DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS

Functions:

A function is the totality of ordered pairs (x, y) such that to each value of the variable x there
corresponds a unique value of the variable y. The value of the function at x is denoted by
f(x). The variable x is called the independent variable and the variable y is called the
dependent variable. The permissible values of the independent variable is called the
domain and the set of values taken of the dependent variable is called the range.

Examples:

1. If f(x, y) = , then f(–x, –y) =

a. b. c. d.
Solution:

f(–x, –y) =

2. Given: f(x) =

Find x so that f(x) is undefined.

a. 0, –1 and –2 b. 0, 1 and 2 c. 0 and 2 d. 1 and 2

Solution:

A function f(x) is undefined if its value approaches infinity. Hence, if a function is an

algebraic rational fraction (i.e. a ratio of two polynomials) such as ,
then for it to approach infinity, the denominator Q(x) must be equal to zero, i.e.

3. Given: f(x) = 3x – 5, g(f(x)) = x. Find g(x).

a. b. c. d.

Solution:

If a function g(x) is the inverse of the function f(x), then f(g(x) = g(f(x)) = x. Hence,
g(x) is the inverse of f(x). To find the inverse of a function y = f(x), solve the equation
for x, then interchange x and y.
Let y = 3x – 5. Solving the equation for x, we have .
 4. Given: . Find the first derivative of f(x).

a. b. c. d.
Solution:

but

Limits:

Definition: The limit of f(x) as x approaches c is equal to L, or in symbols if,

for
any positive number , however small, there exists a positive number such that if
0< < then < . This definition says precisely that if f(x)
approaches the limit L as x approaches c, then the difference between f(x) and L can
be made arbitrarily small by taking x sufficiently close to c.

The function f(x) is said to become infinite as x approaches c if f(x) can be made
numerically arbitrarily large by taking x sufficiently close to c. Note carefully that if
the limit does not exist.

L’Hôpital’s Rule:

If is indeterminate of the form and if exists, then

Indeterminate Forms:

Examples: Evaluate the following limits.

1. =

2.

Applying L’Hôpital’s Rule twice,

3.

4.

Other indeterminate forms, such as , are handled by taking the

natural logarithm and then applying L’Hôpital’s Rule.

Example:
Evaluate:
a. 0 b. 1 c. ½ d. indeterminate

Solution:

Let

Since . Thus the required limit is 1.

Differentiation Formulas:

Let u & v be functions of x, n – any integer and c –constant.

Algebraic Functions:
 1. 4.

2. 5.

3.

Trigonometric Functions:

1. 4.

2. 5.

3. 6.

Inverse Trigonometric Functions:

1. 4.

2. 5.

3. 6.

Logarithmic Functions:

1. 2.

Exponential Formulas:
1. 2.

Hyperbolic Functions:

1. 4.
 2. 5.

3. 6.

Applications of the Derivative:

Derivative as Slope:

If the derivative of y = f(x) exists at P(x1, y1), then the slope of the curve at P (which is
defined to be the slope of the tangent to the curve at P) is f ’(x1), i.e. the derivative of f(x) at
x = x1.

Example:

Find the coordinates of any point on the curve of y2 – 4xy = x2 + 5 for which the tangent is
horizontal.

Solution:

When the tangent to a curve is horizontal, its slope is equal to zero. Since the slope
at any point , we can take the derivative of the given equation and equate
it to zero. Hence,

=0

Substituting into the original equation and solving for y, we have

Hence, the required points are (2, –1) and (–2, 1).

Derivative as Rate of Change:

If y = f(x) and if, as x varies from x to x + Δx, y varies from y to y + Δy, then
 is called the average rate of change of y (or f) over the interval Δx.

The instantaneous rate of change (or just rate of change) of y (or f) with respect to x
is the derivative y’ (or f’), i.e.

If , it means that as x increases, y increases;

If , it means that as x increases, y decreases.

Examples:
1. Let G(t) = 400(15 – t)2 be the number of gallons of water in a tank t minutes after
an outlet pipe is opened. Find the average rate of change of drainage during the first
5 minutes and the rate at which the water is running out at the end of 5 minutes.

Solution:

The average rate of change during the first 5 minutes equals

= – 10,000 gal/min (The sign is negative since as time increases, the

volume in gallons is decreasing)

The instantaneous rate of change at t = 5 min is G’(5).

G’(t) = – 800(15 – t)
G’(5) = – 800(15 – 5) = – 8000 gal/min

So the average rate of change during the first 5 minutes is 10,000 gal/min
And the rate of drainage at the end of 5 seconds is 8,000 gal/min.

2. Sand is pouring from a spout forming a conical pile whose altitude is always twice the
radius of the base. Find the rate of change of the volume with respect to the altitude
when the latter is 4 ft.

Solution:

Polynomial Curves:

Consider the polynomial curve shown.

Critical points – points where the first derivative y’ = 0 such as points A, C and E in the
curve shown above. These can be classified further into
a). maximum point such as point A above
b) minimum point such as point C above
c) point of inflection with a horizontal tangent such as point E

Point of inflection – a point where a curve changes concavity from being concave upward
to concave downward or vice-versa such as points B, D and E in the curve shown
above. It is also a point where the second derivative y” = 0.

