Higher Maths

Revision Notes
Basic Differentiation

goodbye Get Started

Basic differentiation
You should know the meaning of the terms limit, differentiable at a point,

differentiate, derivative, differentiable over an interval, derived function.

Differentiate a function whose

terms are of the form axn

find the gradient of the

tangent to a curve y = the rate of change of f at a
f(x) at x = a

sketch a curve with Find where the function

f is strictly increasing,
given equation decreasing or stationary.

determine the greatest/least values of a solve optimisation problems

function on a given interval using calculus

find the stationary point(s) (values) on a curve

and determine their nature using differentiation

Rule of thumb:
Multiply by the power and reduce the power by 1.

Examples 3
5 y = 5x 2 +
f (x) = 3x x
⇒ f ′(x) = 5 × 3x 5−1 ⇒ y = 5x + 3x −1
2

⇒ f ′(x) = 15x 4 dy
⇒ = 10x − 3x −2
dx
dy 3
⇒ = 10x − 2
f (x) = 2x 3 + 4 x 2 − 3x + 4 y = f ( x) dx x
€
⇒ f (x) = 2x 3 + 4 x 2 − 3x1 + 4 x 0 dy
⇒ = f ′( x )
⇒ f ′(x) = 6x 2 + 8x1 − 3x 0 + 0x −1 dx x+5
€ y=
2
⇒ f ′(x) = 6x + 8x − 3 x
x1 5
€ ⇒ y= 1 + 1
f (x) = 4 x − 5 x2 x2
1
− 12
€ 1
0 ⇒ y = x 2 + 5x
⇒ f (x) = 4 x − 5x 2

dy 1 − 12 5 − 32
⇒ f ′(x) = 2x
− 12
⇒ = x −2x
dx 2
2 dy 1 5
⇒ f ′(x) = ⇒ = −
x dx 2 x 2 x 3

€ €

Test
Yourself?
 yB − yB
A straight line has amgradient
AB =
x −x B A

The chord PQ has a gradient

yQ − y P f (x + h) − f (x) f (x + h) − f (x)
mPQ = =€ =
xQ − x P x+h−x h

As h tends to zero, Q tends towards P and

€ the chord PQ becomes the tangent at P.
⎛ f ( x + h) − f ( x) ⎞
f ′( x ) = lim
The gradient of the tangent at ⎜P = ⎟
h →0
⎝ h ⎠

Example
€
To find the gradient of the tangent to Find the gradient of the
the curve y = f(x) at x = a we need to evaluate f tangent to the curve y = 3x2
´(a). + 2x –x =14 at the point P(1, 4)
dy
= 6x + 2
dx
dy
⇒ = 6.4 + 2 = 26
dx x= 4

Thus gradient at P is 26.

Test €
Yourself?
The Waverley can reach its top speed in 5 minutes.
During that time its distance from the start can be
calculated using the formula D = t + 50t2
where t is the time in minutes and D is measured in metres.

What is the Waverley’s top speed?

Speed, v m/min, is the rate of
change of distance with time.
D = t + 50t 2
dD
⇒ v= = 1+ 100t
dt
v = 1 + 100  5 = 501
m/sec
€

How fast is it accelerating?

Acceleration, a m/min/min, is the
rate of change of speed with time.
v = 1+ 100t
Test
dv Yourself?
⇒ a= = 100
dt
 y

The signs indicate where 0

the gradient of the curve + –
is: –
+ –
+ 0 –
positive … the function
is increasing + O – x
negative … the function
is decreasing
zero … the function is
stationary
A function is strictly increasing in a region
where f´(x) > 0
A function is strictly increasing in a region
where f´(x) < 0
A function is stationary where f´(x) = 0

Example
f(x) = 2x3 – 3x2 – 12x + 1.
Identify where it is (i) increasing (ii)
decreasing (iii) stationery graph
graph of
of derivative
derivative

f ′( x ) = 6x 2 − 6x −12 15
15

10
10
A sketch of the derivative shows
55
us that
00
€ f´(x) < 0 for 0 < x < 2 … f(x) -2
-2 -1
-1 00 11 22 33

