Application of The Derivatives

Session 7-9
 Acknowledgement

These slides have been

adapted from:

Soo.T.Tan. Calculus. 2010.

Brooks/Cole.
ISBN-13: 978-0-534-46579-7

Chapter 3
 Learning Objectives

LO 1 :
Apply the basic concepts of limits and

derivative for some real problems

 Content

• Maxima and minima

1

• Local extrema
2

• Practical problems
3

• The mean value theorem for derivatives

4

4
Antarctic glaciers are calving
into the ocean with greater
frequency as a result of
global warming. A major
cause of global warming is
the increase of carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere.
We can use the derivative
to help us study the rate
of change of the average
amount of atmospheric
CO2..

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Absolute Extrema of Functions

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 Example 1 (1/2)

Find the extrema of the function, if any, by examining its

graph

Solution
The graphs of the functions f, t, h, and k are shown

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 Example 1 (2/2)

a. f has a minimum value of 0 at 0. Next, since the values

of f are not bounded above, f has no maximum value.
b. g has a maximum value of 0 at 0. Also, because the
values of g are not bounded below, g has no minimum
value.
c. The values of h are neither bounded above nor
bounded below, so h has no absolute extrema.
d. As x gets larger and larger, k(x) gets closer and closer
to 1. But this value is never attained; that is, a real
number c does not exist such that k(c) = 1. Therefore,
k has no maximum value. Similarly, you can show that
k has no minimum value.

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Relative Extrema of Functions

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 Fermat’s Theorem

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 Critical Number

Example 2
Find the critical numbers of f(x) = x – 3x1/3

Solution
The derivative of f is

Observe that f’ is not defined at 0 and also f’(x) = 0 if x = ±1.

Therefore, the critical numbers of f are -1, 0, and 1.
The Extreme Value

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 The Extreme Value

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 Example 3 (1/2)

Find the extreme values of the function f(x) = 3x4 – 4x3 – 8 on

[-1,2]

Solution
Since f is a polynomial function, it is continuous everywhere;
in particular, it is continuous on the closed interval [-1,2].
Therefore, we can use the Extreme Value Theorem.
First, we find the critical numbers of f in (-1,2):

Observe that f’ is continuous on (-1,2). Next, setting f’(x) = 0

gives x = 0 or x = 1. Therefore, 0 and 1 are the only critical
numbers of f in (-1, 2).

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 Example 3 (2/2)

Next, we compute f(x) at these

critical numbers as well as at the
endpoints -1 and 2. These values
are shown in the following table.

From the table we see that f

attains the absolute maximum value of 8 at 2 and the
absolute minimum value of -9 at 1. The graph of shown in
Figure confirms our results. (You don’t need to draw the
graph to solve the problem.)
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 Example 4:
Deflection of a Beam (1/3)
Figure depicts a beam of length L and uniform weight w
per unit length that is rigidly fixed at one end and simply
supported at the other. An equation of the elastic curve
(the dashed curve in the figure) is

where the product EI is a constant called the flexural

rigidity of the beam. Show that the maximum deflection
(the displacement of the elastic curve from the x-axis)
occurs at x
= (15 -√33)L/16
≈0.578L and has a
magnitude of
approximately
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 Example 4:
Deflection of a Beam (2/3)

Solution
We wish to find the value of x on the closed interval [0,L]
at which the function f defined by

attains its absolute maximum value. Since f is continuous

on [0,L], this value must be attained at a critical number of
f in (0,L) or at an endpoint of the interval. To find the
critical numbers of f, we compute

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 Example 4:
Deflection of a Beam (3/3)

Setting f’(x) = 0 gives x = 0 or

Because (15+√33)L/16 > L, we see that the sole critical

number of f in (0,L) is x = (15+√33)L/16 ≈ 0.578L. Evaluating
f at 0.578L, and L, we obtain the following table of values.

We conclude that the maximum deflection occurs at x =

(15+√33)L/16 ≈ 0.578L and has a magnitude of
approximately 0.0054wL4/(EI).

