𝜋
tan ( ) = √2 + 1
8

Questions on New Material

N1 Differentiate the following with respect to 𝑥:
1
a) ln(2𝑥 + 3) b) 𝑒 3𝑥−1 c) d) 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝑥
𝑒 sin 𝑥

e) sin(𝑥 3 ) f) ln(√𝑥 + 1) g) sec 2𝑥 h) 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑐 (2𝑥 + 1)

𝜋
N2 Find the equation of the normal to the curve 𝑦 = 1 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑥 at the point where 𝑥 = 4 .

𝑑𝑦 1
N3 Show that 𝑑𝑥 for the function 𝑦 = √2𝑥 + 3 + is given by
√2𝑥+3

𝑑𝑦 2(𝑥 + 1)
=
𝑑𝑥 √(2𝑥 + 3)3

𝜋
N4 Find the equation of the tangent to the curve 𝑦 = 𝑙𝑛√1 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝜃 at the point where 𝜃 = 2 .

N5 A heated metal ball is dropped into a liquid. As the ball cools, its temperature, T °C,
t minutes after it enters the liquid, is given by

𝑇 = 400𝑒 −0.05𝑡 + 25, 𝑡≥0

a) Find the temperature of the ball as it enters the liquid.

b) Find the value of t for which T = 300, giving your answer to 3 significant figures.

c) Find the rate at which the temperature of the ball is decreasing at the instant when t = 50.
Give your answer in °C per minute to 3 significant figures.
 d) From the equation for temperature T in terms of t, given above, explain why the
temperature of the ball can never fall to 20 °C.

𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
N6 Find 𝑑𝑦 and then hence find 𝑑𝑥 in terms of 𝑥 for the following:

a) 𝑥 = (𝑦 + 1)2 b) 𝑥 = 𝑦 2 + 3

Helpful Hints

R4 – You will need to introduce a new variable to represent the height of the fish tank
3𝜋
R7 – Let 𝜃 =
8
N3 – When factorising brackets with negative powers, take out a factor of the bracket with the lowest power
N4- use log laws to simplify before differentiating

Answers to Preparatory Questions

0.024
P1. (a) 𝐹= (b) 0.00384 N (c) d=4.90 m
𝑑

Answers to Revision Questions

R1b 𝑥 = 75, 105

R2b 𝑃𝑄 = 6 cm
R3a −33.7 b 𝑝 = 10, 𝑞 = −2 c 6√13
40√3 𝑑2𝑦
R4b 𝑥= , 𝑉 = 6160 c <0
3 𝑑𝑥 2
R5. b) 2 solutions

R6a 𝑓(𝑥) > 0, 𝑔(𝑥) ∈ ℝ b 𝑘 c 𝑎 = ln(1 + 𝑘)

R7 e.g. Translation 3 units in negative 𝑥 direction, stretch by s.f. 2 parallel to 𝑦 axis*, translation 1 unit in positive 𝑦 direction**
* must be before **
5
R8 a) 1 − 𝜃2 b) 1
2

Answers to New Material Questions

2 − cos 𝑥
N1a b 3𝑒 3𝑥−1 c d −2 sin 𝑥 cos 𝑥
2𝑥+3 𝑒 sin 𝑥
1
e 3𝑥 2 cos(𝑥 3 ) f 1 g 2 sec 2𝑥 tan 2𝑥 h −2 cot(2𝑥 + 1) 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑐 (2𝑥 + 1)
2(𝑥+𝑥 2 )
6+𝜋
N2 𝑦+𝑥 =
4
𝜋
N4 𝑦 = −𝜃 +
2
𝑑𝑇
N5a 425 ℃ b t = 7.49 c = −20𝑒 −0.05𝑡 = 1.64 ℃ / min d T > 25
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑦 1 𝑑𝑦 1
N6a = b =
𝑑𝑥 2√𝑥 𝑑𝑥 2√𝑥−3