CJC MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT

2012 JC1 H2 MATHEMATICS

TOPIC: APPLICATIONS OF DIFFERENTIATION

Summary Applications of Differentiation

Equations of Tangents and Normals

Equation of tangent to the curve at the point P (x1, y1 ) is given by y – y1 = f ′(x1) (x – x1)

Equation of normal to the curve at the point P (x1, y1) is given by y – y1 = – ( x – x1)

To determine the Nature of the Stationary Points

First Derivative Test

x a– a a+ a– a a+ a– a a+
+ ve 0 + ve
dy or
+ ve 0 − ve − ve 0 + ve
dx
− ve 0 − ve

Tangent to curve or

Nature of
Maximum Point Minimum Point Point of Inflexion
Stationary points

Second Derivative Test

Sign of
d2 y <0 >0 0
at x = a
dx 2
Nature of Inconclusive. Use first
Maximum Point Minimum Point derivative test.
Stationary Points

Procedure to solve questions involving Rate of Change

Step 1: Denote each changing quantity by a variable.

Step 2: Find the equations relating the variables.
Step 3: Use chain rule to link up the derivatives.
Step 4: Write down the values of the variables and the given rates of change.
Step 5: Solve for the unknown rate.

Procedure to solve Maximization and Minimization problems

Step 1: Identifying variables. (If necessary, draw a diagram)

Step 2: Forming the equations involving these variables.
Step 3: Expressing the dependent variable (whose max. and min. are to be determined) in
terms of one variable only by using all the information given.
Step 4: Differentiating to find the stationary values.
Step 5: Determining whether they are maximum or minimum values and answering the question
accordingly.

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 CJC MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT
2012 JC1 H2 MATHEMATICS
TOPIC: APPLICATIONS OF DIFFERENTIATION

Tangents and Normals

π
Example 1: Find the equation of the tangent to the curve y = x sin x at the point x = .
6
Solution:
y = x sin x
dy
= x cos x + sin x
dx
π dy π π π
When x = , = 0.95345, y = sin =
6 dx 6 6 12
Equation of tangent:
π  π
y− = 0.95345  x − 
12  6 Caution!
y = 0.953x − 0.237 Always simplify your equation

Example 2: The tangent at the point Q (t, et) on the curve y = ex meets the x–axis at T. The normal at
Q meets the x–axis at N. Express the area of triangle QNT in terms of t.

Solution: y
dy
= ex y = ex
dx
dy Q (t, et)
When x = t , = et , y = et
dx

Equation of tangent at Point Q:

y − e t = e t (x − t ) T N
x

At T, when y = 0, − e t = e t (x − t ) Caution!
xe t = te t − e t You need a point (x, y coordinates)
and the gradient to find the equation
x = t −1
of tangent and equation of normal.
∴ T (t − 1, 0)

Equation of normal at Point Q:

1
y − et = − (x − t )
et
1
At N, when y = 0, − e t = − (x − t )
et
e 2t = x − t
x = e 2t + t
∴ N (e 2t + t , 0)
Distance of NT = e 2t + t − (t − 1) = e 2t + 1

1 2t
∴ Area of triangle QNT =
2
(
e + 1 et )

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 CJC MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT
2012 JC1 H2 MATHEMATICS
TOPIC: APPLICATIONS OF DIFFERENTIATION
 1  1
Example 3: The parametric equations of a curve are x = a1 +  , y = a t − 2  , where a is a
 t  t 
constant and t ≠ 0. Find the equation of the normal to the curve at the point where t = 2.
Find the equation of the tangent to the curve at the point (0, –2a).

