Type 1: Use differentiation result directly
Example
(i) Differentiate $ \ln (2x^2 - 3) $ with respect to $x$.
Answer:
$ {4x \over 2x^2 - 3} $
Solutions
\begin{align*}
{d \over dx} [ \ln (2x^2 - 3) ]
& = {4x \over 2x^2 - 3} \phantom{000000} \left[ {d \over dx} [ \ln f(x) ] = {f'(x) \over f(x)} \right]
\end{align*}
(ii) Hence, show that $ \int_2^3 {4x \over 2x^2 - 3} \phantom{.} dx = \ln a $, where $a$ is an integer.
Answer:
$ a = 3 $
Solutions
\begin{align*}
{d \over dx} [ \ln (2x^2 - 3) ] & = {4x \over 2x^2 - 3} \\
\\
\implies \int {4x \over 2x^2 - 3} \phantom{.} dx & = \ln (2x^2 - 3) \\
\\
\therefore \int_2^3 {4x \over 2x^2 - 3} \phantom{.} dx & = \{ \ln [2(3)^2 - 3] \} - \{ \ln [2(2)^2 - 3] \} \\
& = \ln 15 - \ln 5 \\
& = \ln {15 \over 5} \phantom{000000} [\text{Quotient law (logarithms)}] \\
& = \ln 3 \\
\\
\therefore a & = 3
\end{align*}
Type 2: Use differentiation result with manipulation
Example
(i) Differentiate $ {x \over (x + 1)^2 } $.
Answer:
$ {1 - x \over (x + 1)^3 } $
Solutions
\begin{align*}
u & = x &&& v & = (x + 1)^2 \\
{du \over dx} & = 1 &&& {dv \over dx} & = 2(x + 1) (1) \phantom{000000} [\text{Chain rule}] \\
& &&& & = 2(x + 1)
\end{align*}
\begin{align*}
{d \over dx} \left[ x \over (x + 1)^2 \right]
& = { (x + 1)^2 (1) - (x)[2(x + 1)] \over [(x + 1)^2]^2 } \phantom{000000} [\text{Quotient rule}] \\
& = { (x + 1)^2 - 2x (x + 1) \over (x + 1)^4 } \\
& = { (x + 1) [ (x + 1) - 2x ] \over (x + 1)^4 } \phantom{00000000000}[\text{Factorise } (x + 1)] \\
& = { (x + 1) (1 - x) \over (x + 1)^4 } \\
& = { 1 - x \over (x + 1)^3 }
\end{align*}
(ii) Using the result from (i), find $ \int {3 - 2x \over (x + 1)^3} \phantom{.} dx$.
Answer:
$ {4x - 1 \over 2(x + 1)^2} + c $
Solutions
\begin{align*}
{d \over dx} \left[ x \over (x + 1)^2 \right] & = { 1 - x \over (x + 1)^3 } \\
\\
\implies \int {1 - x \over (x + 1)^3 } \phantom{.} dx & = {x \over (x + 1)^2 } \\
\\ \\
\int {3 - 2x \over (x + 1)^3 } \phantom{.} dx & = \int { 2 - 2x \over (x + 1)^3 } + {1 \over (x + 1)^3} \phantom{.} dx \\
& = \int { 2 - 2x \over (x + 1)^3 } \phantom{.} dx + \int {1 \over (x + 1)^3 } \phantom{.} dx \\
& = 2 \underbrace{ \int {1 - x \over (x + 1)^3 } \phantom{.} dx }_\text{Match result in line 2} + \int (x + 1)^{-3} \phantom{.} dx \\
& = 2 \left[ x \over (x + 1)^2 \right] + \int (x + 1)^{-3} \phantom{.} dx \\
& = {2x \over (x + 1)^2} + {(x + 1)^{-2} \over (-2)(1)}
\phantom{000000} \left[ \int [f(x)]^n \phantom{.} dx = { [f(x)]^{n + 1} \over (n + 1). f'(x) } \right] \\
& = {2x \over (x + 1)^2} - {1 \over 2(x + 1)^2} \\
& = {4x \over 2(x + 1)^2} - {1 \over 2(x + 1)^2} \\
& = {4x - 1 \over 2(x + 1)^2} + c
\end{align*}
Type 3: Change subject of equation
For this type, the differentiation part of the question usually involves product rule.
Example
(i) Differentiate $ e^{2x} x $ with respect to $x$.
Answer:
$ 2x e^{2x} + e^{2x} $
Solutions
\begin{align*}
u & = e^{2x} &&& v & = x \\
{du \over dx} & = 2e^{2x} &&& {dv \over dx} & = 1
\end{align*}
\begin{align*}
{d \over dx} (x e^{2x} )
& = (x)(2e^{2x}) + (e^{2x})(1) \phantom{000000} [\text{Product rule}] \\
& = 2x e^{2x} + e^{2x}
\end{align*}
(ii) Hence, find $ \int x e^{2x} \phantom{.} dx $.
Answer:
$ {1 \over 2}x e^{2x} - {1 \over 4} e^{2x} + c $
Solutions
\begin{align*}
{d \over dx} (x e^{2x} ) & = 2x e^{2x} + e^{2x} \\
\\
\implies \int 2x e^{2x} + e^{2x} \phantom{.} dx & = x e^{2x} \\
\underbrace{ \int 2x e^{2x} \phantom{.} dx }_\text{Need this} + \int e^{2x} \phantom{.} dx & = x e^{2x} \\
\int 2x e^{2x} \phantom{.} dx & = x e^{2x} - \int e^{2x} \phantom{.} dx \\
\int 2x e^{2x} \phantom{.} dx & = x e^{2x} - { e^{2x} \over 2 } \phantom{000000000} \left[ \int e^{f(x)} \phantom{.} dx = {e^{f(x)} \over f'(x)} \right] \\
2 \int x e^{2x} \phantom{.} dx & = x e^{2x} - {1 \over 2} e^{2x} \\
\int x e^{2x} \phantom{.} dx & = {1 \over 2} \left( x e^{2x} - {1 \over 2} e^{2x} \right) \\
& = {1 \over 2} x e^{2x} - {1 \over 4} e^{2x} + c
\end{align*}
Past year O level questions
| Year & paper |
Comments |
| 2025 P1 Question 4 |
Type 3 (Difficult) |
| 2024 P1 Question 2 |
Type 2 |
| 2023 P1 Question 4 |
Type 3 |
| 2022 P2 Question 8c |
Type 2 (Difficult) |
| 2021 P2 Question 3 |
Type 1 |
| 2020 P2 Question 7 |
Type 2 (Difficult) |
| 2019 P2 Question 1 |
Type 3 |
| 2018 P2 Question 6 |
Type 3 |
| 2017 P2 Question 2 |
Type 1 |
| 2016 P1 Question 10i, ii |
Type 3 |
| 2015 P1 Question 2 |
Type 3 |
| 2013 P1 Question 12 |
Type 3 (Link - Subscription required) |
| 2012 P1 Question 3 |
Type 3 (Link - Subscription required) |
| 2010 P1 Question 6 |
Type 3 (Link - Subscription required) |
| 2010 P2 Question 10 |
Type 1 |
| 2009 P1 Question 12iii |
Type 2 |
| 2008 P1 Question 4 |
Type 3 |
| 2005 P1 Question 8 |
Type 2 (Link - Subscription required) |
| 2004 P1 Question 11iv |
Type 3 |
| 2003 P2 Question 9 |
Type 2 (Link - Subscription required) |
| 2002 P2 Question 7 |
Type 3 |
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