KS5 "Full Coverage": Differentiation (Yr2)

This worksheet is designed to cover one question of each type seen in past papers, for each A
Level topic. This worksheet was automatically generated by the DrFrostMaths Homework
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Question 1
Categorisation: Use the chain rule (and differentiate natural logs).

[Edexcel C3 June 2011 Q1a] Differentiate with respect to 𝑥

𝑙𝑛 (𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 5)

𝑑( 𝑙𝑛 (𝑥 2 +3𝑥+5))
𝑑𝑥
..........................

Question 2
Categorisation: Use the product rule (and differentiate 𝒆𝒙 )

[Edexcel C3 June 2007 Q3a] A curve C has equation 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 𝑒 𝑥 .

𝑑𝑦
Find 𝑑𝑥 , using the product rule for differentiation.

𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥
= ..........................

Question 3
Categorisation: Use the chain rule combined with product rule.

[Edexcel C3 June 2009 Q4ia]Differentiate with respect to 𝑥

𝑥 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 3𝑥

𝑑(𝑥 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 3𝑥)

𝑑𝑥
= ..........................

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Question 4
Categorisation: Use the quotient rule.

[Edexcel C3 June 2016 Q2a]

4𝑥
𝑦=
𝑥2+5
𝑑𝑦
Find 𝑑𝑥 , writing your answer as a single fraction in its simplest form.

𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥
= ..........................

Question 5
Categorisation: As above.

[Edexcel C3 June 2013(R) Q5a]

𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝑥
Differentiate with respect to 𝑥 .
√𝑥

..........................

Question 6
Categorisation: Further practice of product with chain rule.

[Edexcel A2 SAM P2 Q3]

Given 𝑦 = 𝑥(2𝑥 + 1)4 , show that

𝑑𝑦
= (2𝑥 + 1)𝑛 (𝐴𝑥 + 𝐵)
𝑑𝑥

where 𝑛 , 𝐴 and 𝐵 are constants to be found.

..........................

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Question 7
Categorisation: Differentiate trig functions raised to a power.

[Edexcel C3 June 2005 Q2ai]

Differentiate with respect to 𝑥

3 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2 𝑥 + 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2𝑥

𝑑
𝑑𝑥
(3 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2 𝑥 + 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2𝑥) = ..........................

Question 8
Categorisation: As above, but with a multiple of 𝒙.

[Edexcel C3 June 2013(R) Q5b]

𝑑
Show that 𝑑𝑥 ( 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 3𝑥) can be written in the form

𝜇( 𝑡𝑎𝑛 3𝑥 + 𝑡𝑎𝑛 3 3𝑥)

where 𝜇 is a constant to be found.

𝜇 = ..........................

Question 9
𝟏
Categorisation: Appreciate that 𝒍𝒏(𝒌𝒙) differentiates to 𝒙 regardless of 𝒌.

[Edexcel C3 June 2012 Q7ai]

Differentiate with respect to 𝑥 ,

1
𝑥 2 𝑙𝑛 (3𝑥)

1
𝑑(𝑥 2 𝑙𝑛 (3𝑥))

𝑑𝑥
= ..........................

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Question 10
𝟏
Categorisation: Appreciate that 𝒇(𝒙)𝒈(𝒙) can be written as 𝒇(𝒙)−𝟏 𝒈(𝒙)−𝟏 before
differentiating.

[Edexcel C3 June 2013 Q5c]

𝑑𝑦 1
= 1
𝑑𝑥
6𝑥(𝑥 − 1)2

𝑑2𝑦
Find an expression for 𝑑𝑥 2 in terms of 𝑥 . Give your answer in its simplest form.

𝑑2 𝑦
= ..........................
𝑑𝑥 2

Question 11
Categorisation: Differentiate in a modelling context.

[Edexcel C3 June 2006 Q4c]

A heated metal ball is dropped into a liquid. As the ball cools, its temperature, 𝑇, 𝑡 minutes
after it enters the liquid, is given by

𝑇 = 400𝑒 −0.05𝑡 + 25 , 𝑡 ≥ 0

Find the rate at which the temperature of the ball is decreasing at the instant when 𝑡 = 50

.......................... ° 𝐶 /min

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Question 12
Categorisation: As above.

