APPLICATIONS OF DIFFERENTIATION

UNIT 2 : APPLICATIONS OF DIFFERENTIATION

INTRODUCTION

Differentiation is a branch of mathematics that is concerned with changing variable. By

differentiating a variable, we can find the rate at which it is changing. It is widely used by
mathematicians, scientists and engineers in many fields to solve problems.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

After completing the topic, students should be able to:

1. determine the gradient of a curve, tangent and normal at a point on a curve and form their
equations.
2. determine maximum and minimum points.
3. solve maximum and minimum problems.
4. determine the rate of change and related rate of change of a quantity.
5. solve problems on rate of change and related rate of change.
6. solve problems involving small increment and approximation.

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2.1 TANGENT AND NORMAL

2.1.1 DEFINITION
y

y  f x 
tangent
Recall Back
Px 1, y 1 
normal
x

Figure 3.1: Tangent and normal line of a curve

If is this function of a curve, then = f’(x) is the gradient of the curve.

The gradient of a curve at any point is defined as the gradient of a tangent (m t) to

the curve at the point. If is point on the curve then the gradient

of the tangent at P is the value of when , i.e. .

The normal to the curve at point is the straight line that passes
through the point P and it perpendicular to the tangent at the point, thus gradient

of the normal is mn = or

2.1.2 EQUATION OF TANGENT AND A NORMAL TO A CURVE

The equation of the tangent at point is .

The equation of a normal at point is where

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Example 2.1 :
Find the gradient of a curve at the point
Solution :
y = 3x2 – 2

= 6x

= 6(2)
= 12

Example 2.2 :

Find the equation of a tangent and normal to a curve at the

point .
Solution :
y = 4x3 + 5

= 12(-1)2
= 12
Gradient of tangent
The equation of the tangent to the curve
y – 1 = 12 (x + 1)
y – 1 = 12x + 12
y = 12x + 13

The gradient of the normal

The equation of the normal to the curve

y–1 (x + 1)

12y – 12 = -x – 1
x + 12y -1 = 0

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UNIT EXERCISE 2.1

1. Find the gradient of the curve and gradient of normal at the given point

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

2. Find the equation of the tangent and normal to the curve at the given point
in each case.

(a) at the point

(b) at the point

(c)

(d) at the point

2.2 MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM

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2.2.1 SECOND ORDER DIFFERENTIATION

The second derivative of the function is the second order differentiation

and denoted by or .

or means to differentiate or another time.

Example 2.3 :

Find for each of the following function

a. b.

Solution :

a. y = x3 - x2 – 6x + 1

3x2 – 3x – 6

6x - 3

b. y = x2 +

2x – 54x-2
MAX POINT y
dy
(SOD)
2 + 108x -3  0
dx y = f(x)

= 2dy
+ dy dy
 0
dx  0  0
dx
2.2.2 TURNING POINTS, MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM
Q dx
POINTSx
P o

MIN POINT (SOD)

dy
TURNING POINT
5
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APPLICATIONS OF DIFFERENTIATION

Figure 3.2 : Turning point, maximum and minimum points

i. As x increase through the point P, the value of changes from positive

to zero and then to negative. Point P is known as the maximum point or it

is said that have maximum values.

ii. As x increase through the point Q, the value of change from negative to

zero and then to positive. Point Q is known as the minimum points or it is said
that have minimum value.

iii. The points on the curve where are known as turning

point or stationary point.

iv. Turning points consist of maximum and minimum points. The tangents at turning
points are parallel to the x-axis. Therefore the points P and Q are the turning
points.

The following steps can be used to determine whether a turning point is a maximum or
minimum point.

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STEP 1 : Find

STEP 2 : Find the value (s) of x and its corresponding value(s) of y when

(At turning point ).

STEP 3: To determine whether the turning point is a minimum or maximum

we can use the second order differentiation method.

Example 2.4 :

Find the coordinate of the turning points of the curve y = 2x2 – 8x + 1. Determine
whether the point is maximum or minimum.

Solution :

STEP 1 : Find

y = 2x2 – 8x + 1

= 4x – 8

STEP 2 : Find the value (s) of x and its corresponding value(s) of y when

At turning point

Then 4x – 8 = 0
x=2
When x = 2, y = 2(2)2 – 8(2) + 1 = -7
Therefore the turning point is (2, -7)

STEP 3 : To determine whether the turning point is a minimum or maximum we

can use the second order differentiation method.

