IGCSE Further Maths/C1

Differentiation
Dr J Frost (jfrost@tiffin.kingston.sch.uk)
www.drfrostmaths.com
Objectives:

Last modified: 3rd January 2016

Gradient of a curve

The gradient of the curve at a given point can be found by:

1. Drawing the tangent at that point.
2. Finding the gradient of that tangent.
How could we find the gradient?
We want to find the gradient at the point A.

We could pick find

a point close to ()
and just use
“change in over
change in ”

δx represents a small change in x and δy

represents a small change in y.
How could we find the gradient?

Suppose we’re finding the gradient of at the point A(3, 9).

Gradient = 6 ?
How could we find the gradient?
For the curve , we find the gradient for these various points.
Can you spot the pattern?

Point (1, 1) (4, 16) (2.5, 6.25) (10, 100)

Gradient 2 8 5 20

For , gradient function ?

Let’s prove it...

Proof that ‘gradient function’ of y = x2 is 2x

Suppose we add some tiny value, h, to x. Then:

The “lim” bit means
(x + h, (x+h)
? 2) “what this expression
approaches as h tends
(x, x?2) δy
towards 0”

δx

The h disappears as h
tends towards 0.

Note: This proof will not be examined.

Terminology
Let’s reflect on what we’ve done.

Give the function , we wanted to find a function () that would give

us the gradient for any point on the line. This is known as the
gradient function.
Gradient function
Original function

𝑑𝑦
𝑦 =𝑥 2 =2 𝑥
𝑑𝑥
The process of finding the gradient function is known as
‘differentiation’. We’d say that “we differentiated to get ”.
Differentiating
Can you spot the pattern?

! If , then ?
If then
?
Quickfire Questions!
𝑦 = 𝑥4

Gradient function

?
Gradient when
?

(Bro Tip: Use for the gradient

function and for specific
gradients)
Quickfire Questions!
𝑦 =5 𝑥3

Gradient function

?
Gradient when
?
Quickfire Questions!
1 5 2
𝑦 = 𝑥 −3 𝑥
2

Gradient function

?
Gradient when

?
Differentiating and
y

Looking at the graph, what is the gradient of the

line ?
3x
How could you show it using differentiation?
y=

?
x

Looking at the graph, what is the gradient of the

y=4 line ?
How could you show it using differentiation?

?
x

𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
𝑦 =5 𝑥 →
𝑑𝑥
=𝟓? 𝑦 =10 →
𝑑𝑥
=𝟎 ?
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
𝑦 =3 → =𝟎? 𝑦 =− 𝑥 → = −?𝟏
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
Exercise 1
Function () Gradient Function () Point of interest Gradient at this
point ()

1 ? ?
2 ? ?
3 ? ?
4 ? ?
5 ? ?
6 ? ?
7 ? ?
8 ? ?
9 A rectangle has length and width . The area of the rectangle is .
(i) Write down in terms of . ?
(ii) Work out (this represents the rate of change of area)
?
Recap
Edexcel C1 May 2012

1
𝑑𝑦
=15 𝑥?2 − 8 𝑥 3 +2
𝑑𝑥
Turning more complex expressions into polynomials
We know how to differentiate things in the form . Where possible, put expressions
in this form.

?
?
?
?

? ?

?
C1 Exercise 7E (Page 115)
1 Use standard results to differentiate.

a) ?
c) ?
e)
f) ?
h) ?
j)
l) ?
?
Find the gradient of the curve with equation
at the point A where: ?
2
c) and A is at
d) and A is at
?
?
Further Practice
1 [Jan 2013 Paper 1] 5 [Set 1 Paper 1]
A right circular cone is being filled
with water. The volume of the
water is cm3 when the depth of
[Jan 2013 Paper 2]
? water is cm and the radius of the
surface is cm.
2 (a) Show that

[June 2012 Paper 1] ?

