f(x) = 3x + x^3;
x > 0 - Edexcel - A-Level Maths Pure - Question 6 - 2008 - Paper 1

Question 6

f(x) = 3x + x^3;
x > 0.
(a) Differentiate to find f'(x).
Given that f'(x) = 15,
(b) find the value of x.
Worked Solution & Example Answer:f(x) = 3x + x^3;
x > 0 - Edexcel - A-Level Maths Pure - Question 6 - 2008 - Paper 1
Differentiate to find f'(x)

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To find the derivative of the function, we apply the power rule. The function is given as:
f(x)=3x+x3
Differentiating term by term gives:
f′(x)=3+3x2
So, the derivative of the function is:
f′(x)=3+3x2
find the value of x

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Given that f'(x) = 15, we can set up the equation:
3+3x2=15
To solve for x, we rearrange this equation:
-
Subtract 3 from both sides:
3x2=15−3
3x2=12
-
Divide both sides by 3:
x2=4
-
Taking the square root of both sides gives us:
x=ext±2
Since x > 0, we take:
x=2
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