1 A function f is defined by f : x → (2x − 3)3 − 8, for 2 ≤ x ≤ 4.

(i) Find an expression, in terms of x, for f (x) and show that f is an increasing function. [4]

(ii) Find an expression, in terms of x, for f −1 (x) and find the domain of f −1 . [4]
© UCLES 2005 9709/01/O/N/05

2 The function f is such that f(x) = (3x + 2)3 − 5 for x ≥ 0.

(i) Obtain an expression for f  (x) and hence explain why f is an increasing function. [3]

(ii) Obtain an expression for f −1 (x) and state the domain of f −1 . [4]
© UCLES 2008 9709/01/M/J/08

3
3 The function f is such that f(x) = for x ∈ >, x ≠ −2.5.
2x + 5

(i) Obtain an expression for f ′ (x) and explain why f is a decreasing function. [3]

9709/12/O/N/09

4 The equation of a curve is y = 16 (2x − 3)3 − 4x.

dy
(i) Find . [3]
dx
(ii) Find the equation of the tangent to the curve at the point where the curve intersects the y-axis.
[3]

(iii) Find the set of values of x for which 16 (2x − 3)3 − 4x is an increasing function of x. [3]
9709/12/M/J/10

5 A curve has equation y = f (x). It is given that f ′ (x) = 3x2 + 2x − 5.

(i) Find the set of values of x for which f is an increasing function. [3]

9709/13/O/N/10

6 Functions f and g are defined by

f : x → 3x − 4, x ∈ >,
g : x → 2(x − 1) + 8,
3
x > 1.

(i) Evaluate fg(2). [2]

(ii) Sketch in a single diagram the graphs of y = f (x) and y = f −1 (x), making clear the relationship
between the graphs. [3]

(iii) Obtain an expression for g ′(x) and use your answer to explain why g has an inverse. [3]

(iv) Express each of f −1 (x) and g−1 (x) in terms of x. [4]

9709/13/M/J/11
7
y
y = Ö(1 + 4x)

x
A O C


The diagram shows the curve y = 1 + 4x
, which intersects the x-axis at A and the y-axis at B. The
normal to the curve at B meets the x-axis at C. Find
(i) the equation of BC, [5]
(ii) the area of the shaded region. [5]
9709/12/M/J/13

1
8 It is given that f (x) = 3
− x3 , for x > 0. Show that f is a decreasing function. [3]
x
9709/13/O/N/12
3
9 It is given that f x
= 2x − 5
+ x, for x ∈ >. Show that f is an increasing function. [3]
9709/11/M/J/13

5
10 A function f is defined by f x
= , for x ≥ 1.
1 − 3x

(i) Find an expression for f ′ x
. [2]

(ii) Determine, with a reason, whether f is an increasing function, a decreasing function or neither.
[1]

(iii) Find an expression for f −1 x
, and state the domain and range of f −1 . [5]
9709/12/M/J/13

15
11 A function f is such that f x
= for 0 ≤ x ≤ 6.
2x + 3

(i) Find an expression for f ′ x
and use your result to explain why f has an inverse. [3]

(ii) Find an expression for f −1 x
, and state the domain and range of f −1 . [4]

9709/13/M/J/14

12 The equation of a curve is y = x3 + ax2 + bx, where a and b are constants.

(i) In the case where the curve has no stationary point, show that a2 < 3b. [3]

(ii) In the case where a = −6 and b = 9, find the set of values of x for which y is a decreasing function
of x. [3]
© UCLES 2014 9709/12/O/N/14
13 (i) Express 9 x2 − 12x + 5 in the form
ax + b2 + c. [3]

(ii) Determine whether 3x3 − 6x2 + 5x − 12 is an increasing function, a decreasing function or neither.
[3]

© UCLES 2014 9709/13/O/N/14

1 1
14 The function f is defined by f x
= + for x > −1.
x+1 x + 1
2

(i) Find f ′ x
. [3]

