Questions on Rate of Change

Q1.

Figure 1 shows a hemispherical bowl.

Water is flowing into the bowl at a constant rate of 180 cm3s–1.

When the height of the water is h cm, the volume of water V cm3 is given by

Find the rate of change of the height of the water, in cm s–1, when h = 15
Give your answer to 2 significant figures.

(Total for question = 5 marks)

Q2.

Figure 3 shows a container in the shape of an inverted right circular cone which contains some water.

The cone has an internal radius of 3 m and a vertical height of 5 m as shown in Figure 3.

At time t seconds, the height of the water is h metres, the volume of the water is V m3 and water is
leaking from a hole in the bottom of the container at a constant rate of 0.02 m3 s–1

[The volume of a cone of radius r and height h isπr2h.]

(a) Show that, while the water is leaking,

where k is a constant to be found.

(5)
Given that the container is initially full of water,

(b) express h in terms of t.

(3)
(c) Find the time taken for the container to empty, giving your answer to the nearest minute.
(2)

(Total for question = 10 marks)

Q3.
A population of insects is being studied. The number of insects, N, in the population, is modelled by the
equation

where t is the time, in weeks, from the start of the study.

Using the model,

(a) find the number of insects at the start of the study,

(1)
(b) find the number of insects when t = 10,
(2)
(c) find the time from the start of the study when there are 82 insects.
(Solutions based entirely on graphical or numerical methods are not acceptable.)
(4)
(d) Find, by differentiating, the rate, measured in insects per week, at which the number of insects is
increasing when t = 5. Give your answer to the nearest whole number.
(3)

(Total for question = 10 marks)

Q4.

A curve has equation

4x2 − y2 + 2xy + 5 = 0

The points P and Q lie on the curve.

Given that = 2 at P and at Q,

(a) use implicit differentiation to show that y − 6x = 0 at P and at Q.

(6)
(b) Hence find the coordinates of P and Q.
(3)

(Total for question = 9 marks)

Q5.

(a) Given that

 find the values of the constants A and B.
(4)
(b) Hence, or otherwise, find the equation of the tangent to the curve with equation y = g(x) at the point
where x = 4. Give your answer in the form y = mx + c, where m and c are constants to be determined.
(5)

(Total for question = 9 marks)

Q6.

The curve C satisfies the equation

x e5– 2y – y = 0 x > 0, y > 0.

The point P with coordinates (2e–1, 2) lies on C.

The tangent to C at P cuts the x-axis at the point A and cuts the y-axis at the point B.

Given that O is the origin, find the exact area of triangle OAB, giving your answer in its simplest form.

(Total for question = 7 marks)

Q7.

(i) Given x = tan2 4y, 0 < y < , find as a function of x.

Write your answer in the form where A, p and q are constants to

be found.
(5)

(ii) The volume V of a cube is increasing at a constant rate of 2 cm3 s–1. Find the
rate at which the length of the edge of the cube is increasing when the volume of
the cube is 64 cm3.
(5)

(Total for question = 10 marks)

Q8.

Figure 3 shows a sketch of part of the curve C with equation

Point A is the minimum turning point on the curve.

(a) Show, by using calculus, that the x coordinate of point A is a solution of

(5)
(b) Starting with x0 = 2.27, use the iteration

to calculate the values of x1, x2 and x3, giving your answers to 3 decimal places.

(3)
(c) Use your answer to part (b) to deduce the coordinates of point A to one decimal place.
(2)

(Total for question = 10 marks)

Q9.

The curve C has equation

The point P on C has x coordinate 3

Find an equation of the normal to C at the point P in the form ax + by + c = 0, where a, b

and c are integers.
(6)

(Total for question = 6 marks)

Q10.

Figure 4 shows a right circular cylindrical rod which is expanding as it is heated.

At time t seconds the radius of the rod is x cm and the length of the rod is 6x cm.

Given that the cross-sectional area of the rod is increasing at a constant rate of cm2 s−1, find the rate
of increase of the volume of the rod when x = 2

Write your answer in the form kπ cm3 s−1 where k is a rational number.
(6)

(Total for question = 6 marks)

Q11.

A curve C has equation

3x + 6y = xy2

Find the exact value of at the point on C with coordinates (2, 3). Give your answer in the form , where a
and b are integers.
(7)

(Total for question = 7 marks)

Q12.

