y = 2x3 - 5x2 - 4x + 3

dy/dx = 6x2 - 10x - 4

At stationary point dy/dx = 0. Hence at any stationary points on the graph of y = 2x 3 - 5x2 -4x + 3 we
have:
6x2 - 10x - 4 = 0
2[ 3x2 - 5x - 2] = 0
To find the co-ordinates of these stationary points you now need to solve this quadratic equation for x:
3x2 - 5x - 2 = 0
3x2 - 6x + x - 2 = 0
3x(x - 2) + 1(x - 2) = 0
(x - 2)(3x + 1) = 0
x = 2 or x = -1/3
You now nee to find the corresponding y co-ordinate for each of these two values of x:
when x = 2
y = 2*23 - 5*22 - 4*2 + 3 = -9
when x = -1/3
y = 2*(-1/3)3 - 5*(-1/3)2 - 4*(-1/3) + 3 = 100/27
So the stationary points are at:
(-1/3, 100/27) and (2,-9)

Equations of Tangents and Normals

As mentioned before, the main use for differentiation is to find the gradient of a function at
any point on the graph. Having found the gradient at a specific point we can use our coordinate
geometry skills to find the equation of the tangent to the curve.
To do this we:
1. Differentiate the function.
2. Put in the x-value into

to find the gradient of the tangent.

3. Put in the x-value into the function (y = ...) to find the coordinates of the point where the
tangent touches the curve.
4. Put these values into the formula for a straight line:
y - y1 = m (x - x1)
where m = gradient and (x1, y1) is where the tangent meets the curve.
Example:
Find the equation of the tangent to the curve y = x2 - 2x - 3, when x = -1:

so when x = -1,

and y = 1 + 2 - 3 = 0
Therefore the equation of the tangent is y 0 = -4(x + 1)
So now we know that y = -4x - 4 is the equation of the tangent at (-1, 0).

The normal to a curve is the line at right angles to the curve at a particular point.
This means that the normal is perpendicular to the tangent and therefore the gradient of the
normal is -1 the gradient of the tangent.
To find the equation of the normal, follow the same procedures as before, (remembering to
multiply the gradient of the tangent by -1 to calculate the gradient of the normal).
Example:
Find the equation of the normal to the curve y = x3 + x 10 when x = 2.

and y = 8 + 2 10 = 0
As the gradient of the tangent = 13, the gradient of the normal = -1/13
Therefore the equation of the normal is:
y 0 = -(x - 2) / 13
Therefore: 13y = 2 x is the equation of the normal at (2, 0).
Stationary Points

As mentioned before, the main use for differentiation is to find the gradient of a function at any
point on the graph. In particular differentiation is useful to find one of the main features of the
graph - the Stationary Points.
These are points where the gradient = 0.
There are three types of stationary point:

There are three possible ways to determine the nature of a stationary point.
1. From experience - if you know the shape of the graph, then you know if it is a max/min. All
quadratics where the co-efficient of x2 is positive have a minimum ( - shaped); all quadratics
where the co-efficient of x2 is negative have a maximum ( - shaped).
2. By looking at the gradient either side of the stationary point.
3. By using the second derivative,

which often shown as

For a particular value for x, when

An example using all three methods:

Find the coordinates and nature of the turning points of the curve y = x3 12x + 2
Firstly, where are the stationary points?
Find where the gradient = 0.

Therefore:

when x = 2 (and y = -14) or when x = -2 (and y = 18).

Method 1:
We know that a + x3 graph has a maximum followed by a minimum, so (-2, 18) must be a
maximum, and (2, -14) must be a minimum. (Also the value of the y-coordinates confirms that
this must be true.)

Method 2:
For this graph the gradient = 0 when x = -2 and x = 2.
We can use the fact that the gradient is a multiple of (x + 2)(x - 2) to determine the sign of the
gradient either side of these values. This is best illustrated in a table.

At x = -2, the gradient goes from positive to negative. This is a -shape, and means that there is
a maximum at (-2, 18).
At x = 2, the gradient goes from negative to positive. This is a -shape, and means that there is
a minimum at (2, -14).
Method 3:

When x = -2,

Therefore there is a maximum at (-2, 18).

When x = 2,

Therefore there is a minimum at (2, -14).

As a guideline - if you know the graph use method 1. Otherwise use method 3 unless the
second derivative is hard to find.
If you do not know the shape of the graph, or you cannot differentiate twice or

then use the method 2.