Republic of the Philippines

CAMARINES NORTE STATE COLLEGE

F. Pimentel Avenue, Brgy. 2, Daet, Camarines Norte – 4600, Philippines

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

EN MATH 1 – CALCULUS 1 (DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS) Period: 1st Sem. A.Y. 2023-2024

Course Instructor: Engr. Neri Dianne M. Bacuño Course and Year: BSCE 1
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(4) Application of the Derivatives

Outline of Learning Topics

• Slope of a Curve
• Increasing and Decreasing Functions
• Maxima and Minima

Specific Intended Learning Outcome/s (SILOs)

At the end of this topic, the student should be able to:
• Solve problems on some applications of derivative in real-life scenarios.
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The derivative is a powerful tool in the solution of many problems in science, engineering, geometry, and
economics. Among these problems which you will find not only useful but also quite interesting are those
situations which call for maximizing or minimizing a function. For instance, an engineer may want to determine
the dimensions of the strongest rectangular beam that he can cut from a circular log of known diameter.

Slope of a Curve
Consider a function 𝑓(𝑥) as shown in Fig. 1 that
describes a curve in the xy-plane. The derivative of this
𝑑𝑦
function, denoted as 𝑓′(𝑥) or , measures how 𝑦 changes
𝑑𝑥
with respect to changes in 𝑥 at any given point.
slope =change in y over change in x
The slope of a line between two points (𝑥1 , 𝑦1 ) and
𝑦2 −𝑦1
(𝑥2 , 𝑦2 ) on a graph can be calculated as . However, Fig. 1
𝑥2 −𝑥1
when dealing with curves, this method becomes challenging because the slope of a curve is not constant
throughout. Instead, the derivative calculates the slope of the curve or the tangent at any point.

Slope of a line: Recall that the slope of a line, normally denoted as 𝑚, represents how much it rises
or falls concerning how much it runs horizontally. At any point on a curve described by a function, the
derivative gives you the slope of the tangent line to that curve at that point. The tangent line touches the
curve at only one point and represents the best linear approximation of the curve at that specific location.
The slope of this tangent line is exactly the value of the derivative at that point.

Example 1. Find the slope of the curve 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 at the point (2, 8).
Solution:

Derivative as rate of change: The derivative measures the rate of change of the function. For instance,
if you have a function for position (distance) over time, its derivative would give you the speed (the rate of
change of position with respect to time). -The subsequent discussion and application of these concepts will be
explored in the problem-solving section focusing on the applications of derivatives.

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 Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES NORTE STATE COLLEGE
F. Pimentel Avenue, Brgy. 2, Daet, Camarines Norte – 4600, Philippines

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

Increasing and Decreasing Functions

We can also tell whether a function is increasing or decreasing by examining the sign of the derivative
of the function.

Positive Derivative:
• If the derivative of a function is positive in each interval, it indicates that the function is increasing
in that interval.
• A positive derivative means that as the input variable 𝑥 increases within that interval, the function
value is also increasing.
• Think of it as a positive slope on the graph of the function. The function is going "uphill" as 𝑥
increases.

Negative Derivative:
• Conversely, if the derivative of a function is negative in an interval, it indicates that the function is
decreasing in that interval.
• A negative derivative means that as the input variable 𝑥 increases within that interval, the function
value is decreasing.
• It is like a negative slope on the graph; the function is going "downhill" as 𝑥 increases.

Zero Derivative:
• A point where the derivative changes from positive to negative (or vice versa) indicates a
potential maximum or minimum (a turning point or changes in concavity) for the function. This is
the point where the tangent is horizontal or where 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 0 which is called a critical point and
the value of the abscissa of this point is called a critical value.
• We can also identify points A and B as the Relative Maximum and Minimum Points respectively.
And, points C and D as the Absolute Maximum and Minimum Points respectively.
• Critical points can be points of inflection, but not all critical points are points of inflection. Critical
points and points of inflection provide insight into the behavior of functions, but they focus on
different aspects: critical points relate to extrema or stationary points, while points of
inflection concern changes in concavity. See Fig. 2.

C
A

Fig. 2

Maxima and Minima

In calculus, the study of maxima and minima is a fundamental topic that revolves around
understanding the behavior of functions and finding points where the function reaches its highest (maxima)

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 Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES NORTE STATE COLLEGE
F. Pimentel Avenue, Brgy. 2, Daet, Camarines Norte – 4600, Philippines

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

or lowest (minima) values. This concept is crucial in various fields, including physics, economics, engineering,
and more, where optimization plays a significant role.

