Class 12 Mathematics | Application of Derivatives | Notes

www.learnohub.com
Class 12 Mathematics | Application of Derivatives | Notes

Application of Derivatives
Notes

www.learnohub.com
Class 12 Mathematics | Application of Derivatives | Notes

Introduction
The derivative is a way to show the rate of change i.e. the amount by which a
function is changing at one given point. For functions that act on the real
numbers, it is the slope of the tangent line at a point on the graph.

In the above figure, the function is shown in black color and a tangent is shown
in red color.
In this chapter we will learn and understand how to
(i) determine rate of change of quantities.
(ii) find the equations of tangent and normal to a curve at a point.
(iii) find turning points on the graph of a function which in turn will help us to
locate points at which
largest or smallest value of a function occurs.
(iv) Use derivative to find intervals on which a fun
ction is increasing or decreasing.
(v) Use the derivative to find approximate value of certain quantities.
Rate of Change of Quantities
The derivative ds/dt represents the rate of change of distance s with respect to
the time t.
Again let one quantity y varies with another quantity x satisfying y = f(x), then
dy/dx or f’(x) represents the rate of change of y w.r.t. x and [dy/dx]x = x0 or f’(x0)
represent the rate of change of y w.r.t. x at x = x0.

www.learnohub.com
Class 12 Mathematics | Application of Derivatives | Notes

Again let two variables x and y are varying w.r.t. another variable t i.e. x = f(t)
and y = g(t) then by chain rule
dy/dx = (dy/dt)/(dx/dt) where dx/dt ≠ 0
Hence, the rate of change of y with respect to x can be calculated using the
rate of change of y and that of x both with respect to t.

Problem:
Find the rate of change of the area of a circle with respect to its radius r
when
(a) r = 3 cm
(b) r = 4 cm
Solution:
The area of a circle (A) with radius (r) is given by
A = πr2
Now, the rate of change of the area with respect to its radius is given by
dA/dr = d(πr2 )/dr = 2πr
(a) When r = 3 cm,
dA/dr = 2π * 3 = 6π
Hence, the area of the circle is changing at the rate of 6π cm2/s when its radius
is 3 cm.
(b) When r = 4 cm,
dA/dr = 2π * 4 = 8π
Hence, the area of the circle is changing at the rate of 8π cm2/s when its radius
is 4 cm.

Problem:

www.learnohub.com
Class 12 Mathematics | Application of Derivatives | Notes

An edge of a variable cube is increasing at the rate of 3 cm/s. How fast is the
volume of the cube increasing when the edge is 10 cm long?
Solution:
Let x be the length of a side and V be the volume of the cube. Then,
V = x3
Now, dV/dt = d(x3)/dt
=> dV/dt = d(x3)/dx * dx/dt [By chain rule]
=> dV/dt = 3x2 * dx/dt
It is given that,
dx/dt = 3 cm/s
Now, dV/dt = 3x2 * 3 = 9x2
Thus, when x = 10 cm,
=> dV/dt = 9 * 102 = 9 * 100 = 900 cm3/s
Hence, the volume of the cube is increasing at the rate of 900 cm3/s when the
edge is 10 cm long.
Increasing and Decreasing Functions
The derivative of a function may be used to determine whether the function is
increasing or decreasing on any intervals in its domain.
Let I be an open interval contained in the domain of a real valued function f.
Then f is said to be

(i) increasing on I if x1 < x2 in I => f(x1) ≤ f(x2) for all x1, x2 Є I.

(ii) strictly increasing on I if x1 < x2 in I => f(x1) < f(x2) for all x1, x2 Є I.
(iii) decreasing on I if x1 < x2 in I => f(x1) ≥ f(x2) for all x1, x2 Є I.
(iv) strictly decreasing on I if x1 < x2 in I => f(x1) > f(x2) for all x1, x2 Є I.
There are some functions which are neither increasing nor decreasing.
The graphical representations of all these functions are shown below:

www.learnohub.com
Class 12 Mathematics | Application of Derivatives | Notes

We can also define when a function is increasing or decreasing at a point.

