DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS

MODULE 8

APPLICATIONS OF DERIVATIVES

The differential calculus is a powerful tool in the optimization of functions and the
rates of change of quantities with respect to another quantities. It is applied in physics,
engineering, economics, and many other fields. This module will cover the main
applications of the derivatives, particularly (a) minima and maxima, and (b) rates of
change, both applied geometrically and practically.

I. Minima and Maxima

A. Curve tracing
1. Determination of Critical Points
2. Determination of Points of Inflection
B. Number problems
C. Applications to plane and solid figures

II. Rates of Change

A. Derivative as slope
1. Equations of the tangent and normal lines
B. Related Rates
C. Time Rates
D. Rectilinear Motion

The students must recall the concepts in analytic geometry, solid geometry, and
physics, so that this module will be fully understood.

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PART I. MINIMA AND MAXIMA

I. Curve Tracing
As of now, you already have the knowledge in tracing the graph of algebraic
functions of the form y = f(x) by simply constructing a table of values and then connecting
the plotted points. In this module, only algebraic curves in the form y = f(x) will be used
as examples, excluding implicit functions like ellipses and hyperbolas whose equations take
the form f(x, y) = 0.
Differential calculus is used to determine the critical points and inflection points of
the function, additional points sufficient to trace the curve.

DEFINITION 1. A critical point is a stationary point on the curve wherein y’ = 0. A critical

point can be a maximum, minimum, or a horizontal inflection point (HIP). In this point,
the derivative is zero, hence the slope of the tangent line at that point is also zero.

DEFINITION 2. An inflection point is a point where the concavity of the curve or its sense
starts changing. In this point, y” = 0.

EXAMPLE. Think about a roller coaster. Sa part na paakyat ‘yung roller coaster sa tuktok,
saan kaya roon ‘yung critical points? May inflection point kaya? Yes. Imagine the figure
below. The first point is a minimum point, the third point of is a maximum point.
Question is, what is the second point? That is the inflection
point since the movement of the curve changes from increasing
to decreasing. We can safely say that a point of inflection is
lying between maximum and minimum points.

However, a point of inflection can also be a critical point (HIP).

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Steps in Curve Tracing
1. Differentiate y = f(x) with respect to x.
2. Equate the derivative to zero and solve for the roots. These roots are called the
critical values of f(x). Obtain the corresponding values of y by substituting each of
the roots to y = f(x). These points are the critical points of the curve.
3. Get the second derivative of y = f(x) and equate to zero. Solve for the roots and
substitute each to y = f(x) to obtain the corresponding values of y. These points are
the inflection points.
4. Determine whether each critical point is a minimum, maximum, or an HIP, by
performing the second derivative test (SDT). Using the second derivative, test each
point by substituting the x values to the second derivative.
If f”(x) < 0, the point is a maximum.
f”(x) = 0, the point is an HIP.
f”(x) > 0, the point is a minimum.
5. Construct a table of values to have more points.
6. Solve for intercepts, if there any.
7. Trace the curve.

EXAMPLE 1. Analyze and trace y = -x4 + 4x3 – 4x2.

I. y’ = -4x3 + 12x2 – 8x Obtain y’ and equate to zero.

0 = -4 (x3 – 3x2 + 2x) Divide both sides by -4.

0 = x3 – 3x2 + 2x WARNING! Do not divide by x.

0 = x ( x2 – 3x + 2 ) Solve for x. Factor.

0=x(x–1)(x–2)
∴ x1 = 0 ; x2 = 1 ; x 3 = 2 Put subscripts for each x.
y1 = 0 ; y2 = -1 ; y3 = 0 Solve for y.
∴ CP1 (0, 0) , CP2 (1, -1), and CP3 (2, 0) are the critical points.

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II. Second Derivative Test

y” = 3x2 – 6x + 2 Get the second derivative.

Test each critical point by substituting each abscissa to y”.

At CP1 (0, 0)

y” = 3(0)2 – 6(0) + 2 = 2 Since y” > 0, then CP1 is a minimum.

At CP2 (1, -1)

y” = 3(1)2 – 6(1) + 2 = -1 Since y” < 0, then CP2 is a maximum.

At CP3 (2, 0)

y” = 3(2)2 – 6(2) + 2 = 2 Since y” > 0, then CP3 is a minimum.

III. Solve for the points of inflection.

y” = 3x2 – 6x + 2

0 = 3x2 – 6x + 2 Solve for x using the quadratic formula.

3+√3
∴ x4 = or 1.5773 ; y4 = -4/9 or -0.44 Inflection Points
3
3−√3
x5 = or 0.4226 ; y5 = -4/9 or -0.44
3
We convert into decimal form for graphing.

IV. Table of Values

x -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
y -64 -9 0 -1 0 -9 -64

V. Plot the critical points, inflection points, and the additional points at the appropriate
scale.

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 (Draw on the spot)

II. Practical Applications of Minima and Maxima

Steps:
1. Analyze the problem carefully. Identify the given quantities and the quantity to be
maximized or minimized. Draw and label the figure carefully, if there any.
2. As much as possible, express all independent quantities as a function of a single
variable.
3. Differentiate the quantity to be maximized or minimized with respect to a single
variable, equate to zero, then solve for the roots.
4. Test each critical value for minima or maxima by SDT or by inspection.

