1.07n Stationary points: find maxima, minima using derivatives

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Edexcel C2 2012 June Q8
13 marks Moderate -0.3
8. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{f1ef99f0-4ad4-49d8-bee7-d5bb9cc84660-11_305_446_223_749} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 3}
\end{figure} A manufacturer produces pain relieving tablets. Each tablet is in the shape of a solid circular cylinder with base radius \(x \mathrm {~mm}\) and height \(h \mathrm {~mm}\), as shown in Figure 3. Given that the volume of each tablet has to be \(60 \mathrm {~mm} ^ { 3 }\),
  1. express \(h\) in terms of \(x\),
  2. show that the surface area, \(A \mathrm {~mm} ^ { 2 }\), of a tablet is given by \(A = 2 \pi x ^ { 2 } + \frac { 120 } { x }\) The manufacturer needs to minimise the surface area \(A \mathrm {~mm} ^ { 2 }\), of a tablet.
  3. Use calculus to find the value of \(x\) for which \(A\) is a minimum.
  4. Calculate the minimum value of \(A\), giving your answer to the nearest integer.
  5. Show that this value of \(A\) is a minimum.
Edexcel C2 2013 June Q1
6 marks Moderate -0.8
  1. Using calculus, find the coordinates of the stationary point on the curve with equation
$$y = 2 x + 3 + \frac { 8 } { x ^ { 2 } } , \quad x > 0$$
Edexcel C2 2013 June Q9
9 marks Moderate -0.3
  1. The curve with equation
$$y = x ^ { 2 } - 32 \sqrt { } ( x ) + 20 , \quad x > 0$$ has a stationary point \(P\). Use calculus
  1. to find the coordinates of \(P\),
  2. to determine the nature of the stationary point \(P\).
Edexcel C2 2014 June Q9
13 marks Standard +0.3
9. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{f07cc9ed-a820-46c8-a3a3-3c780cf20fa7-14_899_686_212_639} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 4}
\end{figure} Figure 4 shows the plan of a pool. The shape of the pool \(A B C D E F A\) consists of a rectangle \(B C E F\) joined to an equilateral triangle \(B F A\) and a semi-circle \(C D E\), as shown in Figure 4. Given that \(A B = x\) metres, \(E F = y\) metres, and the area of the pool is \(50 \mathrm {~m} ^ { 2 }\),
  1. show that $$y = \frac { 50 } { x } - \frac { x } { 8 } ( \pi + 2 \sqrt { } 3 )$$
  2. Hence show that the perimeter, \(P\) metres, of the pool is given by $$P = \frac { 100 } { x } + \frac { x } { 4 } ( \pi + 8 - 2 \sqrt { } 3 )$$
  3. Use calculus to find the minimum value of \(P\), giving your answer to 3 significant figures.
  4. Justify, by further differentiation, that the value of \(P\) that you have found is a minimum.
Edexcel C2 2014 June Q10
14 marks Standard +0.3
10. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{e6b490c0-80c4-4e15-b587-ac052ee27db7-17_929_584_237_287} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 4}
\end{figure} \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{e6b490c0-80c4-4e15-b587-ac052ee27db7-17_716_544_452_1069} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 5}
\end{figure} Figure 4 shows a closed letter box \(A B F E H G C D\), which is made to be attached to a wall of a house. The letter box is a right prism of length \(y \mathrm {~cm}\) as shown in Figure 4. The base \(A B F E\) of the prism is a rectangle. The total surface area of the six faces of the prism is \(S \mathrm {~cm} ^ { 2 }\). The cross section \(A B C D\) of the letter box is a trapezium with edges of lengths \(D A = 9 x \mathrm {~cm}\), \(A B = 4 x \mathrm {~cm} , B C = 6 x \mathrm {~cm}\) and \(C D = 5 x \mathrm {~cm}\) as shown in Figure 5.
