A-level · Differentiation

Differentiating powers of xExam-style questions

Finding how steep a curve is at any point. What a derivative measures and where it comes from; the power rule and why the power comes down; numbers in front, sums and constants; rewriting roots and fractions as powers; negative and fractional powers; using the gradient function at a point and backwards; and differentiating twice.

16 questions · A-level level · mark scheme and worked solution on each · no sign-up to try

DifficultyAllLevel 2Level 3Level 4Level 5
  1. 1
    Differentiate the following with respect to xx.
    (a) 6x3+4x\dfrac{6}{x^3} + 4\sqrt{x}

    (2 marks)
    (b) x2e3xx^2e^{3x}

    (2 marks)
    (c) 2x+1x−3\dfrac{2x + 1}{x - 3}

    (3 marks)
    Level 2 · 7 marksTry it