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Supporting Australian Mathematics Project

A guide for teachers Years 11 and 12

Calculus: Module 12

Applications of differentiation

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Applications of differentiation A guide for teachers (Years 1112)

Principal author: Dr Michael Evans, AMSI
Peter Brown, University of NSW
Associate Professor David Hunt, University of NSW
Dr Daniel Mathews, Monash University
Editor: Dr Jane Pitkethly, La Trobe University
Illustrations and web design: Catherine Tan, Michael Shaw
Full bibliographic details are available from Education Services Australia.
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Supporting Australian Mathematics Project
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Website: www.amsi.org.au

Assumed knowledge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Motivation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Content . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Graph sketching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

More graph sketching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Maxima and minima problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Related rates of change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Links forward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Critical points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Finding gradients on a parametric curve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

History and applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Answers to exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

A guide for teachers Years 11 and 12

{5}

In this module, we consider three topics:

graph sketching
maxima and minima problems
related rates.
We will mainly focus on nicely behaved functions which are differentiable at each point
of their domains. Some of the examples are very straightforward, while others are more
difficult and require technical skills to arrive at a solution.

Content
Graph sketching
Increasing and decreasing functions
Let f be some function defined on an interval.

Definition
The function f is increasing over this interval if, for all points x 1 and x 2 in the interval,
x 1 x 2 = f (x 1 ) f (x 2 ).
This means that the value of the function at a larger number is greater than or equal to
the value of the function at a smaller number.
The graph on the left shows a differentiable function. The graph on the right shows a
piecewise-defined continuous function. Both these functions are increasing.

Examples of increasing functions.

{6}

Applications of differentiation

Definition
The function f is decreasing over this interval if, for all points x 1 and x 2 in the interval,
x 1 x 2 = f (x 1 ) f (x 2 ).
The following graph shows an example of a decreasing function.

Example of a decreasing function.

Note that a function that is constant on the interval is both increasing and decreasing
over this interval. If we want to exclude such cases, then we omit the equality component
in our definition, and we add the word strictly:

A function is strictly increasing if x 1 < x 2 implies f (x 1 ) < f (x 2 ).

A function is strictly decreasing if x 1 < x 2 implies f (x 1 ) > f (x 2 ).
We will use the following results. These results refer to intervals where the function is
differentiable. Issues such as endpoints have to be treated separately.

If f 0 (x) > 0 for all x in the interval, then the function f is strictly increasing.
If f 0 (x) < 0 for all x in the interval, then the function f is strictly decreasing.
If f 0 (x) = 0 for all x in the interval, then the function f is constant.

Stationary points
Definitions
Let f be a differentiable function.

A stationary point of f is a number x such that f 0 (x) = 0.

The point c is a maximum point of the function f if and only if f (c) f (x), for all x
in the domain of f . The value f (c) of the function at c is called the maximum value
of the function.

The point c is a minimum point of the function f if and only if f (c) f (x), for all x in
the domain of f . The value f (c) of the function at c is called the minimum value of
the function.

A guide for teachers Years 11 and 12

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Local maxima and minima

In the following diagram, the point a looks like a maximum provided we stay close to it,
and the point b looks like a minimum provided we stay close to it.

Definitions
The point c is a local maximum point of the function f if there exists an interval (a, b)
with c (a, b) such that f (c) f (x), for all x (a, b).

The point c is a local minimum point of the function f if there exists an interval (a, b)
with c (a, b) such that f (c) f (x), for all x (a, b).
These are sometimes called relative maximum and relative minimum points. Local
maxima and minima are often referred to as turning points.
The following diagram shows the graph of y = f (x), where f is a differentiable function.
It appears from the diagram that the tangents to the graph at the points which are local
maxima or minima are horizontal. That is, at a local maximum or minimum point c, we
have f 0 (c) = 0, and hence each local maximum or minimum point is a stationary point.

The result appears graphically obvious, but we will present a formal proof in the case of
a local maximum.

{8}

Applications of differentiation

Theorem
Let f be a differentiable function. If c is a local maximum point, then f 0 (c) = 0.

Proof
Consider the interval (c , c + ), with > 0 chosen so that f (c) f (x) for all
x (c , c + ).
For all positive h such that 0 < h < , we have f (c) f (c + h) and therefore
f (c + h) f (c)
0.
h
Hence,
f 0 (c) = lim+
h0

f (c + h) f (c)
0.
h

(1)

For all negative h such that < h < 0, we have f (c) f (c + h) and therefore
f (c + h) f (c)
0.
h
Hence,
f 0 (c) = lim
h0

f (c + h) f (c)
0.
h

(2)

From (1) and (2), it follows that f 0 (c) = 0.

The first derivative test for local maxima and minima

The derivative of the function can be used to determine when a local maximum or local
minimum occurs.

Theorem (First derivative test)

Let f be a differentiable function. Suppose that c is a stationary point, that is, f 0 (c) = 0.

a If there exists > 0 such that f 0 (x) > 0, for all x (c , c), and f 0 (x) < 0, for all
x (c, c + ), then c is a local maximum point.

b If there exists > 0 such that f 0 (x) < 0, for all x (c , c), and f 0 (x) > 0, for all
x (c, c + ), then c is a local minimum point.

Proof
a The function is increasing on the interval (c , c), and decreasing on the interval (c, c + ). Hence, f (c) f (x) for all x (c , c + ).

b The function is decreasing on the interval (c , c), and increasing on the interval (c, c + ). Hence, f (c) f (x) for all x (c , c + ).

A guide for teachers Years 11 and 12

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In simple language, the first derivative test says:

If f 0 (c) = 0 with f 0 (x) > 0 immediately to the left of c and f 0 (x) < 0 immediately to the
right of c, then c is a local maximum point.

y
(c,f(c))

We can also illustrate this with a gradient diagram.

Value of x

Sign of f 0 (x)

Slope of graph y = f (x)

 

If f 0 (c) = 0 with f 0 (x) < 0 immediately to the left of c and f 0 (x) > 0 immediately to the
right of c, then c is a local minimum point.

(c,f(c))
x

We can also illustrate this with a gradient diagram.

Value of x

Sign of f 0 (x)

Slope of graph y = f (x)

 

{10}

Applications of differentiation

There is another important type of stationary point:

If f 0 (c) = 0 with f 0 (x) > 0 on both sides of c, then c is a stationary point of inflexion.

y
(c,f(c))

Here is a gradient diagram for this situation.

Value of x

Sign of f 0 (x)

Slope of graph y = f (x)

 

If f 0 (c) = 0 with f 0 (x) < 0 on both sides of c, then c is a stationary point of inflexion.

y
(c,f(c))

Here is a gradient diagram for this situation.

Value of x

Sign of f 0 (x)

Slope of graph y = f (x)

 

A guide for teachers Years 11 and 12

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Example
Find the stationary points of f (x) = 3x 4 + 16x 3 + 24x 2 + 3, and determine their nature.

Solution
The derivative of f is
f 0 (x) = 12x 3 + 48x 2 + 48x
= 12x(x 2 + 4x + 4)
= 12x(x + 2)2 .
So f 0 (x) = 0 implies x = 0 or x = 2.

If x < 2, then f 0 (x) < 0.

