Math Analysis 1

Applications of
Derivatives
MPS Department | FEU Institute of Technology
 Math Analysis 1

L'Hospital”s Rule
MPS Department | FEU Institute of Technology
 OBJECTIVES

Apply L’Hopital’s Rule to evaluate indeterminate form limits

Indeterminate Forms of Limits

Some forms of limits are called indeterminate if the limiting behaviour of individual parts of the given
expression is not able to determine the overall limit.

There are seven types of indeterminate forms :

0 
0 − 1 
0 0
 0
0 
x2 − 4 If we try to evaluate this by direct substitution, we get:
0
Consider: lim 0
x →2 x − 2 .

Zero divided by zero can not be evaluated, and is an example of indeterminate form.

In this case, we can evaluate this limit by factoring and canceling:

x2 − 4
= lim
( x + 2 )( x − 2 ) = lim x + 2
( ) =4
lim →
x →2 x − 2 x →2 x−2 x 2

Greg Kelly, Hanford High School, Richland, Washington

 L’Hôpital’s Rule:
f ( x) f ( x) f ( x)
If lim is indeterminate, then: lim = lim
x →a g ( x ) x →a g ( x ) x →a g( x)

We can confirm L’Hôpital’s rule by working backwards, and using the definition of derivative:

f ( x) − f (a) f ( x) − f (a)
f (a) lim
x−a
=
x →a
= lim x−a
g ( a ) lim
g ( x) − g (a) x →a g ( x ) − g ( a )
x →a x−a
x−a
f ( x) − f (a) f ( x) − 0 f ( x)
= lim = lim =
g ( x) − g (a) x →a g ( x ) − 0
lim
x →a x →a g ( x )

Greg Kelly, Hanford High School, Richland, Washington

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Example 1:

1 − cos x 1 − cos 0 1−1 0

lim = = =
x →0 x + x 2 0− 0 2 0 0 If it’s no longer indeterminate,
then STOP!
sin x sin 0 0
= lim = = =0
x →0 1 + 2 x 1 + 2(0ሻ 1

If we try to continue with L’Hôpital’s rule:

sin x cos x 1 which is wrong,

= lim = lim = wrong, wrong!
x →0 1 + 2 x x →0 2 2

Greg Kelly, Hanford High School, Richland, Washington

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On the other hand, you can apply L’Hôpital’s rule as many times as necessary as long as the fraction is
still indeterminate:
Example 2: x
1+ x −1− 0
lim 2
x →0 x2 0
1
1
( )
1 + x −
2 1 − x (Rewritten in
lim 2 exponential form.) 1
x →0 x 2
−
1 1
1
= 4
(1 + x ) 2 − 0
−
2
= lim 2 2
0 1
x →0 2x =−
3 8
1
− (1 + x ) 2
−
0
= lim 4 not
x →0 2 0

Greg Kelly, Hanford High School, Richland, Washington

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 0
L’Hôpital’s rule can be used to evaluate other indeterminate forms besides
0
The following
. are also considered indeterminate:


0  −  1 00  0

 0
The first one, , can be evaluated just like .
 0
The others must be changed to fractions first.

Greg Kelly, Hanford High School, Richland, Washington

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Example 1:

 1
0
1
lim  x sin  = ∞ ∙ sin = ∞ ∙ sin 0 = ∞ ∙0 This approaches
x →
 x ∞

1 1
sin
lim x =
sin ∞
=
sin 0
=
0
This approaches
0
x → 1 1 0 0
∞
x 0
Apply L’Hôpital’s rule:

1 1  1 
sin cos     − 2 
x  x   x  = lim cos  1  = cos ( 0 ) = 1
lim = lim  
x → 1 x → 1 x →
 x
− 2
x x

