AQA C2 2005 June — Question 7

Exam BoardAQA
ModuleC2 (Core Mathematics 2)
Year2005
SessionJune
TopicChain Rule

7 A curve is defined, for \(x > 0\), by the equation \(y = \mathrm { f } ( x )\), where $$\mathrm { f } ( x ) = \frac { x ^ { 8 } - 1 } { x ^ { 3 } }$$
  1. Express \(\frac { x ^ { 8 } - 1 } { x ^ { 3 } }\) in the form \(x ^ { p } - x ^ { q }\), where \(p\) and \(q\) are integers.
    1. Hence differentiate \(\mathrm { f } ( x )\) to find \(\mathrm { f } ^ { \prime } ( x )\).
    2. Hence show that f is an increasing function.
  2. Find the gradient of the normal to the curve at the point \(( 1,0 )\).