A LevelMathsEdexcelPureExam QuestionsDifferentiationFurther Applications of Differentiation

Further Applications of Differentiation (Edexcel A Level Maths: Pure): Exam Questions

Exam code: 9MA0

4 hours40 questions
Easy
Medium
Hard
Very Hard
1a
2 marks

straight f open parentheses x close parentheses equals x cubed plus 2 x squared minus 8 x plus 5

Find straight f apostrophe apostrophe open parentheses x close parentheses

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1b
2 marks

(i) Solve straight f apostrophe apostrophe open parentheses x close parentheses equals 0

(ii) Hence find the range of values of x for which straight f open parentheses x close parentheses is concave.

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2a
3 marks

The curve C has equation

table row cell y equals 5 x to the power of 4 minus 24 x cubed plus 42 x squared minus 32 x plus 11 end cell blank cell x element of straight real numbers end cell end table

Find

(i) fraction numerator straight d y over denominator straight d x end fraction

(ii) fraction numerator straight d squared y over denominator straight d x squared end fraction

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2b
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4 marks

(i) Verify that C has a stationary point at x equals 1

(ii) Show that this stationary point is a point of inflection, giving reasons for your answer.

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3a
3 marks

The curve C has equation

y = x^3 + 2x + 1 \qquad x \in \mathbb{R}

Find expressions for \dfrac{\text{d}y}{\text{d}x} and \dfrac{\text{d}^2y}{\text{d}x^2}.

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3b
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3 marks

(i) Write down the value of x for which \dfrac{\text{d}^2y}{\text{d}x^2} = 0.

(ii) By considering the sign of \dfrac{\text{d}^2y}{\text{d}x^2} either side of this value of x, prove that C has a point of inflection.

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3c
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1 mark

Hence find the coordinates of the point of inflection on C.

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4a
2 marks

The curve C has equation

y = x^3 - 6x^2 \qquad x \in \mathbb{R}

Show that

\frac{\text{d}^2y}{\text{d}x^2} = 6x - 12

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4b
2 marks

Hence find the set of values of x for which C is concave.

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5a
2 marks

In a computer animation, the side length, s mm, of a square is increasing at a constant rate of 2\text{ mm s}^{-1}.

Let A\text{ mm}^2 be the area of the square.

Find \dfrac{\text{d}A}{\text{d}s} in terms of s.

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5b
3 marks

Find the rate at which the area of the square is increasing when s = 10.

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6a
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4 marks

The curve C has equation

y = x^3 - 6x^2 + 9x + 4 \qquad x \in \mathbb{R}

Find the value of \dfrac{\text{d}y}{\text{d}x} and the value of \dfrac{\text{d}^2y}{\text{d}x^2} at the point on C where x = 2.

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6b
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2 marks

Show that C has a point of inflection at x = 2.

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6c
1 mark

Explain why this point of inflection is not a stationary point.

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7
3 marks

The continuous curve C has equation y = \text{f}(x), where x \in \mathbb{R}.

Given that

  • C crosses the x-axis at (-a,\, 0) and the y-axis at (0,\, b)

  • C is concave for x < c

  • C is convex for x > c

  • a, b and c are constants such that 0 < a < b < c

sketch the curve C.

On your sketch, label the coordinates of the points where C crosses the coordinate axes and the coordinates of the point of inflection.

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8a
2 marks

The side length, x\text{ cm}, of a cube is increasing at a constant rate of 0.1\text{ cm s}^{-1}.

Let V\text{ cm}^3 be the volume of the cube.

Find \dfrac{\text{d}V}{\text{d}x} in terms of x.

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8b
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3 marks

Find the rate at which the volume of the cube is increasing when x = 4.

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9a
1 mark

In a simple model, the rate of increase of the radius, r\text{ cm}, of a sphere with respect to time, t seconds, is directly proportional to the temperature, T\,^\circ\text{C}, of its immediate surroundings.

Write down a differential equation for this model, using k as the constant of proportionality.

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9b
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2 marks

Given that when the surrounding temperature is 20\,^\circ\text{C}, the radius of the sphere is increasing at a rate of 0.4\text{ cm s}^{-1}, find the value of k.

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10a
4 marks

A cube has side length x\text{ cm}, surface area S\text{ cm}^2 and volume V\text{ cm}^3.

Show that

\frac{\text{d}S}{\text{d}V} = \frac{4}{x}

How did you do?

10b
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3 marks

The volume of the cube is decreasing at a constant rate of 0.6\text{ cm}^3\text{ s}^{-1}.

Find the rate at which the surface area of the cube is decreasing when x = 5.

