Chapter 4.

Additional Applications of the

Derivative

Le Cong Nhan

Faculty of Applied Sciences

HCMC University of Technology and Education

September 24, 2020

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 Contents

1 Extreme Values of a Continuous Function

2 The Mean Value Theorem

3 Using Derivative to Sketch the Graph of a Function

4 Curve Sketching with Asymptotes

5 L’Hôpital’s Rule

6 Optimization in the Physical Sciences and Engineering

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 Explain the shape, location, and colors of rainbows?

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 4.1 Extreme Values of a Continuous Function

Definition 1 (Extreme values)

Let c be a number in the domain D of a function f . Then f (c) is the
absolute maximum value of f on D if f (c) ≥ f (x) for all x in D.
absolute minimum value of f on D if f (c) ≤ f (x) for all x in D.

An absolute maximum or minimum is some-

times called a global maximum or minimum.
The maximum and minimum values of f are
called extreme values or absolute extrema
of f .

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 Definition 2 (Local maximum and minimum values)
The number f (c) is a
local maximum value of f on D if f (c) ≥ f (x) when x is near c.
local minimum value of f on D if f (c) ≤ f (x) when x is near c.

The graph of the function

f (x) = 3x 4 − 16x 3 + 18x 2 , −1 ≤ x ≤ 4

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 Theorem 3 (The Extreme Value Theorem)
If f is continuous on a closed interval [a, b], then f attains an absolute maximum
value f (c) and an absolute minimum value f (d) at some numbers c and d in [a, b].

How to to find these extreme values:

1. We start by looking for local extreme values.
2. And then the values of f at the endpoints of the interval.
3. The largest of the values from Steps 1 and 2 is the absolute maximum value;
the smallest of these values is the absolute minimum value.

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 Looking for local extreme values

Theorem 4 (Critical number theorem)

If f has a local maximum or minimum at c, then c is a critical number of f .

Definition 5
A critical number of a function f is a number c in the domain of f such that
either f 0 (c) = 0 or f 0 (c) does not exist.

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 Example 6
Find the critical numbers for the given functions
ex √
a. f (x) = x 3 − 6x 2 + 9x + 10 b. f (x) = c. f (x) = 2 x(6 − x)
x −2

Example 7
Find the critical numbers for f (x) = |x| on [−1, 1]

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 The Closed Interval Method

Extreme values of a continuous function f on an interval [a, b]

1. Find the values of f at the critical numbers of f in (a, b).
2. Find the values of f at the endpoints of the interval.
3. The largest of the values from Steps 1 and 2 is the absolute maximum value;
the smallest of these values is the absolute minimum value.

Example 8
Find the absolute maximum and minimum values of the function

f (x) = x 3 − 3x 2 + 1, −1 ≤ x ≤ 4

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 Example 9
Find the absolute extrema of the function

g (x) = x 2/3 (5 − 2x), −1 ≤ x ≤ 2.

Example 10
Find the absolute maximum and minimum values of the function
π
f (t) = 2 cos t + sin 2t, 0≤t≤ .
2

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 Example 11
The Hubble Space Telescope was deployed on April 24,
1990, by the space shuttle Discovery. A model for the
velocity of the shuttle during this mission, from liftoff
at t = 0 until the solid rocket boosters were jettisoned
at t = 126 s, is given by

v (t) = 0.001302t 3 − 0.09029t 2 + 23.61t − 3.083

(in feet per second). Using this model, estimate the

absolute maximum and minimum values of the acceler-
ation of the shuttle between liftoff and the jettisoning
of the boosters.

Example 12
Show that if a rectangle with fixed perimeter P is to enclose the largest area, it
must be a square.

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 4.2 The Mean Value Theorem

Theorem 13 (Rolle’s Theorem)

Let f be a function that satisfies the following three hypotheses:
1. f is continuous on the closed interval [a, b].
2. f is differentiable on the open interval (a, b).
3. f (a) = f (b)
Then there is a number c ∈ (a, b) such that f 0 (c) = 0.

