Applications of Differentiation Summary

1. Parametric Equations/Tangents/Normals:

For a set of parametric descriptions whereby x = f (t ), y = g (t ) ,

dy g ' (t )
=
dx f ' (t )

g ' (t )
Equation of tangent: y − g (t ) = [x − f (t )]
f ' (t )
f ' (t )
Equation of normal: y − g (t ) = − [x − f (t )]
g ' (t )
Question types:

Example: A curve has parametric equations

x = 1 + 2 sin θ , y = 4 + cos θ .
π
P is a point on the curve where θ = . Find the area of the triangle bounded by
6
the tangent and normal at P, as well as the y-axis.

SOLUTIONS :
3
At point P , x = 2, y = 4 +
2
dy dy dx − sin θ dy 1
= ÷ = = − tan θ ⇒ At P, =−
dx dθ dθ cos θ dx 2 3
3 1
Equation of tangent: y − (4 + )=− ( x − 2)
2 2 3
3 1
When it cuts the y − axis, x = 0 ⇒ y = 4 + +
2 3
3
Equation of normal: y − (4 + ) = 2 3 ( x − 2)
2
7 3
When it cuts the y − axis, x = 0 ⇒ y = 4 −
2
y
tangent

0 x

normal 2 units
 1  3 1   7 3  1 13
Area of triangle = ( 2)  4 + +  − 4 −
 
 = 4 3 +
 = units
2  2 3  2  3 3
(shown)

Example: A curve is defined by the parametric equations x = t 2 , y = t 3 . Show that the

equation of the tangent to the curve at the point P ( p 2 , p 3 ) is
2 y − 3 px + p 3 = 0. Show that there is just one point on the curve at which
the tangent passes through the point (-3,-5), and determine the coordinates
of this point.

SOLUTIONS :
dy 3t 2 3t
= =
dx 2t 2
dy 3
At P, = p
dx 2
3
Equation of tangent is y − p 3 = p (x − p2 )
2
Rearranging gives 2 y − 3 px + p 3 = 0 (shown)
Since it passes through (-3,-5),
2(-5)-3 p (-3)+ p 3 =0 ⇒ −10 + 9 p + p 3 = 0
( p − 1)( p 2 + p + 10) = 0
∴ p = 1 and point is ( 12 , 13 ) = ( 1, 1) (shown)
(Quadratic polynomial has no real roots since determinant = b 2 − 4ac = −39 < 0 )

2. Rates of Change:
The chain rule is typically used in such questions; variations of this rule include the
following:
dV dV dh dV dV dr dA dA dr
= × , = × , = × etc
dt dh dt dt dr dt dt dr dt

Where V , A, r , h typically denote volume, area, radius and height quantities

respectively. Ensure knowledge of the separate derivatives are thorough and
dV
clear, eg describes the rate of change of volume.
dt

Popular formulas:
Volume of Cone − π (r 2 )h ; Volume of Sphere − π (r 3 ) ;
1 4
3 3
Surface area of Sphere − 4π r 2
( )
Question types:

Example: An inverted cone of base radius 4cm and height 8cm is initially filled with
 water. Water drips out from the vertex at a rate of 2π cm 3 s −1 . Find the
rate of decrease in the depth of the water in the cone 16 seconds after the
dripping starts.

SOLUTIONS :

r 4 1 1
= = ⇒r= h
h 8 2 2

1 1 1 1
At any time t, volume remaining V= πr 2 h = π ( h) 2 (h) = πh 3
3 3 2 12
dV π 2
Differentiating V with respect to h, = h
dh 4
1 3 1
When t =16, πh = π (4) 2 (8) − 2(16) ⇒ h 3 = 128
12 3
dV dV dh π dh
By the chain rule, = × ⇒ −2π = (3 128 ) 2 ×
dt dh dt 4 dt

dh
∴ = −0.315cms −1 (shown)
dt

3. Maxima/Minima problems:
Maxima/minima problems typically employ the concept of stationary values, and
ascertaining the nature of those values (ie maximum or minimum) via the sign test
or investigating the second derivative if it is reasonably easy to attain.

Question types:

Example:
A length of channel of given depth d is to be made from a rectangular sheet of
metal of width 2a. The metal is to be bent in such a way that the cross section
ABCD is as shown in the figure, with AB+BC+CD= 2a and with AB and CD
inclined to the line BC at an angle θ .

A D

d d
θ θ

B C

Show that BC=2( a − d cos ecθ ) and that the area of the cross section ABCD
is 2ad + d 2 (cot θ − 2 cos ecθ ) .

Show that the maximum value of 2ad + d 2 (cot θ − 2 cos ecθ ) , as θ varies,
 is d (2a − d 3 ) .

By considering the length of BC, show that the cross sectional area can only be
made equal to this maximum value if 2d ≤ a 3.

SOLUTIONS :

d
sin θ = ⇒ AB = CD = d cos ecθ
AB
BC = 2a − AB − CD = 2a − 2d cos ecθ = 2(a − d cos ecθ ) (shown)
Area of cross section ABCD
1 
= 2d (a − d cos ecθ ) + 2  (d )(d cot θ ) = 2d (a − d cos ecθ ) + d (d cot θ )
2 
= 2ad + d (cot θ − 2 cos ecθ ) (shown)
2

Let y = 2ad + d 2 (cot θ − 2 cos ecθ )

dy
dθ
[
= d 2 − cos ec 2θ + 2 cot θ cos ecθ ]
dy
= 0 ⇒ cos ec 2θ = 2 cot θ cos ecθ → cos ecθ = 2 cot θ
dθ
1 π
∴ cos θ = , θ =
2 3
 1  2 
Maximum value = 2ad + d 2  − 2  = d (2a − d 3 ) (shown)
 3  3 
π
BC = 2(a − d cos ecθ ) , putting in θ = ,
3
 2 
BC = 2 a − d 
 3 
2
Since BC ≥ 0, a ≥ d ⇒ 2d ≤ 3a (shown)
3
Example:
The equation of a curve is y = ax 2 − 2bx + c, where a, b and c are constants, a>0.
Find, in terms of a, b and c, the coordinates of the turning point on the curve, and
state whether it is a maximum or minimum point.

SOLUTIONS :
dy
y = ax 2 − 2bx + c → = 2ax − 2b
dx
dy b b2
=0⇒ x = , y =c−
dx a a
2
d y b b2 
= 2 a > 0 [Q a > 0 ] Hence, 
a , c −  is a minimum point.
dx 2  a 