Differentiation

Tangent Normal
Prelim 2021 ZhengHuaSS P1 Q3
3
d2y −
3 A curve is such that = 12 x 2
− 12 x − 2 x 2
. At the point (1, 14), the gradient of the tangent is 9.
dx 2
Hence, find the equation of the curve. [6]

[ans: y = x 4 − 2 x 3 + 8 x + 7 ]

M1 – Attempt to integrate

B1 – Correct expression (Award even if no

+ c)

A1 – Value of c
M1 – Attempt to integrate

B1 – Correct expression (Award even if no

+ d)

A1
Prelim 2021 ZhengHuaSS P2 Q4
4 The diagram shows part of the curve y = x3 − 6 x 2 + 8x + 5 . The tangent to the curve at the point P(1,
8) cuts the curve at the point Q.

(i) Show that the x-coordinate of Q is 4. [5]

(ii) Find the area of the shaded region. [5]

[ans: 6.75 sq units]

Rates of Change
Prelim 2021 ZhongHuaSS P1 Q3
3 Baking powder is poured onto a flat surface at a constant rate of 2 cm3s −1 and formed a right
1
circular cone. The radius of the cone is always of its height. Find the rate of change of the radius
18
of the cone after 3 seconds of pouring. [5]
1
[ans: cm/s ]
9
Prelim 2021 TKGS P2 Q3
3 A piece of wire of length 34 cm is bent to form the perimeter of a sector of a circle.
(i) Given that the radius of the circle is r cm, and the angle of the sector is  radians,
express  in terms of r and show that the area of the sector, A cm2, is given by

A = 17r − r 2 . [2]

 Arc length = r , where  is in radians 

 
Sector area = 1 r 2 , where  is in radians 
 2 

(ii) Given that the area of the sector is increasing at the rate of 0.14 cm2/s, find the
rate of increase of r when r = 5. [4]
[ans: 0.02 cm/s]
Increasing Decreasing functions
Prelim 2021 ZhengHuaSS P2 Q5
5 ln x dy 1 − 2 ln x [3]
(i) Given that y = 2 . Show that = 3
.
x dx x

(ii) Find the values of x for which y is decreasing. [4]

1
[ans: x  e ] 2

 ln x  [4]
(iii) 
Using the result from part (i), find 
x3 
 dx .
ln x ln x 1
[ans:  x 3
dx = 2 + 2 + C ]
2x 4x
Prelim 2022 YTSS P2 Q5
5 The curve y = (x3 – 8)2 has two stationary points.

(a) Find the range of values of x for which y is an increasing function. [3]
[ans: x > 2]

(b) Find the coordinates of the stationary points and determine which is a point of
inflexion. [4]

[ans: Stationary points are (0, 64) and (2, 0) with (0, 64) as a point of inflexion]
Stationary Points
Prelim 2021 TKSS P2 Q6

6 (i) Show that

d
d
( cos 4  + sin 4  ) = p sin q , where p and q are integers. [4]

[ans: p = -1, q = 4]

(ii) Hence find the exact value of  , for which the graph y = cos 4  + sin 4  has a

horizontal tangent for 0    . [2]
2

[ans:  = ]
4
Prelim 2021 ZhongHuaSS P2 Q13
13 The gradient function of a curve y is given by 2𝑥 2 + 𝑥 – 6. [6]
3
Given that y has a minimum value of 1 , find the equation of the
8
curve.
2 x3 x 2
[ans: y = + − 6x + 7 ]
3 2
 Maxima Minima
Prelim 2021 ZhengHuaSS P1 Q7
7 An engineer has to design an open cylindrical oil tank with a capacity of
343π m3 .
The oil tank’s structure, as shown in the diagram below consists of a cylindrical
body of height h m and base radius r m.
It is given that this cylindrical structure has an external surface area of S m2. h

(i) 686
Express h in terms of r and show that the external surface area, S m2 =  r 2 + . [2]
r

(ii) If the aim is to minimize the cost of producing the oil tank, find the value of r such that S is a
minimum. [5]
[ans: r = 7]
Prelim 2022 YTSS P2 Q8
8

D
w
A

2h
E
F

B 5h C
The diagram shows a wooden block in the shape of a right prism ABCFDE.
The cross section of the prism is a triangle ABC in which AB = 2h cm and BC = 5h cm.
The length of each of the parallel edges AD, BE and CF is w cm.

(a) The volume of the wooden block is 40 cm3.