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 Example 14
Show that there is a unique solution to the equation x 3 + x − 1 = 0 on the interval
(0, 1).

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 Theorem 15 (The Mean Value Theorem)
Let f be a function that satisfies the following hypotheses:
1. f is continuous on the closed interval [a, b].
2. f is differentiable on the open interval (a, b).
Then there is a number c ∈ (a, b) such that

f (b) − f (a)
f 0 (c) = or f (b) − f (a) = f 0 (c)(b − a) (1)
b−a

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 Example 16
Show that the function f (x) = x 3 − x satisfies the hypotheses of the Mean Value
Theorem on the closed interval [0, 2] and find a number c ∈ (0, 2) so that

f (2) − f (0)
f 0 (c) =
2−0

Example 17
If an object moves in a straight line with position function s = f (t), then the
average velocity between t = a and t = b is

f (b) − f (a)
b−a
and the velocity at t = c is f 0 (c). Thus the Mean Value Theorem tells us that at
some time t = c between a and b the instantaneous velocity f 0 (c) is equal to that
average velocity.

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 Applications of the Mean Value Theorem
Obtain information about a function from information about its derivative

Example 18
Suppose that f (0) = −3 and f 0 (x) ≤ 5 for all values of x. How large can f (2)
possibly be?

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 Applications of the Mean Value Theorem
Zero-derivative Theorem

Theorem 19 (Zero-derivative Theorem)

If f 0 (x) = 0 for all x ∈ (a, b), then f is constant on (a, b).

Corollary 20
If f 0 (x) = g 0 (x) for all x ∈ (a, b), then f − g is constant on (a, b), that is,

f (x) = g (x) + C

where C is a constant.

Example 21
Prove the identity tan−1 x + cot−1 x = π
2.

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 4.3 Using Derivative to Sketch the Graph of a Function
What Does f 0 Say About f ?

Increasing/Decreasing Test
(a) If f 0 (x) > 0 on an interval, then f is increasing on that interval.
(b) If f 0 (x) < 0 on an interval, then f is decreasing on that interval.

Example 22
Find where the function f (x) = 3x 4 − 4x 3 − 12x 2 + 5 is increasing and where it is
decreasing.

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 The First Derivative Test
Suppose that c is a critical number of a continuous function f .
(a) If f 0 changes from positive to negative at c, then f has a local maximum at c.
(b) If f 0 changes from negative to positive at c, then f has a local minimum at c.
(c) If f 0 does not change sign at c (for example, if f 0 is positive on both sides of
c or negative on both sides), then f has no local maximum or minimum at c.

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 Example 23
Find the local minimum and maximum values of the function

f (x) = 3x 4 − 4x 3 − 12x 2 + 5

Example 24
Find the local minimum and maximum values of the function

g (x) = x + 2 sin x 0 ≤ x ≤ 2π

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 4.3 Using Derivative to Sketch the Graph of a Function
What Does f 00 Say About f ?

Definition 25 (Concavity)
If the graph of f lies above all of its tangents on an interval I , then it is
called concave upward on I .
If the graph of f lies below all of its tangents on I , it is called concave
downward on I .

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 Concavity Test
(a) If f 00 (x) > 0 for all x ∈ I , then the graph of f is concave upward on I .
(b) If f 00 (x) < 0 for all x ∈ I , then the graph of f is concave downward on I .

Example 26
Find where the graph of f (x) = 3x 4 − 4x 3 − 12x 2 + 5 is concave upward and
where it is concave downward.

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 Definition 27 (Inflection Point)
A point P on a curve y = f (x) is called an inflection point if is continuous there
and the curve changes from concave upward to concave downward or from
concave downward to concave upward at P.