The angle \(D A B = 90 ^ { \circ }\) and the angle \(A B C = 90 ^ { \circ }\). The volume of the letter box is \(9600 \mathrm {~cm} ^ { 3 }\).
  1. Show that $$y = \frac { 320 } { x ^ { 2 } }$$
  2. Hence show that the surface area of the letter box, \(S \mathrm {~cm} ^ { 2 }\), is given by $$S = 60 x ^ { 2 } + \frac { 7680 } { x }$$
  3. Use calculus to find the minimum value of \(S\).
  4. Justify, by further differentiation, that the value of \(S\) you have found is a minimum.
Edexcel C2 2015 June Q9
10 marks Standard +0.3
9. A solid glass cylinder, which is used in an expensive laser amplifier, has a volume of \(75 \pi \mathrm {~cm} ^ { 3 }\).
The cost of polishing the surface area of this glass cylinder is \(\pounds 2\) per \(\mathrm { cm } ^ { 2 }\) for the curved surface area and \(\pounds 3\) per \(\mathrm { cm } ^ { 2 }\) for the circular top and base areas. Given that the radius of the cylinder is \(r \mathrm {~cm}\),
  1. show that the cost of the polishing, \(\pounds C\), is given by $$C = 6 \pi r ^ { 2 } + \frac { 300 \pi } { r }$$
  2. Use calculus to find the minimum cost of the polishing, giving your answer to the nearest pound.
  3. Justify that the answer that you have obtained in part (b) is a minimum.
Edexcel C2 2016 June Q9
15 marks Standard +0.8
9. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{582cda45-80fc-43a8-90e6-1cae08cb1534-15_831_1167_118_513} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 4}
\end{figure} Figure 4 shows a plan view of a sheep enclosure.
The enclosure \(A B C D E A\), as shown in Figure 4, consists of a rectangle \(B C D E\) joined to an equilateral triangle \(B F A\) and a sector \(F E A\) of a circle with radius \(x\) metres and centre \(F\). The points \(B , F\) and \(E\) lie on a straight line with \(F E = x\) metres and \(10 \leqslant x \leqslant 25\)
  1. Find, in \(\mathrm { m } ^ { 2 }\), the exact area of the sector \(F E A\), giving your answer in terms of \(x\), in its simplest form. Given that \(B C = y\) metres, where \(y > 0\), and the area of the enclosure is \(1000 \mathrm {~m} ^ { 2 }\),
  2. show that $$y = \frac { 500 } { x } - \frac { x } { 24 } ( 4 \pi + 3 \sqrt { 3 } )$$
  3. Hence show that the perimeter \(P\) metres of the enclosure is given by $$P = \frac { 1000 } { x } + \frac { x } { 12 } ( 4 \pi + 36 - 3 \sqrt { 3 } )$$
  4. Use calculus to find the minimum value of \(P\), giving your answer to the nearest metre.
  5. Justify, by further differentiation, that the value of \(P\) you have found is a minimum.
Edexcel C2 2017 June Q10
10 marks Standard +0.3
10. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{752efc6c-8d0e-46a6-b75d-5125956969d8-28_761_1120_258_411} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 2}
\end{figure} Figure 2 shows a sketch of part of the curve with equation $$y = 4 x ^ { 3 } + 9 x ^ { 2 } - 30 x - 8 , \quad - 0.5 \leqslant x \leqslant 2.2$$ The curve has a turning point at the point \(A\).
  1. Using calculus, show that the \(x\) coordinate of \(A\) is 1 The curve crosses the \(x\)-axis at the points \(B ( 2,0 )\) and \(C \left( - \frac { 1 } { 4 } , 0 \right)\) The finite region \(R\), shown shaded in Figure 2, is bounded by the curve, the line \(A B\), and the \(x\)-axis.
