Further Mathematics / Further Pure Mathematics 2 / Differentiation

Differentiation

Extending differentiation to inverse trigonometric and hyperbolic functions, implicit relations and parametric curves, plus Maclaurin series.

Syllabus points covered

Common mistakes

  1. Finding the second derivative parametrically by differentiating dy/dx with respect to t and stopping — it must then be divided by dx/dt.
  2. Forgetting the chain rule factor when differentiating an inverse function of something other than x.
  3. Truncating a Maclaurin series before the number of terms the question asked for.
  4. Differentiating a y-term implicitly without attaching dy/dx.

Worksheets

Use these as soon as you've learned the topic and need to practise it. Start with the worksheet, check yourself against the answers, and only then look at the step-by-step solutions.

Topical past papers

Move on to these once you've worked through the worksheets and are ready for harder, exam-style questions. Real past-paper questions on this topic, with the official mark scheme and full worked solutions.

Looking for whole papers by session? All Further Mathematics past papers

Written and taught by Ali Hashir, mathematics teacher.