Application of the Derivatives

Specific Learning Objectives

•determine the partial derivative of a function
•determine the slope of a curve at a point
•determine the line equations at a point of a curve
• determine the extreme values of a function
• determine the derivative at the relative extrema
• determine the critical & inflection point/s of a function
• determine the Mean Value and Rolle’s Theorem.
• determine the first and second derivative test.
•determine how to solve a maxima and minima (optimization)
problems.
•determine how to solve a time rates problems.
Partial Derivative

It is the derivative of a function containing several

independent variables wherein a single independent variable
will be a variable and the rest will be held constant.

Notation:
Example

Find
   the first partial derivatives of
Example

2 3
 

Find the second partial derivatives of 𝑧=𝑥 𝑦−3𝑥 𝑦
Slope of a Curve, Tangent Line and Normal Line
normal line
tangent line

 𝒇 (𝒙)

 𝑳 ( 𝒙 , 𝒚)
  𝜽

  𝜽
  𝑻   𝑺   𝑵
Slope of a Curve
By  definition, a line with slope

is the tangent line to the graph
of at the point .

That is,
Alternative definition of tangent line: The tangent line
through a point say is the line that passes and whose slope is
the derivative at point .
Example

Find
   the slope of the curve at the given point
at
Answer

𝑚=− 4
 
Example

Find
   the point on the curve where the inclination of the
tangent line is . Determine also the tangent line and normal
line equation.
Answer

 
Example

Find
   the points on the curve where the tangent line is
parallel to the line .
Answer

and
  
Extrema or Extreme Values
Let
   be defined on an interval containing .
1. is the minimum of on interval when for all in in interval.
It is the absolute minimum or global minimum.
2. is the maximum of on interval when for all in in interval.
It is the absolute maximum or global maximum.
Note: Extrema that occur at the endpoints are called endpoint
extrema.
Relative Extrema
Informal definition: In a continuous function, a relative
maximum as occurring on a “hill” on the graph, and a relative
minimum as occurring in a “valley” on the graph.
The hill and valley occurs in two ways:
a) It is smooth and rounded – horizontal
tangent line at the high point (or low point)
b) It is sharp and peaked - the graph
represents a function that is not differentiable
at the high point (or low point).
Relative Extrema
1.  If
 there is an open interval containing on which is a
maximum, then is called a relative maximum or local
maximum of .
2. If there is an open interval containing on which is a
minimum, then is called a relative minimum or local
minimum of .
Derivative at the Relative Extrema
Find the value of the derivative at each relative
extremum shown in the figure.
Critical Number and Critical Point
Let
   be defined at . If (stationary point) or if is not
differentiable at , then is a critical number or critical point of .
Relative Extrema Occur only at Critical Numbers
If   has
 a relative minimum or maximum at , then is a critical
number of .
Example
Find
   all the critical points of .
Answer
and
  
Rolle’s Theorem
Let
   be continuous on the closed interval and differentiable
on the open interval . If , then there is at least one number in
such that .
Example
Given
   . Find all values of in the interval such that .
Answer

𝑥=0,1,−1
 
The Mean Value Theorem
If   is
 continuous on the closed interval and differentiable on
the open interval , then there exists a number in in such
that .
Example
For
   , find all values of in the open interval such that .
Answer

𝑐=2
 
First Derivative Test
Let  be a critical number for a continuous function

1. If changes from to at , then is a local maximum.
2. If changes from to at , then is a local minimum.
3. If does not change at , then is neither a local maximum or minimum
therefore it is horizontal inflection point.
Example
Find
   the relative extrema of .
Answer
- maximum
  
and - minimum
Example
Find
   all the critical points and test the critical points
.
Answer
- H.I.P.
  
- minimum
Points of Inflection
Let
   be a function that is continuous on an open interval, and
let be a point in the interval. If the graph of has a tangent line
at this point , then this point is a point of inflection of the
graph of when the concavity of changes from upward to
downward or vice versa at the point.
Types and Theorem of Points of Inflection
 

If is a point of inflection of the graph of , then either or does

not exist at .
Example
Determine
   the points of inflection of the function
.
Answer
and
  
Second Derivative Test
Let
   be a function such that and the second derivative of
exists on an open interval containing .

1. If , then has a relative minimum at .

2. If , then has a relative maximum at .
3. If , then it corresponds to a possible inflection point.
Example
Find
   the relative extrema of .
Answer
relative
   minimum
inflection point
relative maximum
Maxima and Minima (Optimization) Problems
Steps in Solving the Maxima and Minima Problems
1. Draw a diagram with labelling if needed.
2. Write an expression for the quantity that is going to be
maximized or minimized.
3. (Optional)From step 2, equate the dependent variable to a
single independent variable using other constructed
equations.
4. Determine the first derivative and set to zero.
5. Solve for the unknown.
Example

Find two numbers whose sum is 9, if the product of one by

the square of the other is a maximum.
Answer

3 and 6
Example
An  open box is to be made from a square piece of cardboard

18in 18in, by cutting equal squares out of the corners, and
turning up the sides. Find the dimensions of the box with
maximum volume.
Answer

12×12×3
 
Example
Find the volume of the largest circular cylinder that may be cut out
from a circular cone of radius 6 inches and height 9 inches.
Answer

48 𝜋 𝑐𝑢.𝑖𝑛
 
Time Rates
Steps in Solving the Time Rates Problems
1. Draw a diagram with labelling if needed.
2. Identify the varying and the constants.
3. Assign variables.
4. Create an equation relating all the variables and constants.
5. Take the first or second(if needed) derivative of the
equation with respect to time.
6. Determine the unknown.
Example
A balloon leaves the ground 80 ft. from an observer and rises vertically
upward at 5 ft. per sec. a) How fast is the balloon receding from the
observer after 12 seconds? b) Find the corresponding acceleration.
Answer

) 3  ft/sec

b) ft/sec2
Example
Water escapes from the bottom of an inverted conical funnel at the
rate of 15 cu. in. per min. The funnel is 20 inches deep and has a radius
of 5 inches at the top. How fast is the water level sinking when the
depth is 8 inches?
Answer

in./min.
  
Example
A car starts eastward at 30 mi. per hr. Two hours later another car
starts from the same point northward at 45 mi. per hr. How fast are
they separating 2 hours after the start of the second car.
Answer

mi./hr.
  
End
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