Find the set of values of x for which f ′(x) > 0

You must show your working.

(Solutions based entirely on graphical or numerical methods are not acceptable.)

(6)

(Total for question = 6 marks)

Q13.

(a) Prove, by using logarithms, that

(3)

The curve C has the equation

2x + 3y2 + 3x2y + 12 = 4 × 2x

The point P, with coordinates (2, 0), lies on C.

(b) Find an equation of the tangent to C at P.

(6)
 (Total for question = 9 marks)

Q14.

A curve C has the equation

x3 − 3xy − x + y3 − 11 = 0

Find an equation of the tangent to C at the point (2, –1), giving your answer in the form ax + by + c = 0,
where a, b and c are integers.
(6)

(Total for question = 6 marks)

Q15.

Given that

show that

where a is a constant to be determined.

(4)

(Total for question = 4 marks)

Q16.

The volume V of a spherical balloon is increasing at a constant rate of 250 cm3 s–1. Find the rate of
increase of the radius of the balloon, in cm s–1, at the instant when the volume of the balloon is 12 000
cm3.

Give your answer to 2 significant figures.

(5)

[You may assume that the volume V of a sphere of radius r is given by the fomula V = πr3.]

(Total for question = 5 marks)

Q17.

The point P with coordinates lies on the curve with equation

Find an equation of the normal to the curve at P.

(6)

(Total for question = 6 marks)

Q18.

Find an equation of the tangent to the curve

x3 + 3x2y + y3 = 37

at the point (1, 3). Give your answer in the form ax + by + c = 0, where a, b and c are integers.
(6)

(Total for question = 6 marks)

Q19.

(a) Prove by differentiation that

(4)
(b) Given that y = when x = 0, solve the differential equation

Give your answer in the form tan2y = AeBsinx, where A and B are constants to be determined.
(6)

(Total for question = 10 marks)

Q20.

In freezing temperatures, ice forms on the surface of the water in a barrel. At time t hours after the start of
freezing, the thickness of the ice formed is x mm. You may assume that the thickness of the ice is uniform
across the surface of the water.

At 4pm there is no ice on the surface, and freezing begins.

At 6pm, after two hours of freezing, the ice is 1.5 mm thick.

In a simple model, the rate of increase of x, in mm per hour, is assumed to be constant for a period of 20
hours.

Using this simple model,

(a) express t in terms of x,

(2)
(b) find the value of t when x = 3
(1)
In a second model, the rate of increase of x, in mm per hour, is given by the differential equation

Using this second model,

(c) solve the differential equation and express t in terms of x and λ,

(3)
(d) find the exact value for λ,
(1)
(e) find at what time the ice is predicted to be 3 mm thick.
(2)

(Total for question = 9 marks)

Q21.

Figure 1 shows a sketch of part of the curve with equation y = f(x), where

f(x) = (2x − 5)ex,

The curve has a minimum turning point at A.

(a) Use calculus to find the exact coordinates of A.

(5)
Given that the equation f(x) = k, where k is a constant, has exactly two roots,

(b) state the range of possible values of k.

(2)
(c) Sketch the curve with equation y = |f(x)|.
Indicate clearly on your sketch the coordinates of the points at which the curve crosses or meets the
axes.
(3)

(Total for question = 10 marks)

Q22.

(i) Find the x coordinate of each point on the curve , at which the gradient is
(4)
(ii) Given that

find the exact value of the constant a.

(4)

(Total for question = 8 marks)

Q23.

Use integration by parts to find the exact value of

Write your answer as a single simplified fraction.

(6)

(Total for question = 6 marks)

Q24.

Figure 3 shows part of the curve C with equation

(a) Find
(2)

(b) Using your answer to (a), find the exact coordinates of the stationary point on the curve C for which x
> 0. Write each coordinate in its simplest form.
(5)

The finite region R, shown shaded in Figure 3, is bounded by the curve C, the x-axis and the line x = 3

(c) Complete the table below with the value of y corresponding to x = 1

 (1)

(d) Use the trapezium rule with all the y values in the completed table to find an approximate value for the
area of R, giving your answer to 4 significant figures.
(3)

(Total for question = 11 marks)

Q25.