  2. Use integration to find the area of the finite region \(R\), giving your answer to 2 decimal places.
Edexcel C2 2018 June Q9
12 marks Standard +0.3
9. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{8daf56fa-bfce-454e-bbb8-fecd8170d77e-28_751_876_214_539} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 3}
\end{figure} Figure 3 shows a sketch of part of the curve with equation $$y = 7 x ^ { 2 } ( 5 - 2 \sqrt { x } ) , \quad x \geqslant 0$$ The curve has a turning point at the point \(A\), where \(x > 0\), as shown in Figure 3.
  1. Using calculus, find the coordinates of the point \(A\). The curve crosses the \(x\)-axis at the point \(B\), as shown in Figure 3.
  2. Use algebra to find the \(x\) coordinate of the point \(B\). The finite region \(R\), shown shaded in Figure 3, is bounded by the curve, the line through \(A\) parallel to the \(x\)-axis and the line through \(B\) parallel to the \(y\)-axis.
  3. Use integration to find the area of the region \(R\), giving your answer to 2 decimal places.
    END
Edexcel C2 Specimen Q9
13 marks Standard +0.3
9. Figure 3 $$( x + 1 ) ^ { 2 }$$ Figure 3 shows a triangle \(P Q R\). The size of angle \(Q P R\) is \(30 ^ { \circ }\), the length of \(P Q\) is \(( x + 1 )\) and the length of \(P R\) is \(( 4 - x ) ^ { 2 }\), where \(X \in \Re\).
  1. Show that the area \(A\) of the triangle is given by \(A = \frac { 1 } { 4 } \left( x ^ { 3 } - 7 x ^ { 2 } + 8 x + 16 \right)\)
  2. Use calculus to prove that the area of \(\triangle P Q R\) is a maximum when \(x = \frac { 2 } { 3 }\). Explain clearly how you know that this value of \(x\) gives the maximum area.
  3. Find the maximum area of \(\triangle P Q R\).
  4. Find the length of \(Q R\) when the area of \(\triangle P Q R\) is a maximum. END
Edexcel P3 2020 January Q4
11 marks Standard +0.3
4. (i) $$f ( x ) = \frac { ( 2 x + 5 ) ^ { 2 } } { x - 3 } \quad x \neq 3$$
  1. Find \(\mathrm { f } ^ { \prime } ( x )\) in the form \(\frac { P ( x ) } { Q ( x ) }\) where \(P ( x )\) and \(Q ( x )\) are fully factorised quadratic expressions.
  2. Hence find the range of values of \(x\) for which \(\mathrm { f } ( x )\) is increasing.
    (ii) $$g ( x ) = x \sqrt { \sin 4 x } \quad 0 \leqslant x < \frac { \pi } { 4 }$$ The curve with equation \(y = g ( x )\) has a maximum at the point \(M\). Show that the \(x\) coordinate of \(M\) satisfies the equation $$\tan 4 x + k x = 0$$ where \(k\) is a constant to be found.
Edexcel P3 2020 January Q7
11 marks Standard +0.3
7. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{1c700103-ecab-4a08-b411-3f445ed88885-22_707_1047_264_463} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 3}
\end{figure} Figure 3 shows a sketch of part of the curve with equation $$y = 2 \cos 3 x - 3 x + 4 \quad x > 0$$ where \(x\) is measured in radians. The curve crosses the \(x\)-axis at the point \(P\), as shown in Figure 3.
Given that the \(x\) coordinate of \(P\) is \(\alpha\),
  1. show that \(\alpha\) lies between 0.8 and 0.9 The iteration formula $$x _ { n + 1 } = \frac { 1 } { 3 } \arccos \left( 1.5 x _ { n } - 2 \right)$$ can be used to find an approximate value for \(\alpha\).
  2. Using this iteration formula with \(x _ { 1 } = 0.8\) find, to 4 decimal places, the value of
    1. \(X _ { 2 }\)
    2. \(X _ { 5 }\) The point \(Q\) and the point \(R\) are local minimum points on the curve, as shown in Figure 3.
      Given that the \(x\) coordinates of \(Q\) and \(R\) are \(\beta\) and \(\lambda\) respectively, and that they are the two smallest values of \(x\) at which local minima occur,
  3. find, using calculus, the exact value of \(\beta\) and the exact value of \(\lambda\).