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EXAMPLE 1. Find two numbers whose sum is 28 and whose product is a maximum.

EXAMPLE 2. Find the area of the largest isosceles triangle that can be inscribed in a
semicircle of diameter 100 cm if the other vertex is on the center of the semi-circle.

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EXAMPLE 3. Find the shortest distance between the curve y2 – 4x = 0 and ( -5 , 4 ). What

is that point on the curve nearest to ( -5, 4 )?

EXAMPLE 4. The sum of the bases and altitude of an isosceles trapezoid is 36 cm. Find the
altitude if the area is to be a maximum.

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PART II. DERIVATIVE AS A RATE OF CHANGE

Instantaneous rate of change

The instantaneous rate of change of a quantity with respect to another quantity is
the rate of change at the given particular instant. All the instantaneous values of variable/s
will be substituted only after the differentiation process.
Δf(x) f2(x) – f1(x)
Δx x2 – x1

A. Derivative as a slope
Δy
Recall that slope is often interpreted as “rise over run” that is, m = where Δy
Δx

is the change in y and Δx is the change in x. The derivative of a function at the given point
P(x, y) is the slope of the tangent line at that given point.
Here we are going to find the equations of the tangent and normal lines at that
point on the curve.

EXAMPLE 1. Find the equations of the tangent and normal lines to

x2 + y2 – 2x + 4y – 8 = 0 at (-1 , 1)

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B. Related Rates
EXAMPLE 1. Find the rate of change of the area of a right triangle whose altitude is 5 cm
with respect to the base.

EXAMPLE 2. Find the rate of change of the volume of a right circular cylinder of radius
8 cm with respect to its altitude.

III. Time Rates

In life, many things change with respect to time. Nothing always stays the way they
were before. The rate of change with respect to time, or simply time rate, is concerned
with the determination of the instantaneous rate of change at the exact given instant.

Steps:
1. Identify the constant and variable quantities, and instantaneous values.
2. Substitute the values right away of constant quantities.
3. Differentiate the desired quantity, whose rate of change is to be obtained, with
respect to time.
4. Substitute instantaneous values to the variables after the differentiation.

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EXAMPLE 1. The worth (w) of money is expressed as function of time (t) such that
w = t3 – 4t + 4 where w is in Peso and t is in years. What is the rate of change of the
worth of money after three years?

EXAMPLE 2. The processor of a computer processes n processes and is expressed as a

function of time such that n = 2t + 3, where t is in seconds. How fast is the processor
processing after 10 seconds?

EXAMPLE 3. A rectangular box has a constant altitude 5 cm, a lengthening length, and a
shortening width. If the length is increasing at the rate of 3cm/sec and the width shortens
at the rate of 1cm/sec. Find how fast the volume is changing when the base is 2 cm long
and the width is 4 cm long.

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EXAMPLE 4. RECTILINEAR MOTION

A particle or an object traveling in a straight line is said to have a rectilinear motion.

The displacement, s, of a particle can be expressed as a function of time, such that s = f(t).

Def. The velocity of a particle is the time rate of change of the displacement. That is,
ds Δs
v= = lim
dt t→0 Δt

Def. The acceleration of a particle is the time rate of change of velocity. That is,
dv Δv
a= = lim
dt t→0 Δt

If acceleration is the first derivative of velocity, what is the relationship of the displacement
and the acceleration?

EXAMPLE 1. Find the velocity and the acceleration of the particle whose motion is defined

by the relation s = t4 – t2 + t + 1 after moving 3 seconds from rest.

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EXERCISE 8.1

Name: _____________________________________ Date: ___________________________

Course, Year and Section: _____________________

Solve the ff problems completely. Sketch the figures.

1. Max-Min. Find a positive number such that this number plus 36 times its reciprocal is a
minimum. Ans. 6

2. Find the equation of the normal and tangent lines to the curve y2 = 2x + 8 at (4, 4).

Ans. T: x – 4y + 12 = 0 ; N: 4x + y = 20

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3. Related rates. The length of a rectangle is 2 cm and its width is y. Find the rate of change
of its perimeter with respect to its width. Ans. 2 cm per cm

4. Related rates. The base of the triangle is 5 cm and its altitude is y. Find the rate of change
of its area with respect to the altitude. Ans. 2.5 cm2 / cm

5. Time Rates. A square box has lengthening sides at the rate of 3 cm/min. Find how fast

the volume is increasing when each of the side is 4 cm long. Ans. 48 cm3 / min

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6. Rectilinear motion. Find the velocity and acceleration of a fast moving particle whose

motion is described analytically as the function s = 4t2 – 5t + t1/2 after moving 4 seconds

from rest, where t is in seconds and s is in feet. Ans. v = 27.25 ft/s, a =7.97 ft/s2

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