What you need to know
Check yourself against these “I can” statements.
- I can find the derivative of a simple function from first principles and using rules
- I can find the equations of tangents and normals to a curve
- I can decide where a function is increasing or decreasing
- I can find the second derivative
- I can find stationary points and decide whether they are maxima or minima
- I can sketch a gradient function and use differentiation to solve real-life problems
Practise this topic
5 resourcesDifferentiation: Spot the Mistake
A student’s working with a mistake a real student would make (or, about 1 in 8 times, no mistake at all): tap the line you think is wrong, or No mistake, then reveal it, the corrected working and why. One level for each part of…
🧩 ConnectionsCalculus Families
Each group holds a function together with its first derivative, second derivative and integral. Polynomials first; negative and fractional powers, exponentials and trig on higher levels.
📋 Unit reviewDifferentiation: Exam Questions
Exam-style questions on the whole Differentiation chapter, researched from real papers, with mark schemes in the examination’s notation (M, A, B, dM, ft, cso and the AO codes): first principles, differentiating powers of x…
⬢ BlockbustersDifferentiation: Spot the Mistake Blockbusters
Blockbusters with the questions from the Differentiation: Spot the Mistake worksheet: choose its levels for the ordinary hexagons and for the harder ★ ones. Show the answer and the worked solution, or play against the computer…
🧮 ToolGraph Plotter
A graphing calculator: type y = f(x), x = g(y), implicit relations such as x² + y² = 25, inequalities (shaded, dashed for < and solid for ≤), parametric and polar curves, points and tables, functions f(x) = … with f′(x), and…
These are the pages for Differentiation in the A Level Maths scheme of work, following Pearson Edexcel A Level Mathematics (9MA0). Open this topic in Mr Wells Maths to see it alongside the rest of the course.