ASSIGNMENT 1

Q.1 Show that f(x) = x3 + x 1 is always increasing. {Hint : For increasing functions f(a) >
0 always }
Q.2 Find the derivative f(x) of f(x) = x2 6x + 11.
Hence find whether the curve y = f(x) is increasing, decreasing or stationary at:
(i) x = 0 (ii) x = 1 (iii) x = 3 (iv) x = 4 (v) x = 1
Q.3 Evaluate f(1) in question subparts a , b and c to establish whether the curve
is increasing, decreasing or stationary at x = 1.
(a) f(x) = x

b) f(x) =

c) f(x) =

Q.4 The graphs of four functions (a), (b), (c) and (d) are shown below. The
graphs of the derivatives of these functions, in scrambled order, are shown in I,
II, III and IV. Match the graph of each function with the graph of its derivative

Explain how you got your answer

Q.5 (a) If f(x) = x3 + 2x2 5x + 3, find f(x).

(b) Show that f(x) < 0 for all values of x
(c) Hence deduce the number of solutions [roots] of the derivative function
Q.6 By finding where the derivative equals zero, determine the coordinates of
any stationary points of each function. [Hint: Remember that you find the y-coordinate

by substituting the x-coordinate into the original function.]

Q.7 Find the derivative of each function and complete the given table to
determine the nature of the stationary point. Sketch each graph, indicating all
important features

Remember, you need to

find f(x) and then fill in the
table by substituting the
given values of x in the
derivative function which
you have got

Q. 9. (a) Use product rule to show that if y = x(x 2)3, then y = 2(2x 1)(x 2)2 .
How many times you can take the derivative of the given function ?
(b) Find any stationary points and use a table of slopes to analyse them.
(c) Sketch a graph of the function f(x) and the derivative function f(x),
indicating all important features.
Q.10. (a) The tangent to the curve y = x2 + ax 15 is horizontal at the point
where x = 4. Find the value of a. { Hint: Tangent is Horizontal = f(x) =0 )
(b) The curve y = x2 + ax + 7 has a turning point at x = 1. Find the value of a.
{ Hint: Turning point = f(x) =0 )
(c) The curve f(x) = ax2 + 4x + c has a turning point at (1, 1). Find a and c.
(d) Find b and c if y = x3 + bx2 + cx + 5 has stationary points at x = 2 and x = 4.

Q.11 The curve f(x) = y = ax2 + bx + c passes through the points (1, 4) and (1, 6),
and reaches its maximum value when x = 12 [Hint: A point on a curve is P(x ,
f(x) ) which means f(1) =4 and f(-1) =6 ]
[If a curve reaches maximum value, then the tangent is horizontal at that point
and f(x) =0 at that point , so f(-12) = 0 )
(a) Show that a + b + c = 4, a b + c = 6 and a + b = 0.
(b) Hence find the values of a, b and c.

Q.12 The function y = ax3 + bx2 + cx + d has a maximum at (2, 27) and a
minimum value at (1, 0). Find the values of a, b, c and d using the following
steps. [Hint : The derivative is 0 at relative maximum and minimum points which
means f(-2) = 0 and f(1) = 0 ]
(a) Find y and show that 3a + 2b + c = 0 and 12a 4b + c = 0.
(b) Using the fact that (1, 0) and (2, 27) lie on the curve, show that a + b + c + d
= 0 and 8a + 4b 2c + d = 27. By subtracting, eliminate d from these two
equations.
(c) Solve simultaneous equations 3a+2b+c = 0, 12a4b+c = 0 & 9a3b+3c = 27.
(d) Find the value of d.

Q.13 In each diagram below, name the points that are:

(i) absolute maxima, (ii) absolute minima, (iii) relative maxima, (iv) relative
minima, (v) stationary points of inflexion

Q.14 Show that the derivative of f(x) = x/(x2 4) is f(x) =

2 +

( 2 )2

(b) Explain why the curve y = f(x) has no stationary points, and why the curve is
always decreasing. [Hint : for stationary points , f(x) should have real roots ]

Q.15 The graph of y = x3 + x2 x + 2 is sketched to the right.

The points P and Q are the turning points.
(a) Find the coordinates of P and Q.

[Hint :- At turning points , f(x) = 0 and so what you need to find is roots of
the derivative equation f(x)=0 to get the x values . Substitute the
corresponding roots in the original function f(x) to get the y coordinates so
you get point P(x,y) and Q]

Q.16 (a) The tangent to y = x2 ax + 9 is horizontal at x = 1. Find the value of a.

(b) The curve y = ax2 +bx+3 has a turning point at (1, 0). Find the values of a and
b.
Q.17 (a) Sketch a graph of the function y = x3 3x2 9x+11, indicating all
stationary points.
(b) Hence determine the absolute maximum and absolute minimum values of
the function on the domain 2 x 6.
Q.18 Sketch each function and state its global minimum and maximum in the
specified domain:
y = x2 , 2 x 2
y = x, 0 x 8
y = 1/x, 4 x 1
y = 2

4 x 4