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1
3 marks
Diagram of a rectangular prism with dimensions labelled: length 20 m, width 10 m, height 5 m. The depth of water is labelled as h m.
Figure 1

A tank in the shape of a cuboid is being filled with water.

The base of the tank measures 20 m by 10 m and the height of the tank is 5 m, as shown in Figure 1.

At time t minutes after water started flowing into the tank the height of the water was h m and the volume of the water in the tank was V m3.

In a model of this situation

  • the sides of the tank have negligible thickness

  • the rate of change of V is inversely proportional to the square root of h

Show that

fraction numerator d h over denominator d t end fraction equals fraction numerator lambda over denominator square root of h end fraction

where lambda is a constant.

How did you do?

2
3 marks

A large spherical balloon is deflating.

At time t seconds the balloon has radius r cm and volume V cm3.

The volume of the balloon is modelled as decreasing at a constant rate.

Using this model, show that

fraction numerator straight d r over denominator straight d t end fraction equals negative k over r squared

where k is a positive constant.

How did you do?

3
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5 marks

The curve C has equation

y = x^3 + 3x^2 - 2 \qquad x \in \mathbb{R}

Find the coordinates of the point of inflection on C.

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4a
3 marks

The curve C has equation

y = x^2 + \ln x - 2x \qquad x > 0

Show that

\frac{\text{d}^2y}{\text{d}x^2} = 2 - \frac{1}{x^2}

How did you do?

4b
3 marks

Solve the inequality

\frac{\text{d}^2y}{\text{d}x^2} > 0

and hence determine the set of values of x for which C is convex.

How did you do?

5
4 marks

In a computer animation, the radius, r\text{ mm}, of a circle is increasing at a constant rate of 1\text{ mm s}^{-1}.

Find the rate at which the area of the circle is increasing at the instant when the radius is 8\text{ mm}.

Give your answer as a multiple of \pi.

How did you do?

6a
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4 marks

The curve C has equation

y = x^3 - 6x^2 + 9x - 1 \qquad x \in \mathbb{R}

Find the x coordinates of the stationary points on C.

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6b
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3 marks

Determine the nature of the stationary points found in part (a).

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6c
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3 marks

Determine the x coordinate of the point of inflection on C.

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6d
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1 mark

Explain why, in this case, the point of inflection is not a stationary point.

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7
4 marks

The continuous curve C has equation y = \text{f}(x), where x \in \mathbb{R}.

The graph of C has the following properties:

  • C crosses the x-axis at the points (b,\, 0), (c,\, 0) and (d,\, 0), where 0 < b < c < d

  • C crosses the y-axis at (0,\, g)

  • The turning points of C have x coordinates e and f, where e < f

  • C is concave for x < a

  • C is convex for x > a

Given also that \text{f}(a) > 0, sketch the curve C.

On your sketch, label the coordinates of the points where C crosses the coordinate axes, and mark the x coordinates of the turning points and the point of inflection.

How did you do?

8
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5 marks

The side length, x\text{ cm}, of a cube is increasing at a constant rate of 0.1\text{ cm s}^{-1}.

Assuming that the cube remains cubical at all times, find the rate of change of the volume of the cube at the instant when x = 5.

How did you do?

9a
5 marks

In the production process of a glass sphere, hot glass is blown such that the radius, r\text{ cm}, increases over time, t seconds.

The rate of increase of the radius is directly proportional to the temperature, T\,^\circ\text{C}, of the glass.

Let V\text{ cm}^3 be the volume of the glass sphere.

Find an expression, in terms of r, T and a constant of proportionality k, for the rate of change of the volume of the sphere.

How did you do?

9b
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3 marks

When the temperature of the glass is 1200\,^\circ\text{C}, the sphere has a radius of 2\text{ cm} and its volume is increasing at a rate of 5\text{ cm}^3\text{ s}^{-1}.

Find the rate of increase of the radius at this instant.

How did you do?

10
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6 marks

An ice cube, of side length x\text{ cm}, is melting such that its volume is decreasing at a constant rate of 0.8\text{ cm}^3\text{ s}^{-1}.

Assuming that the ice cube remains in the shape of a cube whilst it melts, find the rate at which its surface area is decreasing at the instant when x = 2.

How did you do?

11
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5 marks

A bowl is in the shape of a hemisphere of radius 8\text{ cm}.

The volume of liquid in the bowl, V\text{ cm}^3, is given by the formula

V = 8\pi h^2 - \frac{1}{3}\pi h^3 \qquad 0 \leqslant h \leqslant 8

where h\text{ cm} is the depth of the liquid.