If 2 < x < 0, then f 0 (x) < 0.
If x > 0, then f 0 (x) > 0.
We can represent this in a gradient diagram.
Value of x

Sign of f 0 (x)

Slope of graph y = f (x)

 

Hence, there are stationary points at x = 0 and x = 2: there is a local minimum at x = 0,

and a stationary point of inflexion at x = 2.
The graph of y = f (x) is shown in the following diagram, but not all the features of the
graph have been carefully considered at this stage.

y
y = 3x4 + 16x3 + 24x2 + 3
(2,19)
(0,3)

{12}

Applications of differentiation

Exercise 1
Assume that the derivative of the function f is given by f 0 (x) = (x 1)2 (x 3). Find the
values of x which are stationary points of f , and state their nature.

Exercise 2
Find the stationary points of f (x) = x 3 5x 2 + 3x + 2, and determine their nature.

Use of the second derivative

The second derivative is introduced in the module Introduction to differential calculus.
Using functional notation, the second derivative of the function f is written as f 00 . Using
d2y
Leibniz notation, the second derivative is written as
, where y is a function of x.
d x2
In the module Motion in a straight line, it is shown that the acceleration of a particle is
the second derivative of its position with respect to time. That is, if the position of the
).
particle at time t is denoted by x(t ), then the acceleration of the particle is x(t
Recall that, in kinematics, x means

d 2x
dx
.
and x means
dt
dt2

Concave up and concave down

Let f be a function defined on the interval (a, b), and assume that f 0 and f 00 exist at all
points in (a, b). We consider the shape of the curve y = f (x).
If f 00 (x) > 0, for all x (a, b), then the slope of the curve is increasing in the interval (a, b).
The curve is said to be concave up.

Examples of concave-up curves.

A guide for teachers Years 11 and 12

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If f 00 (x) < 0, for all x (a, b), then the slope of the curve is decreasing in the interval (a, b).
The curve is concave down.

0
Example of a concave-down curve.
Inflexion points

A point where the curve changes from concave up to concave down, or from concave
down to concave up, is called a point of inflexion. In the following diagram, there are
points of inflexion at x = c and x = d .

(c,f(c))

(d,f(d))

Examples of points of inflexion.

The graphs of y = (x 2)3 + 1 and y = (x 2)3 + 1 are shown below. The point (2, 1) is a
point of inflexion for each of these graphs. In fact, the point (2, 1) is a stationary point of
inflexion for each of these graphs.

y = (x 2)3 + 1
(2,1)

y = (x 2)3 + 1
(2,1)

{14}

Applications of differentiation

The graph of y = x 3 3x 2 + 4x + 4 is as follows. It has a point of inflexion at (1, 6), but this
dy
is not a stationary point. In fact, this function has
> 0, for all x.
dx

y
y = x3 3x2 + 4x + 4
(1,6)

Note. Clearly, a necessary condition for a twice-differentiable function f to have a point

of inflexion at x = c is that f 00 (c) = 0. We will see that this is not a sufficient condition,
and care must be taken when using it to find an inflexion point. For there to be a point
of inflexion, there must be a change of concavity.

Example
Find the inflexion point of the cubic function f (x) = x 3 3x 2 144x.

Solution
We find the first and second derivatives:
f 0 (x) = 3x 2 6x 144

f 00 (x) = 6x 6.

and

Thus f 00 (x) = 0 implies x = 1. For x < 1, we have f 00 (x) < 0. For x > 1, we have f 00 (x) > 0.
The curve changes from concave down to concave up at x = 1. Hence, there is a point of
inflexion at x = 1.

(1,146)

It is not hard to show that there is a local maximum at x = 6 and a local minimum at
x = 8.

A guide for teachers Years 11 and 12

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Exercise 3
Find the inflexion points of the function f (x) = x 4 + 28x 3 + 10x.

The second derivative test

We have seen how to use the first derivative test to determine whether a stationary point
is a local maximum, a local minimum or neither of these. The second derivative provides
an alternative test.

Theorem (Second derivative test)

Suppose f is twice differentiable at a stationary point c.

a If f 00 (c) < 0, then f has a local maximum at c.

(c,f(c))

y = f(x)

b If f 00 (c) > 0, then f has a local minimum at c.

y
y = f(x)
(c,f(c))
0

We will prove the first part of this theorem. The proof of the second part is similar.

{16}

Applications of differentiation

Proof
Assume that f 00 (c) < 0.

Then f 0 (x) is strictly decreasing over some interval

around c. Hence, there is a positive number such that f 0 (x) is strictly decreasing
on the interval (c , c + ).
We now use the first derivative test.

To the left of c: For any h (c , c), we have f 0 (h) > f 0 (c) = 0.

To the right of c: For any k (c, c + ), we have f 0 (k) < f 0 (c) = 0.
It follows from the first derivative test that c is a local maximum point.
If c is a stationary point with f 00 (c) = 0, then we cannot use the second derivative test to
determine if it is a local maximum, a local minimum or neither of these.
For example, if f (x) = x 3 , then f 0 (0) = 0 and f 00 (0) = 0. In this case, there is a stationary
point of inflexion at 0.

y
y = x3

If f (x) = x 4 , then f 0 (0) = 0 and f 00 (0) = 0. In this case, there is a local minimum at 0.

y = x4

Thus the second derivative cannot be used as a test when f 0 (c) = f 00 (c) = 0.

A guide for teachers Years 11 and 12

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Example
Locate and describe the stationary points of f (x) = x 4 8x 2 .

Solution
The first derivative is f 0 (x) = 4x 3 16x, and the second derivative is f 00 (x) = 12x 2 16.
We find the stationary points by solving f 0 (x) = 0:
4x 3 16x = 0
4x(x 2 4) = 0.
Hence, the stationary points are at x = 0, x = 2 and x = 2. We use the first derivative
test by considering a gradient diagram.
Value of x

Sign of f 0 (x)

Slope of graph y = f (x)

  

There is a local minimum at x = 2.

There is a local maximum at x = 0.
There is a local minimum at x = 2.
We can also check the local minimum and maximum points using the second derivative
test, by considering the values of the second derivative:

f 00 (2) = 32 > 0, so there is a local minimum at x = 2

f 00 (0) = 16 < 0, so there is a local maximum at x = 0
f 00 (2) = 32 > 0, so there is a local minimum at x = 2.
The question has not required us to sketch the graph. But we have enough information
p
p
to complete a good sketch if we also observe that the x-intercepts are 0, 2 2 and 2 2.

y
y = x4 8x2
0
22

(2,16)

22

(2,16)

{18}

Applications of differentiation

Exercise 4
Locate and describe the stationary points of the graph of y = f (x) if f 0 (x) = x 3 (x 2 5).

More graph sketching

Sketching graphs of polynomials
The module Polynomials introduces drawing the graphs of polynomials, but does not
consider finding the coordinates of the points of inflexion. This is now possible.
By going through the following steps, we can find the important features of the graph of
a given polynomial:

1 the x- and y-intercepts

2 stationary points
3 where the graph is increasing and where it is decreasing
4 local maxima and local minima
5 behaviour as x becomes very large positive and very large negative
6 points of inflexion.
Sometimes it is useful to find the coordinates of a few extra points on the graph.
Note. These steps are only a guide. Some flexibility in approach to these questions is
desirable. In this module, we adhere to these steps as an aid to readability.