Greg Kelly, Hanford High School, Richland, Washington

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Example 2:
 1 1 
lim  −
−
 This is indeterminate form −

x →1 ln x x 1 
If we find a common denominator and subtract, we get:

 x − 1 − ln x  0
lim  
x →1 ( x − 1) ln x  Now it is in the form
  0

 1 
 1 − 
lim  x L’Hôpital’s rule applied once.
x →1 x − 1 
 + ln x 
 x 

 x −1  0
lim   Fractions cleared. Still
x →1 x − 1 + x ln x
  0

Greg Kelly, Hanford High School, Richland, Washington

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  1 1 
lim  − 

x →1 ln x x − 1   1 
lim   L’Hôpital again.
x →1 1 + 1 + ln x
 
 x − 1 − ln x 
lim  
x →1 ( x − 1) ln x 
 

 1  1
 1− x  2
lim  
x →1
 x − 1
+ ln x 
 x 

 x −1 
lim  
x →1 x − 1 + x ln x
 

Greg Kelly, Hanford High School, Richland, Washington

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 Indeterminate Forms: 1 00  0

Evaluating these forms requires a mathematical trick to change the expression into a fraction.
ln u We can then write the
ln u = n ln u =
n
expression as a fraction,
1 which allows us to use
L’Hôpital’s rule.
n
When we take the log of an exponential function, the
exponent can be moved out front.

lim f ( x ) = e (
ln lim f ( x ) x →a
x →a
)
lim ln ( f ( x ) )
=e
Then move the limit
notation outside of
x →a
the log.

We can take the log of the function as long as we

exponentiate at the same time.
Greg Kelly, Hanford High School, Richland, Washington
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 
Indeterminate Forms: 1 0 0
0
Example:
ln ( x ) 
lim
e x→ x 
1/ x
lim x
x →
0
1
L’Hôpital
lim x
( )
applied
x→ 1
lim ln x1/ x
x→
e
e
0
1
e
lim ln ( x )
x→ x
e 1
Greg Kelly, Hanford High School, Richland, Washington
 Math Analysis 1

Curve Tracing
MPS Department | FEU Institute of Technology
 OBJECTIVES

1. Use the First and Second Derivative Tests to describe the behavior of a function on
given intervals.

2. Determine minimum or maximum points and the point of inflection (if there are any) of a
given function.
Tangent Line to a Curve
To find the line’s equation, you just need to remember that the tangent line to the
curve has slope equal to the derivative of the function evaluated at the point of
interest:
𝑚𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 = 𝑓 ′ (𝑥0 ൯

That is, find the derivative of the function f′(x), and then evaluate it at x = x0.
That value, f′(x0), is the slope of the tangent line.
Hence we can write the equation for the tangent
line at (x0,y0) as
Normal Line to a Curve

Normal line - line that is perpendicular to the curve.

1
𝑚𝑛𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑙 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 =
𝑚𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒

Hence we can write the equation for the

normal line at (x0,y0) as
Examples:
1. Find the equations of the tangent and the normal to the curve 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2
at (1, -2).
Solution: Finding the Tangent line: Finding the Normal line:
1
𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 𝑦 − 𝑦0 = 𝑚(𝑥 − 𝑥0 ሻ 𝑦 − 𝑦0 = − 𝑥 − 𝑥0
𝑚
𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = 3𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 𝑦 − −2 = −3(𝑥 − 1ሻ 1
𝑦 − (−2ሻ = − 𝑥−1
𝑦 + 2 = −3𝑥 + 1 −3
𝑓′ 1 = 3 1 2 − 6(1ሻ
′ 1
𝑓 1 = −3 3𝑥 + 𝑦 = −2 + 1 𝑦+2= 𝑥−1
3
Since f’(x) = m, then 3𝑥 + 𝑦 = −1 3 𝑦+2 = 𝑥−1
𝑚 = −3 3𝑦 + 6 = 𝑥 − 1
𝑥 − 3𝑦 = −7
Critical Points
The point ( x, f(x)) is called a critical point of f(x) if x is in the domain of the function and either f′(x) = 0
or f′(x) does not exist.
1. Find all critical points of 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 + 4

Solution: To find the critical points, substitute the obtained

3 2
𝑦 = 𝑥 − 3𝑥 + 4 critical number to the given f(x) or y
y = 3x 2 − 6 x
𝑦 = 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 + 4 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 + 4
Set y = 0 3
𝑦= 0 3
− 3(0ሻ2 +4 𝑦= 2 − 3(2ሻ2 + 4
0 = 3x − 6 x 2