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 Rolle’s Theorem

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 Example 5 (1/2)

During a test dive of a prototype of a twin-piloted

submarine, the depth in feet of the submarine at time in
minutes is given by h(t) = t3(t-7)4, where 0 ≤ t ≤ 7.
a. Use Rolle’s Theorem to show that there is some instant
of time t = c between 0 and 7 when h’(c) = 0.
b. Find the number c and interpret your results.

Solution
a. The polynomial function h is continuous on [0,7] and
differentiable on (0,7). Furthermore, h(0) = 0 and h(7) =
0, so the hypotheses of Rolle’s Theorem are satisfied.
Therefore, there exists at least one number c in (0,7)
such that h’(c) = 0.
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 Example 5 (2/2)

b. To find the value of c, we first

compute

Setting h’(t) = 0 gives t = 0, 3, or 7. Since 3 is the only

number in the interval (0,7) such that h’(3) = 0, we see that
c = 3. Interpreting our results, we see that the submarine
is on the surface initially and returns to the surface again
after 7 minutes.The vertical component of the velocity of
the submarine is zero at t = 3, at which time the
submarine attains the greatest depth of h(3) = 33(3-7)4 =
6912 ft. The graph of is shown in Figure
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 The Mean Value Theorem

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 Example 6 (1/2)

Let f(x) = x3
a. Show that f satisfies the hypotheses of the Mean Value
Theorem on [-1,1].
b. Find the number(s) c in (-1,1) that satisfy Equation (1) as
guaranteed by the Mean Value Theorem.

Solution
a. f is a polynomial function, so it is continuous and
differentiable on (-∞,∞). In particular, f is continuous on
[-1,1] and differentiable on (-1,1). So the hypotheses of
the Mean Value Theorem are satisfied.

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 Example 6 (2/2)

b. f’(x) = 3x2, so f’(c) = 3c2. With

a = -1 and b = 1, then

and c = ± √3/3.
So there are two numbers, c1 = - √3/3 and c2 = √3/3,
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 Some Consequences of
the Mean Value Theorem

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 Increasing and Decreasing
Functions

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 Increasing and Decreasing
Functions

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Increasing and Decreasing
Functions

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 Increasing and Decreasing
Functions

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 Example 7 (1/2)

Determine the intervals where the function f(x) = x3 – 3x2 +

2 is increasing and where it is decreasing.

Solution
We first compute f’(x) = 3x2 – 6x = 3x(x-2)
from which we see that f’ is continuous everywhere and
has zeros at 0 and 2. These zeros of f’ partition the
domain of f into the intervals (-∞,0), (0,2), and (2,∞).

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 Example 7 (2/2)

Using these results, we obtain the sign diagram for f’(x)

shown in Figure 4. We conclude that f is increasing on (-∞,0)
and (2,∞) and decreasing on (0,2). The graph of f is shown in
Figure 5.

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Finding the Relative Extrema
of a Function (1/4)

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 Finding the Relative Extrema
of a Function (2/4)

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Finding the Relative Extrema
of a Function (3/4)

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 Finding the Relative Extrema
of a Function (4/4)

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 Example 8:
Motion of a Projectile (1/3)

A projectile starts from the origin of the xy-coordinate

system, and its motion is confined to the xy-plane.
Suppose the trajectory of the projectile is

where measures the height in feet and measures the

horizontal distance in feet covered by the projectile.

a. Find the interval where y is increasing and the interval

where y is decreasing.
b. Find the relative extrema of .
c. Interpret the results obtained in part (a) and part (b).

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 Example 8:
Motion of a Projectile (2/3)

a. Observe that

is continuous everywhere. Setting dy/dx gives

Using the quadratic formula to solve this equation, we

obtain

We reject the negative root, since must be

nonnegative.

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 Example 8:
Motion of a Projectile (3/3)
b. From part (a) we see that y has a relative maximum at x
≈ 15,709 with value

c. After leaving the origin, the projectile gains altitude as it

travels downrange. It reaches a maximum altitude of
approximately 17,481 ft after it has traveled
approximately 15,709 ft downrange. From this
point on, the missile
descends until it strikes the
ground (after traveling
approximately 27,496 ft
horizontally).
The trajectory of the projectile is
shown in Figure
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 Concavity

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Interval of Concavity

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 Example 9

Determine the intervals where the graph of f(x) = x2/3 is

concave upward and where it is concave downward.

