Applications of Differential Calculus

5.1 5.4 5.5 5.7 LHospitals Rule Monotonic Functions

Advanced Level Pure Mathematics

1 2 2 3 8

Proving Inequalities by Using Differential Calculus Maxima and Minima Curve Sketching

5.1
Theorem

L' Hospital's Rule

The limit of a non-constant function f ( x ) as x tends to x0 is said to be an indeterminate of the form .

(i)

g1( x ) 1 x 0 , where lim g1( x ) = lim g 2 ( x ) = 0, e.g. lim . if f ( x ) = x x x x 0 0 x 1 g2( x ) 0 2 2 x2

(ii)

if f ( x ) =

tan 3 x g1( x ) . , where lim g1 ( x) = lim g 2 ( x) = , e.g. lim x x0 x x0 tan x x g2( x ) 2

(iii) (iv) (v) (vi) Remark

0 0 if 0
1

g1 ( x ) = lim g 2 ( x ) = 0 , e.g. lim+ x x . f ( x ) = [ g1( x )] g 2 ( x ) , where xlim x x x x 0

0 0

, +
exist.

and are not indeterminate forms because none of limits of these forms can

Theorem

L'Hospital's Rule g (x) 0 lim 1 If x is an indeterminate of the form or x g ( x ) 0 2

0

, then

x x0

lim

g1 ( x ) g '( x) = lim 1 . g 2 ( x ) x x0 g 2 ' ( x )

Example

(a) Evaluate lim x 1

ln x x 1

(b) Evaluate lim+

x 0

ln x . cot x

Example

( Other Indeterminate Forms )

( x ) tan x . Evaluate lim 2

x 2

It is important that before applying L'Hospital's rule, we should check each step whether the limit under consideration is an indeterminate or not, if the limit is not an indeterminate or is an indeterminate but not of the form
0 or 0

, L'Hospital's rule is not applicable.

In the following, which step is wrong? Page 1

Applications of Differential Calculus

lim e x e x x 0 sin x

Advanced Level Pure Mathematics

= = = =

lijm
x 0

e x + e x cos x

lim lim

e x e x x 0 sin x e x + e x x 0 cos x
e0 + e0 cos 0

5.2
Theorem

Monotonic Functions
Let f ( x ) be continuous on [a, b] and differentiable on (a, b). f ( x ) is a constant function if and only if f ' ( x ) = 0 for all x ( a ,b ) A function f ( x ) is said to be monotonic increasing ( resp. monotonic decreasing ) or simply x1 , x 2 I , if x1 < x2 then increasing ( resp. decreasing ) on an interval I if and only if f ( x1 ) f ( x 2 ) (resp. x1 , x 2 I , if x1 < x2 , then f ( x1 ) f ( x 2 ) ). A function f ( x ) is said to be strictly increasing ( resp. strictly decreasing ) on an interval I x1 , x 2 I , if x1 < x2 then f ( x1 ) < f ( x 2 ) (resp. x1 , x 2 I , if x1 < x2 , if and only if then f ( x1 ) > f ( x 2 ) ). Let f ( x ) be continuous on [a, b] and differentiable on (a, b). Then x ( a ,b ), f ( x ) is strictly increasing on [a, b]; and (a) if f ' ( x ) > 0, x ( a ,b ), f ( x ) is strictly decreasing on [a, b]. (b) if f ' ( x ) < 0, Prove that f ( x ) = x 3 is strictly increasing on R .

Definition

Definition

Theorem

Example

Proving Inequalities by Using Differential Calculus

In Practical problems, we always encounter inequalities within a certain range such as:
f ( x ) > g( x )

( a < x < b) ( a < x < b)

Usually, it is transformed to
F ( x ) = f ( x ) g( x ) > 0

Based on the properties of increasing function and decreasing function, we can establish inequalities and the method is outlined in the following Making Use of Strictly Increasing or Decreasing Functions Want to prove that (1) Consider Try to prove that Hence, we have (2) Try to prove that Then we have
f ( x ) > g( x ) F ( x ) = f ( x ) g( x ) F' ( x ) > 0

( a < x < b)

F ( x ) is strictly increasing on ( a ,b ) F ( x ) is continuous on [a ,b ] F ( x ) = f ( x ) g( x ) > F ( a )

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Applications of Differential Calculus (3) Try to prove that Then we can conclude that

Advanced Level Pure Mathematics

F( a ) 0 f ( x ) > g( x )

( a < x < b)

