Worked Solutions to Pre-Assessment

1.

(a)

x-intercepts at 3, 0, 2

(b)

3 < x < 0, 2 < x < 3

(c)

correct reasoning
e.g. the graph of f is concave-down (accept convex), the first
derivative is decreasing
therefore the second derivative is negative

A2

N2

A1A1

N2

R2
AG
[6]

2.

(a)

METHOD 1
f(x) = 3(x 3)

A2

N2

METHOD 2
3

attempt to expand (x 3)
3
2
e.g. f(x) = x 9x + 27x 27
2
f(x) = 3x 18x + 27
(b)

f(3) = 0, f(3) = 0

(c)

METHOD 1

(M1)

f does not change sign at P

evidence for this

A1

N2

A1

N1

R1
R1

N0

R1
R1

N0

METHOD 2
f changes sign at P so P is a maximum/minimum (i.e. not inflexion)
evidence for this
METHOD 3

1
4
(x 3) + c and sketching this function
4
indicating minimum at x = 3
finding f(x) =

R1
R1

N0
[5

3.

(a)

f(x) = 2x

Note: Award A1 for 2x, A1 for

(b)

A1A1

x2
p
x2

evidence of equating derivative to 0 (seen anywhere)

evidence of finding f(2) (seen anywhere)
correct equation
e.g. 4
p = 16

N2

(M1)
(M1)
A1

p
= 0, 16 p = 0
4
A1

N3
[6]
1

4.

(a)

(b)

Attempt to differentiate
2
g(x) = 3x 6x 9

(M1)
A1A1A1

for setting derivative equal to zero

2
3x 6x 9 = 0

M1

Solving
e.g. 3(x 3)(x + 1) = 0
x = 3 x = 1

A1
A1A1

METHOD 1
g(x < 1) is positive, g(x > 1) is negative
g(x < 3) is negative, g(x > 3) is positive

A1A1
A1A1

min when x = 3, max when x = 1

A1A1

METHOD 2
Evidence of using second derivative
g(x) = 6x 6
g(3) = 12 (or positive), g(1) = 12 (or negative)

(M1)
A1
A1A1

min when x = 3, max when x = 1

A1A1

N3

N2

N2
[14]

5.

(a)

f (x) = x + 4x 5

(b)

evidence of attempting to solve f (x) = 0

evidence of correct working
e.g. (x + 5) (x 1),

A1A1A1

4 16 20
2

(M1)
A1

, sketch

x = 5, x = 1
so x = 5
(c)

N3

(A1)
A1

N2

METHOD 1
f (x) = 2x + 4 (may be seen later)
evidence of setting second derivative = 0
e.g. 2x + 4 = 0
x=2

A1
(M1)
A1

N2

METHOD 2
evidence of use of symmetry
e.g. midpoint of max/min, reference to shape of cubic
correct calculation
5 1
,
e.g.
2
x=2

(M1)
A1

A1

N2

(d)

attempting to find the value of the derivative when x = 3

f (3) = 16
valid approach to finding the equation of a line
e.g. y 12 = 16(x 3), 12 = 16 3 + b
y = 16x 36

(M1)
A1
M1
A1

N2
[14]