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

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Question 6

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

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

Step 1

Differentiate to find f'(x)

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Answer

To find the derivative of the function, we apply the power rule. The function is given as:

f(x)=3x+x3f(x) = 3x + x^3

Differentiating term by term gives:

f(x)=3+3x2f'(x) = 3 + 3x^{2}

So, the derivative of the function is:

f(x)=3+3x2f'(x) = 3 + 3x^{2}

Step 2

find the value of x

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Answer

Given that f'(x) = 15, we can set up the equation:

3+3x2=153 + 3x^{2} = 15

To solve for x, we rearrange this equation:

  1. Subtract 3 from both sides: 3x2=1533x^{2} = 15 - 3 3x2=123x^{2} = 12

  2. Divide both sides by 3: x2=4x^{2} = 4

  3. Taking the square root of both sides gives us: x=ext±2x = ext{±2} Since x > 0, we take: x=2x = 2

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