Properties of Curves Worksheet

EASY PROBLEMS

1. Let f′(x) = –24x3 + 9x2 + 3x + 1.

(a) There are two points of inflexion on the graph of f. Write down the x-coordinates of these
points.
(3)

(b) Let g(x) = f″(x). Explain why the graph of g has no points of inflexion.
(2)
(Total 5 marks)

2. Let f(x) = x ln(4 – x2), for –2 < x < 2. The graph of f is shown below.

The graph of f crosses the x-axis at x = a, x = 0 and x = b.

(a) Find the value of a and of b.

(3)

The graph of f has a maximum value when x = c.

(b) Find the value of c.

(2)
3. Let f(x) = x3 – 4x + 1.

(a) Expand (x + h)3.

(2)

f ( x + h) − f ( x )
(b) Use the formula f′(x) = lim to show that the derivative of f(x) is 3x2 – 4.
h→0 h
(4)

(c) The tangent to the curve of f at the point P(1, –2) is parallel to the tangent at a point Q.
Find the coordinates of Q.
(4)

(d) The graph of f is decreasing for p < x < q. Find the value of p and of q.
(3)

(e) Write down the range of values for the gradient of f.

(2)
(Total 15 marks)

4. A curve has equation y = x(x – 4)2.

(a) For this curve find

(i) the x-intercepts;

(ii) the coordinates of the maximum point;

(iii) the coordinates of the point of inflexion.

(9)

(b) Use your answers to part (a) to sketch a graph of the curve for 0  x  4, clearly indicating
the features you have found in part (a).
(3)
 5. The graph of a function g is given in the diagram below.

The gradient of the curve has its maximum value at point B and its minimum value at point D.
The tangent is horizontal at points C and E.

(a) Complete the table below, by stating whether the first derivative g′ is positive or negative,
and whether the second derivative g′′ is positive or negative.

Interval g′ g′′

axb

exƒ

(b) Complete the table below by noting the points on the graph described by the following
conditions.

Conditions Point

g′ (x) = 0, g′′ (x)  0

g′ (x)  0, g′′ (x) = 0

(Total 6 marks)

6. The point P ( 1 , 0 ) lies on the graph of the curve of y = sin (2x –1).
2

Find the gradient of the tangent to the curve at P.

(Total 4 marks)

7. The function f is such that f  (x) = 2x – 2.

When the graph of f is drawn, it has a minimum point at (3, –7).

(a) Show that f (x) = x2 – 2x – 3 and hence find f (x).

(6)
 (b) Find f (0), f (–1) and f (–1).
(3)

(c) Hence sketch the graph of f, labelling it with the information obtained in part (b).
(4)

(Note: It is not necessary to find the coordinates of the points where the graph
cuts the x-axis.)
(Total 13 marks)

CHALLENGIG PROBLEMS

1. Consider the function f(x) = x3 – 3x2 – 9x + 10, x  .

(a) Find the equation of the straight line passing through the maximum and minimum points
of the graph y = f(x).
(4)

(b) Show that the point of inflexion of the graph y = f(x) lies on this straight line.
(2)
(Total 6 marks)

2
− 2 x −1.5
2. The function f is defined by f(x) = e x .

(a) Find f′(x).

(2)

f ( x)
(b) You are given that y = has a local minimum at x = a, a > 1. Find the value of a.
x −1
(6)
(Total 8 marks)

a + be x
3. Let f(x) = , where 0 < b < a.
ae x + b

(b 2 − a 2 )e x
(a) Show that f′(x) = .
(ae x + b) 2
(3)

(b) Hence justify that the graph of f has no local maxima or minima.
(2)
 (c) Given that the graph of f has a point of inflexion, find its coordinates.
(6)

(d) Show that the graph of f has exactly two asymptotes.

(3)

2
4. If f (x) = x – 3x 3 , x  0,

(a) find the x-coordinate of the point P where f ′ (x) = 0;

(2)

(b) determine whether P is a maximum or minimum point.