Edexcel P3 2022 January Q1
4 marks Moderate -0.8
  1. Find, using calculus, the \(x\) coordinate of the stationary point on the curve with equation
$$y = ( 2 x + 5 ) e ^ { 3 x }$$
Edexcel P3 2022 January Q5
9 marks Standard +0.3
5. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{f3272b4c-d8dc-4f32-add9-153de90f4d0a-10_620_622_210_662} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 1}
\end{figure} Figure 1 shows a sketch of part of the curve with equation $$y = 6 \ln ( 2 x + 3 ) - \frac { 1 } { 2 } x ^ { 2 } + 4 \quad x > - \frac { 3 } { 2 }$$ The curve cuts the negative \(x\)-axis at the point \(P\), as shown in Figure 1.
  1. Show that the \(x\) coordinate of \(P\) lies in the interval \([ - 1.25 , - 1.2 ]\) The curve cuts the positive \(x\)-axis at the point \(Q\), also shown in Figure 1.
    Using the iterative formula $$x _ { n + 1 } = \sqrt { 12 \ln \left( 2 x _ { n } + 3 \right) + 8 } \text { with } x _ { 1 } = 6$$
    1. find, to 4 decimal places, the value of \(x _ { 2 }\)
    2. find, by continued iteration, the \(x\) coordinate of \(Q\). Give your answer to 4 decimal places. The curve has a maximum turning point at \(M\), as shown in Figure 1.
  2. Using calculus and showing each stage of your working, find the \(x\) coordinate of \(M\).
Edexcel P3 2022 January Q6
11 marks Standard +0.3
6. The function f is defined by $$f ( x ) = \frac { 5 x - 3 } { x - 4 } \quad x > 4$$
  1. Show, by using calculus, that f is a decreasing function.
  2. Find \(\mathrm { f } ^ { - 1 }\)
    1. Show that \(\mathrm { ff } ( x ) = \frac { a x + b } { x + c }\) where \(a , b\) and \(c\) are constants to be found.
    2. Deduce the range of ff.
Edexcel P3 2022 January Q10
7 marks Challenging +1.2
10. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{f3272b4c-d8dc-4f32-add9-153de90f4d0a-30_661_743_210_603} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 3}
\end{figure} Figure 3 shows a sketch of the curve \(C\) with equation $$x = y \mathrm { e } ^ { 2 y } \quad y \in \mathbb { R }$$
  1. Show that $$\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x } = \frac { y } { x ( 1 + 2 y ) }$$ Given that the straight line with equation \(x = k\), where \(k\) is a constant, cuts \(C\) at exactly two points,
  2. find the range of possible values for \(k\).
Edexcel P3 2024 January Q4
13 marks Standard +0.3
  1. The function f is defined by
$$f ( x ) = \frac { 2 x ^ { 2 } - 32 } { 3 x ^ { 2 } + 7 x - 20 } + \frac { 8 } { 3 x - 5 } \quad x \in \mathbb { R } \quad x > 2$$
  1. Show that \(\mathrm { f } ( x ) = \frac { 2 x } { 3 x - 5 }\)
  2. Show, using calculus, that f is a decreasing function. You must make your reasoning clear. The function g is defined by $$g ( x ) = 3 + 2 \ln x \quad x \geqslant 1$$
  3. Find \(\mathrm { g } ^ { - 1 }\)
  4. Find the exact value of \(a\) for which $$\operatorname { gf } ( a ) = 5$$
Edexcel P3 2024 January Q6
7 marks Challenging +1.2
6. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{76989f19-2624-4e86-a8ee-4978dd1014c2-14_741_844_258_612} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 1}
\end{figure} In this question you must show all stages of your working. Solutions relying entirely on calculator technology are not acceptable. Figure 1 shows a sketch of the curve with equation \(y = \mathrm { f } ( x )\), where $$f ( x ) = 2 e ^ { 3 \sin x } \cos x \quad 0 \leqslant x \leqslant 2 \pi$$ The curve intersects the \(x\)-axis at point \(R\), as shown in Figure 1.
