A-Level Maths Specification

OCR B (MEI) H640

Section 9: Calculus

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#9.1

Know and use that the gradient of a curve at a point is given by the gradient of the tangent at the point.

Differentiation

#9.2

Know and use that the gradient of the tangent at a point A on a curve is given by the limit of the gradient of chord AP as P approaches A along the curve.

[Excludes: The modulus function.]

Differentiation from first principles

#9.3

Understand and use the derivative of \(f(x)\) as the gradient of the tangent to the graph of \(y = f(x)\) at a general point \((x, y)\).
Know that the gradient function \(\dfrac{dy}{dx}\) gives the gradient of the curve and measures the rate of change of \(y\) with respect to \(x\).

Be able to deduce the units of rate of change for graphs modelling real situations. The term derivative of a function.

Notation:
\(\dfrac{dy}{dx} = \lim\limits_{δx→0} \dfrac{δy}{δx}\)
\(f'(x) = \lim\limits_{h→0} \Bigg(\dfrac{f(x+h) - f(x)}{h} \Bigg)\)

Differentiation from first principles

#9.4

Be able to sketch the gradient function for a given curve.

Differentiation

#9.5

Be able to differentiate \(y = kx^n\) where \(k\) is a constant and \(n\) is rational, including related sums and differences.

Differentiation from first principles for small positive integer powers.

Differentiation of standard functions

#9.6

Understand and use the second derivative as the rate of change of gradient.

Notation:
\(f''(x) = \dfrac{d^2y}{dx^2} \)

Differentiation

#9.7

Be able to use differentiation to find stationary points on a curve: maxima and minima.

Distinguish between maximum and minimum turning points.

Turning points

#9.8

Understand the terms increasing function and decreasing function and be able to find where the function is increasing or decreasing.

In relation to the sign of \(\dfrac{dy}{dx}\).

Turning points

#9.9

Be able to find the equation of the tangent and normal at a point on a curve.

Gradients, tangents and normals

#9.10

Be able to differentiate \(e^{kx}\), \(a^{kx}\) and \(\ln{x}\).

Including related sums, differences and constant multiples.

Differentiation of standard functions

#9.11

Be able to differentiate the trigonometrical functions: \(\sin{kx}\); \(\cos{kx}\); \(\tan{kx}\) for \(x\) in radians.

Including their constant multiples, sums and differences. Differentiation from first principles for \(\sin{x}\) and \(\cos{x}\).

Differentiation of standard functions

#9.12

Be able to differentiate the product of two functions.

The product rule: \(y = uv\),

\(\dfrac{dy}{dx} = u\dfrac{dv}{dx} + v\dfrac{du}{dx} \)

Or \([f(x)g(x)]' = f(x)g'(x) + f'(x)g(x) \)

Product rule

#9.13

Be able to differentiate the quotient of two functions.

The quotient rule: \(y = \dfrac{u}{dv}\),

\(\dfrac{dy}{dx} = \dfrac{v\dfrac{du}{dx} - u\dfrac{dv}{dx}} {v^2} \)

\(\Bigg[\dfrac{f(x)}{g(x)}\Bigg]' = \dfrac{f'(x)g(x) - f(x)g'(x)}{\big(g(x)\big)^2} \)

Quotient rule

#9.14

Be able to differentiate composite functions using the chain rule.

\(y=f(u)\), \(u=g(x)\),

\(\dfrac{dy}{dx} = \dfrac{dy}{du} × \dfrac{du}{dx} \)

Or \(\big\{f\big[g(x)\big]\big\}' = f'\big[g(x)\big]g'(x) \)

Chain rule

#9.15

Be able to find rates of change using the chain rule, including connected rates of change and differentiation of inverse functions.

\(\dfrac{dy}{dx} = \dfrac{1}{\Big(\dfrac{dy}{dx}\Big)} \)

Chain rule

#9.16

Be able to differentiate a function or relation defined implicitly.

e.g. \((x + y)^2 = 2x\).

[Excludes: Second and higher derivatives.]

Implicit differentiation

#9.17

Understand that a section of curve which has increasing gradient (and so positive second derivative) is concave upwards.
Understand that a section of curve which has decreasing gradient (and so negative second derivative) is concave downwards.