(3)
(Total 5 marks)

5. It is given that

18( x − 1) 18(2 − x) 36 ( x − 3)
f(x) = 2
, f ( x) = 3
, and f ( x) = , x , x ≠ 0.
x x x4

(a) Find

(i) the zero(s) of f(x);

(ii) the equations of the asymptotes;

(iii) the coordinates of the local maximum and justify it is a maximum;

(iv) the interval(s) where f(x) is concave up.

(9)

(b) Hence sketch the graph of y = f(x).

(5)
(Total 14 marks)

x2
6. The function f is defined on the domain x ≥ 0 by f(x) = .
ex
 (a) Find the maximum value of f (x), and justify that it is a maximum.
(10)

(b) Find the x coordinates of the points of inflexion on the graph of f.

(3)

7. (a) Find the root of the equation e2–2x = 2e–x giving the answer as a logarithm.
(4)

(b) The curve y = e2–2x – 2e–x has a minimum point. Find the coordinates of this minimum.
(7)

(c) The curve y = e2–2x – 2e–x is shown below.

Write down the coordinates of the points A, B and C.

(3)

(d) Hence state the set of values of k for which the equation e2–2x – 2e–x = k
has two distinct positive roots.
(2)
(Total 16 marks)

ln x
8. The function f is defined on the domain x ≥ 1 by f(x) = .
x

(a) (i) Show, by considering the first and second derivatives of f, that there is one
maximum point on the graph of f.

(ii) State the exact coordinates of this point.

 (iii) The graph of f has a point of inflexion at P. Find the x-coordinate of P.
(12)

x 2 − 5x + 4
9. Consider f(x) = .
x 2 + 5x + 4

(a) Find the equations of all asymptotes of the graph of f.

(4)

(b) Find the coordinates of the points where the graph of f meets the x and y axes.
(2)

(c) Find the coordinates of

(i) the maximum point and justify your answer;

(ii) the minimum point and justify your answer.

(10)

(d) Sketch the graph of f, clearly showing all the features found above.
(3)

(e) Hence, write down the number of points of inflexion of the graph of f.
(1)
(Total 20 marks)

10. The function f is defined by f (x) = (ln (x – 2))2. Find the coordinates of the point
of inflexion of f.
(Total 9 marks)

11. A family of cubic functions is defined as fk (x) = k2x3 − kx2 + x, k +

.

(a) Express in terms of k

(i) f ′k (x) and f ′′k (x);

(ii) the coordinates of the points of inflexion Pk on the graphs of fk.

(6)

(b) Show that all Pk lie on a straight line and state its equation.
(2)
 (c) Show that for all values of k, the tangents to the graphs of fk at Pk are parallel, and find
the equation of the tangent lines.
(5)
(Total 13 marks)

2
12. Consider the curve with equation f (x) = e −2 x for x  0.

Find the coordinates of the point of inflexion and justify that it is a point of inflexion.
(Total 7 marks)

13. The function f is defined by f (x) = x e2x.

It can be shown that f (n) (x) = (2n x + n 2n−1) e2x for all n +
, where f (n) (x) represents the nth
derivative of f (x).

(a) By considering f (n) (x) for n =1 and n = 2, show that there is one minimum point P on the
graph of f, and find the coordinates of P.
(7)

(b) Show that f has a point of inflexion Q at x = −1.

(5)

(c) Determine the intervals on the domain of f where f is

(i) concave up;

(ii) concave down.

(2)

(d) Sketch f, clearly showing any intercepts, asymptotes and the points P and Q.
(4)

(e) Use mathematical induction to prove that f (n) (x) = (2nx + n2n−1) e2x for all n +
, where
f (n) (x) represents the nth derivative of f (x).
(9)
(Total 27 marks)
14. Consider the function f, defined by f(x) = x – a x , where x ≥ 0, a  +
.

(a) Find in terms of a

(i) the zeros of f;

(ii) the values of x for which f is decreasing;

(iii) the values of x for which f is increasing;

(iv) the range of f.

(10)

(b) State the concavity of the graph of f.

(1)
(Total 11 marks)