Maxima and minima are often associated with critical points, where the derivative of a function is
either zero or undefined. The critical points provide insights into where the function may exhibit extreme
values.

Characteristics/Properties of a Maximum Point

𝑑𝑦
=0
𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
=+ =-
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑥=𝑎

x<𝑎 x>𝑎

𝑑𝑦
1. At 𝑥 = 𝑎 ; =0
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
2. At 𝑥 < 𝑎 ; =+
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
3. At 𝑥 > 𝑎 ; =−
𝑑𝑥
𝑑2 𝑦
4. At 𝑥 = 𝑎 ; =−
𝑑𝑥 2
5. At 𝑥 = 𝑎 ; 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑣𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑛𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑
𝑑𝑦
where; 𝑥 = 𝑎 the critical value of 𝑥 or the value of 𝑥 when =0
𝑑𝑥

Characteristics/Properties of a Minimum Point

x<𝑎 x>𝑎
𝑥=𝑎

𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
-
= =+
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦
=0
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
1. At 𝑥 = 𝑎 ; =0
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
2. At 𝑥 < 𝑎 ; =−
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
3. At 𝑥 > 𝑎 ; =+
𝑑𝑥
𝑑2 𝑦
4. At 𝑥 = 𝑎 ; =+
𝑑𝑥 2
5. At 𝑥 = 𝑎 ; 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑣𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑢𝑝𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑
𝑑𝑦
where; 𝑥 = 𝑎 the critical value of 𝑥 or the value of 𝑥 when =0
𝑑𝑥

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 Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES NORTE STATE COLLEGE
F. Pimentel Avenue, Brgy. 2, Daet, Camarines Norte – 4600, Philippines

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

Characteristics/Properties of a Point of Inflection

A function 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) for instance, is said to have a point of inflection at 𝑎 if its 𝑦" is zero at 𝑥 = 𝑎 and
𝑦" 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑠 𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛 𝑎𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑥 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ 𝑎.

Case 1:

𝑑𝑦
1. At 𝑥 = 𝑎 ; =0
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
2. At 𝑥 < 𝑎 ; =+
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
3. At 𝑥 > 𝑎 ; =+
𝑑𝑥
2
𝑑 𝑦
4. At 𝑥 = 𝑎 ; =0
𝑑𝑥 2

Case 2:

these equations
describe specifically the
point graphs as shown.
based
𝑑𝑦
1. At 𝑥 = 𝑎 ; =0
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
2. At 𝑥 < 𝑎 ; =−
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
3. At 𝑥 > 𝑎 ; =−
𝑑𝑥
𝑑2 𝑦
4. At 𝑥 = 𝑎 ; =0
𝑑𝑥 2

Example 2. Find the values of 𝑥 for which the curve of 𝑦 = 𝑥 4 − 4𝑥 3 has points of inflection.
Solution:

Example 3. Find the value (or values) of 𝑥 for which the curve of 𝑦 = (𝑥 − 1)4 (𝑥 − 6) has a point of inflection.
Solution:
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 Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES NORTE STATE COLLEGE
F. Pimentel Avenue, Brgy. 2, Daet, Camarines Norte – 4600, Philippines

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

Testing the Nature of the Critical Points

A. First Derivative Test (FDT)

First Derivative at x < a at x > a Nature of Critical Points

+ - Maximum point
𝑑𝑦 - + Minimum point
𝑦′ =
𝑑𝑥 + + Point of Inflection
- - Point of Inflection

Example 4. Evaluate 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 − 6𝑥 2 + 9𝑥 − 3, find (a) the values of 𝑥 for which the function is a maximum
or minimum, (b) the maximum or minimum value of the function, and (c) the maximum or minimum point
of the curve.
Solution:

B. Second Derivative Test (SDT)

Second Derivative at x = a Nature of Critical Points Concavity
- Maximum point Concave Downward
𝑑2𝑦 + Minimum point Concave Upward
𝑦 ′′ =
𝑑𝑥 2 0 Point of Inflection Reversal of Concavity
Occurs

Example 4. Find the value of 𝑥 for which the function 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 − 6𝑥 2 + 9𝑥 − 3 is maximum or a minimum.
Solution:

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