Increasing/decreasing intervals

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

29 questions

CAIE P1 2020 March Q1
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
5 Find the set of values of \(x\) for which \(x ^ { 2 } - 7 x\) is a decreasing function.
OCR MEI C2 Q10
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 Find the set of values of \(x\) for which \(x ^ { 2 } - 7 x\) is a decreasing function.
OCR MEI C2 2013 January Q6
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 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
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
  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
  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
  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 Q3
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
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
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
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
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.