(a) Use the identity for sin(A + B) to prove that

(2)
(b) Show that
(4)

A curve C has the equation

(c) Find the x coordinates of the points on C where = 0

Give your answers to 3 decimal places.
(Solutions based entirely on graphical or numerical methods are not acceptable)
(6)

(Total for question = 12 marks)

Q26.

(i) Differentiate y = 5x2 ln 3x, x>0

(2)
(ii) Given that

show that

(4)

(Total for question = 6 marks)

Q27.

A curve C has equation

3x2 + 2xy − 2y2 + 4 = 0

Find an equation for the tangent to C at the point (2, 4), giving your answer in the form ax + by + c = 0
where a, b and c are integers.
(6)

(Total for question = 6 marks)

Q28.

The volume of a spherical balloon of radius r cm is V cm3, where

(a) Find
(1)
The volume of the balloon increases with time t seconds according to the formula

(b) Using the chain rule, or otherwise, show that

where k and n are constants to be found.

(2)
Initially, the radius of the balloon is 3 cm.

(c) Using the values of k and n found in part (b), solve the differential equation

to obtain a formula for r in terms of t.

(6)
(d) Hence find the radius of the balloon when t = 175, giving your answer to 3 significant figures.
(1)
(e) Find the rate of increase of the radius of the balloon when t = 175. Give your answer to 3 significant
figures.
(2)

(Total for question = 12 marks)

Q29.
 Figure 2

The population of a species of animal is being studied. The population P, at time t years from the start of
the study, is assumed to be

where k is a positive constant.

A sketch of the graph of P against t is shown in Figure 2.

Use the given equation to

(a) find the population at the start of the study,

(2)
(b) find the value for the upper limit of the population.
(1)
Given that P = 2500 when t = 4

(c) calculate the value of k, giving your answer to 3 decimal places.

(5)
Using this value for k,

(d) find, using , the rate at which the population is increasing when t = 10
Give your answer to the nearest integer.
(3)

(Total for question = 11 marks)

Q30.

Figure 3

Figure 3 shows a sketch of part of the curve with equation y = f(x), Where

f(x) = 2x(1 + x) ln x, x>0

The curve has a minimum turning point at A.

(a) Find f ′(x)

(3)

(b) Hence show that the x coordinate of A is the solution of the equation

(3)
(c) Use the iteration formula

to find the values of x1, x2, and x3 to 4 decimal places.

(3)

(d) Use your answer to part (c) to estimate the coordinates of A to 2 decimal places.
(2)

(Total for question = 11 marks)

Q31.

The value of Lin's car is modelled by the formula

where the value of the car is V pounds when the age of the car is t years.

A sketch of t against V is shown in Figure 1.

(a) State the range of V.

(2)
According to this model,

(b) find the rate at which the value of the car is decreasing when t = 10
Give your answer in pounds per year.
(3)
(c) Calculate the exact value of t when V = 15000.
(4)

(Total for question = 9 marks)

Q32.

Figure 5

A colony of ants is being studied. The number of ants in the colony is modelled by the equation

where P is the number of ants, measured in thousands, t years after the study started.
A sketch of the graph of P against t is shown in Figure 5

(a) Calculate the number of ants in the colony at the start of the study.
(2)
(b) Find
(3)
The population of ants initially decreases, reaching a minimum value after T years, as shown in Figure 5

(c) Using your answer to part (b), calculate the value of T to 2 decimal places.
(Solutions based entirely on graphical or numerical methods are not acceptable.)
(4)

(Total for question = 9 marks)

Q33.

A scientist is studying a population of insects. The number of insects, N, in the population, t days after the
start of the study is modelled by the equation

where k is a constant.

Given that there were 50 insects at the start of the study,

(a) find the value of k

(2)
(b) use the model to find the value of t when N = 100
(3)
(c) Show that

where p and q are integers to be found.

(5)

(Total for question = 10 marks)

Q34.

(a) Find the exact value of x when y = 0

(1)
Given that when x = α,

(b) show that

 (6)
The iterative formula

can be used to find an approximation for α.

(c) Taking x1 = 0.7, find the values of x2 and x3, giving each answer to 4 decimal places.

(2)
(d) By choosing a suitable interval, show that α = 0.7283 to 4 decimal places.
(2)

(Total for question = 11 marks)

Q35.