?
where is a constant. The value of when (b) Work out giving your answer
is twice the value of when . Determine . in terms of
3
(c) Work out the? rate of change of
[June 2013 Paper 2] with respect to when , in
. Determine in the form . terms of .

? ?
[Set 3 Paper 2]
4 6

?
?
Finding equations of tangents

Find the equation of the tangent to the curve

when .

Gradient function: ?
Gradient when :
?
-value when :
?
𝑥=3 So equation of tangent:

?
! To find equation of tangent:
1. Find value using original function.
2. Differentiate to find and use to find gradient at that point.
3. Use for equation.
Finding equations of tangents
Find the equation of the normal to the curve
when .

Equation of tangent (from earlier):

So equation of normal:
?
𝑥=3
Test Your Understanding
June 2012 Paper 1 (Q1 on provided sheet)

𝒅𝒚 𝟐
=𝟑 𝒙 +𝟏𝟎 𝒙
𝒅𝒙 ?

At ,

Therefore: ?
Exercises (questions on
worksheet)

1 [IGCSEFM June 2012 Paper 1 Q8] A curve has 3 [IGCSEFM Set Paper 1 Q11] Show that the
equation tangents to the curve at and are parallel.
(a) When , show that the value of is -7.
At ,
(b) Work out the equation of the tangent to At ,
Same gradient therefore parallel.
?
the curve at the point where .
?
[IGCSEFM Set 1 Paper 2 Q17] Work out the
[IGCSEFM June 2013 Paper Q8] A curve has equation of the normal to the curve at the
equation point (1, 2). Give your answer in the form .
(a) Work out . 4
?
(b) Work out the equation of the tangent to
the curve at the point where
Give your answer in the form
2

?
?

?
Exercises (questions on
worksheet)

[IGCSEFM Set 4 Paper 2 Q20] A sketch of

5 [IGCSEFM Set 2 Paper 1 Q15] The graph shows 6 the curve is shown.
a sketch of . The curve intersects the -axis at
and are points on the curve.
and .

(a) Write down the coordinates of point .

Show that the tangents at and are
(b) Show that the normal to the curve at
perpendicular.
intersects the curve again at .
At ,
(a)
At ,
(b)
therefore the lines are perpendicular.
? At ,

At ?
Thus is on the line
Exercises (questions on
worksheet)

7 [IGCSEFM Specimen Paper 2 Q22] The diagram

shows the graph of
The curve cuts the -axis at the points and .
The tangent to the curve at the point (5,8) cuts
the -axis at the point .
Show that .

At
Equation of tangent:
When :

?
Exercises (questions on
worksheet)

Edexcel C1 Jan 2013

1
𝑑𝑦 −

𝑑𝑥 ?
= 2− 4𝑥 2

𝑦 =−6
? 𝑥 +3

?
(9, -1)

Recap: If a line has gradient m and goes through , then it has equation:
Exercises

Expanding gives
Thus is as given. ?

So ?

We’re interested where the gradient is 20.

?
So (as before) or
Exercises
Edexcel C1 Jan 2012

( 1
2 ?
,0 )

( − 8?,
17
8 )
Exercises
Edexcel C1 Jan 2011

1
𝑑𝑦 3 2 27 2
= 𝑥 −? 𝑥 − 8 𝑥− 2
𝑑𝑥 2 2
3
1 3 8
2 4
?
( 4 ) −9 ( 4 ) 2 + +30=32−72+2+30=−8

Thus

?
Increasing Functions

How could we use

differentiation to tell us if this is
a strictly increasing function?
...if the gradient is always
positive, i.e. f’(x)?> 0 for all x. f(x2)
f(x1)

x1 x2

! A function is increasing if for any

two values of x, x1 and x2 where x2 >
x1, then f(x2) ≥ f(x1)

! A function is strictly increasing if

f(x2) > f(x1)
Increasing/Decreasing in an Interval

This is a decreasing
function in the
interval

i.e. where

𝑎 𝑏

Find the values of x for which the function 3x2 + 6x – 9 < 0

1 is a decreasing function. Thus -3 < x ?
<1
Find the values of x for which the function
2 is a decreasing function. Thus ?
Example Questions
A curve has the equation .
(a) Find
(b) Hence determine the range of values of for which the function is increasing.

a?

b?
A curve has the equation .
(a) Find putting your answer in the form
(b) Hence show that is an increasing function.

for all
for all so function is increasing.
a? ! To show that a function is ALWAYS
increasing, complete the square to
show the minimum value of
expression is positive.
b?
Test Your Understanding

Determine the range of values of for which is a decreasing function.