Solution:
 1  1
x = a1 +  y = a t − 2 
 t  t 
dx a dy  2  t3 + 2 
=− 2 = a1 + 3  = a 3 
dt t dt  t   t 
Note!
dy dy dt  t3 + 2   t2 
= ⋅ = a 3  ⋅  −  Recall the formula and apply it
dx dt dx  t   a carefully
 t3 + 2 
= − 
 t 
2
= −t 2 −
t

 1 3  1  7
When t = 2, x = a1 +  = a , y = a 2 − 2 = a
 2 2  2  4
dy 2
= −2 2 − = −5
dx 2

Equation of normal when t = 2:

7  3 
y − a = −5  x − a 
4  2 
x 29
y= + a
5 20
 1
When x = 0, a 1 +  = 0
 t
 1
1 +  = 0
 t
1
= −1
t
dy 2
t = −1 ⇒ = −(−1) 2 − =1
dx (−1)

Equation of normal when t = 1:

y − (−2a) = 1(x − 0)
y = x − 2a

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 CJC MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT
2012 JC1 H2 MATHEMATICS
TOPIC: APPLICATIONS OF DIFFERENTIATION

Stationary Points and Points of Inflexion

x
Example 4: Determine the coordinates and nature of the turning points of the graph y = .
x2 +1
Solution:
x
y= 2
x +1
dy ( x 2 + 1)1 − x(2 x) − x 2 + 1
= =
dx (
x2 +1
2
) x2 +1
2
( )
dy
For stationary point, =0
dx
− x2 +1 = 0
x2 = 1
x = ±1 Caution!
1 When being asked for the
When x = 1, y = coordinates, you need to find the
2 y value too.
1
When x = –1 , y = −
2

To check the nature of stationary points:

Using First Derivative test,
x 1− 1 1+ x –1− –1 –1+

dy
>0 0 <0 <0 0 >0
dx

Tangent Tangent

 1  1
∴1,  is a maximum point ∴ − 1, −  is a minimum point
 2  2
OR
Using Second Derivative test, Note!
You only need to determine the nature of the
d 2 y − 2 x ( x 2 + 1) 2 − 4 x ( x 2 + 1)( − x 2 + 1) coordinates using either the First Derivative or
=
dx 2 ( x 2 + 1) 4 Second Derivative test. However, for this question,
the First Derivative is easier to evaluate. Sometimes,
d2 y  1 the Second Derivative is easier.
When x = 1, 2
< 0 ⇒ 1,  is a maximum point.
dx  2
d2 y  1
When x = −1, 2
> 0 ⇒  − 1, −  is a minimum point.
dx  2

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 CJC MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT
2012 JC1 H2 MATHEMATICS
TOPIC: APPLICATIONS OF DIFFERENTIATION

Example 5: The derivative function y = f ′(x) is as show. Find the x-coordinates of the stationary
points of f(x) and determine the nature of the points.
.

y = f ′(x)

0 2

Solution:
At stationary points, f ′(x) = 0 ⇒ x = 0
From the graph, using First Derivative test,
x 0− 0 0+ x 2− 2 2+

dy
= f ' ( x) >0 0 <0 <0 0 >0
dx
Slope of f(x) Slope of f(x)

Connected Rates of Change

Example 6: Air is pumped into a spherical balloon at a rate of 10 cm3/s. Find the exact value of the
rate of change of radius of the balloon when the radius is 5 cm.
4
[Volume of a sphere V = 3 πr3]
Solution:
Note!
dV
= 10 (Given) Read and understand the question first. Write down what you know
dt and what you need to find.
4 3 dV
V = πr ⇒ = 4π r 2

3 dr
dr dr dV
= ⋅ Form the equation using the chain rule to
dt dV dt link up the derivatives.
1
= ⋅ 10
4π r 2
dr 10 1
When r = 5, = = cm/s
dt 4π (5) 2
10π

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 CJC MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT
2012 JC1 H2 MATHEMATICS
TOPIC: APPLICATIONS OF DIFFERENTIATION