Solution
We find

Observe that f’’ is continuous everywhere except at 0.

From the sign diagram of f’’ shown in Figure, we conclude
that the graph of f is concave downward on (-∞, 0) and on
(0,∞ )
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 Inflection Points

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 Finding Inflection Points

1. Find all numbers c in the domain of f for which f’’(c) = 0

or f’’(c) does not exist.
These numbers give rise to candidates for inflection
points.

2. Determine the sign of f’’(x) to the left and to the right of

each number c found in Step 1. If the sign of f’’(x)
changes, then the point P(c,f(c)) is an inflection point of
f, provided that the graph of f has a tangent line at P.

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The Second Derivative Test

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 Example 10

Find the relative extrema of f(x) = x3 – 3x2 – 24x + 32 using

the Second Derivative Test.

Solution

Setting f’(x) = 0, we see that -2 and 4

are critical numbers of f. Next,

Second Derivative Test implies that -2 gives rise to a

relative maximum of f and 4 gives rise to a relative
minimum of .
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The Roles of and in Determining
the Shape of a Graph

46
 Optimization Problems

Guidelines for Solving Optimization Problems

1. Assign a letter to each variable. Draw and label a figure

(if appropriate).
2. Find an expression for the quantity to be maximized or
minimized.
3. Use the conditions given in the problem to express the
quantity to be optimized as a function of one variable.
Note any restrictions to be placed on the domain of .
4. Optimize the function over its domain

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 Example 11:
Finding the Maximum Area

Find the dimensions of the rectangle of greatest area that

has its base on the -axis and is inscribed in the parabola y
= 9 – x2

Solution
Step 1
Consider the rectangle of width 2
and height as shown in Figure

Step 2
The area of the rectangle is and is
the quantity to be maximized.
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 Example 11:
Finding the Maximum Area

Step 3
Because the point (x,y) lies on the parabola, it must satisfy
the equation of the parabola.Therefore,

Step 4
To find the critical numbers of A, we compute A’ = f’.
Therefore,

Setting f’ = 0 yields x = ±√3. We consider only the critical

number √3.Since f” = 12x and f”(√3) = -12√3 < 0, we see that
f has a relative maximum at x = √3. Substituting this value
of x into y = 9 – x2 gives y = 6.
Thus, the dimensions of the desired rectangle are 2 √3 by
6 and its area is 12 √3 49
 Example 12: Minimizing the Cost
of Laying Cable (1/4)

In Figure , the point S gives

the location of a power relay
station on a straight coast,
and the point E gives the
location of a marine biology
experimental station on an
island. The point Q is located
7 mi west of the point S, and the point Q is 3 mi south of the
point E. A cable is to be laid connecting the relay station with
the experimental station.

If the cost of running the cable along the shoreline is

$10,000/mi and the cost of running the cable under water is
$30,000/mi, where should the point P be located to minimize
the cost of laying the cable?
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 Example 12: Minimizing the Cost
of Laying Cable (2/4)

Step 1
The point P should lie between Q and S, inclusive. Let x
denote the distance between P and Q (in miles), and let C
denote the cost of laying the cable (in thousands of
dollars).

Step 2
The length of the cable to be laid under water is given by
the distance between E and P. Using the Pythagorean
Theorem, we find that this length is mi.
Therefore, the total cost incurred in laying the cable is

thousand dollars
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 Example 12: Minimizing the Cost
of Laying Cable (3/4)

Step 3
Because the distance between Q and S is 7 mi, we see that x
must satisfy the constraint 0 ≤ x ≤ 7. So the problem is that of
finding the value of x in [0,7]at which f(x) attains the smallest
value.

Step 4
To find the critical numbers of , we compute

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 Example 12: Minimizing the Cost
of Laying Cable (4/4)

Setting f’(x) = 0 gives

or

We conclude that the cost of laying the cable will be

minimized (approximately $155,000) if the point P is
located at a distance of approximately 1.06 miles from Q.

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 Dale Varberg, Edwin Purcell, Steve Rigdon. 2007. Calculus.
Prentice Hall. ISBN: 978-0132306331.

Soo.T.Tan. Calculus. 2010. Brooks/Cole. ISBN-13: 978-0-534-

46579-7

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