Example
Sketch the graph of y = x 3 + x 2 8x 12.

Solution
1 We first find the x-intercepts and y-intercepts.
When x = 0, we have y = 12, and so the y-intercept is 12.
When y = 0,
0 = x 3 + x 2 8x 12
= (x + 2)2 (x 3),
so x = 2 or x = 3. The x-intercepts are 3 and 2.

A guide for teachers Years 11 and 12

{19}

2 The derivative is
dy
= 3x 2 + 2x 8 = (3x 4)(x + 2).
dx
dy
= 0 implies x = 2 or x = 34 .
dx
The coordinates of the stationary points are (2, 0) and ( 43 , 500
27 ).
So

3 The graph of

dy
against x is a parabola with a positive coefficient of x 2 . We can see:
dx

dy
= 0 if and only if x = 2 or x = 43
dx
dy

> 0 if and only if x < 2 or x > 43

dx
dy

< 0 if and only if 2 < x < 43 .

dx
So the graph is increasing on (, 2) ( 34 , ) and decreasing on (2, 43 ).

Value of x
Sign of

4
3

dy
dx

Slope of graph

 

4 From the investigation of the sign of

x = 2, and a local minimum at x = 43 .

dy
, we see that there is a local maximum at
dx

5 As x , y , and as x , y .
6 The second derivative is
d2y
= 6x + 2.
d x2
d2y
d2y
1
If x < 31 , then
<
0,
and
if
x
>

,
then
> 0. There is an inflexion point
3
d x2
d x2
1
where x = 3 .

y
y = x3 + x2 8x 12

0
12

( 13 , 250
27 )

3
( 43 , 500
27 )

{20}

Applications of differentiation

Exercise 5
Sketch the graph of y = 3x 4 44x 3 + 144x 2 .

Exercise 6
Sketch the graph of y = 4x 3 18x 2 + 48x 290.

Sketching graphs of other functions

The six steps used to help us sketch graphs of polynomials can be used to help sketch
other graphs. In the Links forward section, we look briefly at graphs where there are
local maxima or minima at which the function is not differentiable.

Example
Sketch the graph of y =

x x 2 , for x 0.

Solution
The first and second derivatives are
d2y
1 3
= x 2 2,
2
dx
4

1
dy
= p 2x,
dx 2 x

for x > 0.

We follow the six steps for sketching polynomial graphs, which are still useful for this
type of graph.

1 We first find the x-intercepts:

p
p

x x2 = 0
3

x(1 x 2 ) = 0,

which gives x = 0 or x = 1.

2 We find the stationary points by solving

dy
= 0:
dx

1
p 2x = 0
2 x
3

1 = 4x 2
3

x2 =
x=

1
4
12
3

So there is a stationary point at x =

12
4

= 2 3 .

A guide for teachers Years 11 and 12

{21}

dy
dy
4
> 0, and if x > 2 3 , then
< 0.
dx
dx
We can summarise this in a gradient diagram.
4

3 If 0 < x < 2 3 , then

2 3

Value of x
Sign of

dy
dx

Slope of graph


4

Hence, there is a local maximum at x = 2 3 . The corresponding y-value is

4 1 4 2
2
8
y = 2 3 2 2 3 = 2 3 2 3

8
8
= 2 3 22 1 = 3 2 3 .
4

4 We can also determine that there is a local maximum at x = 2 3 by carrying out the
4

second derivative test. When x = 2 3 ,

1 4 3
d2y
1
= 2 3 2 2 = 22 2 = 3.
2
dx
4
4
d2y
dy
4
4
= 0 and
< 0 at x = 2 3 , the point x = 2 3 is a local maximum.
2
dx
dx
5 As x , y . We do not consider x , since the domain of the function is
Since

[0, ).

6 For all x > 0, we have

1 3
d2y
= x 2 2 < 0.
2
dx
4
Hence, there are no points of inflexion.
We can now sketch the graph.

y
2
1
0
1
2
3
4
5

( 2143 , 2383 )
1

y = x x2

{22}

Applications of differentiation

Example
Sketch the graph of f (x) = e x + e 2x .

Solution
The domain of f is all real numbers. The first two derivatives of f are
f 0 (x) = e x 2e 2x
f 00 (x) = e x + 4e 2x .

1 For all x, we have e x > 0 and e 2x > 0, and therefore f (x) > 0. Hence, there are no
x-intercepts. We have f (0) = 2, and so the y-intercept is 2.

2 We find the stationary points by solving f 0 (x) = 0:

e x 2e 2x = 0
e 3x = 2
x=

1
loge 2.
3

So there is a stationary point at x = 31 loge 2. The value of the function at this point is
2

f ( 13 loge 2) = 3 2 3 .

3 If x < 31 loge 2, the gradient is negative and the graph of y = f (x) is decreasing.
If x > 13 loge 2, the gradient is positive and the graph of y = f (x) is increasing.

4 We have f 00 (x) = e x + 4e 2x > 0, for all x. So there is a local minimum at x = 13 loge 2.

5 As x , f (x) , and as x , f (x) .
6 Since f 00 (x) = e x + 4e 2x > 0, for all x, there are no inflexion points.

y
y = ex + e2x

25
20
15
10
(0,2)
2

5
0

(log3e (2), 232/3 )

A guide for teachers Years 11 and 12

{23}

Example
Sketch the graph of f (x) = e x + x.

Solution
The domain of f is all real numbers. The first two derivatives are f 0 (x) = e x + 1 and
f 00 (x) = e x .

1 We have f (0) = 1, so the y-intercept is 1. We will see later that there is a local minimum at x = 0. Indeed, the minimum value of the function occurs when x = 0. Hence,
there are no x-intercepts.

2 Solving f 0 (x) = 0 gives

e x + 1 = 0 e x = 1 x = 0.
Hence, there is a stationary point at x = 0.

3 If x < 0, the gradient is negative and the graph of y = f (x) is decreasing.

If x > 0, the gradient is positive and the graph of y = f (x) is increasing.

4 We have f 00 (x) = e x > 0, for all x. Hence, there is a local minimum when x = 0.
5 If x , then f (x) . If x , then the line y = x is an asymptote, since
e x 0.

y
10
5
10

(0,1)
0

10

5
10

Exercise 7
Sketch the function f : (0, ) R given by f (x) = x 2 loge x.

Maxima and minima at end points

It may be that the maximum or minimum value of a graph occurs at the endpoints of
that graph. Here are two examples to illustrate the need to check endpoints when trying
to find the maximum and minimum values of a function.

{24}

Applications of differentiation

Example
Sketch the graph of the function f : [1, 3] R given by f (x) = x 2 (x 4), and find the
maximum and minimum values of the function.

Solution
If f (x) = 0, then x = 0 or x = 4, which are outside the domain. Therefore the graph has
no x-intercepts.
We next find the derivative and the second derivative of f :
f 0 (x) = 3x 2 8x = x(3x 8)
f 00 (x) = 6x 8.
Hence, there is a stationary point at x = 83 , and a point of inflexion at x = 43 .
To determine if x =

8
3

is a local maximum or minimum, we use the second derivative

test:
f 00

= 8 > 0,

and hence there is a local minimum at x = 83 .

