June 2025 Paper 2 Q14

OCR MEICurrent spec15 marksDifferentiationIntegration

14 The equation of a curve is \(y = \dfrac{16}{x^2} + \dfrac{3}{x}\).

(a) Determine the coordinates of the point where the curve cuts the \(x\)-axis. [2]
(b)
(i) Find \(\dfrac{\mathrm{d}y}{\mathrm{d}x}\). [2]
(ii) Hence determine the exact coordinates of the stationary point on the curve \(y = \dfrac{16}{x^2} + \dfrac{3}{x}\). [2]
(c)
(i) Find \(\dfrac{\mathrm{d}^2y}{\mathrm{d}x^2}\). [2]
(ii) Hence determine the set of values of \(x\) for which the curve \(y = \dfrac{16}{x^2} + \dfrac{3}{x}\) is concave downwards. [2]

The diagram shows parts of the curve \(y = \dfrac{16}{x^2} + \dfrac{3}{x}\), the line \(x = -4\) and the line \(x = -\dfrac{1}{2}\).

Graph of y = 16/x^2 + 3/x with vertical lines x = -4 and x = -1/2; the curve crosses the negative x-axis left of -4 and rises steeply towards the y-axis
(d) Determine the exact area bounded by the curve \(y = \dfrac{16}{x^2} + \dfrac{3}{x}\), the \(x\)-axis and the lines \(x = -4\) and \(x = -\dfrac{1}{2}\). Give your answer in the form \(a + b\ln 2\), where \(a\) and \(b\) are constants to be determined. [5]