Second Derivative Test for Maxima-Minima:

At a critical point
a) if y” < 0, then the point is a maximum point
b) if y” > 0, then the point is a minimum point
c) if y” = 0, then the point is a point of inflection with a horizontal tangent.

Example: Find the maximum, minimum and point of inflection for the curve

Solution: To find the critical points, find y’ and set it equal to zero.

When ;

when .

Hence, the critical points are .

At , y” = 6(–1) – 3 = –9 < 0 is a maximum point.

At is a minimum point.
To find the point of inflection, set y” equal to zero.

When

Thus, is a point of inflection.

 Review Exercises in DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS

1. Evaluate:

a. – 1 b. 1 c. 0 d. ∞

2. Evaluate:
a. 1 b. 4/3 c. ¾ d. 0

3. Evaluate:

a. 1 b. 1/3 c. 3 d. ∞

4. Evaluate:
a. 1 b. 0 c. ∞ d. none of these

5. Evaluate:

a. – 4 b. – 2 c. 1 d. 2

6. Find the derivative dy/dx of the function y = (4x + 1) 2(1 – x)3.

a. (4x + 1)2(1 – x)2(5 – 20x) b. (4x + 1)(1 – x)2(4x + 11)
c. 5(4x + 1)(1 – x)2(1 – 4x) d. (4x + 1)(1 – x)2(11 – 20x)

7. Find the derivative dy/dx of the function .

a. b. c. d.

8. Find the derivative dy/dx of the function y = sin2 3x + cos2 3x.

a. – 6 sin 6x b. 6(sin 3x + cos 3x) c. 12 sin 3x cos 3x d. 0

9. Find the derivative dy/dx of the function .

a. b. c. d.

10. Find the derivative dy/dx of the function x3 – xy + y3 = 1.

a. b. c. d.

11. Points on the curve y = f(x) where the second derivative y” is equal to zero are
a. points of tangency b. points of normalcy
c. critical points d. points of inflection

12. The slope of the curve y3 – xy2 = 4 at the point where y = 2 is

a. – 2 b. ¼ c. – ½ d. ½
13. Find the points on the graph of the function y = x3 – 2 where the slope is 3.
a. (1, -1) & (-1, -3) b. (1, 1) & (1, 2) c. (2, 1) & (2, 3) d. (1, 1) & (1, 3)

14. A function f(x) is decreasing at x = a when f ’(a), that is, the value of the first
derivative of f(x) at x = a, is
a. positive b. negative c. zero d. one

15. The equation of the tangent to the hyperbola x2 – y2 = 12 at the point (4, 2) on the curve is
a. x – 2y + 6 = 0 b. y = 2x c. y = 2x – 6 d. x + 2y = 6

16. The point on the curve where the function y = f(x) changes from decreasing to increasing is
called
a. minimum point b. maximum point c. inflection point d. point of tangency

17. Find the inflection point of the curve y = x3 – 3x2 – x + 7.

a. (1, 4) b. (1, 2) c. (2, 1) d. (3, 1)

18. At the minimum point of the curve y = f(x), the value of y” is

a. zero b. positive c. negative d. infinity

19. The point on the curve at which the normal is parallel to the line y = – 3x + 6 is
a. (4, 3) b. (0, 1) c. (4, -3) d. (0, –1)

20. The point on the graph of y = f(x) where the tangent line is horizontal is called
a. critical point b. relative minima c. relative maxima d. inflection point

21. At the inflection point of the curve y = x3 – 3x2 + 6, the slope is

a. 3 b. -3 c. 4 d. 0

.22. A point on a curve where the first derivative of the function is zero and the second derivative
is negative is a
a. maximum point b. minimum point
c. point of inflection d. point of intersection

23. At what point on the curve y = x3 + 3x are the values of y’ and y” equal?
a. (-1, -4) b. (2,14) c. (1,4) d. (0,0)

24. If f(x) = ln x, then is

a. b. c. d.

25. If y = a sin ct + b cos ct, where a, b and c are constants, then y” is

a. ac2(sin t + cos t) b. – c2y c. – ay d. – y

26. Find the radius of curvature of 2xy + x + y = 4 at the point (1, 1).
a. b. c. d.

27. What number exceeds its square by the maximum amount?

a. 1 b. 1/2 c. 1/3 d. 1/4
28. A printed page must contain 60 sq. cm. of printed material. There are to be margins of 5 cm
on either side and margins of 3 cm on top and bottom. How long should the printed lines be
in order to minimize the amount of paper used?
a. 8 cm b. 10 cm c. 12 cm d. 15 cm

29. A rectangular box with a square base and open top is made. Find the volume of the largest
box in m3 that can be made from 432 sq. m. of material.
a. 686 b. 848 c. 864 d. 886

30. A closed cylindrical container has a capacity of 128π cu. m. Determine the minimum surface
area in sq. m..
a. 96π b. 135π c. 150π d. 120π