The Second Derivative Test

Suppose that f 00 is continuous near c.
(a) If f 0 (c) = 0 and f 00 (c) > 0, then f has a local minimum at c.
(b) If f 0 (c) = 0 and f 00 (c) < 0, then f has a local maximum at c.

Example 28
Discuss the curve y = 3x 4 − 4x 3 with respect to concavity, points of inflection,
and local maxima and minima. Use this information to sketch the curve.

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 4.4 Curve Sketching with Asymptotes

(i) Horizontal Asymptotes. If either

lim f (x) = L or lim f (x) = L,

x→∞ x→−∞

then the line y = L is a horizontal asymptote of the curve y = f (x).

(ii) Vertical Asymptotes. If at least one of three following limits

lim f (x), lim f (x), or lim f (x)

x→a x→a+ x→a−

is infinite, then the line x = a is a vertical asymptote of the curve y = f (x).

(iii) Slant Asymptotes. If

lim [f (x) − (mx + b)] = 0

x→∞

then the line y = mx + b is called a slant asymptote of the curve y = f (x).

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 Example 29
x +1
Sketch the graph of f (x) = .
x −1

Example 30
x2 + x + 2
Discuss and sketch the graph of f (x) = .
x −1

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 4.4 Curve Sketching with Asymptotes
Graphing with vertical tangents and cusps

Vertical tangents and cusps

Suppose the function f is continuous at the point P(c, f (c)).
The graph of f has a vertical tangent line at P if

lim f 0 (x) and lim+ f 0 (x) are either both ∞ or both −∞.
x→c − x→c

The graph of f has a cusp at P if

lim f 0 (x) and lim+ f 0 (x) are either both infinite with opposite signs.
x→c − x→c

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 Example 31
Sketch the graph of functions

f (x) = x 2/3 (2x + 5) and g (x) = x 1/3 (x + 4)

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 4.5 L’Hôpital’s Rule

Indeterminate forms:
A 0 ∞
A−B : ∞−∞ : or
B 0 ∞

AB : 0·∞ AB : 1∞ , 00 or ∞0

L’Hôpital’s Rule
Suppose f and g are differentiable and g 0 (x) 6= 0 on an open interval I that contains
a (except possibly at a). Then

f (x) 0 ∞ f (x) f 0 (x)

lim : or =⇒ lim = lim 0
x→a g (x) 0 ∞ x→a g (x) x→a g (x)

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 Example 32
Find the limits
ln x ex ln x tan x − x
a. lim b. lim c. lim √ d. lim
x→1 x − 1 x→∞ x 2 x→∞ 3 x x→0 x3

Example 33
Find the limits
√
sin x x2 + 1
a. lim− b. lim
x→π 1 − cos x x→∞ x

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 Indeterminate Products: 0 · ∞

Writing the product fg as a quotient:

f g
fg = or fg =
1/g 1/f

Example 34
Find the limits
 π
a. lim+ x ln x b. lim x− tan x
x→0 π
x→( 2 )− 2

Example 35
Find the limits
√
a. lim x sin (π/x) b. lim xe −x/2
x→∞ x→∞

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 Indeterminate Differences: ∞ − ∞

Example 36
Find the limits
 
1 1
a. lim − (sec x − tan x) b. lim+ −
x→( π2 ) x→0 x sin x

Example 37
Find the limits
 
1 1
a. lim+ − x b. lim (x − ln x)
x→0 x e −1 x→∞

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 Indeterminate Powers: 00 , ∞0 or 1∞
We want to find the limit
g (x)
L = lim [f (x)] : 00 , ∞0 or 1∞
x→a

Taking the natural logarithm

g (x)
ln L = lim ln [f (x)] = lim g (x) ln f (x)
x→a x→a

Example 38
Calculate the limits
cot x
a. lim+ x x b. lim x 1/x c. lim+ (1 + sin 4x)
x→0 x→∞ x→0

