MATHEMATICS: Elementary Calculus

Applications of Differentiation

A. Musopole

College of Medicine
Room 625, BioChemistry Building
[email protected]

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Overview

1 Intended Learning Outcomes

2 Introduction

3 Instantaneous Rate of Change

4 Tangent and Normal to a Curve

5 Turning or Stationary Points

6 Sketching Graphs of Functions

7 More Applications

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Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the lesson, learners should be able to:

Determine the gradient of a curve at a given point.
Determine the equation of a tangent to a curve.
Determine the equation of a normal to a curve.
Determine stationary points of a function.
Classify stationary points of a function.
Sketch graphs of polynomial functions.
Solve maximum and minimum problems.
Apply implicit differentiation in solving problems.

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Introduction

In recent years, medicine-related, biology-related and health-related

decision making has become more and more mathematically oriented.
Faced with huge masses of statistical data, depending on hundreds or
even thousands of different variables, analysts have increasingly turned
to mathematical methods to help them describe what is happening,
predict the effects of various policy alternatives, and choose
reasonable courses of action from the range of possibilities available.
Among the mathematical methods employed is calculus.

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Introduction...

Previously we have focussed on the computation of derivatives.

There are important applications of derivatives.
Derivatives are used in optimisation problems.
Apart from optimisation problems, derivatives are used in determining
information about graphs of functions.
We will look at
gradient of curve- tangents and normal
stationary points (maximum, minimum and inflection/inflexion points)
sketching graphs

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Instantaneous Rate of Change

A derivative is a rate of change- we can view it as a slope/gradient.

Given the function f (t) = 2t 2 + 2t, its slope/gradient at point t is
d
dt [f (t)] = 4t + 2. Thus at t = 3, the slope/gradient is 14 i.e.
df df
dt t=3 = 14. dt t=3 = 14 is called the instantaneous rate of change
0
at t = 3- we have f (3) = 14.

Try
(a) Determine the gradient to the curve y = 4x 2 − 5x 3 − 20 at the
0
point x. What is the gradient at x = 1? [y = 8x − 15x 2 , −7]
(b) Find the gradient to the function f (x) = 2x 2 + 13x − 10 at the
point where x = −4. [−3]
(c) Determine the gradient to the curve x 2 + y 2 = 4y at the point
(−2, 1). [−2]

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Tangent and Normal to a Curve

The tangent is a straight line which just touches the curve at a given
point.
The normal is a straight line which is perpendicular to the tangent.

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Equation of Tangent

A tangent is a straight line, hence its equation is of the form

y = mx + c.
df (x) 0
m is the gradient which is given by dx = f (x). c is the y-intecept.
Given the gradient m and a point (x1 , y1 ), the equation of the
tangent can be found by using the following equation:

y − y1 = m(x − x1 ).

Steps: Finding the tangent to a curve at x = a

1. Find the slope of the function by finding its first derivative.
0
2. Knowing f (a), solve for the slope of the tangent at x = a.
3. Solve for f (a).
4. Substitute found values into the equation of a tangent line:
0
y − f (a) = f (a)(x − a).

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Equation of Tangent...

Example: Given y = x 3 − 3x 2 + x − 1, determine the equation of the

tangent to the curve at x = 3.

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Equation of Tangent...

Working:
The slope/gradient of the function at x is
0
y = dy 2
dx = 3x − 6x + 1.
The slope/gradient of the tangent at x = 3 is
m = 3(3)2 − 6(3) + 1 = 10.
When x = 3, we have y = (3)3 − 3(3)2 + 3 − 1 = 2. We have
point (x1 , y1 ) = (3, 2).
Then the equation of the tangent:

y − y1 = m(x − x1 )
⇒y − 2 = 10(x − 3)
⇒y − 2 = 10x − 30
⇒y = 10x − 28.

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Equation of Tangent...