31. An open top rectangular tank with square bases is to have a volume of 10 cu. m. The material
for its bottom is to cost 15 cents per square meter and that for the sides 6 cents per square
meter. Find the most economical dimensions for the tank.
a. 2 x 5 x 2.5 b. 2 x 4 x 2.5 c. 2 x 3 x 2.5 d. 2 x 2 x 2.5

32. Divide the number 60 into two parts so that the product P of one part and the square of the
other is maximum. Find the smallest part.
a. 10 b. 20 c. 30 d. 40

33. A window composed of a rectangle surmounted by an equilateral triangle has a total

perimeter
of 15 meters. Find its width in meters if it admits the maximum amount of light.
a. 2.6 b. 2.91 c. 3.51 d. 3.8

34. A manufacturer estimates that the cost of production of “x” units of a certain item is
C = 40x – 0.02x2 – 600. How many units should be produced for minimum cost?
a. 100 units b. 10 units c. 10,000 units d. 1000 units

35. A rectangular lot has an area of 800 sq. m. It is to be fenced on three sides only since there is
an existing fence on one of the sides. Find the length of the fence if it is to be the least.
a. 80 m b. 60 m c. 100 m d. 120 m

36. The hypotenuse of a right triangle is 20 cm. What is the maximum possible area of the
triangle in sq. cm.?
a. 170 b. 160 c. 120 d. 100

37. What is the area in sq. m. of the rectangle of maximum perimeter inscribed in a circle having a
diameter of 20 m.?
a. 200 b. 220 c. 210 d. 230

38. A wall 2.245 m high is “x” meters away from a building. The shortest ladder that can reach
the building with one end resting on the ground outside the wall is 6 m. What is the value of
“x”?
a. 2 m. b. 2.6 m. c. 3.0 m. d. 4.0 m.

39. A trapezoidal gutter is to be made from a long sheet of tin that is 15 cm wide by turning
up one-third of its width on each side. What width across the top gives maximum capacity?
a. 16 cm b. 10 cm c. 15 cm d. 13 cm

40. A student club on a college campus charges annual membership dues of P10, less 5 centavos
 for each member over 60. How many members would give the club the most revenue from
annual dues?
a. 120 b. 134 c. 130 d. 150

41. A steel girder 16 m. long is moved on rollers along a passageway 8 m. wide and into a corridor
at right angles with the passageway. Neglecting the width of the girder, how wide must the
corridor be?
a. 1.4 m. b. 1.8 m. c. 2.8 m. d. 3.6 m.

42. An airplane, flying horizontally at an altitude of 1 km, passes directly over an observer. If the
constant speed of the plane is 240 kph, how fast is its distance from the observer increasing 30
seconds later?
a. 214.66 kph b. 256.34 kph c. 324.57 kph d. 137.78 kph

43. A metal disk expands during heating. If its radius increases at the rate of 20 mm per second,
how fast in m2/s is the area of one of its faces increasing when its radius is 8.1 m?
a. 1.632 b. 0.846 c. 1.337 d. 1.018

44. A pool is 40 m long, 20 m wide, 8 m deep at the deep end and 3 m at the shallow end; the
bottom is rectangular. If the pool is filled by pumping water into it at the rate of 40 m 3 per
minute, how fast is the water level rising when it is 3 m deep at the deep end?
a. 80.4 mm/min b. 83.3 mm/min c. 95.2 mm/min d. 75.8 mm/min

45. A ladder 5 m long leans against a vertical wall of a house. If the bottom of a ladder is pulled
horizontally away from the house at 4 m/s, how fast is the top of the ladder sliding down
when the bottom is 3 m from the wall?
a. -2 m/s b. -6 m/s c. -3 m/s d. -4 m/s

46. A funnel in the form of a cone is 10 cm across the top and 8 cm deep. Water is flowing into
the funnel at the rate of 12 cm3/s and out at the rate of 4 cm3/s. How fast is the surface of the
water rising when it is 5 cm deep?
a. 0.26 cm/s b. 0.32 cm/s c. 0.14 cm/s d. 0.40 cm/s

47. A cube has a volume of 1728 mm3. If the allowable error in the edge of a cube is 0.04 mm,
compute the allowable error in the volume of the cube?
a. 20.59 mm3 b. 17.28 mm3 c. 16.88 mm3 d. 15.22 mm3

48. Find approximately the volume of wood required to make a cubical box, of edge length 6 ft.,
using boards ½ in. thick.
a. 3.5 ft3 b. 4.0 ft3 c. 4.5 ft3 d. 5.0 ft3

49. The diameter of a sphere is measured and found to be 3 ft. with a maximum error of 0.1 in.
Find the approximate maximum error in the computed volume in cubic inches.
a. 204 b. 205 c. 206 d. 208
ANSWER KEY:

1. c 11. d 21. b 31. d 41. d

2. c 12. d 22. a 32. b 42. a
3. b 13. a 23. c 33. c 43. d
4. c 14. b 24. c 34. d 44. b
5. b 15. c 25. b 35. a 45. c
6. c 16. a 26. a 36. d 46. a
7. d 17. a 27. b 37. a 47. b
8. d 18. b 28. b 38. a 48. c
9. c 19. a 29. c 39. b 49. a
10. c 20. a 30. a 40. c