A function f is said to be increasing at x0 if there exists an interval I = (x0 – h, x0
+ h), h > 0 such that for x1, x2 ∈ I,
x1 < x2 in I => f (x1) ≤ f (x2)
Similarly, we can define other functions also.
To test for increasing and decreasing function for a given interval, we have
some theorems which are given below:

Theorem 1: Let f be continuous on [a, b] and differentiable on the open

interval (a, b). Then
(a) f is increasing in [a, b] if f’(x) > 0 for each x Є (a, b)
(b) f is decreasing in [a, b] if f’(x) < 0 for each x Є (a, b)
(c) f is a constant function in [a, b] if f’(x) = 0 for each x Є (a, b)
Again,
(i) f is strictly increasing in (a, b) if f’(x) > 0 for each x Є (a, b)
(ii) f is strictly decreasing in (a, b) if f’(x) < 0 for each x Є (a, b)
(iii) A function will be increasing (decreasing) in R if it is so in every interval of
R.

www.learnohub.com
Class 12 Mathematics | Application of Derivatives | Notes

Problem:
Show that the function given by f(x) = 3x + 17 is strictly increasing on R.
Solution:
Let x1 and x2 be any two numbers in R.
Then, we have:
x1 < x2 => 3x1 < 3x2 => 3x1 + 17 < 3x2 + 17 => f(x1) < f(3x2)
Hence, f is strictly increasing on R.
Problem:
Show that the function given by f(x) = e2x is strictly increasing on R.
Solution:
Let x1 and x2 be any two numbers in R.
Then, we have:
x1 < x2 => 2x1 < 2x2 => e2x1 < e2x2 => f(x1) < f(x2)
Hence, f is strictly increasing on R.
Problem:
Find the intervals in which the function f given by f(x) = 2x2 − 3x
is
(a) strictly increasing
(b) strictly decreasing
Solution:
The given function is f(x) = 2x2 − 3x
Now, f’(x) = 4x – 3
f’(x) = 0
=> 4x – 3 = 0
=> x = 3/4

www.learnohub.com
Class 12 Mathematics | Application of Derivatives | Notes

Now, the point 3/4 divides the real line into two disjoint intervals i.e., (-∞, 3/4)
and (3/4, ∞)
(a) In interval (-∞, 3/4), f’(x) = 4x – 3 < 0
Hence, the given function (f) is strictly decreasing in interval (-∞, 3/4).
(b) In interval (3/4, ∞), f’(x) = 4x – 3 > 0
Hence, the given function (f) is strictly increasing in interval (3/4, ∞).
Tangents and Normals
We know that the equation of a straight line passing through a given point (x0,
y0) having finite slope m is given by y – y0 = m(x – x0)

Let given a curve y = f(x), the tangent of the curve at the point (x0, y0) is given
by
[dy/dx](x0, y0) or f’(x0)
So, the equation of the tangent of the curve y = f(x) at (x0, y0) is given by
y – y0 = f’(x0)(x – x0)
Again normal is the perpendicular to the tangent as show in the figure.
So, the slope of the normal to the curve y = f(x) at (x0, y0) is given as -1/ f’(x0)
where f’(x0) ≠ 0
Now, the equation of normal to the curve y = f(x) at (x0, y0) is given by
y – y0 = (-1/f’(x0))(x – x0)
=> (y – y0)* f’(x0) +(x – x0) = 0

www.learnohub.com
Class 12 Mathematics | Application of Derivatives | Notes

Again If a tangent line to the curve y = f (x) makes an angle with x-axis in the
positive direction, then dy/dx= slope of the tangent = tan θ

Some particular case:

(i) If slope of the tangent line is zero, then tan θ = 0 i.e. θ = 0 which means the
tangent line is parallel to the x-axis. In this case, the equation of the tangent at
the point (x0, y0) is given by y = y0.

(ii) If θ -> π/2 then tan θ → ∞, which means the tangent line is perpendicular
to the x-axis, i.e. parallel to the y-axis. In this case, the equation of the tangent
at (x0, y0) is given by x = x0.