(ii) State, with a reason, whether f is an increasing function, a decreasing function or neither. [1]

1 1
The function g is defined by g x
= + for x < −1.
x+1 x + 1
2

(iii) Find the coordinates of the stationary point on the curve y = g x
. [4]

9709/13/M/J/15

15 (i) Express 3x2 − 6x + 2 in the form a x + b
2 + c, where a, b and c are constants. [3]

(ii) The function f, where f x
= x3 − 3x2 + 7x − 8, is defined for x ∈ >. Find f ′ x
and state, with a
reason, whether f is an increasing function, a decreasing function or neither. [3]

9709/13/O/N/15

3 2
16 The function f is such that f x
= x − 3x − 9x + 2 for x > n, where n is an integer. It is given that f is
an increasing function. Find the least possible value of n. [4]
9709/13/O/N/16

17 A function f is defined by f : x → x3 − x2 − 8x + 5 for x < a. It is given that f is an increasing function.

Find the largest possible value of the constant a. [4]
9709/11/O/N/17
3
18 The function f is such that f x
= 2x − 1
2 − 6x for 21 < x < k, where k is a constant. Find the largest
value of k for which f is a decreasing function. [5]
9709/13/O/N/17

19 (i) The tangent to the curve y = x3 − 9x2 + 24x − 12 at a point A is parallel to the line y = 2 − 3x.
Find the equation of the tangent at A. [6]
(ii) The function f is defined by f x
= x3 − 9x2 + 24x − 12 for x > k, where k is a constant. Find the
smallest value of k for f to be an increasing function. [2]

9709/13/M/J/18

20 The function f is defined by f x
= x3 + 2x2 − 4x + 7 for x ≥ −2. Determine, showing all necessary
working, whether f is an increasing function, a decreasing function or neither. [4]
9709/13/O/N/18

21 An increasing function, f, is defined for x > n, where n is an integer. It is given that f ′ x
= x2 − 6x + 8.

Find the least possible value of n. [3]

9709/11/O/N/19
 1
22 A function f is defined for x > 12 and is such that f ′ x
= 3 2x − 1
2 − 6.

(i) Find the set of values of x for which f is decreasing. [4]

9709/13/O/N/19

1
23 The function f is defined by f x
= + x2 for x < −1.
3x + 2

Determine whether f is an increasing function, a decreasing function or neither. [3]

9709/12/F/M/20

3
24 The function f is defined by f x
= 13 2x − 1
2 − 2x for 21 < x < a. It is given that f is a decreasing
function.

Find the maximum possible value of the constant a. [4]

9709/13/M/J/21

25 (a) Express 5y2 − 30y + 50 in the form 5 y + a
2 + b, where a and b are constants. [2]

(b) The function f is defined by f x
= x5 − 10x3 + 50x for x ∈ >.

Determine whether f is an increasing function, a decreasing function or neither. [3]

9709/13/O/N/21

26 It is given that a curve has equation y = k 3x − k
−1 + 3x, where k is a constant.

(a) Find, in terms of k, the values of x at which there is a stationary point. [4]
The function f has a stationary value at x = a and is defined by

f x
= 4 3x − 4
−1 + 3x for x ≥ 32 .

(b) Find the value of a and determine the nature of the stationary value. [3]
(c) The function g is defined by g x
= − 3x + 1
−1 + 3x for x ≥ 0.

Determine, making your reasoning clear, whether g is an increasing function, a decreasing

function or neither. [2]
9709/12/F/M/22

3 p
27 The function f is defined by f x
= 2 − for x > , where p is a constant.
4x − p 4

(a) Find f ′ x
and hence determine whether f is an increasing function, a decreasing function or
neither. [3]
p b
(b) Express f −1 x
in the form − , where a, b, c and d are integers. [4]
a cx − d
(c) Hence state the value of p for which f −1 x
 f x
. [1]
9709/11/O/N/22