National Junior College Mathematics Department

National Junior College

2022 – 2023 H2 Mathematics
Topic 6B: Applications of Differentiation Notes

Other than dealing with problems that involve graphs and gradient, we will use the
concept of differentiation to solve practical problems, mainly problems involving
optimisation and connected rates of change.

§1 Tangents and Normals

Key questions:
☐ How do we find the equations of tangents and normals to curves?
☐ What is the relationship between the gradient of the tangent and that
of the normal?
☐ How do we find the equations of the tangents and normals if the curve
is defined implicitly or parametrically?
☐ How do we find the approximate value of a derivative at a given point
on a curve using a GC?

Equations of the Tangent and the Normal of a Curve at a Point (a, b)

From the O-level syllabus, we have the following:

For a given point (a, b) on a curve y  f ( x ), y 1

Gradient of normal =
f ( a )
Equation of tangent y  b  f ( a )( x  a )

1 b
Equation of normal y  b = (x  a)
f (a)

O a x
Gradient of tangent =
How do we find the Example 1.1
equations of tangents The normal to the curve y  ( x  1)2 at the point P (2,1)
and normals to cuts the curve at another point Q.
curves? (i) Find the equation of the normal.
(ii) Obtain the coordinates of the point Q.
Solution:
dy
(i) y  ( x  1) 2 then  2( x  1).
dx
At P (2,1) , gradient of curve y  ( x  1) 2
Apply
is 2(2 – 1) = 2.
y  y1  m(x  x1) to
1
find equation of a Thus gradient of normal at P =  .
line with gradient m 2
and passing through 1
Equation of normal is y  1   ( x  2)
the point (x1, y1) 2
 2y  4  x

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Equating equation of (ii) When the normal cuts the curve again,
line and equation of (4  x)
curve to find point(s)  ( x  1) 2
2
of intersection 3
 x2  x  1  0
2
 1
 ( x  2)  x    0.
 2
1
Thus x  2 or x   .
2
1
Therefore x-coordinate of the point Q is  . ( x  2
2
corresponds to P)
1
Substituting x   into the equation of the curve
2
2
2  1  9
y  ( x  1) , we get y     1  .
 2  4
 1 9
Thus, coordinates of Q is   ,  .
 2 4

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To use the GC to calculate the gradient at a point on a curve (Cartesian equation):

Method 1 (From the graph)

Step Screenshot
1. After you have used the GC to
obtain the graph of the curve in

Example 1.1, press

to access the “CALCULATE”

menu and press

to select “6: dy/dx”.

2. Press to key in the

x-coordinate of the point (2,1)
on the curve in which we want
to calculate the gradient.

The GC will then show the value

of dy/dx = 2 as well as the
corresponding x- and y-
coordinates of the point on the
curve.

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Method 2 (From the derivative function)

Step Screenshot

1. Press and press

to select “3: nDeriv( ”.

2. Press to enter the

variable X which we are
differentiating w.r.t. The
cursor will then move to the
space inside the bracket which
we can enter the expression for
the curve equation in terms of
X.

Press to move the cursor

to the end of the derivative
function and enter the value of
X for which we want to
calculate the gradient value.

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To use the GC to find the equation of the tangent of a curve (Cartesian equation)
at a point:

Step Screenshot
1. After you have used the GC to
obtain the graph of the curve in

Example 1.1, press

and press to select

“5: Tangent( ”.

2. Press to key in the

x-coordinate of the point (2,1) on
the curve in which we want to
draw the tangent line.

The GC will then draw the

tangent to the curve at the point
(2,1) with its equation shown at
the bottom left of the GC screen
as well as the corresponding x-
coordinate of the point on the
curve.

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Exercise 1.2
How do we find the Find the equations of the tangents to the curve
equations of 1 
3
3
tangents and y   x  1 which are parallel to the line y  x  5 .
normals to curves? 2  2

Solution:
3
y  x 5
2
m  3/2
Tangents to the
curve parallel to the
3
line y  x 5
2
have gradient 3/2

Apply
y  y1  m(x  x1) to
find equation of
tangent

Apply
y  y1  m(x  x1) to
find equation of
tangent

How do we find the Exercise 1.3 (Involves Implicit Differentiation)

equations of Find the equation of the tangent to the curve
tangents to curves? y 3  2 xy 2  3 x 2  3  0 at the point (2,3) .

Solution:
Apply product rule
and implicit
differentiation (e.g.
d 3 dy
dx
 y   3y2 )
dx

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dy Exercise 1.4 (Involves Implicit Differentiation)

How do find
dx Given that x 2  2 xy  2 y 2  4 , find an expression for dy
using implicit dx
differentiation? in terms of x and y. Hence find the coordinates of each
point on the curve at which the tangent is parallel to the x-
axis.
Solution:

What can we say

about the gradient
 dy 
  if a tangent is
 dx 
‘parallel to the x-
axis’?

