Past Year STPM Exam Questions For Term 2

CHAPTER 8 : DIFFERENTIATION

STPM 2013 Actual Paper

1. The parametric equation of a curve are x=θ−sin θ and y=1−cos θ . Find the equation
of the normal to the curve at a point with parameter ½. [ 7 marks ]
2 2
2. A curve is defined implicitly by the equation x + xy+ y =3.
dy 2 x+ y
(a) Show that + =0. [ 3 marks ]
dx x+ 2 y
(b) Find the gradients of the curve at the points where the curve crosses the x -axis
and y -axis. [ 5 marks ]
(c) Show that the coordinates of the stationary points of the curve are (1,2) and
(1, 2) [ 5 marks ]
(d) Sketch the curve. [ 2 marks ]

STPM 2013 Repeat Paper

3. A rectangle with a width 2 x is inscribed in a circle of constant radius r .
(a) Express the area A of the rectangle in terms of x and r . [ 2 marks ]
(b) Show that the rectangle is a square of side r √ 2 when A has a maximum value.
[ 5 marks ]

STPM 2014 Actual Paper

4. The equation of a curve is y=x 3 e 3−2 x.
(a) Find the stationary points on the curve, and determine it’s nature.
[ 7 marks]
(a) Sketch the curve. [ 3 marks ]

STPM 2014 Repeat Paper

5. If y sin−1 2 x= √1−4 x 2 , show that

2 dy 2
(1−4 x ¿ + 4 xy +2 y =0. [ 5 marks ]
dx
6. For the graph of y=3 x 4 +16 x 3 +24 x 2−6 ,
(a) determine the intervals on which the graph is concave upward and concave
downward, [ 6 marks ]
(b) find the points of inflexion, [ 3 marks ]
(c) determine the extremum point and its nature. [ 3 marks ]
Hence,sketch the graph of y=¿ 3 x +16 x + 24 x −6
4 3 2
[ 3 marks ]
STPM 2015 Actual Paper
7. A water storage tank ABCDEFGH is a part of an inverted right square base pyramid, as
shown in the diagram below.

The complete pyramid OABCD has a square base of sides 12m and height 15m. The depth
1 3 −1
of the tank is 9 m. Water is pumped into the tank at the constant rate of m min .
3

(a) Show that the volume of water V m3 when the depth of water in the tank is h m is
16
given by V = h ( h +18 h+108 ) .
2
[ 3 marks ]
75
(b) Find the rate at which the depth is increasing at the moment when the depth of
water is 3 m. [ 3 marks ]
(c) Calculate the time taken to fill up the tank if initially the tank is empty. [ 3 marks ]
STPM 2015 Repeat Paper
8. The curve y=3 x 2 and a point P(1,0) on the x−¿ axis is shown in the graph below.

The point Q ( q , 0 ) , where q <1 ,is a variable point on the x−¿ axis and q increases at a rate of
0.2 unit per second. A point R on the curve moves such that the line RQ is always
perpendicular to the x−¿ axis.

(a) Determine the area of PQR in terms of q . [ 2 marks ]

(b) Calculate the rate of change of the area of PQR when q=−2. [ 3 marks ]
1
(c) Show that the length PR is minimum when q= [ 6 marks ]
3

9. A drop of oil is dropped on a stagnant water surface. The oil drop makes a circular mark
which starts to increase in size. The radius r , in cm, of the circular mark is given by
2
4(1+t )
r= , where t in minutes, after the oil is dropped on the water surface.
9+t 2
4
(a) Find the value of t when r = . [ 2 marks ]
5
dr
(b) Express in terms of t . [ 2 marks ]
dt
4
(c) Calculate the rate of change of the area of the circular mark when r = .
5
[ 3 marks ]
(d) Determine the range of values of t when the rate of change of r decreases.
[6 marks ]
(e) Determine the limiting value of r . [ 2 marks ]
STPM 2016 Actual Paper
10. Find the equation of the normal to the curve x 3−6 x 2 y +2 x y 2 + y 3=8when x=0.
11. A function f is defined f ( x )=3 x 7−7 x 3 .
(a) Find the x−¿ intercepts of the function. [2
marks ]

(b) Determine the intervals where the function is increasing and decreasing.
[ 5 marks ]

(c) Find the coordinates of the stationary points and determine their characteristics.
[ 5 marks ]

(d) Sketch the graph of the function. [ 3 marks ]

STPM 2016 Repeat Paper

12 .Find the gradients of the curve x y 2 + x 2−2 x 2 y=4 at the points when the

x−¿ coordinate is 1. [ 5 marks

]
−1 2
(x−4)
13.A function is defined by f ( x )=e 2 .
(a) Determine the intervals in which the function increases and decreases. State the
coordinates of the extremum point. [ 6 marks ]

(b) Determine the intervals where the function is concave upward and concave
downward. State the coordinates of the points of inflexion. [ 6 marks ]
(c) Sketch the graph of the function. [ 3 marks ]