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4>0

Therefore (2, -7) is the minimum point

Example 2.5 :

Find the coordinates of the turning points of the curve y = 4x3 + 9x2 – 12x + 13.
Determine whether the point is maximum or minimum point.

Solution :
y = 4x3 + 9x2 – 12x + 13

= 12x2 + 18x - 12

12x2 + 18x – 12 = 0 or 2x2 + 3x – 2 = 0

(2x - 1) (x + 2) = 0

x= and x = -2

when x = when x = -2
y = 4(-2)3 + 9(-2)2 – 12(-2) + 13
= 41
The turning point is (-2, 41)
=
24x + 18

The turning point is ( )

= 24(-2) + 18
= -30 < 0
Therefore (-2, 41) is the maximum point.

Therefore ( ) is the minimum point.

2.2.3 PROBLEMS INVOLVING MAXIMUM OR MINIMUM VALUES

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Many real-life situations the knowledge of differentiation especially the problems

involving maximum or minimum values.

Steps in solving on maximum and minimum

1) Express the quantity that has to be maximized or minimized in terms of

only one variable based on the given information. Let a (area) be the
quantity that has to be maximized or minimized. Thus express a in terms
of only one variable, let it be r.

2) Find and solve the equation to determine the value of r.

3) Find substitute the value of r that is found into , where if

 is negative, the value of is maximum

 is positive, the value of is minimum.

4) Calculate the maximum or minimum value of a by substituting the value of

r into A.

Example 2.6 :

A farmer used 200 meters of rope to marks the perimeter of a rectangle

enclosure to fence in this sheep. If the rectangular enclosure is to measure 2x m
by y m show that and the area A m2, of the enclosure is given by

a) Find the values x and y

b) Determine the maximum area of the enclosure

Solution :
2x

y
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a. Perimeter: 4x + 2y = 200
2x + y = 100 is shown
y = 100 – 2x …………….(1)
Area : A = 2xy…………………………..(2)
Substitute (1) into (2)
A = 2x(100 – 2x)
= 200x – 4x2 shown the area

= 200 – 8x

Turning points occur at

Then 200 – 8x = 0
x = 25
When x = 25, then y = 100 – 2(25) = 50

b. Maximum area of the enclosure

-8 < 0 has a maximum values

The maximum area = 200x – 4x2

= 200(25) – 4(25)2
= 2500 m2

UNIT EXERCISE 2.2

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1. Find the turning points of the following curves and determines whether it is a
maximum or minimum point.
(a)
(b)

(c)

(d)
(e)

2. A piece of wire of length 120 cm is bent to form a trapezium as shown in the

figure.
y cm

10x cm
10x cm
8x

12x + y cm

(a) Express y in terms of x

(b) Show that the area A cm2 enclosed by the wire is given by

(c) Find the values of x and y for which area is maximum.

3. A wire with length 2 meters is bent to form a rectangle with the maximum area.
Find the measurement of its sides.

2.3 RATES OF CHANGE

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Rate of change problem usually involve time t as one of the variable. If , where t

is time, then represents the rate of change of y.

Let we see these two situations:

 If A is the area in and t is the time in seconds, then means the area

is increasing at the rate of

 If V is the volume in and t is the time in seconds, then means the

volume is decreasing at the rate of .

NOTE : Notice that a negative sign has to be inserted to represent the rate of
decrease.

Steps to solve problem on related rates of changes

Step 1 : Write the rate of change required by the question in the form of
mathematical symbol.

The rate of change of volume

The rate of change of area

The rate of change of radius

The rate of change of variable

The rate of change of variable

Step 2 : The related rate of change can be determined by using the chain rule.

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=rate of change of =rate of change of = rate of change of

=rate of change of =rate of change of = rate of change of

Example 2.7 :

Given that y = 4x2 – 5x . If x increases at the rate of 0.4 unit per second. Find the
rate of change in y at the instant when .

Solution :

y = 4x2 – 5x 0.4 unit per second

8x – 5

= [8(2) – 5] x (0.4)
= 4.4 unit s-1

Example 2.8 :

The radius r of a circle is decreasing at the rate of 0.6 cm per minute when
. Find the corresponding rate of increase in the area, of the
circle.

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Solution :
A= r2

2 r -0.6 cm m-1

=2 (9) x (- 0.6)
= -10.8 cm2 m-1

Example 2.9 :

Each side of a cubes is decreasing at the rate of 4 cm s-1. When the length of
each side is 10 cm. Find the rate of its
a. volume
b. Total surface area.