Liquid is leaking through a small hole in the bottom of the bowl at a constant rate of 5\text{ cm}^3\text{ s}^{-1}.

Find the rate of change of the depth of the liquid in the bowl at the instant when h = 3.

How did you do?

1
4 marks
Diagram of a rectangular tank with dimensions labelled: height 5m, length 8m, width 3m. The water level is at height h. Point T is marked at the bottom left front corner.
Figure 5

Water flows at a constant rate into a large tank.

The tank is a cuboid, with all sides of negligible thickness.

The base of the tank measures 8 m by 3 m and the height of the tank is 5 m.

There is a tap at a point T at the bottom of the tank, as shown in Figure 5.

At time t minutes after the tap has been opened

  • the depth of the water in the tank is h metres

  • water is flowing into the tank at a constant rate of 0.48 m3 per minute

  • water is modelled as leaving the tank through the tap at a rate of 0.1 h m3 per minute

Show that, according to the model,

1200 space fraction numerator straight d h over denominator straight d t end fraction equals 24 minus 5 h

How did you do?

2
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5 marks

The curve C has equation

y = x^4 + 3x^3 + 2 \qquad x \in \mathbb{R}

Determine the number of points of inflection on C and determine their coordinates.

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3
4 marks

The function \text{f} is defined by

\text{f}(x) = x^2 - \text{e}^{2x} + 1 \qquad x \in \mathbb{R}

Find the set of values of x for which the curve y = \text{f}(x) is concave.

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4
4 marks

The surface area, S \text{ cm}^2, of a spherical air bubble is increasing at a constant rate of 4\pi \text{ cm}^2 \text{ s}^{-1}.

Given that the surface area of a sphere is S = 4\pi r^2, where r \text{ cm} is the radius of the bubble,

find an expression, in terms of r, for the rate at which the radius of the bubble is increasing.

How did you do?

5a
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5 marks

The curve C has equation

y = 4x - x^2 - 2x^3 \qquad x \in \mathbb{R}

Find the coordinates of the stationary points on C, and determine their nature.

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5b
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3 marks

Determine the coordinates of any points of inflection on C, and hence state the intervals in which C is convex and concave.

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6
4 marks

The diagram below shows a sketch of the graph with equation y equals straight f open parentheses x close parentheses.

Figure 1 shows a sketch of a continuous curve with equation y = \text{f}(x).

On the sketch in Figure 1,

(i) mark the approximate locations of the intercepts with the coordinate axes using the letter C

(ii) mark the approximate locations of the stationary points using the letter S

(iii) mark the approximate locations of the points of inflection using the letter I

(iv) highlight the sections of the curve where the graph is convex.

How did you do?

7
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6 marks

A container is in the shape of an inverted right circular cone. The radius of the base of the cone is 3 \text{ cm} and the height of the cone is 9 \text{ cm}.

Sand is poured into the container at a constant rate of 0.2 \text{ cm}^3 \text{ s}^{-1}.

Find the rate of change of the depth of the sand in the cone at the instant when the radius of the sand is 1.2 \text{ cm}.

[The volume, V, of a cone with radius r and height h is given by V = \dfrac{1}{3}\pi r^2 h.]

How did you do?

8
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6 marks

A spherical balloon is being inflated.

At time t seconds, where t \geq 0, the radius, r \text{ cm}, of the balloon is modelled by the equation

r = \dfrac{t}{\pi} + \dfrac{1}{2}

The material used to make the balloon is designed such that the balloon will burst if the rate of increase of its volume exceeds 16 \text{ cm}^3 \text{ s}^{-1}.

Show that the maximum time for which the balloon can be inflated without bursting is \dfrac{3\pi}{2} seconds.

[The volume, V, of a sphere with radius r is given by V = \dfrac{4}{3}\pi r^3.]

How did you do?

9
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6 marks

An ice lolly is in the shape of a cylinder.

At time t seconds, the cylinder has radius r \text{ cm} and length 8r \text{ cm}.

The ice lolly is melting such that its volume is decreasing at a constant rate of 0.4 \text{ cm}^3 \text{ s}^{-1}.

Assuming that the ice lolly remains mathematically similar to its original shape whilst it melts, find the rate at which its surface area is decreasing at the instant when r = 0.3.

How did you do?

10
6 marks

The volume of liquid, V, in a hemispherical bowl is given by the formula

V = \dfrac{1}{3}\pi h^2 (3R - h)

where R is the radius of the bowl and h is the depth of the liquid.

Liquid is leaking through a small hole in the bottom of the bowl at a rate directly proportional to the depth of the liquid.

