APPLICATION OF DERIVATIVES

POINTS TO REMEMBER
TOPIC-A: Rate of Change of Quantities, Increasing and Decreasing Functions
1 Rate of Change of Quantities: Let the relation between the variables x and y be y=f(x),
dy
Then represents the rate of change of dependent variable y with respect to independent
dx
 dy 
variable x. Also   , represents the rate of change of y with respect to x at x = x1
 dx  x = x1
2 Marginal Cost: If C(x) represents cost of producing ‘x’ units of quantity, then the
d
marginal cost (MC) is given by MC= C ( x ) 
dx 
3 Marginal Revenue: If R(x) represents total revenue obtained by selling 'x' units of
d
quantity, then the marginal revenue (MR)=  R ( x ) 
dx 
4 Increasing and decreasing functions: Let I be an open interval in the domain of a
real valued function f(x). Then function f is said to be
(i) Increasing on I, if x1  x2  f ( x1 )  f ( x2 ) for all x1 , x2  I
(ii) Strictly increasing on I if, x1  x2  f ( x1 )  f ( x2 ) for all x1 , x2  I
(iii) Decreasing on I, if x1  x2  x1  x2  f ( x1 )  f ( x2 ) for all x1 , x2  I
(iv) Strictly decreasing on I if, x1  x2  f ( x1 )  f ( x2 ) for all x1 , x2  I
ALSO
(i) Increasing on I, if f ( x )  0, for all x  I
(ii) Strictly Increasing on I, if f ( x ) >0, for all x  I
(iii) Decreasing on I if f ( x )  0, for all x  I
(iv) Strictly Decreasing on I if f ( x ) < 0, for all x  I
(v) Constant on if f ( x ) = 0, for all x  I
5 Monotonic Functios: A function which is either increasing or decreasing in a given
interval I, is called monotonic function.
6 Stationary Point: The points at which a function changes its nature, from increasing to
decreasing or vice-versa, are called stationary points. These are also known as turning points.
7 Critical Point: A point c in the domain of a function fat which either f (c ) = 0 or f is not
differentiable, is called a critical point of f.

FIRST DERIVATIVE TEST:

Let f be a function defined on an open interval I. Let f be continuous at a critical point c in I.
Then
 SECOND DERIVATIVE TEST: Let f be a function defined on an interval I and c ∈ I. Let f be
twice differentiable at c. Then

Q1 The volume of a cube is increasing at a rate of 9 cubic centimetres per second. How fast is the
surface area increasing when the length of an edge is 10 centimetres?

Q2 The total revenue in Rupees received from the sale of x units of a product is given by R(x) =
3x2 + 36x + 5. Find the marginal revenue, when x = 5, where by marginal revenue we mean
the rate of change of total revenue with respect to the number of items sold at an instant.

Q3 A stone is dropped into a quiet lake and waves move in circles at the speed of 5 cm/s. At the
instant when the radius of the circular wave is 8 cm, how fast is the enclosed area increasing?

Q4 A ladder 5 m long is leaning against a wall. The bottom of the ladder is pulled along the
ground, away from the wall, at the rate of 2cm/s. How fast is its height on the wall decreasing
when the foot of the ladder is 4 m away from the wall?

Q5 A particle moves along the curve 6y = x3 +2. Find the points on the curve at which the y-
coordinate is changing 8 times as fast as the x-coordinate.

Q6 Sand is pouring from a pipe at the rate of 12 cm3 /s. The falling sand forms a cone on the
ground in such a way that the height of the cone is always one-sixth of the radius of the base.
How fast is the height of the sand cone increasing when the height is 4 cm?

Q7
Q8

Q9

Find the intervals in which the function ( x + 1) ( x − 3) is strictly increasing or decreasing:

3 3
Q10
Q11

Q12

Q13

Q14
If length of three sides of a trapezium other than base are equal to 10cm, then find the area of
the trapezium when it is maximum.
Q15

CASE BASED QUESTIONS

 1

3
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

1
Q3
ANSWERS MCQ

Q1:C Q2:B Q3:B Q4:D Q5:A Q6:B Q7:C

Q8:A Q9:C Q10:B Q11:C Q12:B Q13:A Q14:B
Q15:B Q16:C Q17:B Q18:C Q19:C Q20:B Q21:C
Q22:A Q23:C Q24:D Q25:A Q26:B Q27:B Q28D
Q29:A Q30A