Increasing/decreasing intervals

Determine the ranges of x-values where a function is increasing or decreasing using the first derivative.

29 questions · Moderate -0.5

CAIE P1 2020 March Q1
3 marks Standard +0.3
1 The function f is defined by \(\mathrm { f } ( x ) = \frac { 1 } { 3 x + 2 } + x ^ { 2 }\) for \(x < - 1\).
Determine whether f is an increasing function, a decreasing function or neither.
CAIE P1 2013 June Q1
3 marks Moderate -0.8
1 It is given that \(\mathrm { f } ( x ) = ( 2 x - 5 ) ^ { 3 } + x\), for \(x \in \mathbb { R }\). Show that f is an increasing function.
CAIE P1 2011 November Q2
3 marks Moderate -0.8
2 A curve has equation \(y = 3 x ^ { 3 } - 6 x ^ { 2 } + 4 x + 2\). Show that the gradient of the curve is never negative.
CAIE P1 2012 November Q2
3 marks Moderate -0.8
2 It is given that \(\mathrm { f } ( x ) = \frac { 1 } { x ^ { 3 } } - x ^ { 3 }\), for \(x > 0\). Show that f is a decreasing function.
Edexcel C12 2017 January Q1
7 marks Moderate -0.8
Given \(y = \frac { x ^ { 3 } } { 3 } - 2 x ^ { 2 } + 3 x + 5\)
  1. find \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x }\), simplifying each term.
  2. Hence find the set of values of \(x\) for which \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x } > 0\)
OCR C1 Q3
5 marks Moderate -0.3
3. $$f ( x ) = x ^ { 3 } + 4 x ^ { 2 } - 3 x + 7$$ Find the set of values of \(x\) for which \(\mathrm { f } ( x )\) is increasing.
OCR C1 Q2
4 marks Moderate -0.8
2. $$f ( x ) = 2 - x - x ^ { 3 } .$$ Show that \(\mathrm { f } ( x )\) is decreasing for all values of \(x\).
OCR MEI C2 2007 January Q7
3 marks Moderate -0.8
7 The gradient of a curve is given by \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x } = x ^ { 2 } - 6 x\). Find the set of values of \(x\) for which \(y\) is an increasing function of \(x\).
OCR MEI C2 Q2
5 marks Moderate -0.3
2 Use calculus to find the set of values of \(x\) for which \(x ^ { 3 } - 6 x\) is an increasing function.
OCR MEI C2 Q9
3 marks Moderate -0.5
9 Use calculus to find the set of values of \(x\) for which \(\mathrm { f } ( x ) = 12 x - x ^ { 3 }\) is an increasing function.
OCR MEI C2 Q4
4 marks Moderate -0.5
4 Differentiate \(2 x ^ { 3 } + 9 x ^ { 2 } - 24 x\). Hence find the set of values of \(x\) for which the function \(\mathrm { f } ( x ) = 2 x ^ { 3 } + 9 x ^ { 2 } - 24 x\) is increasing.
OCR MEI C2 Q5
3 marks Moderate -0.8
5 Find the set of values of \(x\) for which \(x ^ { 2 } - 7 x\) is a decreasing function.
OCR MEI C2 Q10
3 marks Moderate -0.8
10 The gradient of a curve is given by \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x } = x ^ { 2 } - 6 x\). Find the set of values of \(x\) for which \(y\) is an increasing function of \(x\).
OCR MEI C2 2012 January Q3
3 marks Moderate -0.8
3 Find the set of values of \(x\) for which \(x ^ { 2 } - 7 x\) is a decreasing function.
OCR MEI C2 2013 January Q6
4 marks Moderate -0.8
6 Differentiate \(2 x ^ { 3 } + 9 x ^ { 2 } - 24 x\). Hence find the set of values of \(x\) for which the function \(\mathrm { f } ( x ) = 2 x ^ { 3 } + 9 x ^ { 2 } - 24 x\) is increasing.
OCR MEI C2 2015 June Q5
5 marks Moderate -0.3
5 Use calculus to find the set of values of \(x\) for which \(x ^ { 3 } - 6 x\) is an increasing function.
AQA AS Paper 1 Specimen Q11