-5
decreasing
-5
Test
-10
-10
Yourself?
f´(x) > 0 for x < 0 or x > 2 … -15
-15
f(x) increasing
f´(x) = 0 for x = 0 or x = 2 …
To sketch a curve, collect the following
information:
• where will it cut the y-axis? [x = 0]
• where will it cut the x-axis? [f(x) = 0]
• where is it stationary? [f ´(x) = 0]
• where is f(x) increasing/decreasing [f
´(x) > 0/ f ´(x) < 0]
especially in the neighbourhood of the
stationary points.
• how does f(x) behave as x  ±

Test
Yourself?
 When a function is defined on a closed interval, a ≤ x
≤ b, then it must have a maximum and a minimum value
in that interval.
These values can be found either at
• a stationary point [where f´(x) = 0]
• an end-point of the closed interval. [f(a)
and f(b)]
All you need do is find these values and pick out the
Example
greatest and least values.
A manufacturer is making a can to hold 250 ml of juice.
The cost of the can is dependent on its radius, x cm.
For practical reasons the radius must be between 2·5 cm and 4·5 cm.

The cost can be calculated from the formula

C = x3 –5x2 + 3x + 15, 2·5 ≤ x ≤ 4·5.
Calculate the maximum and minimum values of the cost function.

dC
= 3x 2 −10x…+ 3which equals zero at stationary points.
dx
3x2 – 10x + 3 = 0
(3x– 1)(x – 3) = 0
€ x = 1/3 or x = 3
Working to 1 d.p.
f(1/3) = 15·5
f(3) = 6
f(2·5) = 6·9
f(4·5) = 18·4 Test
By inspection fmax = 18·4 (when x = 4·5) and fmin Yourself?
= 6 (when x = 3).
solving optimisation problems using calculus

Example

A box has a square base of side x cm and a height of h cm.

It has a volume of 1 litre (1000 cm3) h
For what value of x will the surface area of the box be
minimised?
x
[… and hence the cost of production be optimised] x

To use calculus we must express the surface area in terms of x alone … so

we must find h in terms of x .
1000 volume = lbh … so in this case 1000 = x2h.
For a cuboid,
h = 2 = 1000x −2
x
And so,
The box is made from 6 rectangles, two of area x2 cm2 and four of
area xh cm2
€
Total Surface Area, S = 2x2 + 4xh If x < 10, 4x < 40 and 4000x–2 > 40
S dS 2x2 + 4000x
= −2 –1
So dS/dx < 0 … a decreasing function
⇒ = 4 x − 4000x
dx
If x > 10, 4x > 40 and 4000x–2 < 40
= 0 at stationary So dS/dx > 0 … an increasing function
points
€
 4x = 4000x–2 Decreasing before x = 10 and increasing after it
 x3 = 1000
x 10- 10 10+ Gives us a minimum turning point.
ds/dx – 0 +
 x = 10

Test
If x = 10 then h = 10.
Yourself?
A cube of side 10 cm has a volume of 1000 cm3 and the
smallest possible surface area.
Example
Find the stationary points of the function f(x) = x5 + 5x4 – 35x3 +
1 and determine their nature.

Differentiate: f´(x) = 5x4 + 20x3 –

105x2
Equate to zero: 5x4 + 20x3 – 105x2 = 0 at
stationary points
(factorise)  5x2(x2 + 4x – 21)
= 0
x
 5x2(x -7
→ – 3)(x → 7) 0= 0 →
+ 3 → … scan the critical
2
5x + + + 0 + + + x’s

x-3 x = –0 (twice),
– – x =
– 3 or
– x 0 + … examine each factor
= –7 x+7 – 0 + + + + + of dy/dx
dy/dx + 0 – 0 – 0 +
Make a table of signs: … conclusions based on
profile / – \ – \ – /
Nature max PI min sign of derivative

Stationary points occur at

x = –7 ( a maximum turning point);
x = 0 (a horizontal point of
inflexion);
x = 3( a minimum turning point.
The corresponding stationary values are
f(–7) = 7204
f(0) = 1 Test
f(3) = –296 Yourself?
The stationary points are: (–7, 7204) a max TP; (0, 1) a
horizontal PI; (3, –296) a min TP
 Differentiate
(a) 3x5 + 4x3 – x – 3
(b) 3x2 + 2x
3
(c) 4+
x
2x + x
(d) x2
€
reveal
€
 Differentiate
(a) 3x5 + 4x3 – x – 3 (a) 15x4 + 12x2 –1
(b) 3x2 + 2x
3
(c) 4+
x 1
(b) 3x 2 + 2 x = 3x 2 + 2x 2
2x + x
(d) dy −1 1
x2 ⇒ = 6x + x 2 = 6x +
€ dx x