Making Use of The Greatest and Least Values of a Function Want to prove that (1) Consider Try to prove that (2) Try to prove that Then we have (3) Try to prove that Then we can conclude that Example Example
f ( x ) > g( x ) F ( x ) = f ( x ) g( x ) F ( c ) is the least value in ( a ,b ) F ( x ) is continuous on [a ,b ] F ( x ) = f ( x ) g( x ) > F ( c ) F( c ) 0 f ( x ) > g( x )

( x c)

( a < x < b, x c)

Show that sin x < x for all x > 0 . Prove e y e a e a ( y a ) .

x x x Prove if x > 0, x < ln ( 1 + x ) < x + 2 2
2 2 3

Example

Example

Suppose f ( x ) satisfy (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) Let g ( x ) =

f ( x ) is continuous for x 0 . f ' ( x ) exists for x > 0 . f (0 ) =0 f ' ( x ) is increasing on [0 , )

f(x) , show g is increasing. x

5.5
Definition

Maxima and Minima

A neighborhood of a point x 0 is an open interval containing x 0 , i.e. ( x 0 , x 0 + ) is a neighborhood of x 0 for some > 0 . A function f ( x ) is said to attain a relative maximum ( minimum ) at a point x 0 if f ( x ) f ( x 0 ) ( f ( x ) f ( x 0 ) ) in a certain neighborhood of x 0 , i.e. > 0 such that f ( x ) f ( x 0 ) ( f ( x ) f ( x 0 ) ) for x x 0 < Fermat Theorem Given f ( x ) is a point defined on (a, b ) and differentiable at a point x 0 if f ( x ) has an extreme value ( max. or min ) x 0 , then f ' ( x 0 ) = 0 . f ' ( x 0 ) = 0 f ( x ) has maximum or minimum at x 0 . (a) A turning point is a maximum or minimum point. (b) If f ' ( x ) = 0 , then x is called a critical or stationary value and its corresponding point on the graph y = f ( x ) is called stationary point. Page 3

Definition

Theorem

Note Definition

Applications of Differential Calculus Notes 1. 2. 3.

Advanced Level Pure Mathematics

turning point stationary point turning point + differentiable stationary point Stationary point turning point

Theorem

Therefore, in searching extreme value of a function, we have to investigate not only the stationary points < f ' ( x ) = 0 >, but also the points where the functions is not differentiable. Suppose that the function f ( x ) has a continuous derivatives f ' ( x ) = 0 which vanishes only at a finite no. of points, then the function has maximum (minimum) at point x 0 if and only if f ' ( x ) is + ve ( ve) at points immediately to the left of x 0 and ve (+ve) immediately to the right of x 0 .
f ( x ) is a function of

Theorem

x , if f ' ( x

) = 0 and f ' ' ( x 0 ) exists such that

(i) f ' ' ( x 0 ) > 0 , then f ( x ) attains minimum at x = x 0 . (ii) f ' ' ( x 0 ) < 0 , then f ( x ) attains maximum at x = x 0 .
2

Example

Find the max. or min. points of y = ( x 1 )x 3 + 3

Example

Find the local extreme of the function f ( x ) = x 3 ( x 1 ) 3 Given that f ( x ) is continuous on [a, b ] , if any x1 , x 2 (a, b ) such that (i)
x + x 2 f (x1 ) + f (x 2 ) f 1 > 2 2

Definition

Concave Downward

x + x 2 f ( x1 ) + f ( x 2 ) (ii) f 1 < 2 2

Concave Upward

*Theorem

If f ( x ) is a function on [a, b ] such that f ( x ) is second differentiable on (a, b ) then (i) f ' ' ( x ) > 0 iff f ( x ) is concave upward on (a, b ) (ii) f ' ' ( x ) < 0 iff f ( x ) is concave downward on (a, b ) .

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Applications of Differential Calculus

Advanced Level Pure Mathematics

Point of Inflection
Definition Let f ( x ) be a continuous function. A point (c, f (c )) on the graph of f is a point of inflexion (point of inflection) if the graph on one side of this point is concave downward and concave upward on the other side. That is, the graph changes concavity at x = c .

Note

A point of inflexion of a curve y = f ( x ) must be a continuous point but need not be differentiable there. In Figure (c), R is a point of inflexion of the curve but the function is not differentiable at x 0 .

Theorem Note:

If f ( x ) is second differentiable function and attains a point of inflexion at (i) (ii) max. or min. point but not derivative.

x = c , then

f ' ' (c ) = 0 .

point of inflexion may not be obtained by solving f ' ' ( x ) = 0 where f ' (c ) = and f ' + (c ) = such that f ' (c)f '+ (c) > 0 . Let f ( x ) be a function which is second differentiable in a neighborhood of a point of inflexion iff f ' ( x ) does not change sign as x increases through (sign gradient test) if f ' (c) = 0 and f ' (c)f '+ (c) < 0 , then f ( x ) attains a relative max. or relative min. if f ' (c) = 0 and f ' (c )f '+ (c) > 0 , then f ( x ) attains an inflexion point at c .