7 marks Standard +0.3
11 Chris claims that, "for any given value of \(x\), the gradient of the curve
\(y = 2 x ^ { 3 } + 6 x ^ { 2 } - 12 x + 3\) is always greater than the gradient of the curve
\(y = 1 + 60 x - 6 x ^ { 2 \prime \prime }\).
Show that Chris is wrong by finding all the values of \(x\) for which his claim is not true.
[0pt] [7 marks]
Edexcel AS Paper 1 2019 June Q5
5 marks Moderate -0.3
  1. A curve has equation
$$y = 3 x ^ { 2 } + \frac { 24 } { x } + 2 \quad x > 0$$
  1. Find, in simplest form, \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x }\)
  2. Hence find the exact range of values of \(x\) for which the curve is increasing.
Edexcel AS Paper 1 2023 June Q1
6 marks Moderate -0.8
  1. A curve has equation
$$y = \frac { 2 } { 3 } x ^ { 3 } - \frac { 7 } { 2 } x ^ { 2 } - 4 x + 5$$
  1. Find \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x }\) writing your answer in simplest form.
  2. Hence find the range of values of \(x\) for which \(y\) is decreasing.
Edexcel AS Paper 1 Specimen Q1
6 marks Moderate -0.8
  1. A curve has equation
$$y = 2 x ^ { 3 } - 2 x ^ { 2 } - 2 x + 8$$
  1. Find \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x }\)
  2. Hence find the range of values of \(x\) for which \(y\) is increasing. Write your answer in set notation.
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OCR PURE 2023 May Q3
4 marks Moderate -0.8
3 The diagram shows the graph of \(y = \mathrm { f } ( x )\), where \(\mathrm { f } ( x )\) is a quadratic function of \(x\).
A copy of the diagram is given in the Printed Answer Booklet.
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  1. On the copy of the diagram in the Printed Answer Booklet, draw a possible graph of the gradient function \(y = \mathrm { f } ^ { \prime } ( x )\).
  2. State the gradient of the graph of \(y = \mathrm { f } ^ { \prime \prime } ( x )\).
OCR MEI AS Paper 1 2019 June Q10
7 marks Moderate -0.3
10 In this question you must show detailed reasoning.
  1. Sketch the gradient function for the curve \(y = 24 x - 3 x ^ { 2 } - x ^ { 3 }\).
  2. Determine the set of values of \(x\) for which \(24 x - 3 x ^ { 2 } - x ^ { 3 }\) is decreasing.
OCR MEI AS Paper 2 2024 June Q13
5 marks Moderate -0.8
13 Determine the range of values of \(x\) for which \(y = 4 x ^ { 3 } + 7 x ^ { 2 } - 6 x + 8\) is a decreasing function.
AQA C1 2012 June Q7
15 marks Moderate -0.8
7 The gradient, \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x }\), of a curve \(C\) at the point \(( x , y )\) is given by $$\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x } = 20 x - 6 x ^ { 2 } - 16$$
    1. Show that \(y\) is increasing when \(3 x ^ { 2 } - 10 x + 8 < 0\).
    2. Solve the inequality \(3 x ^ { 2 } - 10 x + 8 < 0\).
  1. The curve \(C\) passes through the point \(P ( 2,3 )\).
    1. Verify that the tangent to the curve at \(P\) is parallel to the \(x\)-axis.
    2. The point \(Q ( 3 , - 1 )\) also lies on the curve. The normal to the curve at \(Q\) and the tangent to the curve at \(P\) intersect at the point \(R\). Find the coordinates of \(R\).
      (7 marks)
Edexcel C2 Q2
5 marks Moderate -0.3
2. $$f ( x ) = x ^ { 3 } + 4 x ^ { 2 } - 3 x + 7$$ Find the set of values of \(x\) for which \(\mathrm { f } ( x )\) is increasing.