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APPLICATIONS OF DERIVATIVES
SYNOPSIS
ERRORS AND APPROXIMATIONS

1. If y = f (x) and δ x is a small change in x then the corresponding change in y

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(approximately) is given by f1 (x) δ x. This is called the differential of y is denoted

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by dy
∴ dy = f1 (x) δ x

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2. The actual change or the actual error in y is denoted by δ y = f (x + δ x) – f (x)

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3. δ y ≅ dy = f1 (x) δ x

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If δ x be the error in x then the approximate value of f (x) is
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f (x + δ x) ≅ f (x) + f1 (x). δ x
5. Let δ x be any change in x and δ y be the corresponding change in y. Then
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(i) δ y is called error in y

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δy
(ii) y is called relative error in y
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δy
(iii) y × 100 is called percentage error in y
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6. If f (x) = ax2 + bx + c then δ f- df = a ( δ x)2

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7. If y = f (x) is a homogeneous function of degree n or y α x2 then

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(i) Relative error in y = n [Relative error in x]

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(ii) % error in y = [% error in x]

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RATE OF CHANGE

dx
1. If x is any variable, represents the rate of change of x at time ‘t’.
dt
ds
2. If s is the displacement of a particle at time ‘t’, then represents the velocity of
dt

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the particle at that instant.

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dv
3. If v is the velocity of a particle at time ‘t’, then represents the acceleration of
dt

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the particle at that instant.

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ds d2s
4. A particle moving on a straight line comes to rest if =0 & 2 =0
dt dt

5.
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A particle moving on a straight line is at rest momentarily if
ds d2s
=0 & 2 ≠0
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dt dt

6. A particle, projected vertically upwards, attains the maximum height when

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ds
=0
dt
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dv
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7. A particle acquires maximum velocity if =0

dt
ds d 2s
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8. A particle changes it’s direction if = 0 and 2 ≠ 0

dt dt

9. If v is velocity of a particle moving along a straight line and v is expressed in

.s

dv
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terms of displacement ‘s’ , then the acceleration of the particle = v

ds
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10. If p (x,y) is a variable point on a curve of y = f(x) , then its velocity at time 't' is
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2 2
 dx   dy 
  + 
 dt   dt 

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11. The equations of motion of a particle P(x, y) on a plane curve are given by
x = f(t), y = g(t). Then the velocity of the particle is given by

= [ f 1 ( t)] + [ g 1 ( t)]
ds 2 2

dt
dθ
12. If θ is a variable angle associated with a variable point P, then represents the
dt

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angular velocity of P at time t.
13. The rate of change in velocity is called the acceleration of the particle at t and is

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denoted by a

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dυ d  ds  d 2s dυ ds dυ
∴a= =   = 2 = =υ. .
dt dt  dt  dt ds dt ds

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Let O be a fixed point and OX be a fixed ray. Let P be the position of the particle
dθ
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on a curve C at time t such that XOP = θ. Then is called the angular velocity
dt
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d 2θ
and is denoted by ω, is called the angular acceleration of the particle about
dt 2
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‘O’ and is denoted by ‘α’.

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INCREASING AND DECREASING FUNCTIONS

1.A function f(x) is an increasing function of x if, as x increases, f(x) increases. i.e. f(x)
is an increasing function of x if, x1> x2⇔ f(x1) > f(x2).

2. A function f(x) is a decreasing function of x, if, as x increases, f(x) decreases

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i.e. if x1> x2 ⇔ f(x1) < f(x2).

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3.A function f(x) is an increasing function of x if f1(x) > 0.

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4. A function f(x) is a decreasing function of x if f1(x) < 0.

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5. ax is increasing function of x if a > 1 and decreasing if 0 < a < 1).

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6. loga x is an increasing function of x if a > 1 and decreasing function if 0<a < 1)

7. If both f and g are either increasing or decreasing, then fog and g of are increasing.
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8.If any one of f and g are increasing and an other one is decreasing, then g of and fog are
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decreasing.
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MAXIMA AND MINIMA

1. Let f be a real function which is differentiable at ‘a’. If f1 (a) = 0 then we say that
f(x) is stationary at x = a, (a, f(a)) is called stationary point f(a) is called stationary

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value.

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2. If there exists δ> 0 such that f(x) ≤f(a) for every a – δ< x < a + δ then f is said to

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have relative maximum at ‘a’. f(a) is called relative (local) maximum value.
If there exists δ> 0 such that f(x) ≥f(a) for every a – δ< x < a + δ then f is said to

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have relative minimum at ‘a’. f(a) is called relative (local) minimum value.
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3. The points at which a function attains either maximum or minimum are called
extreme points or turning points of the function. Maximum or minimum values of
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a function are called extreme values or turning values of the function.