(iii)

Example

Find the points of inflexion of the curve y = x 4 6 x 2 + 8 x + 10 .

y' = 4x 3 12x + 8

y' ' = 12x 2 12 = 12( x 1)( x + 1)

When

x = 1 , y' ' = 0 .
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Applications of Differential Calculus

Advanced Level Pure Mathematics

x
y''

x < 1
concave upward

x = 1
pt of inflexion

1< x < 1
concave downward

x =1
pt of inflexion

x >1
concave upward

1, 3) , (1,13) . The curve has points of inflexion at x = 1 . These two points are (

Example

Find the points of inflexion of the curve y = 3x 5 5 x 4 + 4 .

y' = 15x 4 20x 3

y' ' = 60x 3 60x 2 = 60x 2 ( x 1) .

When x = 0 or 1 , y' ' = 0 .

x
y''

x<0

x=0

0<x<1

x =1
pt of inflexion

x>1
concave upward

concave downward

concave downward

The curve has a point of inflexion at x = 1 . This point is (1,2) Example Find the points of inflexion of the curve y = 3 5 ( x + 2 )7 .
7 5 ( x + 2) 2 , y' ' =
14 25 ( x + 2) 3
5

y' =

When x = 2 , y' ' does not exist (i.e. y' is not differentiable there.)

x
y''

x < 2
concave upward

x = 2
not exist pt of inflexion

x > 2
concave downward

2,3) The curve has a point of inflexion at x = 2 , which is (

Asymptotes To A Curve
Definition A straight line is an ASYMPTOTE to a curve if and only if the perpendicular distance from a variable point on the curve to the line approaches to zero as a limit when the point tends to infinity along the curve on both sides or one side of the curve. (see figure below.)

Page 6

Applications of Differential Calculus

Advanced Level Pure Mathematics

Definition

(i)

the line
x c +

x = c is said to be vertical asymptote of the curve

y = f ( x) .

lim f ( x ) = or lim f (x) = . x c

(ii) the line y = ax + b is said to be an oblique asymptote of the curve y = f ( x ) if

lim[ f ( x) (ax + b )] = 0 .
x

Example

(1) The curve y =

1 has two asymptotes x = 0 or y = 0 . x 1 sin x has an asymptote y = 0 . x

(2) The curve y = e x has an asymptote y = 0 . (3) The curve y =

Theorem

The line y = ax + b is an asymptote to the curve y = f ( x ) if and only if

a=

lim

f ( x) x

and

[ f ( x) ax] b = lim x

where both limits are taken under x , or x + or x .

Note

Equation of an asymptote (other than the vertical asymptote) to a given curve can be found by using Theorem

Theorem

Let F( x ) =

f (x) , where f ( x ) and g( x ) are polynomials in g( x )

and the degree of f ( x )

R( x) , where g( x )

exceeds that of g( x ) by one; let F( x ) be written in the form F( x ) = ax + b +

a and

b are constants, and R ( x ) is a polynomial of degree less than that of g( x ) . (This

can be done by long division.) Then the line y = ax + b is an oblique asymptote to the curve
y = F( x ).

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Applications of Differential Calculus

Advanced Level Pure Mathematics

5.7

Curve Sketching

The following information is useful for sketching the graph of y = f ( x ) (1) The domain of f ( x ) , i.e. the range of values of x within which y is well-defined. (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) Determine whether f ( x ) is periodic, odd or even, so that the graph may be symmetric about the coordinate axes or about the origin. Turning points and monotonicity of f ( x ) . Inflexional points and convexity of f ( x ) . Asymptotes including horizontal, vertical and oblique ones (if any). Some special points on the graph, such as intercepts.

AL2003II 8) Let f ( x) = x 2 a) b)

8 ( x 1). x 1

c) d) e) f)

Find f (x) and f (x). Determine the values of x such that (i) f (x) > 0 (ii) f (x) < 0 (iii) f (x) > 0 (ii) f (x) < 0 Find the relative extreme point(s) and point(s) of inflexion of f(x). Find the asymptotes of the graph of f(x). Sketch the graph of f(x). Let g(x) = f( |x| ) ( | x | 1 ) . (i) Is g(x) differentiable at x = 0? Why ? (ii) Sketch the graph of g(x).

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