€
You must make € 3
(c) 4+ = 4 + 3x −1
each term take x
the shape axn
dy 3
⇒ = −3x −2 = − 2
dx x

1
€ (d) 2x + x 2x x 2 −1 − 32
= + = 2x + x
x2 x2 x2
dy −5
⇒ = −2x −2 − 32 x 2
dx

€
Gradient at a
Point

0
0 1 2 3

-1

reveal

Using convenient units and

axes, the profile of a hill
has been modelled by
H = 0·1(x3 – 5x2 + 6x) where H
is the height and x is the
distance from the origin.
What is the gradient of the
curve when x = 2?
Gradient at a
Point

0
0 1 2 3
H = 0·1x3 – 0·5x2 + 0·6x
-1

dH
= 0 ⋅ 3x 2 − x + 0 ⋅6
dx
dH
⇒ = 0 ⋅ 3 × 2 2 − 2 + 0 ⋅6
dx x= 2
= 1⋅2 − 2 + 0 ⋅6
= −0 ⋅2

Using convenient units and

axes, the profile of a hill
has been modelled by
H = 0·1(x3 – 5x2 + 6x) where H
is the height and x is the
distance from the origin.
What is the gradient of the
curve when x = 2?
Rates of change

reveal

The radius, r cm, of a

particular circular ripple is
related to the time, t, in
seconds since the photo was
taken.
r = 4t + 3
How fast is the area of the
circle growing when the radius
is 10 cm?
Rates of change

Since r = 4t + 3
then r = 11  t = 2.
and the area of the circular
ripple, A cm2, is π(4t + 3)2
A = π(4t + 3)2
 A = 16πt2 + 24πt + 9π

dA
⇒ = 32πt + 24π
dt
dA
⇒ = 32π × 2 + 24π = 88π
dt t= 2

The radius, r cm, of a When the radius is 11 cm, the

particular circular ripple is area is increasing at the rate
related to the time, t, in of 276·5 cm2 per second
seconds since the photo was correct to 1 d.p.
taken.
r = 4t + 3

How fast is the area of the

circle growing when the radius
is 11 cm?
 Increasing/decreasing
functions

reveal

During one study of red squirrels

the number in one area was modelled
by the function
N(x) = x3 – 15x2 + 63x – 10, 1 < x <
12
Where x is the number of years since
the
study started.

During what years was this a

decreasing function?
 Increasing/decreasing
functions

N(x) = x3 – 15x2 + 63x – 10, 1

< x < 12
 N´(x) = 3x2 – 30x + 63

N´(x) = 0 at stationary points

3x2 – 30x + 63 = 0  x = 3 or 7

N
´(x
)

During one study of red squirrels

3 7 x
the number in one area was modelled
by the function
N(x) = x3 – 15x2 + 63x – 10, 1 < x <
12 The sketch shows that N´(x) < 0
Where x is the number of years since for 3 < x < 7.
the
study started. The population was on the
decrease between the 3rd and 7th
During what years was this a years of the survey.
decreasing function?
Curve sketching

Sketch the curve with

equation
y = x3 – 5x2 – 8x + 12
Identifying
(i) where will it cut the
y-axis?
(ii)where will it cut the
x-axis?
(iii)where is it
stationary? reveal
(iv)where it is
increasing/decreasing
especially in the
neighbourhood of the
stationary points.
(v) how it behave as x 
±
Curve sketching

(i) x = 0  y = 12 … (0, 12)

(ii) y = 0  x3 – 5x2 – 8x + 12 = 0
Sketch the curve with
 (x – 1)(x + 2)(x – 6) = 0
equation x = 1 or x = –2 or x = 6 … (1,
0), (–2,0),(6, 0)
y = x3 – 5x2 – 8x + 12 (i) dy
/dx = 3x2 – 10x – 8
Identifying = 0 at S.P.s
(i) where will it cut the 3x2 – 10x – 8 = 0  (3x + 2)(x
– 4) = 0
y-axis? (iv  x x= –2/3 or → x =-24
/3 … a→ max 4
TP →
(ii)where will it cut the ) at (–3 x+ /
2
+23 2,
400
/27
– ) 0 + + +
x-axis?  y x –= 4 /27 or
400 – y =– –36 … 0
– a min +
dy/dx + 0 0 +
(iii)where is it at (4 , –36 )
inc/dec / -
–
\ - /
stationary? nature max min
(iv)where it is (v) When x is large and positive, y is large
increasing/decreasing and positive (1st quad)
especially in the When x is large and negative, y is large and
3 2
y = x - 5x - 8x +
neighbourhood of the negative (3rd quad)
30
stationary points.
(v) how it behave as x  20