Show that the depth of the liquid in the bowl is decreasing by

\dfrac{k}{\pi(2R - h)}

where k is a constant.

How did you do?

1a
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5 marks

The curve C has equation

y = x^2 \text{e}^{0.3x} \qquad x \in \mathbb{R}

Show that there are two points of inflection on C.

How did you do?

1b
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2 marks

Find the coordinates of these two points of inflection, giving your answers to 3 significant figures.

How did you do?

2
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5 marks

The curve C has equation

y = 2x + 4\text{sin} \; 3x \qquad 0 < x < \pi

Show that C is convex in the interval \left(\dfrac{\pi}{3},\, \dfrac{2\pi}{3}\right).

How did you do?

3
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6 marks

A plant pot is in the shape of an inverted square-based pyramid. The plant pot has a height of 100 \text{ cm} (1 \text{ m}) and a base side length of 40 \text{ cm}.

Soil is added to the plant pot at a constant rate of 72 \text{ cm}^3 \text{ s}^{-1}.

Find the rate at which the depth of the soil is increasing at the instant when the depth is 60 \text{ cm}.

[The volume, V, of a pyramid with base area A and height h is given by V = \dfrac{1}{3}Ah.]

How did you do?

4a
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4 marks

The curve C has equation

y = \text{e}^{0.4x}(x^2 + 3x - 4) \qquad x \in \mathbb{R}

Find the coordinates of the stationary points on C, and determine their nature.

Give all numerical values in your answer to 3 significant figures.

How did you do?

4b
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3 marks

Find the coordinates of any points of inflection on C, and determine whether they coincide with the stationary points.

Hence state the intervals in which C is convex and concave.

Give all numerical values in your answer to 3 significant figures.

How did you do?

5a
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4 marks

The curve C_1 has equation y = 3x^3 and the curve C_2 has equation y = 3x^3 + 2x.

Explain why C_1 has a point of inflection which is also a stationary point, but C_2 has a point of inflection that is not a stationary point.

How did you do?

5b
2 marks

On the same diagram, sketch the curves C_1 and C_2.

How did you do?

6
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6 marks

An expanding spherical air bubble has radius r \text{ cm} at time t seconds, where t \geq 0.

The radius of the bubble is modelled by the equation

r = 0.3 + 0.1t^2

The bubble will burst if the rate of increase of its volume exceeds 4t \text{ cm}^3 \text{ s}^{-1}.

Find the length of time the bubble expands for, giving your answer to 1 decimal place.

[The volume, V, of a sphere with radius r is given by V = \dfrac{4}{3}\pi r^3.]

How did you do?

7
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7 marks

A container is in the shape of a right circular cone. The container rests on its flat, horizontal circular base, with its vertex pointing vertically upwards. The height of the cone is 6 \text{ cm} and the radius of its base is 2 \text{ cm}.

Salt is poured into the container through a small hole at its vertex at a constant rate of 0.3 \text{ cm}^3 \text{ s}^{-1}.

Find the rate of change of the depth of the salt at the instant when the container is half full by volume, giving your answer to 3 significant figures.

[The volume, V, of a cone with radius r and height h is given by V = \dfrac{1}{3}\pi r^2 h.]

How did you do?

8a
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5 marks

A large block of ice, used by sculptors, is in the shape of a cuboid.

At time t seconds, the dimensions of the cuboid are x \text{ m} by 2x \text{ m} by 5x \text{ m}.

The block melts uniformly such that its surface area is decreasing at a constant rate of k \text{ m}^2 \text{ s}^{-1}, where k is a positive constant.

You may assume that as the block melts, it remains mathematically similar to its original shape.

Show that the rate of decrease of the volume of the block is given by

\dfrac{15kx}{34} \text{ m}^3 \text{ s}^{-1}

How did you do?

8b
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3 marks

In the case when k = 0.2, the block of ice remains solid enough to be sculpted as long as the rate of decrease of its volume does not exceed 0.05 \text{ m}^3 \text{ s}^{-1}.

Find the value of x for the largest block of ice that can be used for ice sculpting under these conditions, giving your answer as a fraction in its lowest terms.

How did you do?

9
7 marks

The volume of liquid, V, in a hemispherical bowl is given by the formula

V = \dfrac{1}{3}\pi h^2 (3R - h)

where R is the radius of the bowl and h is the depth of the liquid.

Liquid is leaking through a small hole in the bottom of the bowl at a rate directly proportional to the depth of the liquid.

When the bowl is full, the rate of volume loss is \pi.

Show that the rate of change of the depth of the liquid is inversely proportional to

R(h - 2R)

How did you do?