0606 P12 - Nov 2020 - Q9 - 8 marks
8181
It is given that
\(y=(2x-1)\sqrt{4x+3}.\)
(a) Show that
\(\frac{dy}{dx}=\frac{4(Ax+B)}{\sqrt{4x+3}},\)
where \(A\) and \(B\) are constants to be found.
(b) Find the \(x\)-coordinate of the stationary point and determine its nature.
Solution
Mark Scheme
Solution
Answer: \(A=3\), \(B=1\); stationary point at \(x=-\frac13\), a minimum.
Given
\(y=(2x-1)\sqrt{4x+3},\)
differentiate using the product rule:
\(\frac{dy}{dx} =2\sqrt{4x+3}+(2x-1)\cdot\frac{2}{\sqrt{4x+3}}.\)
Put the terms over a common denominator:
\(\frac{dy}{dx} =\frac{2(4x+3)+2(2x-1)}{\sqrt{4x+3}}.\)
So
\(\frac{dy}{dx} =\frac{8x+6+4x-2}{\sqrt{4x+3}} =\frac{12x+4}{\sqrt{4x+3}} =\frac{4(3x+1)}{\sqrt{4x+3}}.\)
Hence
\(A=3,\qquad B=1.\)
At a stationary point,
\(\frac{dy}{dx}=0.\)
Since \(\sqrt{4x+3}\gt 0\) in the domain,
\(3x+1=0,\)
so
\(x=-\frac13.\)
The denominator is positive, so the sign of \(\frac{dy}{dx}\) is the sign of \(3x+1\). It changes from negative to positive at \(x=-\frac13\), so the stationary point is a minimum.