𝑦=0
0 = x2 − 2 x 𝑦= 4

0 = x ( x − 2) Critical Numbers: 0,4 𝑎𝑛𝑑(2, 0ሻ

x = 0, 2 Critical Numbers
Extreme Value Theorem
The Extreme Value Theorem tells us that we can in fact find an extreme value
provided that a function is continuous. It guarantees both a maximum and
minimum value for a function under certain conditions. It states the following:

• If a function f(x) is continuous on a closed interval [ a, b], then f(x) has both
a maximum and minimum value on [ a, b].

The procedure for applying the Extreme Value Theorem

1. Establish that the function is continuous on the closed interval.

2. Determine all critical points in the given interval and evaluate the function at
these critical points and at the endpoints of the interval.
Minimum And Maximum Values
Definition
1. We say that f(x) has an absolute (or global) maximum at x=c if f(x) ≤ f(c) for
every x in the domain we are working on.

2. We say that f(x) has a relative (or local) maximum at x=c if f(x) ≤ f(c) for every x in
some open interval around x=c.

3. We say that f(x) has an absolute (or global) minimum at x=c if f(x) ≥ f(c) for
every x in the domain we are working on.

4. We say that f(x) has a relative (or local) minimum at x=c f(x) ≥ f(c) for every x in
some open interval around x=c.

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 Increasing / Decreasing Test:

(a) If f ′ (x) > 0 on an interval, then f is increasing on that interval.

(b) If f ′ (x) < 0 on an interval, then f is decreasing on that interval.

The First Derivative Test:

Suppose that c is a critical number of a continuous function f.

(a) If f ′ is changing from positive to negative at c, then f has a local maximum at c.

(b) If f ′ is changing from negative to positive at c, then f has a local minimum at c.
(c) If f ′ does not change sign at c, then f has no local maximum or minimum at c.
 Concave upward and downward
Definition:
(a) If the graph of f lies above all of its tangents on an interval, then f is called
concave upward on that interval.
(b) If the graph of f lies below all of its tangents on an interval, then f is called
concave downward on that interval.

Concave upward Concave downward

Concavity test:
(a) If f ′ ′ (x) > 0 for all x of an interval, then the graph of f is concave upward on
the interval.
(b) If f ′ ′ (x) < 0 for all x of an interval, then the graph of f is concave downward
on the interval.
Second Derivative to find local extrema
The second derivative test:

Suppose f is continuous near c.

(a) If f ′ (c) = 0 and f ′ ′ (c) > 0 then f has a local minimum at c.
(b) If f ′ (c) = 0 and f ′ ′ (c) < 0 then f has a local maximum at c.
 Inflection Points
Definition:
A point P on a curve y = f(x) is called an inflection point if f is continuous
there and the curve changes
- from concave upward to concave downward or
- from concave downward to concave upward at P.

Inflection points
What does the First and Second Derivative in Curve Sketching

First derivative:
y is positive Curve is rising or increasing.

y is negative Curve is falling or decreasing.

y is zero Possible local maximum or minimum.

Second derivative:

y is positive Curve is concave up.

y is negative Curve is concave down.

y is zero Possible inflection point

(where concavity changes).

Greg Kelly, Hanford High School, Richland, Washington

 y = x − 3x + 4 = ( x + 1)( x − 2 )
3 2 2
Example: Graph

There are roots at x = −1 and x = 2. Critical numbers

Possible extreme at x = 0,. 2

y = 3x 2 − 6 x
We can use a chart to organize our thoughts.