Problem:
Find the slope of the tangent to the curve y = 3x4 − 4x at x = 4.
Solution:
The given curve is y = 3x4 − 4x
Now, dy/dx = 12x3 − 4
Then, the slope of the tangent to the given curve at x = 4 is given by,
dy/dx]x = 4 = 12 * 43 – 4 = 12 * 64 – 4 = 768 – 4 = 764
Problem: Find the slope of the normal to the curve x = a cos3 θ, y = a sin3 θ at
θ = π/4.
Solution:
It is given that x = a cos3 θ, y = a sin3 θ
dx/dθ = 3a cos2 θ * (-sin θ) = -3a cos2 θ * sin θ
dy/dθ = 3a sin2 θ * cos θ
Now, dy/dx = (dy/dθ)/( dy/dθ)

www.learnohub.com
Class 12 Mathematics | Application of Derivatives | Notes

= (3a sin2 θ * cos θ)/( -3a cos2 θ * sin θ)

= - sin θ /cos θ
= - tan θ
Therefore, the slope of the tangent at θ = π/4 is given by,
dy/dx]θ = π/4 = -tan π/4 = -1
Now, the slope of the normal at θ = π/4 is given as
= -1/[dy/dx]θ = π/4
= -1/(-1)
=1
Approximations
An approximation is anything that is similar but not exactly equal to something
else. Approximation usually occurs when an exact form or an exact numerical
number is unknown or difficult to obtain.
Let f : D => R, D Ì R, be a given function and let y = f (x). Let ∆x denote a small
increment in x.

Now the increment in y corresponding to the increment in x, denoted by ∆y, is

given by
∆y = f (x + ∆x) – f (x)
We define the following:

(i) The differential of x, denoted by dx, is defined by dx = ∆x.

www.learnohub.com
Class 12 Mathematics | Application of Derivatives | Notes

(ii) The differential of y, denoted by dy, is defined by dy = f’(x) dx or

dy = (dy/dx) * ∆x
If dx = ∆x is relatively small when compared to with x then dy is a good
approximation of ∆y and dy ≈ ∆y.
Problem: Using differentials, find the approximate value of each of the
following.
(a) (17/81)1/4
(b) (33)-1/5
Solution:
(a) Consider y = x1/4
Let x = 16/81 and ∆x = 1/81
Then, ∆y = (x + ∆x)1/4 - x1/4
= (17/81)1/4 - (16/81)1/4
= (17/81)1/4 – 2/3
=> (17/81)1/4 = 2/3 + ∆y
Now, dy is approximately equal to ∆y and is given by,
dy = (dy/dx) * ∆x
= 1/{4 * (16/81)3/4} * (1/81) [As y = x1/4]
= 27/(4 * 8) * (1/81)
= 1/(32 * 3)
= 1/96
= 0.010
Hence, the approximate value of (17/81)1/4 is 2/3 + 0.010 = 0.667 + 0.010 =
0.677.
(b) Consider y = x-1/5
Let x = 32 and ∆x = 1

www.learnohub.com
Class 12 Mathematics | Application of Derivatives | Notes

Then, ∆y = (x + ∆x)-1/5 - x-1/5

= (33)-1/5 – (32)-1/5
= (33)-1/5 – 1/2
=> (33)-1/5 = 1/2 + ∆y
Now, dy is approximately equal to ∆y and is given by,
dy = (dy/dx) * ∆x
= -1/{5 * (x)6/5} * ∆x [As y = x-1/5]
= -1/{5 * 26} * 1
= -1/320
= -0.003
Hence, the approximate value of (33)-1/5 is 1/2 + (-0.003) = 0.5 – 0.003 = 0.497
Maxima and Minima
In this section, we find the method to calculate the maximum and the
minimum values of a function in a given domain. i.e. we will find the turning
points of the graph of a function at which the graph reaches its highest or
lowest. We use these points is for sketching the graph of a given function.
Again, we will also find the absolute maximum and absolute minimum of a
function that are used for the solution of many applied problems.
There are some definition of maxima and minima which are going to discuss
one by one:

Definition 1: Let f be a function defined on an interval I. Then

(a) f is said to have a maximum value in I, if there exists a point c in I such that
f(c) ≥ f(x), for all x Є I.
The number f(c) is called the maximum value of f in I and the point c is called a
point of maximum value of f in I.