(Via a suitable sketch) ?

Show that is an increasing function.

?
is always positive for all . Thus
Exercises

1 Work out the values of for which the following 3 Prove that is an increasing function for
functions are increasing. all values of .
(i) ? Since , for all values of .
(ii) for all ?
(iii) ? ?
Prove that is an increasing function for
(iv)
(v) or
? all values of .

(vi) or ? Since , for all values of .

? 4
Prove that is a decreasing function for
Work out the values of for which the following
all values of .
2 functions are decreasing.
(vii)
(viii) ?
(ix) for all ? ?
(x)
(xi)
?
(xii) or
?
?
? 5
Stationary Points
Features you’ve previously
used to sketch graphs?
𝑓 ′ ( 𝑥 )=0 Maximum point

Stationary points are those

Minimum point for which

𝑓 ′ ( 𝑥 )=0

Maximum/minimum points are known as ‘turning points’.

Examples
Find the turning point of the line with equation
Set gradient () to be 0.
Turning point is
? Use we’ve found to find .

Edexcel C2 May 2013 (R)

Stationary point is . But is this a minimum or maximum point?

?
Test Your Understanding
Work out the turning points of the line with equation .

If :
If :
?

Given that , find . Put your answer in the form . Hence or otherwise, determine
the turning points.

?
What type of stationary point?
What are the 4 different things that could happen if the gradient is 0?

−
? +¿ ? ? ?

?
Type: minimum ?
Type: maximum Type: Type:
‘point of inflection’
Gradient just before
?
‘point of inflection’ ?
Gradient just before
turning point: turning point: Gradient just before Gradient just before
Negative Positive ? turning point:
? turning point:
Positive Negative
Gradient just after Gradient just after
? ?
turning point: turning point: Gradient just after Gradient just after
Positive Negative turning point: turning point:
? ? Positive Negative
? ?
Do we have a minimum or maximum point?
Find the coordinates of the turning point on the curve with (2, -48)
equation y = x4 – 32x. Determine whether this is a minimum or 𝑑𝑦 3
maximum point. = 4 𝑥 − 32
𝑑𝑥

x<2 x=2 x>2

Value of x e.g. x = 1.9 e.g. x = 2.1

Gradient ?
e.g. -4.56 ?0 ?
e.g. 5.04

Shape ? ? ?

We can see from this

shape that this is a
minimum point.
Another example
Set 3 Paper 1 Q16

When ? Find at stationary point(s)

When
Both positive, so a point of inflection.

? Hence find stationary point

Grad

? Determine type of point Grad

At
stationary
point
after

before
Test Your Understanding
Q Find the stationary points of and determine which of the points are
maximum/minimum/points of inflection.

(1, 17) is a maximum point.

(4, -10) is a maximum point. ?

N State the range of outputs of

𝑓 ( 𝑥? ) ≤ 9
Exercises
(From textbook Page 197)
1 For each of the curves give below
(a) Find and the value(s) of for which
(b) Classify the point(s) that correspond to these -values.
(c) Find the corresponding value.
(d) Sketch the curve.

(i) Point of inflection.

(ii) Min Point of inflection.
?
(iii) Point of inflection. Max ?
(iv) Max Point of inflec Min ?
(v) Point of inflection. Max ?
(vi) Point of inflection. ?
?
(vii) Find the position and nature of any stationary points of the curve
2
Point of inflection at (1,3)
(viii)Sketch the curve. ?