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How do we find the Example 1.5 (Involves Parametric Differentiation)

equations of Find the equations of the tangents and normals to the curve
tangents and defined parametrically as
normals to x  t2 , y  t3 1
parametric curves? at the points where the curve cuts the line x = 4.

Solution:
dy
y  t3 1   3t 2
dt
dx
x  t2   2t
dt
 dy 
dy dy dt  dt  3t 2 3
 .    t.
dx dt dx  dx  2t 2
 
 dt 

When x = 4, how do When x = 4, t   2 or t  2 .

we find the y-
coordinates and the dy
corresponding When t   2 , y  7 and  3 .
dx
dy
values of ?
dx
Thus equation of tangent is
y  7  3( x  4)  y  3 x  5
1 1 25
and equation of normal is y  7  ( x  4)  y  x  .
3 3 3

dy
When t  2 , y  9 and  3.
dx

Thus equation of tangent is y  9  3( x  4)  y  3 x  3

and equation of normal is
1 1 31
y  9   ( x  4)  y   x  .
3 3 3

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To use the GC to find the gradient at a point on a curve defined parametrically:

Step Screenshot
1. After you have used the GC
(Parametric mode) to obtain the
graph of the curve in Example

1.5, press to
access the “CALCULATE”
menu and press to select
“2: dy/dx”.

2. Press to key in the

parameter t = 2 that corresponds
to the point on the curve when x
= 4 in which we want to
calculate the gradient.

You may have to adjust the range of t

values using the “WINDOW” button if
you do not see the complete curve.
The GC will then show the value
of dy/dx=3.0000003.
Note: In such situation, we
should verify algebraically
whether the gradient is exactly 3
dy
i.e.  3.
dx

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How do we find the Exercise 1.6 (Involves Parametric Differentiation)

equations of A curve is defined parametrically as
tangents and x  2  t, y  1  t 2 .
normals to
parametric curves? Show that the normal to the curve at the point with
parameter t has equation
x  2ty  2t 3  t  2 .

The normal at the point T, where t  2 cuts the curve again

at the point P, where t  p . Show that 4 p 2  p  18  0
and hence deduce the coordinates of P.

Solution:

Note:
x  2  t,
y  1 t2
Coordinates of
point with
parameter t is
 2  t ,1  t 
2

How do we solve
for the point(s) of
intersection
between a cartesian
curve and a
parametric curve?

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§2 Geometrical Results of the Gradient Function

Key questions:
☐ How do we determine if a function is increasing or decreasing in an
interval?

Increasing and Decreasing Functions

A function is said to be increasing (resp. decreasing) when the value of f ( x )

increases (resp. decreases) as the value of x increases. Mathematically, we have:

Definition (Increasing and Decreasing Functions)

A function f is said to be increasing (resp. decreasing) if a  b implies

that f ( a )  f (b)  resp. f (a)  f (b)  .

Examples: (increasing functions) y  x, y  x 3  x.

(decreasing function) y  2 x  1, y  e  x .

For differentiable functions that are neither increasing nor decreasing, we can still
determine the interval (say I) such that the curve is upward or downward sloping
on I. For example, consider the following graph of y  f ( x ) .
y

b
x
a

Value of
f ( x ) or Gradient of On I,
Range of values of curve On I, curve
function f
x, I dy is…
y  f ( x ) is is…
dx
x  a or x  b 0 positive upward sloping increasing
downward
a xb 0 negative decreasing
sloping

Hence we can conclude that

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dy
(a) If f ( x )  0 or  0 for all x in an interval I, then f is increasing on I.
dx

dy
(b) If f ( x )  0 or  0 for all x in an interval I, then f is decreasing on I.
dx

§3 Concavity

Key questions:
☐ How do we relate the concavity of the graph with the first and second
derivative?
☐ How do we tell if a graph is concave upwards or concave
downwards?

Recall that
dy d
  y   rate of change of y with respect to x,
dx dx
dy
i.e. is the gradient function for y.
dx

Similarly, we have
d 2 y d  dy  dy
2
    rate of change of with respect to x,
dx dx  dx  dx
d2 y dy
i.e. 2 is the gradient function for . Hence we have the following results:
dx dx

Concave downwards Concave upwards

y = f(x) y = f(x)

As x increases, the gradient of the As x increases, the gradient of the

curve decreases, i.e. f ( x ) is curve increases, i.e. f ( x ) is
decreasing. increasing.
f ( x ) is decreasing  f ( x )  0 . f ( x ) is increasing  f ( x )  0 .