[Edexcel C3 June 2017 Q8b]

The number of rabbits on an island is modelled by the equation

100𝑒 −0.1𝑡
𝑃= + 40 , 𝑡∈ℝ, 𝑡≥0
1+3𝑒 −0.9𝑡

where 𝑃 is the number of rabbits, 𝑡 years after they were introduced onto the island.

A sketch of the graph of 𝑃 against 𝑡 is shown in Figure 3.

𝑑𝑃
Find 𝑑𝑡

𝑑𝑃
𝑑𝑡
= ..........................

Question 13
𝒅𝒚 𝒅𝒙
Categorisation: Use the fact that 𝒅𝒙 = 𝟏 ÷ 𝒅𝒚

[Edexcel C3 June 2017 Q7ii]

𝜋
Given 𝑥 = 𝑙𝑛 ( 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2𝑦) , 0<𝑦< 4

𝑑𝑦
find 𝑑𝑥 as a function of 𝑥 in its simplest form.

𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥
= ..........................

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Question 14
𝒅𝒚
Categorisation: Determine for expressions of the form 𝒙 = 𝒇(𝒚) where 𝒇 is a
𝒅𝒙
trigonometric function. Note that the specification effectively expects students to
differentiate expressions such as 𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝒙, even though questions wouldn’t
explicitly ask as such.

[Edexcel C3 June 2013(R) Q5c]

𝑦 𝑑𝑦
Given 𝑥 = 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛 (3 ) , find 𝑑𝑥 in terms of 𝑥 , simplifying your answer.

𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥
= ..........................

Question 15
Categorisation: As above.

[Edexcel C3 June 2016 Q5ii]

𝜋 𝑑𝑦
Given 𝑥 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2 2𝑦 , 0 < 𝑦 < 4
, find 𝑑𝑥 as a function of 𝑦 .

Write your answer in the form

𝑑𝑦 𝜋
𝑑𝑥
= 𝑝 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑐 (𝑞𝑦) , 0 < 𝑦 < 4 ,

where 𝑝 and 𝑞 are constants to be determined.

..........................

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Question 16
Categorisation: Find the range of values for which a function is increasing or
decreasing.

[Edexcel C3 June 2016 Q2b Edited]

4𝑥
𝑦=
𝑥2 +5

𝑑𝑦 20 − 4𝑥 2
=
𝑑𝑥 (𝑥 2 + 5)2
𝑑𝑦
Hence find the set of values of 𝑥 for which 𝑑𝑥 < 0 .

..........................

Question 17
Categorisation: Use differentiation to determine a turning point.

[Edexcel C3 June 2016 Q5i]

Find, using calculus, the 𝑥 coordinate of the turning point of the curve with equation
𝜋 𝜋
𝑦 = 𝑒 3𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 4𝑥 , ≤ 𝑥 <
4 2

Give your answer to 4 decimal places.

..........................

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Question 18
Categorisation: Use differentiation in the context of numerical methods.

[Edexcel A2 Specimen Papers P2 Q6b Edited]

Figure 2 shows a sketch of the curve with equation 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) , where

𝑓(𝑥) = (8 − 𝑥) 𝑙𝑛 𝑥 , 𝑥 > 0

The curve cuts the 𝑥 -axis at the points 𝐴 and 𝐵 and has a maximum turning point at 𝑄 , as
shown in Figure 2.

Show that the 𝑥 coordinate of 𝑄 satisfies

𝑎
𝑥=
1 + 𝑙𝑛 𝑥

where 𝑎 is a constant to be found.

..........................

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Question 19
Categorisation: Determine a turning point with a more difficult expression.

[Edexcel A2 SAM P1 Q15a Edited]

Figure 5 shows a sketch of the curve with equation 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) , where

4 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2𝑥
𝑓(𝑥) = , 0≤𝑥≤𝜋
𝑒 √2𝑥−1

The curve has a maximum turning point at 𝑃 and a minimum turning point at 𝑄 as shown in
Figure 5.

Show that the 𝑥 coordinates of point 𝑃 and point 𝑄 are solutions of the equation 𝑡𝑎𝑛 2𝑥 =
√𝑎 , where 𝑎 is a constant to be found.

..........................

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Question 20
Categorisation: As above.

[Edexcel C3 June 2013 Q4a]

𝑓(𝑥) = 25𝑥 2 𝑒 2𝑥 − 16 , 𝑥∈ℝ

One of the turning points of the curve with equation 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) is (0, −16) . Using calculus,
find the exact coordinates of the other turning point.

