APPLICATIONS OF DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS

Optimisation Problems:
Calculating stationary points also lends itself to the solving of problems that require some
variable to be maximised or minimised. These are referred to as optimisation problems.
Example:
3
The fuel used by a car is defined by 𝑓(𝑣) = 80 𝑣 2 − 6𝑣 + 245, where 𝑣 is the travelling
speed in km/h.
What is the most economical speed of the car? In other words, determine the speed of the
car which uses the least amount of fuel.
If we draw the graph of this function we find that the graph has a minimum. The speed at
the minimum would then give the most economical speed.

We have seen that the coordinates of the turning point can be calculated by differentiating
the function and finding the 𝑥-coordinate (speed in the case of the example) for which the
derivative is 0.
3
𝑓 ′ (𝑣) = 𝑣−6
40
If we set 𝑓′(𝑣) = 0 we can calculate the speed that corresponds to the turning point:
3
𝑓 ′ (𝑣) = 𝑣−6
40
3
0= 𝑣−6
40
6(40)
𝑣=
3
𝑣 = 80
This means that the most economical speed is 80 km/h.
Finding the optimum point:

• Find 𝑓′(𝑥) (differentiate the function.)

• Set 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 0 and solve for 𝑥 to find the optimum point.
• Check whether the optimum point 𝑥 = 𝑎 is a local maximum or minimum by finding
𝑓′′(𝑥).
o If 𝑓 ′′ (𝑎) < 0, then the point is a local maximum.
o If 𝑓 ′′ (𝑎) > 0, then the point is a local minimum.

Rates of Change:
We have learnt how to determine the average gradient of a curve and how to determine the
gradient of a curve at a given point. These concepts are also referred to as the average rate
of change and the instantaneous rate of change.
𝑓(𝑥 + ℎ) − 𝑓(𝑥)
𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 =
(𝑥 + ℎ) − 𝑥
𝑓(𝑥 + ℎ) − 𝑓(𝑥)
𝐼𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 = lim
ℎ→0 ℎ

When we mention rate of change, the instantaneous rate of change (the derivative) is
implied. When average rate of change is required, it will be specifically referred to as
average rate of change.

Velocity is one of the most common forms of rate of change:

𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 = 𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒
𝐼𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 = 𝐼𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 = 𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒

Velocity refers to the change in distance (𝑠) for a corresponding change in time (𝑡).
𝑑𝑠
𝑣(𝑡) = = 𝑠′(𝑡)
𝑑𝑡
Acceleration is the change in velocity for a corresponding change in time. Therefore,
acceleration is the derivative of velocity.
𝑎(𝑡) = 𝑣′(𝑡)
This implies that acceleration is the second derivative of the distance.
𝑎(𝑡) = 𝑠′′(𝑡)