Maximization and Minimization

Example 7: A closed container, made of thin metal, is in the shape of a cylinder with a
hemispherical cap at one end. Find the minimum area of metal required if the
container is to hold a volume of 100cm3.
4
[The formulae for the volume and surface area of a sphere are V = 3 πr3, A = 4πr2.]
Solution:
2
V = π r 2 h + π r 3 = 100
3 r
2 3
100 − π r
h= 3 h
π r2
100 2
= − r
π r2 3
Thought process involved…
A = 2π rh + 2π r 2 + π r 2 Aim: Find minimum area
Thinking steps:
 100 2  • To obtain minimum area, we need to show
= 2π r  2 − r  + 2π r 2 + π r 2
π r 3 
200 5 2
= + πr • Therefore we need to find so that we
r 3
dA 200 10 can equate it to 0 and obtain the stationary
=− 2 + πr points.
dr r 3 • From diagram, we can observe that A, area
dA 200 10 will be in terms of 2 variables r and h. We
For minimum area, =0, − 2 + π r =0 need to get rid of one variable, say h, so that
dr r 3
we can differentiate A w.r.t. r.
10 200
⇒ πr= 2 3 • We can make use of the volume to find a
3 r relationship between r and h. This implies
60 that we can make h the subject and replace it
r3 = in the area formula.
π
60 With this in mind, we shall proceed to present
r =3 our solution in a logical manner, starting with
π (1) Finding the relationship between r and h
2
d A 400 10 60 using volume formula.
2
= 3 + π > 0 for r = 3 (2) Write down the area of the container and
dr r 3 π express it in terms of r only.
(3) Find ,equate it to zero and find the
Therefore, it is a minimum area.
stationary point.
Minimum area (4) Find and prove that the stationary
200 5 2
= + πr point does give the minimum area or
r 3 proceed with the 1st derivative test.
1 5 
=  200 + π r 3  Essentially, in solving such problems, we
r 3  need to ask ourselves what we need and
π  5  60   π how do we go about achieving it.
=3  200 + π    = 3003 cm 2
60  3  π  60

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 CJC MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT
2012 JC1 H2 MATHEMATICS
TOPIC: APPLICATIONS OF DIFFERENTIATION

QUESTIONS

Tangents and Normals

1. [2008/SRJC/Promo/7]
The equation of a closed curve is ( x + 2 y ) 2 + 3( x − y ) 2 = 27 .
(i) Show, by differentiation, that the gradient at the point (x, y) on the curve may be expressed
dy y − 4 x
in the form = .
dx 7 y − x
(ii) Find the equations of the tangent to the curve that are parallel to
(a) the x-axis (b) the y-axis.

Nature of Stationary Points

2. [2008/IJC/Promo/6] y

x
−a 0 a

The diagram shows the graph of y = f ′ ( x ) . The curve cuts the x-axis at ( a , 0 ) and ( − a , 0 ) , and
has a stationary point at ( 0, b ) . The line y = k is an asymptote.
(i) State the x-coordinates of the stationary points of the curve y = f ( x ) , and determine the
nature of each point.
(ii) State the range of values of x for which the graph of y = f ( x ) is
(a) strictly increasing,
(b) concave downwards.

Rate of Change

3. [2009/DHS/ Promo/4i]
Air is pumped into a spherical balloon at a constant rate of 16 cm3/s.
Calculate the rate at which the surface area is increasing, at the instant when the radius is 4 cm

[The surface area of a sphere of radius r is 4 πr 2 and the volume is 4

3 πr 3 .]

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 CJC MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT
2012 JC1 H2 MATHEMATICS
TOPIC: APPLICATIONS OF DIFFERENTIATION

Maximization and Minimization

4. [2008/IJC/I/6]
As part of an Art Project, a student designed a letterbox in the form of a prism.
The cross-section forms a pentagon with two vertical sides of equal height y cm, and two
slant edges of equal length, 5x cm. The remaining faces are rectangles. A rectangular
sheet of cardboard, ABCD, of area 1500 cm2, is folded to make the surface ABCD of the
prism as shown in the diagram. The front, back and bottom surfaces are made of another
material.

5x C
5x
B
y
y
D 30
6x
A

If the length of the letterbox is 30 cm and the width is 6x cm,

3
(i) show that the volume, V cm , enclosed by the letterbox is given by
V = 4500 x − 540 x 2 ,
(ii) determine the maximum value of V.

Answers:
1. (ii)(a) y = ±2 (b) x = ± 7
2. (i) x = –a (max pt); x = a (min pt) (ii)(a) x < − a or x > a (b) x < 0
3. 8cm2/s,
4. (ii) 9375 cm3

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