Express w in terms of h. [2]
8
[ans: w = ]
h2

(b) Show that the total surface area, A cm2, of the wooden block is given by

A = 10h2 +
8
h
( )
7 + 29 . [3]
(c) Given that h can vary, verify that the height at which the block has the smallest total
surface area is approximately 1.70 cm. [5]
 Integration
Reverse Integration
Prelim 2021 TKGS P2 Q11
d  3

11(a) (i) Find ( 2 x − 1)( 3 − 2 x ) 2  . [5]
dx  
1
(ii) Hence find  x ( 3 − 2 x ) dx .
2
[4]
b
(b) It is given that  x dx = k where b and k are positive numbers. Determine the value
7
0
b
of 
−b
x 7 dx . Explain clearly how you arrive at your answer. [3]

1
[ans: 11(ai) ( 3 − 2 x ) 2  −10 x + 9 ,
1 3 3

11(aii) −  ( 2 x − 1)( 3 − 2 x ) 2 + 3 (3 − 2 x ) 2 + c

10  
11(b) 0
Prelim 2021 TKSS P2 Q1
1 (i) Differentiate 2 xe1− 2 x with respect to x. [2]
[ans: 2e 1− 2 x
(1 − 2 x ) ]

1
 2 xe
1− 2 x
(ii) Hence find the exact value of dx . [4]
0

e2 − 3
[ans: ]
2e

(iii) By making use of your answer in (ii), determine which one of the two graphs below is
that of y = 2 xe1−2 x . Explain your answer. [2]

Graph 1

x
O

Graph 2

[ans: Graph 1 is y = 2 xe1−2 x ]

Partial fractions type
Prelim 2021 ZhongHuaSS P2 Q2
4 x3 + 5 x 2 + x − 1
2 (i) Express in partial fractions. [5]
x 2 ( x + 1)
2 1 1
[ans: 4 + − 2 − ]
x x x +1

4 x3 + 5 x 2 + x − 1 [3]
(ii) Hence, find  x 2 ( x + 1) dx .
1
[ans: 4 x + 2 ln x + − ln( x + 1) + c ]
x
YTSS Prelim 23 P1 q6
x 2 + 19 x + 46 [5]
6 (i) Express in partial fractions.
2
(2 x + 1)( x + 4)
3 1 2
[ans: − + ]
(2 x + 1) ( x + 4) ( x + 4) 2

x 2 + 19 x + 46
(ii) Find  (2 x + 1)( x + 4)2 dx . [3]

3 2
[ans: ln( 2 x + 1) − ln( x + 4) − +c]
2 ( x + 4)
 Interesting kinematics questions
Prelim 2021 ZhengHuaSS P1 Q11
11 An object moves in a straight line so that t seconds after passing through a fixed point O, its velocity, v ms–1,
is given by 𝑣 = 𝑒 2𝑡 − 4𝑒 𝑡 − 5.

(i) Calculate the acceleration of the object when it comes to instantaneous rest. [4]
[ans: a = 30m/s2]

(ii) Find the minimum velocity of the object. [5]

[ans: -9 m/s2]
TKGS Prelim 23 P2 q8
8 A motorist, travelling at a constant velocity of V m/s, passed a fixed point X and saw

few vehicles ahead. He stepped on the accelerator and his subsequent velocity, v m/s,
t
is given by v = 60e 6 , where t is the time in seconds after passing X. As he passed a

point Y, his velocity has increased to twice his velocity at X.

(a) Find the time taken to travel from X to Y. [3]

[ans: t = 4.16s]

(b) Find the acceleration of the motorist as he passes Y. [2]

2
[ans: 20 m/s ]

(c) Find the distance XY. [3]

[ans: 360m]
TKSS Prelim 23 P2 q8
8 A particle travels along a straight line such that, t seconds after passing through a fixed
3 1
point O, its velocity, v m/s is given by v = − .
e 2 t et

(a) Find the value of t at which the particle is at instantaneous rest, giving your answer
in the form ln a, where a is a constant to be found. [2]
[ans: t = ln 3]

(b) Find the distance travelled by the particle in the first 3 seconds. [5]
[ans: 0.787m]

(c) Explain why the particle approaches to a constant displacement in the long run and
state the displacement it approaches. [2]
Interesting area under graph question
Prelim 2021 TKSS P2 Q1
1
9 The diagram shows part of the curve y = .
x2
y

1
y=
x2

x
O 1 6

1
(i) Find the area bounded by the curve y = , the lines x = 1 , x = 6 and the x-axis. [3]
x2
5
[ans: unit2]
6

1 1 1 1 1 5
(ii) Hence show that + + + +  . [2]
22 32 42 52 62 6
TKGS Prelim 23 P1 q14
14

The diagram shows part of the curve y = x3 + 3x 2 − 2 . The straight line L cuts the curve at
A ( −3, − 2 ) , the x-axis at B, and intersects the curve again at C .

(a) The gradient of the tangent to the curve at B = −3 , use it to find the coordinates of B. [3]
[ans: (-1,0)]

(b) Hence find the area of the shaded region. [6]

21
[ans: units 2 ]
4