We now find the values of f at the two endpoints and the local minimum:
f

256
,
27

f (1) = 3,

f (3) = 9.

Hence, the maximum value of f is 3, and it occurs when x = 1. The minimum value
8
of f is 256
27 , and it occurs when x = 3 .

y
x

0
(1,3)

y = x2(x 4)

( 43 , 128
27 )
(3,9)
( 83 , 256
27 )

A guide for teachers Years 11 and 12

{25}

Example
Define f : [7, 6] R by f (x) = 3x 4 + 8x 3 174x 2 360x. Find the maximum and minimum values of the function.

Solution
The first and second derivatives are
f 0 (x) = 12x 3 + 24x 2 348x 360
= 12(x 3 + 2x 2 29x 30) = 12(x + 1)(x 5)(x + 6)
f 00 (x) = 36x 2 + 48x 348 = 12(3x 2 + 4x 29).
So f 0 (x) = 0 implies x = 5 or x = 1 or x = 6. There are stationary points at these three
values. We use the second derivative test:
f 00 (5) = 792 > 0,

f 00 (1) = 360 < 0,

f 00 (6) = 660 > 0.

Hence, there is a local minimum at x = 5, a local maximum at x = 1, and a local minimum at x = 6.

We have the following points on the graph:

the left endpoint (7, 1547)

a local minimum (6, 1944)
a local maximum (1, 181)
a local minimum (5, 3275)
the right endpoint (6, 2808).

(1,181)

y
x

0
(7,1547)
(6,1944)

(6,2808)
(5,3275)

The maximum value of the function f is 181, which occurs at x = 1, and the minimum
value of f is 3275, which occurs at x = 5.

{26}

Applications of differentiation

Exercise 8
Sketch the graph of the function f : [1, 2] R given by f (x) = x 2 (x + 4), and find the
maximum and minimum values of this function.

Maxima and minima problems

The need to find local maxima and minima arises in many situations. The first example
we will look at is very familiar, and can also be solved without using calculus. Examples of solving such problems without the use of calculus can be found in the module
Quadratics.

Example
Find the dimensions of a rectangle with perimeter 1000 metres so that the area of the
rectangle is a maximum.

Solution
Let the length of the rectangle be x m, the width be y m, and the area be A m2 .

x
y

The perimeter of the rectangle is 1000 metres. So

1000 = 2x + 2y,
and hence
y = 500 x.
The area is given by A = x y. Thus
A(x) = x(500 x) = 500x x 2 .

(1)

Because x and y are lengths, we must have 0 x 500.

The problem now reduces to finding the value of x in [0, 500] for which A is a maximum.
Since A is differentiable, the maximum must occur at an endpoint or a stationary point.

A guide for teachers Years 11 and 12

{27}

From (1), we have

dA
= 500 2x.
dx
Setting

dA
= 0 gives x = 250.
dx

Hence, the possible values for A to be a maximum are x = 0, x = 250 and x = 500. Since
A(0) = A(500) = 0, the maximum value of A occurs when x = 250.
The rectangle is a square with side lengths 250 metres. The maximum area is 62 500
square metres.
Notes.
dA
dA
> 0, for 0 x < 250, and
< 0, for 250 < x 500. Hence, there is a local maxidx
dx
mum at x = 250.
d2A
2
= 2 < 0. This is a second way to see that x = 250 is a local maximum.
d x2
3 The graph of A(x) = 500x x 2 is a parabola with a negative coefficient of x 2 and a

turning point at x = 250. This is a third way of establishing the local maximum.

4 It is worth looking at the graph of A(x) against x.

A(x)

(250, 62 500)

60 000
50 000
40 000
30 000
20 000
10 000
0

A(x) = 500x x2

100

200

300

400

500

600

Exercise 9
A farmer has 8 km of fencing wire, and wishes to fence a rectangular piece of land. One
boundary of the land is the bank of a straight river. What are the dimensions of the rectangle so that the area is maximised?

{28}

Applications of differentiation

The following steps provide a general procedure which you can follow to solve maxima
and minima problems.

Steps for solving maxima and minima problems

Step 1. Where possible draw a diagram to illustrate the problem. Label the diagram
and designate your variables and constants. Note any restrictions on the values of the
variables.

Step 2. Write an expression for the quantity that is going to be maximised or minimised.
Eliminate some of the variables. Form an equation for this quantity in terms of a single
independent variable. This may require some algebraic manipulation.

Step 3. If y = f (x) is the quantity to be maximised or minimised, find the values of x

for which f 0 (x) = 0.

Step 4. Test each point for which f 0 (x) = 0 to determine if it is a local maximum, a local
minimum or neither.

Step 5. If the function y = f (x) is defined on an interval, such as [a, b] or [0, ), check
the values of the function at the end points.

Example
A square sheet of cardboard with each side a centimetres is to be used to make an opentop box by cutting a small square of cardboard from each of the corners and bending
up the sides. What is the side length of the small squares if the box is to have as large a
volume as possible?

Solution
Step 1.

a 2x

x
x

a 2x
a

A guide for teachers Years 11 and 12

{29}

Let the side length of the small squares be x cm. The side length of the open box is
(a 2x) cm, and the height is x cm. Here a is a constant, and x is the variable we will
work with. We must have
a
.
2

0x

Step 2. The volume V cm3 of the box is given by

V (x) = x(a 2x)2 = 4x 3 4ax 2 + a 2 x.

Step 3. We have
dV
= 12x 2 8ax + a 2 = (2x a)(6x a).
dx
Thus

dV
= 0 implies x =
dx

a
2

Step 4. We note that x =

derivative test for x =

a
6.

or x = a6 .
a
2

is an endpoint and that V

a
2

= 0. We will use the second

We have

d 2V
= 24x 8a = 8(3x a).
d x2
When x = a6 , we get

d 2V
a
=
8
3

a
= 4a < 0.
d x2
6

Hence, x =

a
6

Step 5.

The maximum value of the function is at x =

is a local maximum.
a
6,

maximum volume is
V

2a 3
.
27

The following diagram shows the graph of V against x.

( a6 ,

2a3 )
27

V(x) = x(a 2x)2

a
2

as V (0) = V

a
2

= 0. The

{30}

Applications of differentiation

The following example illustrates a number of issues that can occur.

Example
A company wants to run a pipeline from a point A on the shore to a point B on an island
which is 6 km from the shore. It costs $P per kilometre to run the pipeline on shore, and
$Q per kilometre to run it underwater. There is a point B 0 on the shore so that B B 0 is at
right angles to AB 0 . The straight shoreline is the line AB 0 . The distance AB 0 is 9 km. Find
how the pipeline should be laid to minimise the cost if

1 P = 4000 and Q = 5000

2 P = 5000 and Q = 13 000
3 P = 24 000 and Q = 25 000.

B
6 km
B

9 km

Solution
We will work through most of the problem without assigning values to P and Q.

Step 1.

