Application of
derivatives
Introduction
Derivatives are defined as the varying rate of
change of a function with respect to an
independent variable.
In this project, we'll doscuss applications of
the derivative and various disciplines, e.g., in
engineering, science, social science, and
many other fields.
Index
Rate of Change of Quantities
Increasing and Decreasing
functions
Maxima and Minima
Questions
Case study
Rate of change of quantities
If a quantity y varies is with another quantity x, satisfying some rule y = f(x), then
dy/dx (or f'(x)) represents the rate of change of y with respect to x and dy/dx ]If a
quantity y varies is with another quantity x, satisfying some rule y = f(x), then dy/dx
(or f'(x)) represents the rate of change of y with respect to x and (dy/dx) |ₓ=ₓ₀ (or f'(x))
represents the rate of change of y with respect to x at x = x₀ .
If two variables x and y are wearing with respect to another variable t, i.e., if x = f(t)
and y = g(t), then by Chain Rule
dy/dx = dy/dx / dy/dx, if dy/dx≠0.
Increasing and decreasing functions
A function f is said to be
(a) increasing on an interval (a, b) if
⇒
x₁ < x₂ in (a, b) f(x₁) < f(x₂) for all x₁, x₂ ∈ (a, b).
(b) decreasing on (a, b) if
⇒
x₁ < x₂ in (a, b) f(x₁) > f(x₂) for all x₁, x₂ ∈ (a, b).
(c) constant on (a, b) if
∈
f(x) = c for all x (a, b), where c is a constant.
Increasing and decreasing functions
Maxima and minima
First Derivative Test
(i) If f'(x) changes sign from positive to negative as x increases through c, then c is a point of
local maxima.
(ii) If f'(x) changes sign from negative to positive as x increases through c, then c is a point
of local minima.
(iii) If f'(x) does not change sign as x increases through c, then c is neither a point of local
maxima nor a point of local minima. Infact, such a point is called point of inflexion.
Maxima and minima
Second Derivative Test
Let f be a function defined on an interval I, and c ∈ I. Let f be twice differentiable at c. Then
(i) x = c is a point of local maxima if f'(x) = 0 and f"(x) < 0
The values of f(c) is local maximum value of f.
(ii) x = c is a point of local minima if f'(x) = 0 and f"(x) > 0
In this case f(c) is local minimum value of f.
(iii) the test fails id f'(c) = 0 and f"(c) = 0.
In this case, we go back to the first derivative test and find weather c is a point of maxima, minima or
a point of inflexion.
MAXIMA AND MINIMA
Questions
1. The length x of a rectangle is decreasing at the rate of 5 cm/minute and the width y
is increasing at the rate of 4 cm/minute. When x = 8cm and y = 6cm, find the rates of
change of (a) the perimeter, and (b) the area of the rectangle
Given:
Rate of change of length, dx/dt = -5 cm/min; Rate of change of width, dy/dt = 4 cm/min
Thus, the rate of change of the perimeter
Perimeter P = 2(x + y)
dP/dt = 2(dx/dt + dy/dt)
= 2(-5 + 4)
= -2 cm/min
And, the rate of change of the area
Area A = xy
dA/dt = x(dy/dt) + y(dx/dt)
= 8(4) + 6(-5)
= 32 - 30
= 2 cm^2/min
So, when x = 8cm and y = 6cm:
(a) The perimeter is decreasing at 2 cm/min.
(b) The area is increasing at 2 cm^2/min.
Questions
2. Find the interval in which the following function is strictly increasing or decreasing.
f(x) = -2x³-9x²-12x+1
f'(x) = -6x^2 - 18x - 12
= -6(x^2 + 3x + 2)
= -6(x + 1)(x + 2)
*Therefore,*
⇒
⇒ x = -1, 2
f'(x) = 0
x = -1 and x = -2 divide the number line into intervals (-∞, -2), (-2, -1) and (-1, ∞)
In (-∞, -2) and (-1, ∞), f'(x) = -6(x + 1)(x + 2) < 0
Hence, f is strictly decreasing for x < -2 and x > -1
In (-2, -1), f'(x) = -6(x + 1)(x + 2) > 0
Hence, f is strictly increasing in -2 < x < -1
*d) f(x) = 6 - 9x - x^2*
*Hence,*
f'(x) = -9 - 2x
Questions
3. Find the maximum and minimum values, if any, of the following function given by:
g(x) = -|x+1| + 3
The given function is g(x) = -|x+1| + 3
It can be observed that -|x+1| ≤ 0 for every x ∈ R.
Therefore, f(x) = -|x+1| + 3 ≤ 3 for every x ∈ R.
The maximum value of g is attained when |x+1| = 0
⇒
⇒ |x+1| = 0
x = -1
Therefore, maximum value of g = g(-1)
= -|-1+1| + 3
=3
Hence, the function g does not have a minimum value.
Case study 1
In a residential society comprising of 100 houses, there were 60 children between the ages of 10-
15 years. They were inspired by their teachers to start composting to ensure that biodegradable
waste is recycled. For this purpose, instead of each child doing it for only his/her house, children
convinced the Residents welfare association to do it as a society initiative. For this, they identified
a square area in the local park. Local authorities charged amount of ₹ 50 per square metre for
space so that there is no misuse of the space and Resident welfare association takes it seriously.
Association hired a labourer for digging out 250 m³ and he charged ₹ 400 × (depth)².
Case study
Questions:
Q1. Let the side of the square plot be x meters and its depth be h meters. Then the cost c for the pit is:
a. 50/h + 400h^2 b. 1250/h + 400h^2
c. 250/h + h^2 d. 250/h + 400h^2
Q2. Value of h (in m) for which dc/dh = 0 is:
a. 1.5. b. 2
c. 2.5 d. 3
Q3. d^2c/dh^2 is given by:
a. 25000/h^3 + 800 b. 500/h^3 + 800
c. 100/h^3 + 800 d. 500/h^3 + 2
Q4. Value of x (in m) for minimum cost is:
a. 5 b. 10 * (5/3)^(1/3)
c. 5 * 5^(1/3) d. 10
Q5. Total minimum cost of digging the pit (in ₹) is:
a. 4100 b. 7500
c. 7850 d. 3220
Case study 2
The fuel cost per hour for running a train is proportional to the square of the speed it
generates in km per hour. If the fuel cost ₹48 per hour at speed 16 km/h and the fixed
charges to run the train amount to ₹1200 per hour.
Assume the speed of the train as v km/h.
Case study
Q1. Given that the fuel cost per hour is k times the square of the speed the train generates in km/h, the value of k is:
a. 16/3 b. 3/16
c. 3 d. 3/16
Q2. If the train has travelled a distance of 500 km, then the total cost of running the train is given by function:
a. 15v/16 + 600000/v b. 375v/4 + 600000/v
c. 5v^2/16 + 150000/v d. 3v/16 + 6000/v
Q3. The most economical speed to run the train is:
a. 18 km/h b. 5 km/h
c. 80 km/h d. 40 km/h
Q4. The fuel cost for the train to travel 500 km at the most economical speed is:
a. ₹3750 b. ₹750
c. ₹7500 d. ₹75000
Q5. The total cost of the train to travel 500 km at the most economical speed is:
a. ₹3750 b. ₹75000
c. ₹7500 d. ₹15000
Answers:
Case study 1: Case study 2:
1. B 1.D
2. C 2. B
3. A 3. C
4. B 4. C
5.D 5.D
Thank
You