Try:
1. For each of the functions given below determine the equation of
the tangent at the point/s indicated.
(a) f (x) = 3x 2 − 2x + 4 at x = 0 and x = 3. [y = −2x + 4,
y = 16x − 23]
(b) f (x) = 5x 3 + 12x 2 − 7x at x = −1 and x = 1. [y = −16x − 2,
y = 32x − 22]
(c) f (x) = xe x at x = 0. [y = x]

3
(d) f (x) = x 2 + 1 at x = −2 and x = 1. [y = −300x − 475,
y = 24x − 16]
(e) f (x) = sin(2x) at x = 0 and x = π6 . [y = 2x, y = x − 29.13]
2. Find points on the curve y = x 3 − 6x 2 + x + 3 where the
tangents are parallel to the line y = x + 5. And determine the
equations for these tangents. [(0, 3), (4, −25)]

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Equation of Tangent...

Try:
Find the equation of tangent to the curve y = 2x − x 3 at the point
x = −1. Where does the tangent meet the line y = x? [y = −x + 2,
(1, 1)]

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Equation of a Normal

Recall: The normal line is defined as the line that is perpendicular to

the tangent line at the point of tangency.
0
Thus given the gradient of a tangent at point x = a as m = f (a),
the gradient of the normal at point x = a is − m1 = − f 0 1(a) (given two
perpendicular lines with gradients m1 and m2 , we have the property
m1 ×m2 = −1). Thus given the gradient of the tangent at point
(x1 , y1 ) as m, equation of normal line is y − y1 = − m1 (x − x1 ).
Steps: Finding the normal at x = a
0
1. Find the slope of the tangent, f (a).
2. Find the slope of the normal line, − f 0 1(a) .
3. Solve for f (a).
4. Substitute found values into the equation of a normal line:
y − f (a) = − f 0 1(a) (x − a).

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Equation of a Normal...

Example:
3
Find the equation of the normal line of the function f (x) = x 2 − 1
at the point x = 2.

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Equation of a Normal...

Working:
0
2
The slope of the tangent is f (x) = 6x x 2 − 1 . At x = 2, the
0
slope of the tangent is f (2) = 108.
The slope of the normal line at x = 2 is − f 0 1(2) = − 108
1
.
At x = 2, f (2) = 27. We have the point (a, f (a)) = (2, 27).
The equation of the normal line is
1
y − f (a) = − (x − a)0
f (a)
1
⇒y − 27 = − (x − 2)
108
1
⇒y = − (x − 2) + 27
108
1
⇒y = − x + 27.0185.
108
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Equation of Normal...

Try:
1. For each of the functions given below determine the equation of
the normal at the point/s indicated.
(a) f (x) = x 2 + 3x + 1 at x = 0 and x = 4. [y = −0.333x + 1,
y = −0.09x + 29.36]
(b) y = 2x 3 − 5x + 4 at x = −1 and x = 1. [y = −x + 6, y = −x + 2]
(c) f (x) = x + x1 at x = 2. [6y + 8x = 31]
(d) 2x 3 + y = 28 − 3y 3 at (1, 1). [y = 1.667x − 0.667]
2. Find the equation of each normal of the function
f (x) = 31 x 3 + x 2 + x − 13 which is parallel to the line
y = − 14 x + 13 . [y = −0.25x − 4.08, y = −0.25x + 2.25]
3. Find the x co-ordinate of the point where the normal to
f (x) = x 2 − 3x + 1 at x = −1 intersects the curve again. [4.2]

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Turning or Stationary Points

We say that x = c is a turning/stationary point of the function f (x) if

0
f (c) exists and if f (c) = 0 i.e. at a turning/stationary point dydx = 0. A
turning/stationary point can be a maximum point, a minimum point, or
point of inflection (inflexion). In the last figure (to the right), at points A,
B and C the gradient is 0.

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Turning or Stationary Points...
For a maximum point, the gradient changes from positive through 0
to negative.
For a minimum point, the gradient changes from negative through 0
to positive.
When it comes to a point of inflection, the gradient on either side of
the point has the same sign.

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Turning or Stationary Points...

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Turning or Stationary Points...