Solution :

a. = -4 cm s-1

The volume, V = x3 x

3x2
x

= 3(10)2 x (-4) x
= -1200 cm3 s-1
Therefore the rate of decreasing of its volume is 1200 cm3 s-1

b. The total surface area

A = 6x2

12x

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= 12 (10) x (-4)
= -480

The rate of decreasing of its total surface area is 480 cm2 s-1

Example 2.10 :

Air escape from a leaked spherical balloon if the volume of the balloon is
decreasing at the rate of . Find the rate of the radius of the balloon
when radius is 4 cm.

Solution :

The volume, V =

Example 2.11 :
Boyle’s Lan connect the pressure P, units of a gas with its volume, V units. In the
formula , where m is a constant

a. Find in terms of m and V.

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b. If p is increased at a constant rate of unit per hour, at the

distant when . Calculate the rate of change in the

volume of the gas.

Solution :

a. pv = m

p= = mv-1

b. p

UNIT EXERCISE 2.3

1. Given that , when increase at the rate of 0.3 cm/s.

Therefore
Find the the rateof
rate of change change in the volume
when . of the gas is

2. Given that , when decrease at the rate of 0.2 cm/s.

Find the rate of change of when .

3. The area of a circle increase at the uniform rate of .

Calculate
The the
rate rate of increase
of change in theofvolume
the radius of gas
of the this is
circle
-27 mwhere
3 -1 its
h
radius is 8 cm.
4. The area of a square increase at the rat of .
Find the rate of change in the length of its side when the area is 25 cm2.
5. Given that and r cm decrease at a rate of 0.5 c .
Find the rate of change of when .
6. The volume of a sphere with radius increase at a rate of
20 . Find the rate of when .
7. The side of a cube decrease at the rate of 0.2 . Find the rate of
change of the volume of cube
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2.4 SMALL CHANGE

2.4.1 SMALL CHANGES IN QUANTITIES

If is a small change in y as the result of a small change in x, we have the

approximation

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This result can be used to find the small changes in , provided that is
small. The smaller the value of the more accurate the approximation.

To solve problems on small changes we have to write the small changes that
has to be calculate in the form of mathematical

Example 2.12 :

Given the curve y = 2x2 + 3x. Find and hence, find the

change in value of y when x increase from 2 to 2.01

Solution :
y = 2x2 + 3x

= 4x + 3

Given x = 2 and = 2.01 – 2 = 0.01

[4x + 3] x 0.01
[4(2) + 3] x 0.01
0.11

Example 2.13 :

If , find the approximate change in p when v change from 15 to 14.6.

Solution :
pv = 15 v = 15

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= 14.6 – 15 = -0.4

Example 2.14 :

The radius of a circle increase from 4 cm to 4.002 cm. Find the corresponding
change in the area of the circle.

Solution :
A= r2

=2 r r=4 = 4.002 – 4 = 0.002

2 r x 0.002
2 (4) x (0.002)
0.016 cm

Example 2.15 :

The base of a closed rectangular box is a square of side and its height is
. If the volume of box increasing from . Find the
corresponding change in x.

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Solution :

x
x

3x

2.4.2 APPROXIMATION

The approximation value of y is given by:

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Example 2.16 :

Given y = x3, find when x = 3. Hence find the approximation value of (3.002)3.

Solution :

y = x3 therefore y = (3)3 = 27

= 3x2 x=3 and = 3.002 – 3 = 0.002

when x = 3, = 3(3)2 = 27

(3.002)3 = 27 + (27 x 0.002)

= 27.054

Example 2.17 :

Given find when hence find the approximation value of

. Correct to 2 significant figures.

Solution :

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given x = 6 and = 5.998 – 6 = -0.002

when x = 6,

UNIT EXERCISE 2.4

1. Given the curve . Find , hence, find the corresponding

Examplechange
2.18 : in y when x decreases from .

2. The radius of circle increase from . Find the approximation in

Given , find when x = 9. Hence find the approximation value of
its perimeter.

3. The volume of a liquid in a container is given by ,

where is the depth of the liquid. Find
Solution :
(a) in terms of h.

(b) The approximation change in the volume when depth decreases

from
given x = 9 and = 9.01 – 9 = 0.01

4. The height of a cone is fixed at . If the radius of the base of the

when
conexincreases
= 9, from cm, find the approximation increase in the
volume of the cone .

5. Given . Find the value of when . Hence find the

approximation value of :

(a)
(b)

6. Determine the approximate value of the following.

(a)

(b)
(c)

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4.3 MOTION OF A STRAIGHT LINE

Displacement, velocity, and acceleration all describe the motion of an object; all three
are vector quantities. In one dimension, position is given as a function of x with respect
to time, x(t). An object's change in position with respect to time is known as its
displacement,s.