B
6 km
B x km

(9 x) km

A guide for teachers Years 11 and 12

{31}

Suppose that the pipeline leaves the shore x km from B 0 at a point C between B 0 and A.
p
The distance AC is (9 x) km. By Pythagoras theorem, the distance C B is 36 + x 2 km.
It is important to note that
0 x 9.

Step 2. Let $T be the total cost. Then

T (x) = P (9 x) +Q

36 + x 2 .

(1)

Step 3. We have
dT
Qx
=p
P.
dx
36 + x 2
Hence, solving

dT
= 0 gives
dx

Qx
P = 0
p
36 + x 2
Qx = P

p
36 + x 2

Q 2 x 2 = P 2 (36 + x 2 )
(Q 2 P 2 )x 2 = 36P 2
s

x=

36P 2
6P
.
=p
2
2
Q P
Q2 P 2

(2)

Note that we need Q > P for this solution x to exist, and we also need 0 x 9.
p
If Q P , the pipeline should go directly from A to B , with minimum cost $3 13Q.

Step 4. Using the second derivative test:

d 2T
36Q
> 0,
=
d x 2 (36 + x 2 ) 32
6P
for all x. Hence, there is a local minimum at x = p
for the function with rule
Q2 P 2
T (x). Such a local minimum may occur outside the interval [0, 9].

Step 5.
If x = 0, then T = 9P + 6Q.
p

If x = 9, then T = 3 13Q.

{32}

Applications of differentiation

If x = p

6P

Q2 P 2

, then from (1) we have

s

36P 2
+Q 36 + 2
T = P 9 p
Q P2
Q2 P 2
s
36(Q 2 P 2 ) + 36P 2
6P 2
+Q
= 9P p
Q2 P 2
Q2 P 2

6P

6P 2
6Q 2
= 9P p
+p
Q2 P 2
Q2 P 2
q
= 9P + 6 Q 2 P 2 .

(3)

The local minimum occurs in the interval [0, 9] if and only if

6P
9.
p
Q2 P 2
We now solve this inequality for the ratio

P
, assuming that Q > P :
Q

36P 2
6P
9
81
p
Q2 P 2
Q2 P 2
36P 2 81(Q 2 P 2 )
117P 2 81Q 2

81
P2

.
2
Q
117

Thus the local minimum occurs in the interval [0, 9] if and only if

P
3
p .
Q
13

We now consider the particular values of P and Q specified in the question.

1 P = 4000 and Q = 5000.

By equation (1), we have
T = 4000(9 x) + 5000

p
36 + x 2 ,

Note that
T (0) = 36 000 + 30 000 = 66 000
p
T (9) = 15 000 13 54 083.

for 0 x 9.

A guide for teachers Years 11 and 12

{33}

By equation (2), the local minimum point is x = 8 and in this case, by equation (3),
the minimum cost is
Tmin = 9 4000 + 6 3000 = $54 000.

T
80 000

(0,66 000)

(9,54 083)

60 000
(8,54 000)

40 000
20 000
0

10

2 P = 5000 and Q = 13 000.

By equation (1), we have
T = 5000(9 x) + 13 000

p
36 + x 2 ,

for 0 x 9.

We note that
T (0) = 123 000,

p
T (9) = 39 000 13 140 616.

By equation (2), the local minimum point is x =

5
2

and in this case, by equation (3),

the minimum cost is

Tmin = 9 5000 + 6 12 000 = $117 000.

(9,140 616)

150 000 (0,123 000)

100 000

( 52 ,117 000)

50 000
0

3 P = 24 000 and Q = 25 000.

By equation (1), we have
T = 24 000(9 x) + 25 000

p
36 + x 2 ,

for 0 x 9.

10

{34}

Applications of differentiation

We note that
T (0) = 366 000,

p
T (9) = 75 000 13 270 416.

By equation (2), the local minimum occurs at x =

domain. In fact, we have

144
, which is outside the required
7

dT
< 0, for all x [0, 9]. The minimum cost is
dx

p
T (9) = 75 000 13 $270 416.

T
400 000 (0,366 000)
(9,270 416)

300 000
200 000
100 000
0

10

Note. In parts 1 and 2, the minimum occurs at a local minimum. But, in part 3, the
minimum occurs at an endpoint.
The following example has reasonably demanding algebra and involves some geometry,
but the result is surprisingly neat.

Example
A right cone is circumscribed around a given sphere. Find when its volume is a minimum.

Solution
Step 1. The following diagram shows a vertical cross-section of the cone and sphere.

A
R

O
R
A

A guide for teachers Years 11 and 12

{35}

The sphere has radius R, which we treat as a constant.

The cone has radius r and height h. These are variables. From the geometry, we must
have h > 2R > 0 and r > R > 0.
The centre of the sphere is marked by O. The radius O A 0 is drawn perpendicular to C B .

Step 2. We will find h in terms of r and R.

We begin by noting that OC = h R. By using Pythagoras theorem in 4OC A 0 , we get
p
C A 0 = h 2 2hR. Since 4C A 0O is similar to 4C AB (AAA), we can write
C A0 O A0
=
.
CA
BA
Hence,
p
h 2 2hR R
= .
h
r
Solving for h, we obtain
h 2 2hR R 2
= 2
h2
r
r 2 (h 2 2hR) = h 2 R 2

(square both sides)

(cross-multiply)

r 2 h 2 2hRr 2 = h 2 R 2
r 2 h 2Rr 2 = hR 2

(as h 6= 0)

h(r 2 R 2 ) = 2r 2 R
h=

2r 2 R
.
r 2 R2

The volume of the cone is given by V = 31 r 2 h. Substituting for h, we obtain

V=

2r 4 R
.
3(r 2 R 2 )

We have now expressed the volume in terms of the one variable r .

Step 3. We have
dV
4Rr 3 (r 2 2R 2 )
=
.
dr
3(r 2 R 2 )2
p
dV
= 0 implies that r 3 (r 2 2R 2 ) = 0, which implies that r = 0 or r = 2R.
dr
p
Clearly, r = 2R is the solution we want.
So

{36}

Applications of differentiation

Step 4. Using
dV
4Rr 3 (r 2 2R 2 )
=
,
dr
3(r 2 R 2 )2
we can complete the following gradient diagram.
p
2R

Value of r
Sign of

dV
dr

Slope of graph

Alternatively, we can use the second derivative test. We have

4R(r 6 3r 4 R 2 + 6r 2 R 4 )
d 2V
=
.
dr 2
3(r 2 R 2 )3
Substituting r =

p
2R gives

32R
d 2V
=
> 0.
dr 2
3
Hence, we have a local minimum at r =

p
2R.

The graph of V against r is as follows. There is a vertical asymptote at r = R, and the

graph approaches a parabola with equation V =

2R 2
3 r

as r becomes very large.

V=

r=R
0

2 r4R
3(r2R2)

(2R,8R
3 )

A guide for teachers Years 11 and 12

{37}

Exercise 10
a Find the maximum area of a rectangle that can be inscribed in the ellipse
Assume that the sides of the rectangle are parallel to the axes.

b Find the maximum area of a rectangle that can be inscribed in the ellipse
Assume that the sides of the rectangle are parallel to the axes.

x2 y 2
+
= 1.
16 9
x2 y 2
+
= 1.
a2 b2

Exercise 11
A hollow cone has base radius R and height H . What is the volume of the largest cylinder
that can be placed under it?

