IB Maths AI SL 5 Calculus Questions

Practise IB Maths AI SL calculus through rates of change, differentiation, integration and optimization, interpreting technology-supported results in context.

Exam points

Interpret limits, derivatives, rates, tangents, stationary points, concavity and extrema in functions and contexts.
Use differentiation rules and integration methods to calculate slopes, accumulated change, areas, volumes and motion quantities.
Apply optimisation and kinematics models, interpreting feasible results, units and assumptions.
Use trapezoidal and numerical methods to approximate calculus quantities and assess error or step-size effects.

Covered syllabus points

5.1 Calculus - SL content

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Study 5 Calculus conceptsOpen the corresponding Concept lesson for explanations, examples and exam connections.

[Maximum number: 4]

Consider the graph of the cubic function $f(x)=x^{3}+2 x^{2}-4 x-2$ . Part of the graph of y=f(x) is shown in the following diagram.

(a)

Write down

[ 4 ]

(i)

the gradient of the tangent.

[ 2 ]

(ii)

the equation of the tangent.

[ 2 ]

$\quad y+3=3(x-1)$ OR y=3 x-6

[Maximum number: 5]

Consider the graph of the following function:

g(x)=\frac{8}{x}+\frac{x^{2}}{2}, \text { for } x \neq 0

(a)

Find $g^{\prime}(x)$ .

[ 3 ]

$\quad\left(g^{\prime}(x)=\right)-8 x^{-2}+x$
Note: Award A1 for -8 seen, A1 for $x^{-2}$ (or $\frac{1}{x^{2}}$ ) and A1 for second term being x. Award at most A1A1AO if additional terms are seen.

(b)

Write down the interval in which g(x) is increasing.

[ 2 ]

$x>2 \mathbf{OR}(2, \infty) \mathbf{OR} \quad 2<x<\infty$
Note: Award A1 for 2 seen and award A1 for correct inequality.

[Maximum number: 7]

A hollow chocolate box is manufactured in the form of a right prism with a regular hexagonal base. The height of the prism is $h \mathrm{~cm}$ , and the top and base of the prism have sides of length $x \mathrm{~cm}$ .

(a)

Find an expression for $\frac{\mathrm{d} V}{\mathrm{~d} x}$ .

[ 2 ]

$\frac{\mathrm{d} V}{\mathrm{~d} x}=300 \sqrt{3}-\frac{27}{4} x^{2}$

Note: Award A1 for a correct term.

(b)

Find the value of x which maximizes the volume of the box.

[ 2 ]

from the graph of V or $\frac{\mathrm{d} V}{\mathrm{~d} x}$ OR solving $\frac{\mathrm{d} V}{\mathrm{~d} x}=0$

x=8.77(8.77382 \ldots)

(c)

Hence, or otherwise, find the maximum possible volume of the box.

[ 2 ]

from the graph of V OR substituting their value for x into V
$V_{\text {max }}=3040 \mathrm{~cm}^{3}(3039.34 \ldots)$

(d)

The box will contain spherical chocolates. The production manager assumes that they can calculate the exact number of chocolates in each box by dividing the volume of the box by the volume of a single chocolate and then rounding down to the nearest integer.

Explain why the production manager is incorrect.

[ 1 ]

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