..........................

Question 21
Categorisation: Determine the equation of a tangent to the curve.

[Edexcel C3 June 2009 Q4ii]

A curve C has the equation

1
𝑦 = √4𝑥 + 1 , 𝑥 > − 4 , 𝑦 > 0

The point P on the curve has 𝑥 -coordinate 2. Find an equation of the tangent to C at P
in the form 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑦 + 𝑐 = 0 , where 𝑎 , 𝑏 and 𝑐 are integers.

..........................

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Question 22
Categorisation: As above, but where 𝒙 = 𝒇(𝒚)

[Edexcel C3 June 2014 Q3b]

The curve 𝐶 has equation 𝑥 = 8𝑦 𝑡𝑎𝑛 2𝑦 .

𝜋
The point 𝑃 has coordinates (𝜋, 8 ) . Find the equation of the tangent to 𝐶 at 𝑃 in the form
𝑎𝑦 = 𝑥 + 𝑏 , where the constants 𝑎 and 𝑏 are to be found in terms of 𝜋 .

..........................

Question 23
Categorisation: Determine the equation of a normal to the curve.

[Edexcel C3 June 2010 Q2]

A curve C has equation

3 5
𝑦= , 𝑥≠
(5 − 3𝑥)2 3

The point P on C has 𝑥 -coordinate 2.

Find an equation of the normal to C at P in the form 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑦 + 𝑐 = 0 , where 𝑎 , 𝑏 and

𝑐 are integers.

..........................

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Question 24
Categorisation: As above.

[Edexcel C3 June 2011 Q7b Edited]

5
𝑓(𝑥) =
(2𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 + 3)

1
𝑥 ≠ ±3, 𝑥 ≠ −
2
5
The curve C has equation 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) . The point 𝑃 (−1, − 2) lies on C.

Find an equation of the normal to C at P.

..........................

Question 25
Categorisation: As above, but in the context of having done algebraic long division
first.

[Edexcel C3 June 2016 Q6b Edited]

𝑥 4 + 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 − 6
𝑓(𝑥) = , 𝑥 > 2, 𝑥 ∈ ℝ
𝑥2 + 𝑥 − 6

Given that

𝑥 4 + 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 − 6 4
2
≡ 𝑥2 + 3 +
𝑥 +𝑥−6 𝑥−2

Hence or otherwise, using calculus, find an equation of the normal to the curve with equation
𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) at the point where 𝑥 = 3.

..........................

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Question 26
Categorisation: Determine the gradient of parametric equations.

[Edexcel C4 June 2017 Q1a]

The curve C has parametric equations

6
𝑥 = 3𝑡 − 4 𝑦 =5− 𝑡>0
𝑡

𝑑𝑦
Find 𝑑𝑥 in terms of 𝑡 .

𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥
= ..........................

Question 27
Categorisation: As above, but with trigonometric expressions.

[Edexcel A2 SAM P1 Q13a]

The curve 𝐶 has parametric equations𝑥 = 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑡 , 𝑦 = √3 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝑡 , 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 𝜋

𝑑𝑦
Find an expression for 𝑑𝑥 in terms of 𝑡 .

𝑑𝑦
= ..........................
𝑑𝑥

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Question 28
Categorisation: Determine a particular gradient at a point on a parametric curve.

[Edexcel C4 June 2013(R) Q7a]

Figure 2 shows a sketch of the curve C with parametric equations

𝜋
𝑥 = 27 𝑠𝑒𝑐 3 𝑡 , 𝑦 = 3 𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝑡 , 0≤𝑡≤ 3

𝜋
Find the gradient of the curve C at the point where 𝑡 = 6 .

..........................

Question 29
Categorisation: Determine the equation of a normal to a parametric curve.

[Edexcel C4 Jan 2011 Q6a]

The curve C has parametric equations

𝑥 = 𝑙𝑛 𝑡 , 𝑦 = 𝑡2 − 2 , 𝑡 >0.

Find an equation of the normal to C at the point where 𝑡 = 3 .

..........................

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Question 30
Categorisation: As above, but involving exponential terms of the form 𝒂𝒕 .

[Edexcel C4 Jan 2013 Q5c Edited]

Figure 2 shows a sketch of part of the curve C with parametric equations

1
𝑥 = 1 − 2𝑡 , 𝑦 = 2𝑡 − 1 .