www.learnohub.com
Class 12 Mathematics | Application of Derivatives | Notes

(b) f is said to have a minimum value in I, if there exists a point c in I such that
f(c) ≤ f(x), for all x Є I.
The number f(c), in this case, is called the minimum value of f in I and the point
c, in this case, is called a point of minimum value of f in I.
(c) f is said to have an extreme value in I if there exists a point c in I such that
f(c) is either a maximum value or a minimum value of f in I.
The number f(c), in this case, is called an extreme value of f in I and the point c
is called an extreme point.
Definition 2: Let f be a real valued function and let c be an interior point in the
domain of f. Then

(a) c is called a point of local maxima if there is an h > 0 such that f(c) ≥ f(x), for
all x in (c – h, c + h)
The value f(c) is called the local maximum value of f.
(b) c is called a point of local minima if there is an h > 0 such that f(c) ≤ f(x), for
all x in (c – h, c + h)
The value f(c) is called the local minimum value of f.
The above definition leads to the following theorem:
Theorem: Let f be a function defined on an open interval I. Suppose c ∈ I be
any point. If f has a local maxima or a local minima at x = c, then either f ′(c) = 0
or f is not differentiable at c.
Now, using only the first order derivatives, we calculate for finding points of
local maxima or points of local minima.
Theorem (First Derivative Test): Let f be a function defined on an open interval
I. Again let f be continuous at a critical point c in I. Then
(i) If f ′(x) changes sign from positive to negative as x increases through c, i.e. if
f ′(x) > 0 at every point sufficiently close to and to the left of c, and f ′(x) < 0 at

www.learnohub.com
Class 12 Mathematics | Application of Derivatives | Notes

every point sufficiently close to and to the right of c, then c is a point of local
maxima.
(ii) If f ′(x) changes sign from negative to positive as x increases through c, i.e. if
f ′(x) < 0 at every point sufficiently close to and to the left of c, and f ′(x) > 0 at
every point sufficiently close to and to the right of c, then c is a point of local
minima.
(iii) If f ′(x) does not change sign as x increases through c, then c is neither a
point of local maxima nor a point of local minima. Such a point is called point
of inflection as shown in the figure.

www.learnohub.com
Class 12 Mathematics | Application of Derivatives | Notes

Theorem (Second Derivative Test): Let f be a function defined on an interval I

and c ∈ I. Let f be twice
differentiable at c. Then
(i) x = c is a point of local maxima if f ′(c) = 0 and f ″(c) < 0
The value f (c) is local maximum value of f.
(ii) x = c is a point of local minima if f′(c) = 0 and f ″(c) > 0
In this case, f (c) is local minimum value of f.
(iii) The test fails if f ′(c) = 0 and f ″(c) = 0.
In this case, we go back to the first derivative test and find whether c is a point
of local maxima, local minima or a point of inflexion.
Problem:
Find the local maxima and local minima, if any, of the following functions.
Also find the local maximum and the local minimum values, as the case may
be:
(i) f(x) = x2
(ii) g(x) = x3 − 3x
Solution:
(i) Given, f(x) = x2
So f’(x) = 2x
Now, f’(x) = 0
=> 2x = 0
=> x = 0

www.learnohub.com
Class 12 Mathematics | Application of Derivatives | Notes

Thus, x = 0 is the only critical point which could possibly be the point of local
maxima or local minima of f.
We have, f”(0) = 2 which is positive.
Therefore, by second derivative test, x = 0 is a point of local minima and local
minimum value
of f at x = 0 is f(0) = 0.
(ii) g(x) = x3 − 3x
So, g’(x) = 3x2 – 3
Now, g’(x) = 0
=> 3x2 – 3 = 0
=> 3(x2 – 1) = 0
=> x2 – 1 = 0
=> x2 = 1
=> x = ±1
Now, g”(x) = 6x
g”(1) = 6 * 1 = 6 > 0
g”(-1) = 6 * (-1) = -6 < 0
By second derivative test, x = 1 is a point of local minima and local minimum
value of g at x = 1
is g(1) = 13 − 3 = 1 − 3 = −2.
However, x = −1 is a point of local maxima and local maximum value of g at x =
−1 is
g(1) = (−1)3 − 3 (− 1) = − 1 + 3 = 2.
There are two theorems to find the absolute maximum and absolute minimum
values of a function on a closed interval I.