Related rates of change

Related rates of change are simply an application of the chain rule. In related-rate problems, you find the rate at which some quantity is changing by relating it to other quantities for which the rate of change is known.
In the following examples, we repeatedly use the result
dx
1
= dy ,
dy
dx

which is established and discussed in the module Introduction to differential calculus.

Example
An upturned cone with semivertical angle 45 is being filled with water at a constant rate
of 30 cm3 per second.

r
h

When the depth of the water is 60 cm, find the rate at which

1 h, the depth of the water, is increasing

2 r , the radius of the surface of the water, is increasing
3 S, the area of the water surface, is increasing.

{38}

Applications of differentiation

Solution
r
45

The volume V of the water in the cone is given by

1
V = r 2 h.
3
The cross-section of the cone is a right-angled isosceles triangle, and therefore r = h.
Hence,
1
1
V = r 3 = h 3 .
3
3

1 We seek

1
dV
dh
. Now V = h 3 , and therefore
= h 2 . Hence,
dt
3
dh

d h d h dV
=

dt
dV
dt
=

1
30
h 2

30
.
h 2

When h = 60, we have

dh
1
=
cm/s.
dt
120

2 We have seen that r (t ) = h(t ). Thus, when h = 60, we have

3 We seek

dS
. The area of the waters surface is
dt

S = r 2 .
Therefore
dS dS dr
=

dt
dr dt
= 2r
=

30
r 2

60
.
r

When h = 60, we have r = 60, and so

dS
= 1 cm2 /s.
dt

dr
1
=
cm/s.
d t 120

A guide for teachers Years 11 and 12

{39}

Example
4
Variables x and y are related by the equation y = 2 . Given that x and y are functions
x
dx
dy
of t and that
= 10, find
in terms of x.
dt
dt

Solution
dy
4
4
= 2 . Therefore
If y = 2 , then
x
dx x
dy dy dx
=

dt
dx dt
=

4
10
x2

40
.
x2

Related rates questions arise in many situations. The following demanding example involving the flow of liquids relates the rate of change of depth to the rate of change of
volume.

Example
A vessel of water is in the form of a frustum of a cone with semivertical angle 45 . The
bottom circle of the vessel is a hole of radius r cm. Water flows from this hole at a velocity
p
of c 2g h cm/s, where c is a constant and h cm is the height of the surface of the water
above the hole.

1 Find the rate in cm3 /s at which water flows from the vessel.
2 Find the rate in cm/s at which h is increasing.

h
r
h1

{40}

Applications of differentiation

Solution
We first find the volume V of water in the frustum. Consider removing a small cone from
the tip of a cone. This forms the hole. Let H be the height of the larger cone (up to the
water surface) and let h 1 be the height of the smaller cone (which is removed). Let R be
the radius of the larger cone and let r be the radius of the smaller cone.
The height of the water is h = H h 1 . Therefore

1
1
V = (R 2 H r 2 h 1 ) = R 2 H r 2 (H h) .
3
3

Because the semivertical angle is 45 , we have R = H and R r = h. Hence, R = r + h.

Substituting for R and H in the equation for V , we have

1
V = R 2 H r 2 (H h)
3

1
= R 3 r 2 (R h)
3

1
= (r + h)3 r 3
3

1
= 3r 2 h + 3r h 2 + h 3 .
3

1 Let v cm/s be the velocity of the flow of water from the hole at time t . We are given
that v = c

p
2g h, where h is the height of the water above the hole at time t . Since

dV
= area of the cross-section of the hole velocity of the flow of water from the hole,
dt
we have
q
dV
= r 2 v = r 2 c 2g h cm3 /s.
dt

2 We found that the volume of water V cm3 is given by

1
V = (3r 2 h + 3r h 2 + h 3 ),
3
and so
dV
= (r + h)2 .
dh
Using the chain rule, we have
p
cr 2 2g h
d h d h dV
cm/s.
=

=
dt
dV
dt
(r + h)2

A guide for teachers Years 11 and 12

{41}

Exercise 12
A point P is moving along the curve whose equation is y =

x 3 + 56. When P is at (2, 8),

y is increasing at the rate of 2 units per second. How fast is x changing?

Exercise 13
A meteor enters the earths atmosphere and burns at a rate that at each instant is proportional to its surface area. Assuming that the meteor is always spherical, show that the
radius is decreasing at a constant rate.

Links forward
Critical points
In the section Graph sketching, we looked at stationary points of a function f , that is,
points where f 0 (x) = 0. We gave conditions for a stationary point to be local minimum or
a local maximum.
Local maxima and minima also occur in other cases. The point (c, f (c)) on the left-hand
graph is a local minimum. The point (d , f (d )) on the right-hand graph is a local maximum. These are examples of critical points. In each case, the function is not differentiable at that point.

y
(d,f(d))

(c,f(c))
x

Examples of critical points.

Definition
A critical point for a function f is any value of x in the domain of f at which f 0 (x) = 0 or
at which f is not differentiable.
Every stationary point is a critical point.

{42}

Applications of differentiation

Not every critical point is a local minimum or maximum point. In the following diagram,
the function is not differentiable at the point (c, f (c)), since the tangent is vertical. There
is a point of inflexion at (c, f (c)).

(c,f(c))

Finding gradients on a parametric curve

We start with a simple example.
Consider the parametric curve defined by

x = t2
y = t 3.
dy
We will find
in terms of t by using the chain rule and
dx
the result
dt
1
= dx .
dx
dt

We have

dx
dy
= 2t and
= 3t 2 . Hence,
dt
dt

dy dy dt
=

dx dt dx
2

3t
2t

3t
.
2

1 2 3 4

A guide for teachers Years 11 and 12

{43}

Projectile motion
The motion of a particle projected at an angle to the horizontal with an initial velocity
of u m/s can be described by the parametric equations
x = u cos()t
1
y = u sin()t g t 2 ,
2
where g is the acceleration due to gravity. A method for deriving these equations is given
in the module Motion in a straight line.
The velocities in the horizontal and vertical directions are
dx
= u cos()
dt

and

dy
= u sin() g t .
dt

Using the chain rule, we have

dy dy dt
u sin() g t
=

=
.
dx dt dx
u cos()
This gives the gradient of the path of the projectile in terms of t , for t 0. This also allows
us to find the angle of inclination of the path of the projectile at any time t . We use the
fact that
tan =

dy
,
dx

where is the angle of inclination of the path to the horizontal. For example, if =

and

u = 10, then
tan =

10
p
2

gt
10
p
2

p
2g t
= 1
.
10

Cycloids
A cycloid is the curve traced by a point on the rim of a circular wheel as the wheel rolls
along a straight line. For a wheel of radius 1, the parametric equations of the cycloid are
x = sin
y = 1 cos .
The graph of y against x for 0 6 is as follows.

{44}

Applications of differentiation
y
4
3
2
1
0

We can find the gradient at a point on the cycloid by using the chain rule. We have
dx
= 1 cos
d

and

dy
= sin .
d

The chain rule gives

d y d y d
=

dx d dx
=

sin
1 cos
2 sin 2 cos 2
2 sin2 2

= cot .
2
Also,
d2y
d d y
=
d x2 d x d x
=

cot
dx
2

d
d
cot
d
2
dx

1
4 sin4 ( 2 )

Notes.