The curve crosses the 𝑦 -axis at the point 𝐴 and crosses the 𝑥 -axis at the point 𝐵 .

The point 𝐴 has coordinates (0,3) .

Find an equation of the normal to C at the point 𝐴 .

..........................

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Question 31
Categorisation: Use implicit differentiation.

[Edexcel C4 June 2016 Q3a] The curve C has equation

2𝑥 2 𝑦 + 2𝑥 + 4𝑦 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠 (𝜋𝑦) = 17
𝑑𝑦
Use implicit differentiation to find 𝑑𝑥 in terms of 𝑥 and 𝑦 .

𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥
= ..........................

Question 32
Categorisation: Use implicit differentiation to find the gradient at a specific point.

[Edexcel C4 June 2017 Q4a]

The curve C has equation

4𝑥 2 − 𝑦 3 − 4𝑥𝑦 + 2𝑦 = 0

The point P with coordinates (–2, 4) lies on C.

𝑑𝑦
Find the exact value of 𝑑𝑥 at the point P.

𝑑𝑦
= ..........................
𝑑𝑥

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Question 33
Categorisation: As above, but involving an exponential term.

[Edexcel C4 June 2013(R) Q2]

The curve C has equation

3𝑥−1 + 𝑥𝑦 − 𝑦 2 + 5 = 0
𝑑𝑦 1
Show that 𝑑𝑥 at the point (1,3) on the curve C can be written in the form 𝜆 𝑙𝑛 (𝜇𝑒 3 ) ,
where 𝜆 and 𝜇 are integers to be found.

𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥
= ..........................

Question 34
Categorisation: Determine a turning point on a parametric curve by solving
simultaneously with the original equation.

[Edexcel C4 June 2015 Q2b Edited]

The curve C has equation 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥𝑦 − 4𝑦 2 + 64 = 0

𝑑𝑦
The gradient function 𝑑𝑥 can be expressed as

𝑑𝑦 2𝑥 − 3𝑦
=
𝑑𝑥 3𝑥 + 8𝑦
𝑑𝑦
Find the coordinates of the points on C where 𝑑𝑥 = 0 .

(Solutions based entirely on graphical or numerical methods are not acceptable.)

..........................

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Question 35
Categorisation: As above.

[Edexcel C4 June 2014(R) Q3b Edited]

𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 10𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 4𝑥𝑦 = 10
𝑑𝑦
An expression for 𝑑𝑥 can be expressed as

𝑑𝑦 𝑥 + 5 − 2𝑦
=
𝑑𝑥 2𝑥 − 𝑦 − 1
𝑑𝑦
Find the values of 𝑦 for which =0.
𝑑𝑥

..........................

Question 36
Categorisation: Connect different rates of change using the chain rule.

[Edexcel C4 June 2012 Q2b Edited]

Figure 1 shows a metal cube which is expanding uniformly as it is heated. At time 𝑡 seconds,
3
the length of each edge of the cube is 𝑥 cm, and the volume of the cube is 𝑉 cm .

𝑑𝑥
Given that the volume, 𝑉 cm3, increases at a constant rate of 0.048 cm3 s–1, find 𝑑𝑡
when
𝑥 =8.

𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑡
= ..........................

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Question 37
Categorisation: As above.

[Edexcel C4 June 2012 Q2c Edited]

(Continued from above) Given that the volume, 𝑉 cm3, increases at a constant rate of
0.048 cm3 s–1, find the rate of increase of the total surface area of the cube, in cm 2 s–1,
when 𝑥 = 8.

𝑑𝑆
𝑑𝑡
= ..........................

Question 38
Categorisation: As above.
[Edexcel C4 June 2014 Q4]

A vase with a circular cross-section is shown in Figure 2. Water is flowing into the vase. When
the depth of the water is ℎ cm, the volume of water 𝑉 cm3 is given by

𝑉 = 4𝜋ℎ(ℎ + 4) , 0 ≤ ℎ ≤ 25

Water flows into the vase at a constant rate of 80 𝜋 𝑐𝑚 3 𝑠 −1 .

Find the rate of change of the depth of the water, in 𝑐𝑚 𝑠 −1 , when ℎ = 6 .

𝑑ℎ
𝑑𝑡
= .......................... 𝑐𝑚𝑠 −1

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