\(\huge\smallsmile\) concave upwards (convex downwards)
\(\huge\smallfrown\) concave downwards (convex upwards)

Notation: The wording “concave upwards” or “concave downwards” will be used in examination questions.

Turning points

#9.18

Understand that a point of inflection on a curve is where the curve changes from concave upwards to concave downwards (or vice versa) and hence that the second derivative at a point of inflection is zero.
Be able to use differentiation to find stationary and non-stationary points of inflection.

Learners are expected to be able to find and classify points of inflection as stationary or non-stationary.
Distinguish between maxima, minima and stationary points of inflection.

Turning points

#9.19

Know that integration is the reverse of differentiation.

Fundamental Theorem of Calculus.

Fundamental theorem of calculus

#9.20

Be able to integrate functions of the form \(kx^n\) where \(k\) is a constant and \(n \neq -1\).

Including related sums and differences.

Integration of standard functions

#9.21

Be able to find a constant of integration given relevant information.

e.g. Find \(y\) as a function of \(x\) given that \(\dfrac{dy}{dx} = x^2 + 2\)and \(y = 7\) when \(x = 1\).

Fundamental theorem of calculus

#9.22

Know what is meant by indefinite and definite integrals.
Be able to evaluate definite integrals.

e.g. \(\displaystyle\int_1^3{(3x^2 + 5x - 1)}~dx\).

Definite integration

#9.23

Be able to use integration to find the area between a graph and the x-axis.

Includes areas of regions partly above and partly below the x-axis.
General understanding that the area under a graph can be found as the limit of a sum of areas of rectangles.

[Excludes: Formal understanding of the continuity conditions required for the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus.]

Area under and between curves

#9.24

Be able to integrate \(e^{kx}\), \(\dfrac{1}{x}\), \(\sin{kx}\), \(\cos{kx}\) and related sums, differences and constant multiples.

\(\displaystyle\int{\dfrac{1}{x}}~dx = \ln{|x|} + c, x \neq 0 \)
\(x\) in radians for trigonometrical integrals.

[Excludes: Integrals involving inverse trigonometrical functions.]

Integration of standard functions

#9.25

Understand integration as the limit of a sum.

Know that \(\lim\limits_{\delta x→0} \displaystyle\sum_a^b f(x) \delta x = \displaystyle\int_a^b{f(x)} dx\)

Integration as the limit of a sum

#9.26

Be able to use integration to find the area between two curves.

Learners should also be able to find the area between a curve and the \(y\)-axis, including integrating with respect to \(y\).

Area under and between curves

#9.27

Be able to use integration by substitution in cases where the process is the reverse of the chain rule (including finding a suitable substitution).

e.g. \((1+2x)^8\), \(x(1+x^2)^8\), \(xe^{x^2}\), \(\dfrac{1}{2x+3}\)
Learners can recognise the integral, they need not show all the working for the substitution.

Integration by substitution

#9.28

Be able to use integration by substitution in other cases.

Learners will be expected to find a suitable substitution in simple cases e.g. \(\dfrac{x}{(x+1)^3}\).

[Excludes: Integrals requiring more than one substitution before they can be integrated.]

Integration by substitution

#9.29

Be able to use the method of integration by parts in simple cases.

Includes cases where the process is the reverse of the product rule, e.g. \(xe^x\). More than one application of the method may be required.
Includes being able to apply integration by parts to \(\ln{x}\).

[Excludes: Reduction formulae.]

Integration by parts

#9.30

Be able to integrate using partial fractions that are linear in the denominator.

Integrate using partial fractions

#9.31

Be able to formulate first order differential equations using information about rates of change.

Contexts may include kinematics, population growth and modelling the relationship between price and demand.

Differential equations

#9.32

Be able to find general or particular solutions of first order differential equations analytically by separating variables.

Equations may need to be factorised using a common factor before variables can be separated.

Solve differential equations

#9.33

Be able to interpret the solution of a differential equation in the context of solving a problem, including identifying limitations of the solution.

Includes links to kinematics.

Solve differential equations