  1. State the coordinates of \(R\) The curve has two turning points, at point \(P\) and point \(Q\), also shown in Figure 1.
  2. Show that, at points \(P\) and \(Q\), $$a \sin ^ { 2 } x + b \sin x + c = 0$$ where \(a\), \(b\) and \(c\) are integers to be found.
  3. Hence find the \(x\) coordinate of point \(Q\), giving your answer to 3 decimal places.
Edexcel P3 2024 January Q7
12 marks Moderate -0.3
  1. In this question you must show all stages of your working.
\section*{Solutions relying entirely on calculator technology are not acceptable.} The curve \(C\) has equation $$y = \frac { 16 } { 9 ( 3 x - k ) } \quad x \neq \frac { k } { 3 }$$ where \(k\) is a positive constant not equal to 3
  1. Find \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x }\) giving your answer in simplest form in terms of \(k\). The point \(P\) with \(x\) coordinate 1 lies on \(C\).
    Given that the gradient of the curve at \(P\) is - 12
  2. find the two possible values of \(k\) Given also that \(k < 3\)
  3. find the equation of the normal to \(C\) at \(P\), writing your answer in the form \(a x + b y + c = 0\), where \(a\), \(b\) and \(c\) are integers to be found.
  4. show, using algebraic integration that, $$\int _ { 1 } ^ { 3 } \frac { 16 } { 9 ( 3 x - k ) } d x = \lambda \ln 10$$ where \(\lambda\) is a constant to be found.
Edexcel P3 2022 June Q6
10 marks Standard +0.3
6. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{44035bf8-f54c-472a-b969-b4fa4fa3d203-18_579_643_255_653} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 3}
\end{figure} \section*{In this question you must show all stages of your working.} Solutions relying entirely on calculator technology are not acceptable. The function f is defined by $$f ( x ) = 5 \left( x ^ { 2 } - 2 \right) ( 4 x + 9 ) ^ { \frac { 1 } { 2 } } \quad x \geqslant - \frac { 9 } { 4 }$$
  1. Show that $$f ^ { \prime } ( x ) = \frac { k \left( 5 x ^ { 2 } + 9 x - 2 \right) } { ( 4 x + 9 ) ^ { \frac { 1 } { 2 } } }$$ where \(k\) is an integer to be found.
  2. Hence, find the values of \(x\) for which \(\mathrm { f } ^ { \prime } ( x ) = 0\) Figure 3 shows a sketch of the curve \(C\) with equation \(y = \mathrm { f } ( x )\). The curve has a local maximum at the point \(P\)
  3. Find the exact coordinates of \(P\) The function g is defined by $$g ( x ) = 2 f ( x ) + 4 \quad - \frac { 9 } { 4 } \leqslant x \leqslant 0$$
  4. Find the range of g
Edexcel P3 2023 June Q8
9 marks Moderate -0.3
8. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{bef290fb-fbac-4c9c-981e-5e323ac7182e-22_687_698_255_685} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 3}
\end{figure} Figure 3 shows a sketch of the curve \(C\) with equation \(y = \mathrm { f } ( x )\), where $$f ( x ) = ( 2 x + 1 ) ^ { 3 } e ^ { - 4 x }$$
  1. Show that $$\mathrm { f } ^ { \prime } ( x ) = A ( 2 x + 1 ) ^ { 2 } ( 1 - 4 x ) \mathrm { e } ^ { - 4 x }$$ where \(A\) is a constant to be found.