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Turning or Stationary Points...
Suppose we are given a function y = f (x), steps below will help us in
identifying turning points:
0 dy df (x) 0
1. Find the first derivative of the function, y = dx = dx = f (x).
dy
2. Set the first derivative equal to 0 i.e. dx = 0.
dy 0 0
3. Solve the equation dx = 0 (y = 0, or f (x) = 0).
4. Find the second
2
derivative of the function,
00 2 00
y = ddxy2 = d dxf (x)
2 = f (x).
5. Substitute the values of x obtained in Step 3. in the second
00 00
derivative. Take note of the sign. If y = f (x) < 0, then we have a
00 00
maximum point. If y = f (x) > 0, then we have a minimum point.
00 00
If y = f (x) = 0, it may be a point of inflection, a minimum point,
or a maximum point (not conclusive)- it requires further tests. When
00 2 0 0
f (x) = ddxy2 = 0, and f (x + ) and f (x − ) have the same sign in
the neighbourhood of x we can say that the point is a point of
inflection.
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Turning or Stationary Points...

Example: Find the turning points on the curve y = x 3 − 3x + 2.

Determine the nature of the turning points.

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Turning or Stationary Points...

Working: We are given the curve y = x 3 − 3x + 2.

0 dy
Obtaining the first derivative: y = dx = 3x 2 − 3.
0 dy
Setting the first derivative to 0 (y = dx = 0): we have
3x 2 − 3 = 0.
dy
Solving dx = 0 to find turning points:

3x 2 − 3 = 0
⇒3(x 2 − 1) = 0
⇒3(x + 1)(x − 1) = 0
⇒x = −1 or x = 1.

When x = −1, y = (−1)3 − 3(−1) + 2 = 4. When x = 1,

y = (1)3 − 3(1) + 2 = 0. Turning points are (−1, 4) and (1, 0).

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Turning or Stationary Points...

Working:...
Determining the nature of turning points: we need the second
00 2
derivative. y = ddxx2 = 6x.
2
(−1, 4): when x = −1, ddxx2 = 6(−1) = −6 < 0.
2
(1, 0): when x = 1, ddxx2 = 6(1) = 6 > 0.
Thus the point (−1, 4) is a maximum point while the point (1, 0)
is a minimum point.

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Turning or Stationary Points...

(x−1)2
Example: Find the turning points on the curve f (x) = x .
Determine the nature of the turning points.

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Turning or Stationary Points...

(x−1)2
Working: We have f (x) = x .
The first derivative, using quotient rule, is
0 2
f (x) = x.2(x−1)−(x−1)
x 2
.1
= (x+1)(x−1)
x2
.
0
Setting f (x) to 0 and solving to find turning point:

(x + 1)(x − 1)
=0
x2
⇒(x + 1)(x − 1) = 0
⇒x = −1 or x = 1.

When x = −1, f (−1) = −4. When x = 1, f (1) = 0. The turning

points are (−1, −4) and (1, 0).
The second hderivative
i is
00 d x 2 −1 2x(x 2 )−2x(x 2 −1) 2
f (x) = dx x2
= x4
= x3
.
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Turning or Stationary Points...

Working:...
Determining the nature of turning points:
00
(−1, −4): when x = −1, f (−1) = −2 < 0.
00
(1, 0): When x = 1, f (1) = 2 > 0.
Thus (−1, −4) is a maximum turning point, and (1, 0) is a
minimum turning point.

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Turning or Stationary Points...

00 2 00
When you get y = ddxy2 = f (x) = 0, check the sign of the gradients in
0 0
the neighbourhood (check the sign of f (x − ) and f (x + )). For example
00
if x = 1 is a turning point and f (1) = 0, you can check the signs of the
0 0
gradients f (0.9) and f (1.1), depending on the function- if the sign is the
0 0
same, then it is a point of inflection; if f (0.9) < 0 and f (1.1) > 0 it is a
0 0
minimum point; and if f (0.9) > 0 and f (1.1) < 0 it is a maximum point.

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Turning or Stationary Points...