Set y = 0 First derivative test:

0 = 3x 2 − 6 x + 0 − 0 +
y
0 = x2 − 2 x 0 2

0 = x ( x − 2) y (1) = 3 12 − 6 1 = −3 negative

y ( −1) = 3 ( −1) − 6 ( −1) = 9

2
positive
x = 0, 2
y ( 3) = 3  32 − 6  3 = 9 positive

Greg Kelly, Hanford High School, Richland, Washington

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Example:
y = x − 3x + 4 = ( x + 1)( x − 2 )
3 2 2
Graph

There are roots at = −1

xand . x=2
Possible extreme at x. = 0, 2
y = 3x − 6 x2

Set y = 0 First derivative test:

0 = 3x 2 − 6 x + 0 − 0 +
y
0 = x2 − 2 x 0 2

0 = x ( x − 2)
 maximum at x=0
x = 0, 2
minimum at x=2
Greg Kelly, Hanford High School, Richland, Washington
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Example:

Give the properties and Graph

y = x − 3x + 4 = ( x + 1)( x − 2 )
3 2 2

y = 3x 2 − 6 x First derivative test:

+ 0 − 0 +
y
0 2
There is a local maximum at (0,4) because y  0 for all x (−, 0)
and y  0 for all x in (0,2) .
There is a local minimum at (2,0) because y  0 for all x in (0,2) and y  0
for all x in (2, . )
Greg Kelly, Hanford High School, Richland, Washington
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 Continuation:
y = x − 3x + 4 = ( x + 1)( x − 2 )
3 2 2
Graph

There are roots at x = −1 and x = 2.

y = 3x 2 − 6 x Possible extreme at x. = 0, 2
Or you could use the second derivative test:
At x = 0
y = 6 x − 6 Because the second derivative at x = 0 is negative, the graph is

y ( 0 ) = 6  0 − 6 = −6
concave down and therefore (0,4) is a local maximum.

At x = 0
y = 6 x − 6 Because the second derivative at x = 2 is positive, the graph is

y ( 2 ) = 6  2 − 6 = 6
concave up and therefore (2,0) is a local minimum.

Greg Kelly, Hanford High School, Richland, Washington

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Example:
y = x − 3x + 4 = ( x + 1)( x − 2 )
3 2 2
Graph

We then look for inflection points by setting the second derivative equal to
zero.

y = 6 x − 6
Possible inflection point at . x =1

− 0 +
0 = 6x − 6
y
6 = 6x 1
1= x y ( 0 ) = 6  0 − 6 = −6 negative

y ( 2 ) = 6  2 − 6 = 6 positive

There is an inflection point at x = 1 because the second derivative changes from

negative to positive.  inflection point at x =1
Greg Kelly, Hanford High School, Richland, Washington
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 x y y y
Make a summary table: −1 0 9 −12 rising, concave down
0 4 0 −6 local max
1 2 −3 0 falling, inflection point
2 0 0 6 local min
3 4 9 12 rising, concave up
5

0
-2 -1 0 1 2 3 4

-1
Greg Kelly, Hanford High School, Richland, Washington p
 2. Find all relative extrema of
The value of the maximum is (-2, 44). The value of the minimum is (3, -81).

Absolute extrema are the very highest and lowest points on a graph. If a graph is continuous,
we can find the absolute extrema on a closed interval by finding the function values at the
critical points and the endpoints.
2. Find all absolute extrema of on the interval [-5, 5].
The highest and lowest points can be distinguished using the original function.
x f(x)
absolute
-5 -145
minimum
absolute
-2 44
maximum
3 -81
5 -5
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References:
Bittinger, M. L., Ellenbogen D. J., & Surgent, S. J. (2016). Calculus and Its Applications (11th Edition).
Pearson.
Larson, R. (2014). Calculus. Australia: Brooks/Cole.
Larson, R., & Edwards, B.H. (2015). Calculus: Early Transcendental Functions (6th ed.). Boston, USA:
Cengage Learning.
Stewart, J. (2016). Calculus: Early Trancendentals (8th Edition). Cengage Learning.
Thomas, G.B., Jr., Weir, M.D., & Hass, J.R. (2015). Thomas’ Calculus: Early Transcendentals (13th ed.).
Boston, USA: Pearson Education.
Online References
https://online.math.uh.edu/HoustonACT/
http://www.math.odu.edu/~jhh/Volume-1.PDF
http://ocw.mit.edu/ans7870/resources/Strang/Edited/Calculus/Calculus.pdf
https://www.whitman.edu/mathematics/multivariable/multivariable.pdf