Find stationary points of standard polynomial

Questions requiring differentiation to find coordinates of stationary points on polynomial curves (cubic, quartic etc.) with justification of nature using second derivative or sign change, where the function is a standard polynomial expression.

7 questions · Moderate -0.4

1.07n Stationary points: find maxima, minima using derivatives
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CAIE P1 2020 Specimen Q12
13 marks Moderate -0.5
12 \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{9803d51b-215e-4d03-884f-a67fb7ed6442-20_524_972_274_548} The diagram shows the curve with equation \(y = x ( x - 2 ) ^ { 2 }\). The minimum point on the curve has coordinates \(( a , 0 )\) and the \(x\)-coordinate of the maximum point is \(b\), where \(a\) and \(b\) are constants.
  1. State the value of \(a\).
  2. Calculate the value of \(b\).
  3. Find the area of the shaded region.
  4. The gradient, \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x }\), of the curve has a minimum value \(m\). Calculate the value of \(m\).
Edexcel C12 2016 October Q12
11 marks Moderate -0.3
12. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{53865e15-3838-4551-b507-fe49549b87db-32_748_883_274_477} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 2}
\end{figure} Diagram not drawn to scale Figure 2 shows a sketch of the curve with equation \(y = \mathrm { f } ( x )\), where $$f ( x ) = \frac { x ^ { 3 } - 9 x ^ { 2 } - 81 x } { 27 }$$ The curve crosses the \(x\)-axis at the point \(A\), the point \(B\) and the origin \(O\). The curve has a maximum turning point at \(C\) and a minimum turning point at \(D\).
  1. Use algebra to find exact values for the \(x\) coordinates of the points \(A\) and \(B\).
  2. Use calculus to find the coordinates of the points \(C\) and \(D\). The graph of \(y = \mathrm { f } ( x + a )\), where \(a\) is a constant, has its minimum turning point on the \(y\)-axis.
  3. Write down the value of \(a\). \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{53865e15-3838-4551-b507-fe49549b87db-35_29_37_182_1914}
OCR C1 Q8
10 marks Moderate -0.3
  1. \(f ( x ) = 2 + 6 x ^ { 2 } - x ^ { 3 }\).
    1. Find the coordinates of the stationary points of the curve \(y = \mathrm { f } ( x )\).
    2. Determine whether each stationary point is a maximum or minimum point.
    3. Sketch the curve \(y = \mathrm { f } ( x )\).
    4. State the set of values of \(k\) for which the equation \(\mathrm { f } ( x ) = k\) has three solutions.
    5. The points \(P\) and \(Q\) have coordinates \(( 7,4 )\) and \(( 9,7 )\) respectively.
OCR MEI C2 Q9
13 marks Moderate -0.3
9 The equation of a curve is given by \(y = ( x - 1 ) ^ { 2 } ( x + 2 )\).
  1. Write \(( x - 1 ) ^ { 2 } ( x + 2 )\) in the form \(x ^ { 3 } + p x ^ { 2 } + q x + r\) where \(p , q\) and \(r\) are to be determined.
  2. Show that the curve \(y = ( x - 1 ) ^ { 2 } ( x + 2 )\) has a maximum point when \(x = - 1\) and find the coordinates of the minimum point.
  3. Sketch the curve \(y = ( x - 1 ) ^ { 2 } ( x + 2 )\).
  4. For what values of \(k\) does \(( x - 1 ) ^ { 2 } ( x + 2 ) = k\) have exactly one root.
OCR C1 2012 January Q7
12 marks Moderate -0.3
7 A curve has equation \(y = ( x + 2 ) \left( x ^ { 2 } - 3 x + 5 \right)\).
  1. Find the coordinates of the minimum point, justifying that it is a minimum.
  2. Calculate the discriminant of \(x ^ { 2 } - 3 x + 5\).
  3. Explain why \(( x + 2 ) \left( x ^ { 2 } - 3 x + 5 \right)\) is always positive for \(x > - 2\).
Edexcel C2 Q3
8 marks Moderate -0.8
3. Given that \(\mathrm { f } ( x ) = 15 - 7 x - 2 x ^ { 2 }\),
  1. find the coordinates of all points at which the graph of \(y = \mathrm { f } ( x )\) crosses the coordinate axes.
  2. Sketch the graph of \(y = \mathrm { f } ( x )\).
  3. Calculate the coordinates of the stationary point of \(\mathrm { f } ( x )\).
    [0pt] [P1 June 2002 Question 3]
OCR MEI C2 2008 June Q11
12 marks Moderate -0.3
\includegraphics{figure_11} Fig. 11 shows a sketch of the cubic curve \(y = \text{f}(x)\). The values of \(x\) where it crosses the \(x\)-axis are \(-5\), \(-2\) and \(2\), and it crosses the \(y\)-axis at \((0, -20)\).
  1. Express f(\(x\)) in factorised form. [2]
  2. Show that the equation of the curve may be written as \(y = x^3 + 5x^2 - 4x - 20\). [2]
  3. Use calculus to show that, correct to 1 decimal place, the \(x\)-coordinate of the minimum point on the curve is 0.4. Find also the coordinates of the maximum point on the curve, giving your answers correct to 1 decimal place. [6]
  4. State, correct to 1 decimal place, the coordinates of the maximum point on the curve \(y = \text{f}(2x)\). [2]