www.learnohub.com
Class 12 Mathematics | Application of Derivatives | Notes

Theorem: Let f be a continuous function on an interval I = [a, b]. Then f has the
absolute maximum value and f attains it at least once in I. Also, f has the
absolute minimum value and attains it at least once in I.
Theorem: Let f be a differentiable function on a closed interval I and let c be
any interior point of I. Then
(i) f′(c) = 0 if f attains its absolute maximum value at c.
(ii) f′(c) = 0 if f attains its absolute minimum value at c.
The working rule for finding absolute maximum and/or absolute minimum
values of a function in a given
closed interval [a, b] as given below:
Working Rule:
Step 1: Find all critical points of f in the interval, i.e., find points x where either
f′(x) =0 or f is not differentiable.
Step 2: Take the end points of the interval.
Step 3: At all these points from Step 1 and 2 and calculate the values of f.
Step 4: Identify the maximum and minimum values of f out of the values
calculated in Step 3. This maximum value will be the absolute maximum
(greatest) value of f and the minimum value will be the absolute minimum
(least) value of f.
Problem:
Find both the maximum value and the minimum value of 3x4 − 8x3 + 12x2 −
48x + 25 on the interval [0, 3].
Solution:
Given, f(x) = 3x4 − 8x3 + 12x2 − 48x + 25
f′(x) = 12x3 − 24x2 + 24x − 48
=12(x3 −2x2 +2x −4)
=12[x2(x − 2) + 2(x − 2)]

www.learnohub.com
Class 12 Mathematics | Application of Derivatives | Notes

=12(x2 + 2)(x − 2)
For maxima and minima, f′(x) = 0
=> 12(x2 + 2)(x − 2)=0
=> x = 2, x2 = -2
Since x2 = -2 is not possible
So, x = 2 ∈ [0, 3]
Now we evaluate the value of f at critical point x = 2 and at the end points of
the interval [0, 3]
f(0) = 25
f(2) = 3 * 24 – 8 * 23 + 12 * 22 – 48 * 2 + 25
= 48 – 64 + 48 – 96 + 25
= −39
f(3) = 3 * 34 – 8 * 33 + 12 * 32 – 48 * 3 + 25
= 243 – 216 + 108 −144 + 25
= 16
Hence, at x = 0, Maximum value = 25
At x = 2, Minimum value = -39
Problem: Find the maximum and minimum values of x + sin 2x on [0, 2π].
Solution:
Let f(x) = x + sin 2x
So, f’(x) = 1 + 2 cos 2x
Now, f’(x) = 0
=> 1 + 2 cos 2x = 0
=> cos 2x = -1/2
=> cos 2x = -cos π/3
=> cos 2x = cos (π - π/3)
=> cos 2x = cos 2π/3

www.learnohub.com
Class 12 Mathematics | Application of Derivatives | Notes

=> 2x = 2nπ ± 2π/3, n є Z

=> x = nπ ± π/3, n є Z
=> x = π/3, 2π/3, 4π/3, 5π/3 є [0, 2π]
Now,
f(π/3) = π/3 + sin 2π/3 = π/3 + √3/2
f(2π/3) = 2π/3 + sin 4π/3 = π/3 - √3/2
f(4π/3) = 4π/3 + sin 8π/3 = 4π/3 + √3/2
f(5π/3) = 5π/3 + sin 10π/3 = 5π/3 - √3/2
f(0) = 0 + sin 0 = 0
f(2π) = 2π + sin 2π = 2π + 0 = 2π
Hence, we can conclude that the absolute maximum value of f(x) in the
interval [0, 2π] is 2π occurring at x = 2π and the absolute minimum value of f(x)
in the interval [0, 2π] is 0 occurring at x = 0.

****************

www.learnohub.com