  2. Hence find the exact coordinates of the two stationary points on \(C\). The function g is defined by $$g ( x ) = 8 f ( x - 2 )$$
  3. Find the coordinates of the maximum stationary point on the curve with equation \(y = g ( x )\).
Edexcel P3 2024 June Q8
10 marks Standard +0.3
8. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{5a695b86-1660-4c06-ac96-4cdb07af9a2e-26_499_551_246_758} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 4}
\end{figure} Figure 4 is a graph showing the path of a golf ball after the ball has been hit until it first hits the ground. The vertical height, \(h\) metres, of the ball above the ground has been plotted against the horizontal distance travelled, \(x\) metres, measured from where the ball was hit. The ball travels a horizontal distance of \(d\) metres before it first hits the ground.
The ball is modelled as a particle travelling in a vertical plane above horizontal ground.
The path of the ball is modelled by the equation $$h = 1.5 x - 0.5 x \mathrm { e } ^ { 0.02 x } \quad 0 \leqslant x \leqslant d$$ \section*{Use the model to answer parts (a), (b) and (c).}
  1. Find the value of \(d\), giving your answer to 2 decimal places.
    (Solutions relying entirely on calculator technology are not acceptable.)
  2. Show that the maximum value of \(h\) occurs when $$x = 50 \ln \left( \frac { 150 } { x + 50 } \right)$$ Using the iteration formula $$x _ { n + 1 } = 50 \ln \left( \frac { 150 } { x _ { n } + 50 } \right) \quad \text { with } x _ { 1 } = 30$$
    1. find the value of \(x _ { 2 }\) to 2 decimal places,
    2. find, by repeated iteration, the horizontal distance travelled by the golf ball before it reaches its maximum height. Give your answer to 2 decimal places. \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{5a695b86-1660-4c06-ac96-4cdb07af9a2e-26_2270_56_309_1981}
Edexcel P3 2021 October Q6
8 marks Standard +0.3
6. (i) The curve \(C _ { 1 }\) has equation $$y = 3 \ln \left( x ^ { 2 } - 5 \right) - 4 x ^ { 2 } + 15 \quad x > \sqrt { 5 }$$ Show that \(C _ { 1 }\) has a stationary point at \(x = \frac { \sqrt { p } } { 2 }\) where \(p\) is a constant to be found.
(ii) A different curve \(C _ { 2 }\) has equation $$y = 4 x - 12 \sin ^ { 2 } x$$
  1. Show that, for this curve, $$\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x } = A + B \sin 2 x$$ where \(A\) and \(B\) are constants to be found.
  2. Hence, state the maximum gradient of this curve.
Edexcel P3 2022 October Q3
7 marks Standard +0.3
3. In this question you must show all stages of your working. Solutions relying entirely on calculator technology are not acceptable. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{83e12fa4-1abb-4bea-bff4-8d36757bd9c3-08_535_839_402_555} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 1}
\end{figure} Figure 1 shows a sketch of part of the curve with equation \(y = \mathrm { f } ( x )\) where $$\mathrm { f } ( x ) = ( x - 2 ) ^ { 2 } \mathrm { e } ^ { 3 x } \quad x \in \mathbb { R }$$ The curve has a maximum turning point at \(A\) and a minimum turning point at \(( 2,0 )\)
  1. Use calculus to find the exact coordinates of \(A\). Given that the equation \(\mathrm { f } ( x ) = k\), where \(k\) is a constant, has at least two distinct roots,
  2. state the range of possible values for \(k\).
Edexcel P3 2023 October Q5
7 marks Standard +0.3
  1. The curve \(C\) has equation
$$y = \frac { \ln \left( x ^ { 2 } + k \right) } { x ^ { 2 } + k } \quad x \in \mathbb { R }$$ where \(k\) is a positive constant.
  1. Show that $$\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x } = \frac { A x \left( B - \ln \left( x ^ { 2 } + k \right) \right) } { \left( x ^ { 2 } + k \right) ^ { 2 } }$$ where \(A\) and \(B\) are constants to be found. Given that \(C\) has exactly three turning points,
  2. find the \(x\) coordinate of each of these points. Give your answer in terms of \(k\) where appropriate.
  3. find the upper limit to the value for \(k\).