EDEXCEL NOVEMBER MARK SCHEME 2026
COMPLETE ANSWERS GRADED A+
⩥ How to find gradient when differentiating? Answer: Sub in x value
given into dy/dx
⩥ The general binomial theorem. Answer: (1+x)^n = 1 + nx + n(n-1)/2!
(x)^2 + n(n-1)(n-2)/3! (x)^3...
⩥ Approx using binomial expansion. Answer: 1. compare approx to
formula
2. sub in to solve to find x e.g. 1 - x = 0.96
3. sub x back into equation to find approximation
⩥ Arithmetic Sequence: N'th term formula. Answer: Un = a + (n-1)d
⩥ Geometric Sequence: N'th term formula. Answer: Un = ar^n-1
⩥ Increasing functions. Answer: f'(x) > 0
⩥ Decreasing functions. Answer: f'(x) < 0
, ⩥ How to find stationary points & determine nature. Answer: 1.
differentiate
2. solve f'(x) = 0
3. put x coordinates back into f(x) to get y
4. plug in values bit to the left and right of stationary points into f'(x)
5. if signs of both derivatives are the same then you have a point of
inflection
6. if negative to left, positive to right = local min
7. if positive to left, negative to right = local max
⩥ Differentiate arcsin x. Answer: 1/√1-x^2
⩥ Differentiate arccos x. Answer: -1/√1-x^2
⩥ Differentiate arctan x. Answer: 1/1+x^2
⩥ What can (x^2-y^2) be simplified into?. Answer: (x+y)(x-y) -
difference of two squares
⩥ What does it mean when a sequence is periodic?. Answer: The values
repeat
e.g. a1 = p