Cambridge IGCSE®

Differentiation – Past paper questions

The questions in this document have been compiled from a number of past papers, as indicated in the table
below.

Use these questions to formatively assess your learners’ understanding of this topic. Some questions have
additional ‘Challenge questions’ included. These do not form part of the original questions, but have been
added as part of the lesson plans included in Resource Plus.

Question Year Series Paper number

11 2020 Specimen P4

The mark scheme for each question is provided at the end of the document.

You can find the complete question papers and the complete mark schemes (with additional notes where
available) on the School Support Hub www.cambridgeinternational.org/support.

Differentiation – Past paper questions Copyright © UCLES 2018 1

 11 A curve has equation y = x3 – 6x2 + 16.

(a) Find the coordinates of the two turning points.

(............ , ............) and (............ , ............) [6]

(b) Determine whether each of the turning points is a maximum or a minimum.

Give reasons for your answers.

[3]

Differentiation – Past paper questions Copyright © UCLES 2018 2

 Mark schemes

Question Answer Marks Part marks

11(a) (0, 16) (4, −16) 6 M1 for 3𝑥 2 or 12𝑥
A1 correct 3𝑥 2 − 12𝑥
B1 setting their d𝑦/d𝑥 = 0
M1 for factorising their d𝑦/d𝑥
A1 𝑥 = 0 and 𝑥 = 4
A1 (0, 16) and (4, −16)
11(b) (0, 16) maximum with correct reason 3 B2 for both correct with no/one reason
(4, −16) minimum with correct reason or B1 for one correct (with no reasons)
or M1 correct attempt to find e.g. second
derivative or gradients

Differentiation – Past paper questions Copyright © UCLES 2018 3