Figure 2

Figure 2 shows a sketch of part of the curve C with equation

where a is a constant and a > ln4

The curve C has a turning point P and crosses the x-axis at the point Q as shown in Figure 2.

(a) Find, in terms of a, the coordinates of the point P.

(6)
(b) Find, in terms of a, the x coordinate of the point Q.
(3)
(c) Sketch the curve with equation

Show on your sketch the exact coordinates, in terms of a, of the points at which the curve meets or
cuts the coordinate axes.
(3)

(Total for question = 12 marks)

Q36.

A curve C has equation

3x + xy = x + y2, y>1
The point P with coordinates (4, 11) lies on C.

Find the exact value of at the point P.

Give your answer in the form a + bln3, where a and b are rational numbers.

(Total for question = 6 marks)

Q37.

The curve C has equation

81y3 + 64x2y + 256x = 0

(a) Find in terms of x and y.

(5)
(b) Hence find the coordinates of the points on C where = 0
(6)

(Total for question = 11 marks)

Q38.

Given that

show that

where A and B are integers to be found.

(Total for question = 4 marks)

Q39.

A curve has parametric equations

(a) Find in terms of t, giving your answer as a simplified fraction.

(4)
(b) Find an equation for the tangent to the curve at the point P where t = –1, giving your answer in the
form ax + by + c = 0 where a, b and c are integers.
(4)
The tangent to the curve at P cuts the curve at the point Q.

(c) Use algebra to find the coordinates of Q.

(5)

(Total for question = 13 marks)

Q40.

(a) Find the values of the constants A, B and C.

(4)

(b) Using part (a), find f ′(x).

(3)
(c) Prove that f(x) is a decreasing function.
(1)

(Total for question = 8 marks)

Q41.

Given that

(a) show that

where A is a constant to be found.

(6)

Figure 4 shows a sketch of part of the curve with equation y = f(x) where

(b) Use your answer to part (a) to find the range of f.

(5)

(c) State a reason why f–1 does not exist.

(1)
 (Total for question = 12 marks)

Q42.

Figure 4

Figure 4 shows a right cylindrical water tank. The diameter of the circular cross section of the tank is 4 m
and the height is 2.25 m. Water is flowing into the tank at a constant rate of 0.4π m3 min−1. There is a tap
at a point T at the base of the tank. When the tap is open, water leaves the tank at a rate of 0.2π m3 min
−1, where h is the height of the water in metres.

(a) Show that at time t minutes after the tap has been opened, the height h m of the water in the tank
satisfies the differential equation

(5)
At the instant when the tap is opened, t = 0 and h = 0.16

(b) Use the differential equation to show that the time taken to fill the tank to a height of 2.25 m is given
by

(2)

Using the substitution h = (2 − x)2, or otherwise,

(c) find the time taken to fill the tank to a height of 2.25 m.
Give your answer in minutes to the nearest minute.
(Solutions based entirely on graphical or numerical methods are not acceptable.)
(7)

(Total for question = 14 marks)

Q43.

Figure 4 shows a sketch of part of the curve C with equation

The finite region R, shown shaded in Figure 4, is bounded by the curve C, the x-axis and the lines with
equations x = e and x = 5e.

The table below shows corresponding values of x and y for . The values for y are given to 4 significant
figures.
(a) Use the trapezium rule with all the y values in the table to find an approximate value for the area of R,
giving your answer to 3 significant figures.
(3)
(b) Using the substitution u = ln2x, or otherwise, find
(3)
(c) Use your answer to part (b) to find the true area of R, giving your answer to 3 significant figures.
(2)
(d) Using calculus, find an equation for the tangent to the curve at the point where , giving your answer in
the form y = mx + c where m and c are exact multiples of powers of e.
(5)

(Total for question = 13 marks)

Q44.

(a) By writing , show that when x = 3 sec θ,

(2)
Figure 3 shows a sketch of part of the curve C with equation

The finite region R, shown shaded in Figure 3, is bounded by the curve C, the x-axis and the line with
equation x = 6

(b) Use the substitution x = 3 sec θ to find the exact value of the area of R.
[Solutions based entirely on graphical or numerical methods are not acceptable.]
(7)

(Total for question = 9 marks)