± 10

0
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
-10

-20

-30

-40
 A shop takes x deliveries a year of
cereal.
reveal
The suppliers are willing to make
between 20 and 200 deliveries a
year.
The annual cost 10000
of these deliveries
C x) = 4 x + + 1000 ; 20 ≤ x ≤ 200
can be ( calculated x from the formula:

Calculate the number of

deliveries that will minimise
€
the costs.
 Find stationary point(s)

10000
C( x ) = 4 x + + 1000
x
10000
⇒ C ′( x ) = 4 −
x2

At stationary points C´(x)

€ = 0
10000
4− =0
A shop takes x deliveries a year of x2
cereal. 10000
⇒ x2 = = 2500
4
The suppliers are willing to make ⇒ x = 50
between 20 and 200 deliveries a
year.
The annual cost 10000
of these deliveries Examine end-points and
C x) = 4 x + + 1000 ; 20 ≤ x ≤ 200 €
can be ( calculated x from the formula: stationary point(s)
10000
C (20) = 4 × 20 + = 580
20
10000
C (200) = 4 × 200 + = 850
€ What is the manager’s best 200
strategy to minimise the costs. 10000
C (50) = 4 × 50 + = 400
50

Optimum strategy: Order 50

€
times a year. This will
minimise costs at £400.
Optimisati
on
30 cm

20 cm

20 – 2x
x
30 – 2x
reveal

An A4 sheet of paper, roughly

20 by 30 cm
has its edges folded up to
create a tray.
Each crease is x cm from the
edge.

What size should x be in order

to maximise the volume of the
tray?
Optimisati
on
30 cm

Express volume in terms of

x:
20 cm
V = x(20 –2x)(30 –2x)
x = 4x3 – 100x2 + 600x
Differentiate
dV
= 12x 2 − 200x + 600
dx
20 – 2x = 0 at S.P.s
x
30 – 2x € 12x 2 − 200x + 600 = 0
200 ± 40000 − 4.12.600
⇒ x=
24
⇒ x = 12 ⋅ 7 or 3⋅9 (to 1 d.p.)
An A4 sheet of paper, roughly
20 by 30 cm Check nature
has its edges folded up to € x → 3·9 → 12·7 →
create a tray. dV/dx – 0 + 0 –
Each crease is x cm from the inc/dec \ / \
edge. Nature mim max

What size should x be in order Conclusion

to maximise the volume of the
tray? When x = 3·9, the volume is
at a maximum of 1056 cm3.
 Stationary points and nature

A function is
defined by
x5 x4 x3 x2
f (x) = + − −
5 4 3 2

€
reveal
(a) Show that its derivative has
factors
x, (x + 1) and (x – 1)
(b) Find the stationary points of
the function and determine
their nature.
 Stationary points and nature

differentiate
f ′( x ) = x 4 + x 3 − x 2 − x
A function is = x(x 3 + x 2 − x −1)
defined by = x[x 2 (x + 1) − (x + 1)]

x5 x4 x3 x2 = x(x + 1)(x 2 −1)

f (x) = + − − = x(x + 1)(x −1)(x + 1)
5 4 3 2 Equate to zero
At S.Ps f´(x) = 0
€
i.e. x = 0 or x = –1 or
x = 1
Make nature
€ x
table → -1 → 0 → 1 →
2
(x+1) + 0 + + + + +
(a) Show that its derivative has x – – – 0 + + +
(x-1) – – – – – 0 +
factors f'(x) + 0 + 0 – 0 +
x, (x + 1) and (x – 1) inc/dec / - / - \ - /
nature PI max min

(b) Find the stationary points of Find corresponding y-

the function and determine values.f (−1) = − 15 + 14 + 13 − 12 = − 607
their nature. f (1) = 15 + 14 − 13 − 12 = − 23
60

f (0) = 0

Summarise findings
(–1,–7/60) point of inflexion
€
(1,–23/60) minimum turning point
(0, 0) minimum turning point