STPM 2017 Actual Paper

14.Water is pumped at a constant rate of 100 cm3 s−1 into an empty inverted conical
container of radius 20 cm and height 60 cm.
(a) Show that the rate of change of the height of water in the container is
dh 900
= 2 , where his the height of water in centimetres at time,t , seconds. [ 5 marks ]
dt h
 (b) Calculate the rate of change of the radius of water in the container at the instant the
radius of the surface of water is half of the radius of the container. [ 3 marks ]
(c ) Find the time taken to fill the container completely. [ 2 marks ]

STPM 2017 Repeat Paper

15. A curve has parametric equations x=t – cos t and y=t−sint for 0 ≤ t<2 π .

dy
(a) Express in terms of t . [ 3 marks ]
dx

(b) Find the coordinates of the point on the curve where the tangent to the curve is vertical.

[ 3 marks ]

STPM 2018 Actual Paper

1 2
16. The equation of a curve is y= −4 x .
x

(a) Find the coordinates of the stationary point, and determine its nature. [ 5 marks ]

(b) Determine the coordinates of the inflexion point. [ 2 marks ]

(c ) Sketch the curve. [ 3 marks ]

STPM 2018 Repeat Paper

17. Show that the gradient of the curve e y + y tan −1 2 x −8 x3 =0 at the point where it cuts the
24
x−¿ axis is . [ 6 marks ]
( 4+ π )

18. A function, f , is defined by f ( x )=x 4 −4 x3 +27.

(a) Find the x−¿ coordinates of the stationary points. [ 2 marks ]

(b) Determine the intervals on which the graph of f is increasing and decreasing, and hence,
state the coordinates of the extremum point. [ 5 marks ]

(c ) Determine the intervals on which the graph of f is concave upward and downward, and
hence, state the coordinates of the points of inflexion. [ 5 marks ]

(d)Sketch the graph of f . [ 3 marks ]

STPM 2019 Actual Paper
19. A curve is defined by the parametric equations x=sin 2 θ and y=sinθ cos θ+θ , where
π
0 ≤ θ< .
2

dy
(a) Show that =cot θ . [ 4 marks ]
dx

(b) Find the equation of the normal to the curve which is parallel to y=3−x . [ 4 marks ]

STPM 2019 Repeat Paper

2
20. A curve is defined implicitly as ( x 2 + y 2 ) =2 x2 −2 y 2 .

dy
(a) Determine in terms of x∧ y . [ 3 marks ]
dx

(b) Find the coordinates of the stationary points. [ 7 marks ]

STPM 2020 Actual Paper

21. Find the equation of tangent to the curve sin ( x− y )=x cos y +( π4 )
which passes the point ( π4 , π4 ) in terms of x and π . [ 6 marks ]

22. Given the curve y=e x cos 2 x , where 0 ≤ x ≤ π .

(a) Find the x - and y - intercepts. [ 2 marks ]

(b) Determine the extremum points and their nature. [ 6 marks ]

(c ) Find the points of inflexion. [ 4 marks ]

(d)Sketch the curve. [ 3 marks ]

STPM 2020 Repeat Paper

23. The parametric equationsof a curve are 2 cos3 θ and y= √ 3 sin3 θ for 0 ≤ θ ≤ π .

π
Find the equation of the normal to the curve at θ= .
3

[ 8 marks ]

24. A cylinder with the volume, V , has radius,r , and height, h , is inscribed in a sphere of
radius 3 m.
(a) Express V in terms of r . [ 3 marks ]

(b) Find the values of h and r when V is maximum. Hence, calculate the maximum volume

of the cylinder. [ 8 marks ]

(c ) Describe what happens to the cylinder when r =0 and r =3. [ 2 marks ]

(d)Sketch the graph V against r . [ 2 marks ]

25. A curve with an equation y=a x3 +b x 2 +cx +d   has y -intercept at −2 and the curve passes
−1
through the point ( 1,2 ) . The stationary points of the curve are at x=−1 and x= .
3

(a) Find the values of a , b , c∧d . [ 6 marks ]

(b) Determine

(i) the point of inflexion. [ 2 marks ]

(ii) the nature of the stationary points. [ 2 marks ]

STPM 2021 REPEAT PAPER

26. A curve is defined implicitly by the equation x y 3 −3 xy−4 x+6=0.

dy
(a) Find in terms of x∧ y . [ 3 marks ]
dx

(b) Find the equations of tangents that are parallel to y−¿axis. [ 3 marks ]

STPM 2022 ACTUAL PAPER

27. Find the gradient of the curve 3 x 2+3 x sin 2 y + y 3=27 , for x <0. Hence, determine

the equation of normal to the curve at a point when the curve crosses the x−¿ axis.

[ 8 marks ]

STPM 2022 REPEAT PAPER

28. Find the extremum points of y=ln ( x3 −2 x 2 +5 ) , and determine their natures.

[ 8 marks ]