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4. Necessary condition for extreme value of function:

If a function f(x) has extreme value f(a) then f1(a) = 0, if it exists.
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5. Sufficient conditions for extreme values:

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Let f(x) be derivable at x = a

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a) x = a is point of relative maximum of f(x) if f1(a) changes sign from +ve to –ve
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as x passes through the point x = a from left nbd to right nbd.

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b) x = a is a point of relative minimum of f(x) if f1(a) changes sign from –ve to

+ve as x passes through the point x = a from left nbd to right nbd.

Note: If f1(a) has the same sign in the entire neighbourhood of x = a then x = a is
not extremum.

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6. Sufficient conditions for extreme values.

Let f(x) be derivable at x = a and f11(a) exists and is non-zero.
a) f1(a) = 0 and f11(a) < 0 ⇒ x = a is a point of relative maximum.
b) f1(a) = 0 and f11(a) > 0 ⇒ x = a is a point of relative minimum.
7. If f(x) is increasing in [a, b] then f(a) = Minimum value and f(b) = Maximum
value of f(x) in [a, b].

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If f(x) is decreasing in [a, b] then f(a) = Maximum value and f(b) = Minimum

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value of f(x) in [a, b].
8. 1. The maximum value of a cos2x + b sin2x is ‘a’ and minimum value = b (If a > b)

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2. The minimum value of f(x) = a tan x + b cot x is 2 ab and attains at

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tan x = b/a .
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3. The minimum value of f(x) = a2 sec2 x + b2 cosec2 x is (a + b)2 and attained at
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tan x = b/a
4. The minimum value of f(x) = a sec x + b cosec x is (a2/3 + b2/3)3/2 and it is
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attained at tan x = (a/b)1/3.

m m /2 .n n / 2 mm .n n
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5. The maximum value of f(x) = sinmx .cosn x is = and

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(m + n)
m+n m+ n
( m + n) 2
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attained at tan x =
n
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9. 1. The sum of two numbers is k. If the sum of their squares is minimum. Then the
numbers are K/2, K/2.
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2. The sum of two numbers is k and the least sum of their squares is K2/2.
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3. The sum of two numbers is K. If their product is maximum, then the numbers
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are k/2, k/2.

4. The product of two positive numbers is K. If the sum of their squares is
minimum, then the numbers ae K , K.
5. Sum of two numbers is k. If the product of the square of the first and cube of
the second is maximum then the numbers 2k/5, 3k/5.

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10. 1. If a > 0, b > 0, x > 0, the least value of f(x) = ax + is 2 ab .
x
1
2. If x > 0, the least value of f(x) = x + is 2.
x
11. 1. The maximum rectangle inscribed in a circle is square.
2. The maximum area of rectangle in a cube of radius r is 2r2.

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12. 1. The maximum triangle inscribed in a circle is equilateral triangle.

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3 3 2
2. The maximum area of a triangle in a circle of radius r is r sq. units.
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13. 1. The perimeter of a sector is ‘C’ cms. Then maximum area of sector is

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C2

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sq. cm.
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2. Perimeter of sector is given. The area of sector is maximum. Then the angle of
sector is 2 radians.
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3. The area of sector is ‘a’ sq. cm. Then the least perimeter of sector is 4 a cm.
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14. 1. The hypotenuse of a right angled triangle is ‘a’. If the area of triangle is
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a a
maximum. Then the sides are , .
2 2
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2. Two sides of a triangle are given. The area of the triangle is maximum. Then the
angle between sides is π/2.
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3. The sum of hypotenuse and one side of right angled triangle is given. The area
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is maximum. Then the angle between the sides is π/3.

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15. 1. An open box of maximum volume is made from a square piece of tin of side ‘a’
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by cutting for four equal square pieces from four corners and folding up the tin
'a'
then the length of square cut is .
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2. An open box of maximum volume is made from a rectangular piece of tin of

length ‘a’ and breath ‘b’ by cutting four equal square pieces from four corners and

{ }
folding up the tin. Then the length of box is 1/6 ( a + b ) − a 2 + b2 − ab .

x2 y2
16. 1. The area of the greatest rectangle inscribed in an ellipse + = 1 is 2ab and
a2 b2

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the sides are a 2 , b 2 .
2. Maximum area of ∆ formed by a line through (x1, y1) and coordinate axes is

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2|x1, y1|.

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MEANVALUE THEOREMS

Rolle'sTheorem: If a function f : [a, b]R is such that

i) It is continuous on [a, b]
ii) It is derivable on (a, b) and

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iii) f(a) = f(b) then there exists at least one c ∈ ( a, b) such that f ′(c) = 0 .

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Lagrange's mean -value theorem or first mean - value theorem:

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If a function f : [a, b] R is such that

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i) It is continuous on [a, b].

f (b) − f (a)
= f ′(c)
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ii) It is derivable on (a, b) then there exists at least one c ∈ ( a, b) such that
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b−a
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