Try: Find the stitionary points of the given function, and determine
their nature.
(a) f (x) = x 3 − 5x 2 + 3x + 2. [( 31 ,2.48): maximum point; (3,-7):
minimum point]
(b) y = x 3 − 3x 2 − 144x. [(-6,540): maximum point; (8,-832):
minimum point]
(c) g (x) = 3x 4 + 16x 3 + 24x 2 + 3. [(-2,19): point of inflection;
(0,3): minimum point]

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Turning or Stationary Points...

Alternative method for finding and determining nature of turning points:

1. Find the first derivative.
2. Equate the first derivative to 0 and solve for x (variable of interest)-
these are x-coordinates of the stationary points.
3. Substitute the values of x found in 2. to obtain y-coordinates- thus
we will have the points, assume x = a (a is an arbitrary constant),
(a, f (a)).
4. Investigate the sign of the gradient just to immediate LHS of the
stationary point and just to immediate RHS of the stationary point. If
the sign is the same, them it is a point of inflection. If the sign
changes from positive through 0 to negative, it is a maximum point.
If the sign changes from negative through 0 to positive, it is a
minimum point.

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Turning or Stationary Points...

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Turning or Stationary Points...

Example: Find the turning points on the curve

f (x) = x 3 + x 2 − 8x − 12. Determine the nature of the turning points.

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Turning or Stationary Points...

Working:
The first derivative of the function we are given is
0
f (x) = 3x 2 + 2x − 8.
0
To find the turning points we will equate f (x) to 0 and solve the
resulting equation. Thus we have

3x 2 + 2x − 8 = 0
⇒3x 2 + 6x − 4x − 8 = 0
⇒3x(x + 2) − 4(x + 2) = 0
⇒(x + 2)(3x − 4) = 0
⇒x = −2 or x = 1.333.

When x = −2, f (−2) = 0; when x = 1.33, f (x) = −18.52. Thus

the stationary points are (−2, 0) and (1.33, −18.52).
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Turning or Stationary Points...

Working:...
The nature of turning points:
Value of x L −2 R L 1.33 R
0
Sign of dy
dx = f (x) + 0 - - 0 +

Thus the (−2, 0) is a maximum point and (1.33, −18.52) is a

minimum point. (You can use values such as x = −2.1 for a
value to the left (L) of x = −2 and x = −1.9 for the right (R).
For x = 1.33, we can use x = 1.2 for the left (L) and x = 1.4 for
the right (R). We substitute these values in the first derivative
and take note of the sign.)

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Turning or Stationary Points...

Try:Find stitionary points and use the method that we have just
considered to determine their nature.
(a) y = x 3 − 5x 2 + 3x + 2. [x = 13 : maximum point; x = 3:
minimum point]
(b) g (x) = 3x 4 + 16x 3 + 24x 2 + 3. [(-2,19): point of inflection;
(0,3): minimum point]

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Sketching Graphs of Functions...

We use derivatives to sketch graphs of functions when we are

interested in the general shape of the graph- ’we are not focussing on
drawing a very accurate graph of a function’.
Below are the steps to follow in sketching the graph of a function.
1. Find the y intercept. This is done by finding f (0).
2. Find the x intercept. This is done by solving the equation f (x) = 0.
3. Find stationary points.
4. Use the second derivative to determine which stationary points are
maximum points, minimum points, and points of inflexion.
5. Plot the points and sketch the graph.
It might also be necessary to find the point/s of inflection of the
function.

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Sketching Graphs of Functions...

Example: Sketch the graph of the function

f (x) = 12x − x 3

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Sketching Graphs of Functions...

Working: Sketching the graph of f (x) = 12x − x 3 .

y-intecept: Here x = 0. Thus f (0) = 0.
x-intercept: Here f (x) = 0. Thus we have

12x − x 3 = 0
⇒x(12 − x 2 ) = 0
⇒x = −3.464, x = 0, or x = 3.464.
0 0
Stationary points: Here f (x) = 0. f (x) = 12 − 3x 2 . Thus

12 − 3x 2 = 0
⇒ − 3(x 2 − 4) = 0
⇒x 2 = 4
⇒x = −2 or x = 2.
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Sketching Graphs of Functions...