There are stationary points where cot 2 = 0, which is equivalent to cos 2 = 0. This occurs when is an odd multiple of , that is, when {. . . , 5, 3, , , 3, 5, . . . }.
d2y
Note that
< 0 for these values of , and so there are local maxima when is an
d x2
odd multiple of .

The function is not differentiable when is even multiple of . That is, these are
critical points of the function.

There are no points of inflexion.

The x-intercepts occur when cos = 1, that is, when is an even multiple of .

A guide for teachers Years 11 and 12

{45}

Cardioids
A cardioid is the curve traced by a point on the

perimeter of a circle that is rolling around a fixed cir1

cle of the same radius. The cardioid shown in the

graph has parametric equations

0.5

x = (1 cos t ) cos t

1.5

0.5

y = (1 cos t ) sin t .

0.5

It is plotted for t [0, 2].

We can calculate the gradient of the cardioid for a

particular value of t as follows:
dx
= sin t + 2 sin t cos t = sin 2t sin t
dt
dy
= cos t cos2 t + sin2 t = cos t cos 2t ,
dt
and so
dy dy dt
cos t cos 2t
=

=
.
dx dt dx
sin 2t sin t
The gradient is defined for sin 2t sin t 6= 0. For t [0, 2], this means that gradient is not
1
1
defined for t = 0, 3 , , 5
3 , 2. The corresponding x-values are 0, 4 , 2, 4 , 0.

There are points of zero gradient when t =

2 4
3 , 3 , which corresponds to

History and applications

History
The history of calculus is discussed in the modules:

Introduction to differential calculus

Motion in a straight line.

x = 34 .

{46}

Applications of differentiation

Applications
Application in biology
Example: Chemotherapy
Malignant tumours respond to radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Consider a medical
experiment in which mice with tumours are given a chemotherapeutic drug. At the time
of the drug being administered, the average tumour size is about 0.5 cm3 . The tumour
volume V (t ) after t days is modelled by
V (t ) = 0.005e 0.24t + 0.495e 0.12t ,
for 0 t 18.
Let us find the minimum point. The first and second derivatives are
V 0 (t ) = 0.0012e 0.24t 0.0594e 0.12t
V 00 (t ) = 0.000288e 0.24t + 0.007128e 0.12t .
Note that V 00 (t ) > 0, for all t in the domain. By solving V 0 (t ) = 0, we find that the minimum point occurs when t 10.84 days. The volume of the tumour is approximately
0.20 cm3 at this time.

V(t) cm3
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2

(10.84,0.20)

0.1

10

15

20

t days

Applications in physics
Calculus is essential in many areas of physics. Some additional applications of calculus
to physics are given in the modules Motion in a straight line and The calculus of trigonometric functions.

A guide for teachers Years 11 and 12

{47}

Example: Damped simple harmonic motion

The displacement of a body of mass m undergoing damped harmonic motion is given
by the formula
bt

x = Ae 2m cos(t ),
where
s

k b 2

.
m
2m

Here k and b are positive constants. (Note that damped simple harmonic motion reduces to simple harmonic motion when b = 0.)

The motion can be investigated by using calculus to find the turning points.
bt

Since x = Ae 2m cos(t ), we have

bt
bt
b
dx
=
Ae 2m cos(t ) Ae 2m sin(t )
dt
2m

bt

= Ae 2m

cos(t ) + sin(t ) .
2m

The stationary points are found by putting

tan(t ) =

b
.
2m

dx
= 0. This implies
dt

{48}

Applications of differentiation

Here is example from optics using related rates of change.

Example: Thin lens formula

The thin lens formula in physics is
1 1 1
+ = ,
s S
f
where s is the distance of an object from the lens, S is the distance of the image from the
lens, and f is the focal length of the lens. Here f is a constant, and s and S are variables.
Suppose the object is moving away from the lens at a rate of 3 cm/s. How fast and in
which direction will the image be moving?
We are given

ds
dS
= 3. The question is: What is
?
dt
dt

We know by the chain rule that

dS dS ds dS
=

=
3.
dt
ds dt ds
Making S the subject of the thin lens formula, we have S =
respect to s is
f 2
dS
=
.
d s (s f )2
Thus
dS
3 f 2
f 2
3 =
.
=
2
d t (s f )
(s f )2
The image is moving towards the lens at

3f 2
cm/s.
(s f )2

fs
. The derivative of S with
sf

A guide for teachers Years 11 and 12

{49}

Answers to exercises
Exercise 1
We can form a gradient diagram for this function.
Value of x

Sign of f 0 (x)

Slope of graph y = f (x)

  

There is a stationary point of inflexion at x = 1, and a local minimum at x = 3.

Exercise 2
Let f (x) = x 3 5x 2 + 3x + 2. The derivative is f 0 (x) = 3x 2 10x + 3 = (3x 1)(x 3). So the
stationary points are x =

1
3

and x = 3.

When x < 13 , f 0 (x) > 0.

When 13 < x < 3, f 0 (x) < 0.
When x > 3, f 0 (x) > 0.
Hence, there is a local maximum at x = 31 , and a local minimum at x = 3.

Exercise 3
The inflexion points are x = 0 and x = 14.

Exercise 4
We are given f 0 (x) = x 3 (x 2 5) = x 5 5x 3 . So the stationary points are x = 0, x =
p
x = 5.

p
5 and

The second derivative is f 00 (x) = 5x 4 15x 2 = 5x 2 (x 2 3).

f 00 (0) = 0, so we cannot use the second derivative test for x = 0. However, note that
f 0 (1) = 4 and f 0 (1) = 4. The gradient changes from positive to negative at x = 0.
Hence, there is a local maximum at x = 0.
p
p
f 00 ( 5) = 50 > 0, so there is a local minimum at x = 5.
p
p
f 00 ( 5) = 50 > 0, so there is a local minimum at x = 5.

{50}

Applications of differentiation

Exercise 5
Let y = 3x 4 44x 3 + 144x 2 . Then the first and second derivatives are
dy
= 12x 3 132x 2 + 288x = 12x(x 2 11x + 24) = 12x(x 3)(x 8)
dx
d2y
= 36x 2 264x + 288 = 12(3x 2 22x + 24) = 12(3x 4)(x 6).
d x2

1 We first find the x-intercepts:

3x 4 44x 3 + 144x 2 = 0
x 2 (3x 2 44x + 144) = 0,
p
p
which gives x = 0 or x = 32 (11 13) or x = 32 (11 + 13).

