Stationary points of curves

A question is this type if and only if it requires finding stationary points or coordinates where dy/dx equals a specific value on a curve defined by harmonic expressions.

5 questions · Standard +0.7

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CAIE P2 2016 November Q3
6 marks Standard +0.3
3 A curve has equation \(y = 2 \sin 2 x - 5 \cos 2 x + 6\) and is defined for \(0 \leqslant x \leqslant \pi\). Find the \(x\)-coordinates of the stationary points of the curve, giving your answers correct to 3 significant figures.
CAIE P2 2018 November Q7
10 marks Standard +0.8
7 \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{6bf7ba66-8362-4ac0-8e5c-3f88a3ccdf86-12_424_488_260_826} The diagram shows the curve with equation \(y = \sin 2 x + 3 \cos 2 x\) for \(0 \leqslant x \leqslant \pi\). At the points \(P\) and \(Q\) on the curve, the gradient of the curve is 3 .
  1. Find an expression for \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x }\).
  2. By first expressing \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x }\) in the form \(R \cos ( 2 x + \alpha )\), where \(R > 0\) and \(0 < \alpha < \frac { 1 } { 2 } \pi\), find the \(x\)-coordinates of \(P\) and \(Q\), giving your answers correct to 4 significant figures.
    If you use the following lined page to complete the answer(s) to any question(s), the question number(s) must be clearly shown.
CAIE P2 2018 November Q7
10 marks Standard +0.8
7 \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{1b410c91-2fe9-46cf-8478-631b4165f98d-12_424_488_260_826} The diagram shows the curve with equation \(y = \sin 2 x + 3 \cos 2 x\) for \(0 \leqslant x \leqslant \pi\). At the points \(P\) and \(Q\) on the curve, the gradient of the curve is 3 .
  1. Find an expression for \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x }\).
  2. By first expressing \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x }\) in the form \(R \cos ( 2 x + \alpha )\), where \(R > 0\) and \(0 < \alpha < \frac { 1 } { 2 } \pi\), find the \(x\)-coordinates of \(P\) and \(Q\), giving your answers correct to 4 significant figures.
    If you use the following lined page to complete the answer(s) to any question(s), the question number(s) must be clearly shown.
Edexcel C3 2014 January Q5
9 marks Standard +0.3
5. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{6f22eb1b-21de-45f1-9a8a-deac7ac8d0b0-14_646_1013_207_532} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 1}
\end{figure} The curve shown in Figure 1 has equation $$x = 3 \sin y + 3 \cos y , \quad - \frac { \pi } { 4 } < y < \frac { \pi } { 4 }$$
  1. Express the equation of the curve in the form \(x = R \sin ( y + \alpha )\), where \(R\) and \(\alpha\) are constants, \(R > 0\) and \(0 < \alpha < \frac { \pi } { 2 }\)
  2. Find the coordinates of the point on the curve where the value of \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x }\) is \(\frac { 1 } { 2 }\). Give your answers to 3 decimal places.
Edexcel FP1 Specimen Q8
15 marks Challenging +1.2
8. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{a52911da-4b69-4d86-975e-d10e3a481e1d-16_407_1100_201_484} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 1}
\end{figure} Figure 1 shows the graph of the function \(\mathrm { h } ( x )\) with equation $$h ( x ) = 45 + 15 \sin x + 21 \sin \left( \frac { x } { 2 } \right) + 25 \cos \left( \frac { x } { 2 } \right) \quad x \in [ 0,40 ]$$
  1. Show that $$\frac { \mathrm { d } h } { \mathrm {~d} x } = \frac { \left( t ^ { 2 } - 6 t - 17 \right) \left( 9 t ^ { 2 } + 4 t - 3 \right) } { 2 \left( 1 + t ^ { 2 } \right) ^ { 2 } }$$ where \(t = \tan \left( \frac { x } { 4 } \right)\). \begin{figure}[h]
    \includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{a52911da-4b69-4d86-975e-d10e3a481e1d-16_581_1403_1263_331} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 2}
    \end{figure} Source: \({ } ^ { 1 }\) Data taken on 29th December 2016 from \href{http://www.ukho.gov.uk/easytide/EasyTide}{http://www.ukho.gov.uk/easytide/EasyTide} Figure 2 shows a graph of predicted tide heights, in metres, for Portland harbour from 08:00 on the 3rd January 2017 to the end of the 4th January \(2017 { } ^ { 1 }\). The graph of \(k \mathrm {~h} ( x )\), where \(k\) is a constant and \(x\) is the number of hours after 08:00 on 3rd of January, can be used to model the predicted tide heights, in metres, for this period of time.
    1. Suggest a value of \(k\) that could be used for the graph of \(k \mathrm {~h} ( x )\) to form a suitable model.
    2. Why may such a model be suitable to predict the times when the tide heights are at their peaks, but not to predict the heights of these peaks?
  2. Use Figure 2 and the result of part (a) to estimate, to the nearest minute, the time of the highest tide height on the 4th January 2017.