Therefore, if f   x   0 (resp. f   x   0 ) for all x in an interval I, then curve of

y = f(x) is concave downwards (resp. concave upwards) on I.

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How do we Example 3.1

determine Determine the concavity of y = f(x)  x 3  3 x 2  1 for
(algebraically) the (a) x  1,
concavity of a (b) x  1.
function in an
interval?
Solution:
f(x)  x 3  3 x 2  1
 f ( x)  3 x 2  6 x and f ( x)  6 x  6.

(a) x  1 : f   x   6 x  6  0
 curve is concave upwards on (1,  ).
(b) x  1 : f   x   6 x  6  0
 curve is concave downwards on (, 1).

How do we Exercise 3.2

determine Determine the set(s) of values of x for which the graph
(graphically) if a given below is:
function is (i) increasing,
increasing or (ii) decreasing,
decreasing in an (iii) concave upwards,
interval? (iv) concave downwards.
y
How do we tell if a
graph is concave
upwards or
concave
downwards? x
1 0 1

Solution:
(i)

(ii)

(iii)

(iv)

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§4 Graph of the Derivative Function, y  f ( x )

Key questions:
☐ How do we determine the nature of the stationary points (local maximum
and minimum and stationary points of inflexion)?
☐ What is the difference between a local and a global
maximum/minimum?

Graph of Graph of
y  f ( x) y  f ( x) Mathematical Verification
Stationary Intersects x-axis Since  a, b  is a stationary point, f ( a )  0,
point at  a, b  at x  a
i.e. when x  a , y  f ( x ) intersects x-axis.
Point of Turning point at
inflexion at xa
 a, b 

 a, b   a, b 

d2 y
Since  f   x  is the gradient function
dx 2
dy
for  f ( x) and f ( x) changes sign at
dx
x  a  and x  a  (i.e. change in concavity),
this implies that y  f ( x) has a turning point
at x  a .
Gradient of y  f ( x) is Since gradient of y  f ( x) is positive, then
y  f ( x) is above the x-axis. y  f ( x)  0 .
positive.

Gradient of y  f ( x) is Since gradient of y  f ( x) is negative, then

y  f ( x) is below the x-axis. y  f ( x)  0 .
negative.
y  f ( x) has a y  f ( x) has a If f ( x) is not defined at x  a , then f ( x) is
vertical vertical also undefined at x  a .
asymptote asymptote
x  a. x  a.

y  f ( x) has a y  f ( x) has a As the curve approaches a horizontal

horizontal horizontal asymptote, the gradient of the curve
asymptote asymptote approaches zero.
yb . y  0.

y  f ( x) has y  f ( x) has a
As the curve approaches an oblique
an oblique horizontal
asymptote, the gradient of the curve
asymptote asymptote
approaches m.
y  mx  c . y  m.

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Example 4.1
How to sketch the The following is a sketch of the curves y  f ( x ) and
graphs of gradient y  g( x ). Sketch, on separate diagrams, the graphs of
functions? y  f ( x ) and y  g( x ).
Solution:
y

y  f ( x)

( 1,1)

x
−2 O 2
(1, 1.5)

y
y  f ( x)

1 O 1 x

x  2 y

 23 , 83  y  g( x)
2

x
−2 O

x  2 y

y0
2
x
−2 O 3 y  g( x)

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§5 Practical Problems involving Differentiation

Key questions:
☐ How do we solve problems involving local maxima and minima as well as
connected rate of change?
☐ What is the first derivative test?
☐ What is the second derivative test? Why does it work? Does it work
all the time?
☐ When should we use the first derivative test instead of the second
derivative test?
☐ How is chain rule (of differentiation) used in connected rate of
change?

5.1 Maxima & Minima

We can apply differentiation to maximise or minimise a quantity given some

restrictions / limitations.

For example, a farmer wishes to find out how to enclose a rectangular piece of land
with his fixed amount of fencing, say, 1000 m on all sides of the rectangle
(restriction). How would you advise him to obtain the largest area (quantity) for his
herd to graze the land?

Such problems exist in the real world especially in the fields of economics, sciences
and manufacturing sectors as we always try to minimise cost and/or maximise profit.

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How do we solve Example 5.1.1 (Function of a single variable)

problems involving Triangle ABC has a right angle at C. The shape of the
local maxima and triangle can vary but the sides BC and CA have a fixed total
minima? length of 10 cm. Find the maximum area of the triangle.

Solution:
Step 1: Let side BC be x, hence side
Express the CA  10  x . A
quantity to be
maximised as a Therefore area (P) of right-
function of one angle triangle is
variable. 1 x2
P  10  x  x  5 x  .
2 2 C B

Step 2: dP
Differentiate w.r.t.  5  x.
dx
the variable.

