01

NOTE
P H Y S I C S

MATHEMATICAL TOOLS
APPLICATIONS OF DIFFERENTIATION

What you already know What you will learn

• Vectors • Introduction to functions • Applications of differentiation

Why do we study differentiation ?

1. To study the variation of one quantity with respect to another.

2. To find the slope of a curve.
3. To find the maximum and minimum values of any function.

If y = x2 ex, then find its derivative.

Solution

y = x 2e x
dy d 2 x d d 2
= x e = x 2 ex + ex x ........ Using ( fg )' = f'g + fg'
dx dx dx dx
dy d n d x
⇒ = x 2e x + e x × 2x 2-1 ........ Using x = nx n-1 and e = ex
dx dx dx
dy
⇒ = x 2e x + 2e x x
dx

If y = sec x, then find its derivative.

Solution
1
y = sec x =
cos x
d1 d
cos x × - 1 × cos x '
dy d 1  dx dx  f  gf' - fg'
=  = .......Using   =
dx dx  cos x  cos2 x  g g2
dy sin x
= = tan x × sec x
dx cos2 x

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 02

If y = sec 3 x then find its derivative.

Solution
y = sec 3 x Using chain rule of differentiation,
Let 3
x =u -
2
dy dy du x3
1  -
2
= × = ( sec u × tan u ) ×
du d 3 1  - 1 x 3 dx du dx 3
= x = x 3  = ........ ( i ) 2
dx dx 3 3 -
dy x 3
Also, ⇒ = sec 3 x × tan 3 x ×
dx 3
y = sec u
dy
= sec u × tan u = sec 3 x × tan 3 x
du

If the motion of a particle is represented by s = t3 + t2 − t + 2 m, find the position, velocity, and

acceleration of the particle at 2 s.

Solution BOARDS

s(t) = t3 + t2 - t + 2
s(2) = (2)3 + (2)2 - (2) + 2 = 12 m Displacement s
v(t) = ds = 3t2 + 2t - 1 ds
dt First derivative is velocity
dt
v(2) = 3(2)2 + 2(2) - 1 = 15 ms-1
Second derivative is d2s
a(t) = d s2 = dv = 3(2t) + 2 = 6t + 2
2

dt dt acceleration dt2
a(2) = 12 + 2 = 14 ms-2

Find the slope of the tangent to the curve 𝑦 = 𝑥2 − 5𝑥 + 4 at the point (5, 4).

Solution
y Slope = 𝑦′ = dy = d (𝑥2 - 5𝑥 + 4) = 2𝑥 - 5
dx dx
𝒚 = 𝒙𝟐- 𝟓𝒙 + 𝟒 Slope at (5, 4) = y′ (5, 4) = 2(5) - 5 = 5
(0, 4) (5, 4)
Slope of curve at (𝒙, 𝒚) = Slope of tangent at (𝒙, 𝒚)
dy
= = tan 𝜃
dx
(4, 0) tan 𝜃
x Derivative of a function at a point gives
0 (1, 0)
the slope of tangent at that point.

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 03

Increasing and Decreasing Functions

y

A function y = f(x) is said to be increasing if,

• The value of y increases as the value of x increases.
f(x2) • The tangent to the curve of the function has a positive
slope.
f(x1)
• If x1 < x2, then y1 < y2.
x
0 x1 x2

Increasing
If x1 < x2, then f(x1) ≤ f(x2)

y
A function y = f(x) is said to be decreasing if,
• The value of y decreases as the value of x increases.
• The tangent to the curve of the function has a negative
f(x1) slope.
f(x2) • If x1 < x2, then y1 > y2.
x
0 x1 x2
Decreasing
If x1 < x2, then f(x1) ≥ f(x2)

Critical points

At the critical point, the slope of tangent is zero. It is the point of change of direction of the curve.
At the critical point, f’(x) = dy = 0.
dx
Critical point Increasing
Tangent has a Tangent has a
y decreases positive slope negative slope
Decreasing
as x increases

Decreasing
Increasing

y increases
Decreasing
Critical point Increasing
as x increases

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 04

For an increasing function, dy > 0

dx
For a decreasing function, dy < 0
dx
At critical point dy
=0
dx

Find the critical points for the function 𝑓(𝑥) = -𝑥3 + 3𝑥2.

Solution

𝑓(𝑥) = -𝑥3 + 3𝑥2

𝑓′(𝑥) = -3𝑥2 + 6x
For critical points, we equate 𝑓’(𝑥) = 0
-3𝑥2 + 6x = 0
⟹ −3𝑥(𝑥 - 2) = 0
∴ 𝑥 = 0 and 𝑥 = 2 are the critical points of the given function.

NEET
Maxima and Minima

Global maximum

Local
Maximum

Local
Minimum Global Minimum

Second derivative test

Conditions for maxima

2
3
4
a. dy = 0 Look at the slope at points 1, 2, and
dx 3. It is decreasing and becomes
b. d y2 < 0
2
1 5 zero at 3.
dx

0 x For maxima, as x increases, the slope decreases.

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 05

Conditions for minima

1 5 a. dy = 0 Look at the slope at points 1, 2, and
dx 3. It is increasing and becomes
b. d y2 > 0
2
2 3 4 zero at 3.
dx

0 x For minima, as x increases, the slope increases.

Find the local maxima and minima for the function 𝑦 = 𝑥3 - 3𝑥 + 2.

Solution

dy
= 3𝑥2 - 3
dx
For critical points, we equate dy = 0
dx
⟹ 3𝑥2 - 3 = 0 ⟹ (𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 - 1) = 0
𝑥 = 1 and 𝑥 = -1 are the critical points.
To find the maxima or minima, we calculate d y .
2

dx
d2y
= 6𝑥
dx
For 𝑥 = 1, d y2 = 6(1) = 6 ⟹ Positive. Hence, there is a minima at 𝑥 = 1.
2

dx
For 𝑥 = -1, d y2 = 6(-1) = -6 ⟹ Negative. Hence, there is a maxima at 𝑥 = -1.
2

dx

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