Working:...
When x = −2, f (−2) = −16. When x = 2, f (2) = 16. Thus the
stationary points are (−2, −16) and (2, 16).
Determining the nature of stationary points: Here we need the
00
second derivative. f (x) = −6x.
00
(−2, −16): At x = −2, f (−2) = 12 > 0.
00
(2, 16): At x = 2, f (−2) = −12 < 0.
Thus (−2, −16) is a minimum point- the shape is ∪; while (2, 16)
is a maximum point- the shape is ∩.

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Sketching Graphs of Functions...

Working:...
Determing point/s of inflection: One of the necessary condition is
00
f (x) = 0. Thus

− 6x = 0
⇒x = 0

When x = 0, f (0) = 0. Thus the point of inflection is (0, 0).

We have
Value of x −2 2
0
sign of f (x) - 0 + 0 -
slope of graph \ / − \
−

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Sketching Graphs of Functions...

Working:... Points:
y
20
15
10
5
x
-4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4
-5
-10
-15
-20

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Sketching Graphs of Functions...

Working:... Then the graph:

y
20
f (x) = 12x − x 3
15
10
5
x
-4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4
-5
-10
-15
-20

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Sketching Graphs of Functions...

Try: Sketch the graphs of the functions given below.

(a) y = x 3 + x 2 − 8x − 12.
(b) f (x) = x 4 − 8x 2 .

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Sketching Graphs of Functions...

y
12 y = x 3 + x 2 − 8x − 12
8
4
x
-4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4
-4
-8
-12
-16
-20

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Sketching Graphs of Functions...

y
4
y = x 4 − 8x 2
x
-4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4
-4

-8

-12

-16

-20

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More Applications

Example:
As a medical student, you have been asked to help the senior doctor in
determining the maximum area of a skin-graft to cover a wound. The
area is to be rectangular in shape such that the sum of any three sides
of the area is exactly 100 mm. Calculate the required dimensions and
hence the area to be grafted.

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More Applications...

Working:
Let the unknown side be x.
The sum of two opposite sides is 2x.
The remaining side is 100 − 2x.

Area of rectangle is the product of length and width. Our area

will be a function of x. Thus the area is

A(x) = (100 − 2x)x = 100x − 2x 2 .

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More Applications...

Working:...
0
Determining turning point/s: We have A (x) = 100 − 4x. At
0
turning point A = 0. Thus

100 − 4x = 0
⇒x = 25.

Determining whether x = 25 is a maximum or minimum: We

00 00 00
need A (x). We have A (x) = −4. Since A < 0, x = 25 is a
mximum.
Thus width is 25mm and length is 100 − 2(25) = 50mm.
The maximum area is 25mm×50mm = 1250mm2 .

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More Applications...

Try:
(a) We want to construct a sample box for transporting medicine
that should have a square base, and we only have 10m2 of
material to use in construction of the box- the box is supposed to
have all six faces. Assuming that all the material is used in the
construction process determine the maximum volume that the
box can have.[2.1517]
(b) Find the rate of change of the volume of a cylindrical tank of
liquid chemical with respect to radius r if height is 10 metres.
[20πr ]
(c) In the lab, you are filling a spherical tube (an infletable one) with
body fluid at the rate of 7cm3 /second. How fast is its radius
7
increasing when the radius is 4cm? [ 64π cm/second]

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References

Bostock, L. and Chandler, S. (1981), Mathematics, the Core Course

for A-Level, Nelson Thornes Ltd, UK.
Choi, C. (2014), Calculus in Medicine, Retrieved on 4th September
2018 from
https://prezi.com/fqwwg6tcuqqp/calculus-in-medicine/.
Martin, A., Brown, K., Rigby, P. and Riley, S. (2000), Pure
Mathematics, Stanley Thornes, UK.
Patel, T. (2013), Calculus: Applications to Biology and Medicine,
Retrieved on 4th September 2018 from
https://prezi.com/z56alvfoyncf/
calculus-applications-to-biology-and-medicine/.

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 The End

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