Step 3: dP
Find stationary For stationary values, dx  0
value(s) of the  5  x  0  x  5.
variable.
When x  5 cm, P  12.5 cm 2 .
Step 4: nd d2P
Check whether Using the 2 derivative test, we get  1  0 .
dx 2
stationary value
Hence the triangle has a maximum area of 12.5cm 2 when
gives a maximum
x is 5 cm.
using first or
second derivative
test. Values of the
derivative test
must be shown
clearly.

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How do we solve Exercise 5.1 (Function of 2 variables)

problems involving A closed cylindrical can has height h and base radius r and
local maxima and its volume is 0.01 cubic units. Show that the surface area S
minima? 1
is given by S  2πr 2  . Hence find the value of r for
50r
which S is a minimum.

Solution:
S  2πr 2  2πrh --- (1) r
We can see that S is 2 V 1
a function of 2 V  πr h  h  πr 2  100πr 2 . h
variables, r and h. 1
V Substituting h = in (1),
From h  2 and 100πr 2
πr
V = 0.01  1/100 1
3 S  2πr 2  2πr
units to substitute 100πr 2
the variable h in S. 1
S  2πr 2  (shown).
50r

dS
Solve  0.
dr
For stationary values of S,

Check the nature of Using the second derivative test,

stationary points d 2 S 2
(by the second dr 2  4π+ 50r 3 > 0 (since r > 0)
derivative test).
or
d2S
Show  0 by
dr 2
r > 0 or  12.

Check the nature of Alternatively, using first derivative test,

stationary points 1
since r  3  0.11675 (5 s.f.)
(by first derivative 200π
test). 1
r 0.116 3
0.117
Compute the values 200π
dS dS –0.0286 <
for and 0 0.00924 > 0
dr 0
dr
indicate < 0 or > 0. Shape of \ /
curve 

1
Thus, S is minimum when r  3
.
200π

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How do we solve Exercise 5.2

problems involving An open rectangular tank of capacity 1203 cm3 is to be
local maxima and constructed using materials of negligible thickness. The
minima? length of the tank is to be three times its breadth (which is
denoted as x cm). If the material needed for making the
tank is denoted as A cm2 , show that

3208
A=  3x 2 .
x

x
3x
Find the value of x for which A will be a minimum.

Solution:
Define the Let h cm be height of the tank.
unknown h. 1203 401
2 h  2 .
V  3x h and given 3x 2 x
V  1203

For stationary
dA
values of A, 0
dx

Check the nature of

stationary points
(by the second
derivative test)

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5.2 Connected Rates of Change

In this section, we consider problems involving the rates of change for two related
variables.

For example, if the area of a metal frame, say A, is related to the temperature of the
metal frame, x, by A  f ( x), how can we find the rate of change of A at a certain time
t, given the value of x and the rate of change of x at time t?

To solve such problems,

dA
(i) Determine the rate of change to be found: .
dt
dx
(ii) Identify what you are given: .
dt
(iii) By the Chain rule, we know that the given rate of change and the rate of
change to be found are related by the identity
dA dA dx
  .
dt dx dt
dA dA
Hence we need to find  f ( x ) at the value of x at time t and find using
dx dt
the above relation.

How do we solve Example 5.2.1

problems involving
connected rate of [The volume and the surface area of a sphere with radius r
change? 4
are V  πr 3 and A  4πr 2 respectively.]
3

A spherical balloon is being inflated, and at the instant

when its radius is 10 cm, its surface area is increasing at a
rate of 6.4 cm2 s–1.
Find the rate of increase, at the same instant, of
(i) the radius,
(ii) the volume.

Solution:
Apply connected dA
2
rates of change to (i) A  4πr ,  6.4 cm 2s 1
dt
dr dA dA dA dr
find . Since  8πr and   ,
dt dr dt dr dt
dA
dr dt 6.4
  (when r  10)
dt dA 8π 10 
dr
 0.0255 cm s 1 (to 3 s.f.)

Apply connected 4 3 dV
rates of change to (ii) V  3 πr   4πr 2 .
dr
dV
find .
dt

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When r  10,
dV dV dr 2
   4π 10    0.025465 
dt dr dt
 32.0 cm 3 s 1  3 s.f. .

How do we solve Exercise 5.3

problems involving A ladder 5 m long is leaning against a vertical wall. The
connected rate of bottom of the ladder is pulled away along the ground from
change? the wall at a constant rate of 0.4 ms 1 . How quickly will
the top of the ladder be falling when the bottom of the
ladder is 3 m from the wall?

Solution:
Define the
unknowns used.

Apply connected
rates of change to
dh
find .
dt h 5m

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