2 We have

dy
dy
= 12x(x 3)(x 8). So
= 0 implies x = 0 or x = 3 or x = 8.
dx
dx

3
Value of x
Sign of

dy
dx

Slope of graph

3
+

   

4 We use the second derivative test:

at x = 0, we have

d2y
= 288 > 0, so there is a local minimum
d x2

at x = 3, we have

d2y
= 180 < 0, so there is a local maximum
d x2

at x = 8, we have

d2y
= 480 > 0, so there is a local minimum.
d x2

5 As x , y , and as x , y .
6

d2y
= 0 implies x = 43 or x = 6. The second derivative changes from positive to negd x2
ative at x = 43 , and from negative to positive at x = 6. So there are points of inflexion
at x =

4
3

and x = 6.

y = 3x4 44x3 + 144x2

(3,351)

(43 , 4352
27 )
0

2
3(1113)

2
3(11+13)

(6,432)
(8,1024)

A guide for teachers Years 11 and 12

{51}

Exercise 6
Let y = 4x 3 18x 2 + 48x 290. The first and second derivatives are
dy
= 12x 2 36x + 48 = 12(x 2 3x + 4)
dx
d2y
= 12(2x 3).
d x2

1 The y-intercept is y = 290. We now find the x-intercepts:

4x 3 18x 2 + 48x 290 = 0
2x 3 9x 2 + 24x 145 = 0
(x 5)(2x 2 + x + 29) = 0.
The quadratic has no real solutions, and so the only x-intercept is x = 5.

dy
dy
= 12(x 2 3x + 4). The discriminant is 12(9 16) < 0. Hence,
> 0, for all x, and
dx
dx
there are no stationary points.

3 The function is increasing, for all x.

4 There are no local maxima or minima.
5 As x , y , and as x , y .
6

d2y
= 12(2x 3). The second derivative changes from negative to positive at x = 32 .
d x2
So there is a point of inflexion at x = 23 .

0
290

y = 4x3 18x2 + 48x 290

5
(23,245)

{52}

Applications of differentiation

Exercise 7
Define f : (0, ) R by f (x) = x 2 loge x. Then
f 0 (x) = 2x loge x + x 2

1
= 2x loge x + x = x(2 loge x + 1)
x

f 00 (x) = 2 loge x + 2 + 1 = 2 loge x + 3.

1 For x > 0, we have f (x) = 0 loge x = 0 x = 1. So the x-intercept is 1.

1

2 We have f 0 (x) = x(2 loge x + 1). So f 0 (x) = 0 implies x = e 2 . There is a stationary

1

point at x = e 2 .

3 We have
1

f 0 (x) > 0 x(2 loge x + 1) > 0 2 loge x + 1 > 0 x > e 2 ,

1

and so f 0 (x) < 0 0 < x < e 2 .

1

4 f 00 (e 2 ) = 2 > 0. Hence, there is a local minimum at x = e 2 .

5 As x , f (x) .
6 We have f 00 (x) = 2 loge x + 3. So
3

f 00 (x) > 0 x > e 2 ,

f 00 (x) < 0 0 < x < e 2 .

3

There is a point of inflexion at x = e 2 .

y
4

y = x2logx

3
2
1
0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

A second graph is drawn here to highlight the important points.

y
0.2
0.1
0
0.1
0.2
0.3

0.2
3

0.4

0.6

0.8

(2,23 )
1

( 2 , 2 )

1.0

1.2

A guide for teachers Years 11 and 12

{53}

Exercise 8
Define f : [1, 2] R by f (x) = x 2 (x + 4). The first and second derivatives are
f 0 (x) = 3x 2 + 8x,

f 00 (x) = 6x + 8.

So f 0 (x) = 0 when x = 0 or x = 83 . The second value is outside the required domain.

Since f 00 (0) = 8 > 0, there is a local minimum at x = 0, with f (0) = 0.
We now find the value of the function at the endpoints: f (1) = 3 and f (2) = 24.

(2,24)

(1,3)
(0,0)

The minimum value of the function is 0 and the maximum value is 24.

Exercise 9
Let x km, x km and y km be the lengths of fencing of the three sides of the rectangle to
be enclosed. Then y = 8 2x.
Let A(x) km2 be the area of the enclosed land. Then A(x) = x(8 2x) = 8x 2x 2 . The first
two derivatives are
A 0 (x) = 8 4x

and

A 00 (x) = 4.

So A 0 (x) = 0 implies x = 2. Since A 00 (2) = 4 < 0, there is a local maximum at x = 2.

The rectangle of maximum area has dimensions 2 km 4 km, and the maximum area
is 8 km2 .

{54}

Applications of differentiation

Exercise 10
a The ellipse has equation

x2 y 2
+
= 1.
16 9

Y
4

X(x,4316x2)
4

0
Z

W
3

p
Assume the top-right corner of the rectangle is at X (x, 34 16 x 2 ). The area A of the
rectangle X Y Z W is given by
A = X Y X W = 2x

p
3p
16 x 2 = 3x 16 x 2 .
2

We have

p
dA
x2
= 3 16 x 2 p
dx
16 x 2
16 x 2 x 2
p
16 x 2
16 2x 2
=3 p
.
16 x 2

=3

So

p
dA
= 0 implies x = 2 2. Furthermore, we have
dx
d 2 A 6x(24 + x 2 )
=
,
3
d x2
(16 x 2 ) 2

p
p
d2A
< 0 when x = 2 2. The maximum area is 3 2 2
2
dx
b The ellipse has equation
and so

p
16 (2 2)2 = 24.

x2 y 2
+
= 1,
a2 b2
where a, b > 0. Assume that the top-right corner of the rectangle is at (x, y), where
0 x a and 0 y b. Let A be the area of the rectangle. Then
A=

4b p 2
x a x2
a

d A 4b(a 2 2x 2 )
= p
.
dx
a a2 x2
So

dA
a
= 0 implies x = p . The maximum area is 2ab.
dx
2

A guide for teachers Years 11 and 12

{55}

Exercise 11
Let the cylinder have radius r and height h. Here r > 0 and h > 0, and they are variables.
Let the cone have radius R and height H . They are constants.

h
r
R
The volume V of the cylinder is given by
V = r 2 h.
Using similar triangles, we have
H h H
=
r
R
H R hR = r H
h=H

rH
.
R

Substitute for h in the formula for V :

r H H 2
V = r 2 H
=
Rr r 3 .
R
R

Differentiate with respect to r :

H r

dV
H
=
2Rr 3r 2 =
2R 3r .
dr
R
R

Check for stationary points:

dV
2R
= 0 implies r =
, since r 6= 0. The second derivative is
dr
3

d 2V
H
=
2R 6r .
2
dr
R

2R
d 2V
2R
, we have
= 2H < 0. A local maximum occurs when r =
. This
3
dr 2
3
4R 2 H
gives the maximum volume of the cylinder, which is V =
.
27
So, when r =

{56}

Applications of differentiation

Exercise 12
The point P is moving along the curve y =

x 3 + 56. We have

dy
3x 2
,
= p
d x 2 x 3 + 56
and so
p
d x d x d y 2 x 3 + 56 d y
=

.
dt
dy dt
3x 2
dt
When x = 2, we are given that

dy
= 2, and so
dt

p
8
d x 2 23 + 56
2 = .
=
dt
3 22
3

Exercise 13
Assume the meteor is a sphere of radius r . Its surface area is S = 4r 2 , and its volume is
V = 34 r 3 . The volume is decreasing at a rate proportional to the surface area. That is,
dV
= kS = 4kr 2 ,
dt
for some positive constant k. Using the chain rule, we have
dr
dV
1
dr
4kr 2 = k.
=

=
d t dV
dt
4r 2
So the radius is decreasing at a constant rate.

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