Lesson 4

Polynomial Curves
Tangents and Normal to Plane
Curves,
Increasing and Decreasing
Function
(Maxima and Minima)
 Sample Problems
1. Find the equations of the tangent and normal to the curve at
its point of intersection with the .

Solution:

At the , .

Possible Numerator:
Possible Denominator:
Possible Roots:
 Sample Problems
Using Synthetic Division,

Depressed Equation:
 Sample Problems
At ,

At ,

At ,
 Sample Problems
Tangent Line:
At and

Using the point slope – form,

 Sample Problems
Normal Line:
At and

Using the point slope – form,

 Sample Problems
Tangent Line:
At and

Using the point slope – form,

 Sample Problems
Normal Line:
At and

Using the point slope – form,

 Sample Problems
Tangent Line:
At and

Using the point slope – form,

 Sample Problems
Normal Line:
At and

Using the point slope – form,

 Sample Problems
2. Find the equation of the normal at the point .

Solution:

At
 Sample Problems
For normal line,

Using the point slope – form,

 Sample Problems
3. Find the tangent line to the ellipse parallel to the line .

Solution:

From

From ,
 Sample Problems
Substitute equation to equation ,

Substituting to the original equation,

 Sample Problems
When ,

At , ,

Using the point slope – form,

 Sample Problems
At , ,

Using the point slope – form,

 Sample Problems
4. Find a normal of slope to the hyperbola .

Solution:

At tangency, ,
 Sample Problems

Substitute to the original equation,

 Sample Problems
When ,

At ,

Using the point slope – form,

 Sample Problems
At ,

Using the point slope – form,

 Sample Problems
5. Find the equations of the tangent line at the point included.
at its point of intersection with line .

Solution:

Points of intersection
 Sample Problems

At ,

Using the point slope – form,

 Sample Problems
At ,

Using the point slope – form,

 Sample Problems
6. Find the tangent line to the parabola with slope m.

Solution:
 Sample Problems
When ,
 Sample Problems
At , slope = ,

Using the point slope – form,

 Increasing and Decreasing
Function
Since is a rate of change, then if

as increases, increases.

the function is increasing.

If,

as decreases, decreases.

the function is decreasing.

 Maxima and Minima

Critical Points – Points on the graph where the tangent is

horizontal, i.e, .
 Maxima and Minima
Types:

1. Maximum Point

a. Relative Maximum – as point A on the graph

b. Absolute Maximum – as the vertex of the parabola opening
downward

2. Minimum Point

c. Relative Minimum – as point B on the graph

d. Absolute Minimum - as the vertex of the parabola opening upward

3. Point of Inflection – a point where the curve changes concavity from

concave upward to concave down or vice versa

Note: To find critical points, solve for and equate to zero.

 Maxima and Minima
First Derivative Test for Maxima and Minima

1. If changes sign from , then the point is a maximum point.

2. If changes sign from , then the point is a minimum point.

3. If does not change sign, then the point is an inflection

point with horizontal tangent.
 Illustrative Example
Find the critical points and determine the maxima and minima

Solution:

To solve for critical points,

 Illustrative Example
At ,

At ,
 Illustrative Example
At ,

When

When

Since changes sign from , then is a minimum point.

 Illustrative Example
At ,

When

When

Since changes sign from , then is a maximum point.

 Maxima and Minima
Second Derivative

But
 Maxima and Minima
Second Derivative Test for Maxima and Minima

At critical point,

1. If , then the point is a maximum point.

2. If , then the point is a minimum point.

3. If , then the point is an inflection point with horizontal

tangent.
 Sketching Polynomial Curves
Steps:

1. Find the points of intersection with the axes.

2. Determine the behaviour of for large values of .

3. Locate and determine the maxima and minima.

4. Locate .

5. If necessary, plot a few additional points.

Sample Problem
Sketch the following curves.

Solution:

Step 1. Find the intercepts

Set

Set y = 0,
 Sample Problem
Step 2.

If is large and positive, is large and positive.

If is large and negative, is large and negative.

Step 3.
 Sample Problem
When

When ,
 Sample Problem
Step 4.

When
Sample Problem
Testing.

At ,

At ,
Sample Problems
Graph:
 Sample Problems
2.

Solution:

Step 1. Set

Set

Possible Numerator:
Possible Denominator :
Possible Roots:
Sample Problems
Using Synthetic Division,

Depressed Equation:
 Sample Problems
Step 2.

If is large and positive, is large and positive.

If is large and negative, is large and positive.

Step 3.

Possible Numerator:
Possible Denominator:
Possible Roots:
Sample Problems
Using Synthetic Division,

Depressed Equation:
 Sample Problem
At ,

Step 4.
 Sample Problem
Using Quadratic Formula,
 Sample Problem
When ,

When ,
 Sample Problem
Testing:
At ,

At ,

At
 Sample Problem
Graph:
 Sample Problem
3. Make the curve have a critical point at and have an
inflection point at with inflectional tangent to .

Solution:

To pass thru

To pass thru
Sample Problem

To have a critical point at ,

To have an inflection point at ,

 Sample Problem
To have an inflectional tangent to ,

To pass thru ,
Sample Problem
Rewriting the equations,

Solving Simultaneously,
Equations and ,

Equations and ,
 Sample Problem
Equations and ,

Substitute to Equation ,

Substitute to Equation ,