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Date May 2013 Marks available 2 Reference code 13M.1.sl.TZ1.15
Level SL only Paper 1 Time zone TZ1
Command term Find Question number 15 Adapted from N/A

Question

Consider the function \(f (x) = ax^3 − 3x + 5\), where \(a \ne 0\).

Find \(f ' (x) \).

[2]
a.

Write down the value of \(f ′(0)\).

[1]
b.

The function has a local maximum at x = −2.

Calculate the value of a.

[3]
c.

Markscheme

\( f '(x) = 3ax^2 - 3\)     (A1)(A1)     (C2)


Note: Award a maximum of (A1)(A0) if any extra terms are seen.

a.

−3     (A1)(ft)     (C1)


Note: Follow through from their part (a).

b.

\(f '(x) = 0\)     (M1)


Note: This may be implied from line below.


\(3a(-2)^2 - 3 = 0\)     (M1)

\((a =) \frac{1}{4}\)     (A1)(ft)     (C3)


Note: Follow through from their part (a).

c.

Examiners report

Many candidates could find the derivative of the cubic function and find the value of the derivative at \(x = 0\). For part (c) many candidates calculated the value of the function rather than the derivative at \(x = - 2\).

a.

Many candidates could find the derivative of the cubic function and find the value of the derivative at \(x = 0\).

b.

Many candidates could find the derivative of the cubic function and find the value of the derivative at \(x = 0\). For part (c) many candidates calculated the value of the function rather than the derivative at \(x = - 2\). However only the best realized that the derivative is zero at the maximum and so calculated the value of \(a\).

c.

Syllabus sections

Topic 7 - Introduction to differential calculus » 7.2 » The derivative of functions of the form \(f\left( x \right) = a{x^n} + b{x^{n - 1}} + \ldots \), where all exponents are integers.
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