Example 39
Calculate the limits
 2x+1
1/(1−x) 1/x 2 2x − 3
a. lim+ x b. lim+ (cos x) c. lim
x→1 x→0 x→∞ 2x + 5
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 4.6 Optimization in the Physical Sciences and Engineering

Steps in Solving Optimization Problems

1 Understand the Problem
2 Establish the functional relationship

y = f (x)

3 Use the methods of Sections 4.1 and 4.3 to find the absolute maximum or
minimum value of f .

Example 40
At noon, on a certain day, a truck is 250 mi due east of a car. The truck is traveling
west at a constant speed of 25 mi/h, while the car is traveling north at 50 mi/h.
a. At what rate is the distance between them changing at time t?
b. At what time is the distance between the car and the truck neither increasing
nor decreasing?
c. What is the minimal distance between the car and the truck?

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 Example 41 (Minimizing time of travel)
A dune buggy is on the desert at a point A located 40 km from a point B, which
lies on a long, straight road, as shown in Figure 4.49. The driver can travel at 45
km/h on the desert and 75 km/h on the road. The driver will win a prize if she
arrives at the finish line at a point D, 50 km from B, in 84 min or less. What route
should she travel to minimize the time of travel? Does she win the prize?

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 Example 42
A man launches his boat from point A on a bank of a straight
river, 3 km wide, and wants to reach point B, 8 km downstream
on the opposite bank, as quickly as possible (see Figure 7). He
could row his boat directly across the river to point C and then
run to B, or he could row directly to B, or he could row to some
point D between C and B and then run to B. If he can row 6
km/h and run 8 km/h, where should he land to reach B as soon
as possible? (We assume that the speed of the water is negligible
compared with the speed at which the man rows.)

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 Example 43 (Maximizing a constrained area)
You need to build a rectangular fence to enclose a play zone for children. What is
the maximum area for this play zone if it is to fit into a right-triangular plot with
sides measuring 4 m and 12 m?

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 Example 44 (Optimizing a constrained area)
A wire of length L is to be cut into two pieces, one of which will be bent to form a
circle and the other to form a square. Determine how the wire should be cut to:
a. maximize the sum of the areas enclosed by the two pieces.
b. minimize the sum of the areas enclosed by the two pieces.

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 Example 45 (Optimizing an angle of observation)
A painting is hung on the wall in such a way that its upper and lower edges are 10
ft and 7 ft above the floor, respectively. An observer whose eyes are 5 ft above the
floors stands x feet from the wall, as shown in Figure 4.52. How far away the wall
should the observer stand to maximize the angle subtended by the painting?

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 4.6 Optimization in the Physical Sciences and Engineering
Fermat’s Principle of Optics and Snell’s Law

Problem
Suppose light travels with speed v1 in the first medium and speed v2 in the second
medium. What can be said about the path followed by the beam of light?

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 Fermat’s Principle of Optics
Light travels between two points in such a way as to minimize the time of transit.

Let T1 and T2 be the time required for the light to travel from A to P and P
to B, respectively. Then the total time of transit is
√ p
a2 + x 2 b 2 + (c − x)2
T = T1 + T2 = + , 0 ≤ x ≤ c. (2)
v1 v2
By Fermat’s principle, we want to minimize T as a function of x.
Find the derivative of T
dT x c −x
= √ − p (3)
dx 2
v1 a + x 2 v2 b + (c − x)2
2

and noticing that

x c −x
sin α = √ and sin β = p
a2 + x2 b2 + (c − x)2

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 Then we get
dT sin α sin β
= − (4)
dx v1 v2
Using the first derivative test, it can be shown that the critical point P(x, y )
such that
sin α v1
=
sin β v2
corresponds to an absolute minimum.

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 Snell’s Law of Fraction
If the beam of light strikes the boundary between two media with angle of incident
α and is refracted through an angle β, then
sin α v1
= =: n (5)
sin β v2
where v1 and v2 are the rates at which light travels through the first and second
medium, respectively. The constant ratio n is called the relative index of refraction
of the two media.

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