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Velocity can be thought of as the object's speed and direction, or change in position
over time.

The acceleration of an object is describes the object's change in velocity over time.

Displacement:
Velocity: Displacement :
Acceleration: s

DIFFERENTIATION
INTEGRATION

Example 4.8 :
The displacement of a particle from fixed point is given by s  4t 3  5t 2 . Obtain
the expression for the velocity and acceleration at any time t.

Solution :

Displacement, s  4t 3  5t 2
ds
Velocity, v  12t 2  10t
dt
dv
Acceleration, a  24t  10
dt

Example 4.9 :
A particle moves along a straight line with a velocity,v ms-1, given by
v = 3t2 – 14t + 10, where t is the time in seconds after the particle leaves a fixed
point 0.
a) Find the expression of displacement of the particle from 0 at time t
seconds.

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b) Find the acceleration of the particle when t = 2 .

Solution :
a) v = 3t2 + 14t + 10

s=

= t3 + 7t2 + 10t
When t = 0, s = 0, Therefore, s = t3 + 7t2 + 10t.

b) a= = 6t2 -14

t = 2 , a = 6(2)2 - 14 = 10 ms-2

Example 4.10 :

The acceleration of a particle from a fixed point is given by a = 4t.

a) Obtain the expression for the velocity and displacement at any

time t.
b) Find the instantaneous velocity at time 2 seconds if v = 2 when
t = 1.

Solution :

a) Acceleration, a  4t

Velocity, V   adt

4t 2
  4tdt   C  2t 2  C
2

S   vdt   2t 2 dt 
2t 3
Displacement, C
3
b) Velocity, V  2t 2  C

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At t=1, V=3; 3  2(1) 2  C

C 1

UNIT EXERCISE 4.3

1. The acceleration of a particle from a fixed point is given by a = 3t5.

(a) Obtain the expression for the velocity and displacement at any
time t.
(a) Find the instantaneous velocity at time 3 seconds if v = 0 when
t = 0.

2. The acceleration of a point is given by a  4  t 2 m / s 2 . Write an

expression for the velocity, if v = 2 m/s when t = 3 s.

3. The acceleration of a point is given by a  t 2  3t m / s 2 .Write an

expression for the velocity, if v = 2 m/s when t = –3 s.

4. The distance in meter traveled in time t second by a point moving in a

straight line is give by the formula S  5  8t  3t 2 . Find the velocity
and acceleration at t = 4s.

5. An objects moves along a straight line and its velocity is given by v =

9t2 – 4t, where t is the time in second after the object passes through a fixed
point 0. Determine the distance of the object from 0, after 2 seconds.

6. The displacement of a particle which moves in a straight line is given

by s  2t 3  9t  5 .Find the velocity and acceleration at t = 2s.

ANSWERS

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UNIT EXERCISE 2.1

1. (a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e) 8

2. (a) Tangent, y = 21x – 39, Normal, 21y + x = 65

(b) Tangent, y = -5x, Normal, 5y = x + 26
(c ) Tangent, y = 3x - 3, Normal, 3y = -x + 1
(d) Tangent, y = 5x -2 = 0, Normal, 5y = -x + 10
(e)
UNIT EXERCISE 2.2

1. (a) (4, -4), = 2 < 0 maximum

(b) (3, -20) minimum, (-1, 12) maximum

(c) minimum

(d) (6, 0) minimum, (2, 32) maximum

(e) (2, 16) maximum, (-2, -16) minimum

2. (a) y = 60 – 16x
(b) A = 480x – 80x2
(c) x = 3 , y = 12

3.

UNIT EXERCISE 2.3

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1. 2.1
2. -3

3. cms-1

4. 2 cms-1
5. 42.417 cm3s-1
6. 1.591 cms-1
7. -15 cm3s-1

UNIT EXERCISE 2.4

1. 3x2 + 10 x , -0.114
2. 25.26168
3. (a) 5 + 12h
(b) 327.22
4. 230.413
5. (a) 32.16
(b) 31.68
6. (a) 0.19999
(b) 1.999875
(c) 0.995

UNIT EXERCISE 2.5

t6 t7
1. (a) v  c , a c
2 14
(b) 364.5

t3
2. v  4t  1
3
3. v = t3/3 – 3t2/2 + 24.5
4. v = -16, a = -6
5. 16
6. v = 33, a = 24

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