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MODULE 8
APPLICATIONS OF DERIVATIVES
The differential calculus is a powerful tool in the optimization of functions and the
rates of change of quantities with respect to another quantities. It is applied in physics,
engineering, economics, and many other fields. This module will cover the main
applications of the derivatives, particularly (a) minima and maxima, and (b) rates of
change, both applied geometrically and practically.
The students must recall the concepts in analytic geometry, solid geometry, and
physics, so that this module will be fully understood.
I. Curve Tracing
As of now, you already have the knowledge in tracing the graph of algebraic
functions of the form y = f(x) by simply constructing a table of values and then connecting
the plotted points. In this module, only algebraic curves in the form y = f(x) will be used
as examples, excluding implicit functions like ellipses and hyperbolas whose equations take
the form f(x, y) = 0.
Differential calculus is used to determine the critical points and inflection points of
the function, additional points sufficient to trace the curve.
DEFINITION 2. An inflection point is a point where the concavity of the curve or its sense
starts changing. In this point, y” = 0.
EXAMPLE. Think about a roller coaster. Sa part na paakyat ‘yung roller coaster sa tuktok,
saan kaya roon ‘yung critical points? May inflection point kaya? Yes. Imagine the figure
below. The first point is a minimum point, the third point of is a maximum point.
Question is, what is the second point? That is the inflection
point since the movement of the curve changes from increasing
to decreasing. We can safely say that a point of inflection is
lying between maximum and minimum points.
0=x(x–1)(x–2)
∴ x1 = 0 ; x2 = 1 ; x 3 = 2 Put subscripts for each x.
y1 = 0 ; y2 = -1 ; y3 = 0 Solve for y.
∴ CP1 (0, 0) , CP2 (1, -1), and CP3 (2, 0) are the critical points.
At CP3 (2, 0)
y” = 3x2 – 6x + 2
3+√3
∴ x4 = or 1.5773 ; y4 = -4/9 or -0.44 Inflection Points
3
3−√3
x5 = or 0.4226 ; y5 = -4/9 or -0.44
3
We convert into decimal form for graphing.
V. Plot the critical points, inflection points, and the additional points at the appropriate
scale.
EXAMPLE 2. Find the area of the largest isosceles triangle that can be inscribed in a
semicircle of diameter 100 cm if the other vertex is on the center of the semi-circle.
EXAMPLE 4. The sum of the bases and altitude of an isosceles trapezoid is 36 cm. Find the
altitude if the area is to be a maximum.
A. Derivative as a slope
Δy
Recall that slope is often interpreted as “rise over run” that is, m = where Δy
Δx
is the change in y and Δx is the change in x. The derivative of a function at the given point
P(x, y) is the slope of the tangent line at that given point.
Here we are going to find the equations of the tangent and normal lines at that
point on the curve.
x2 + y2 – 2x + 4y – 8 = 0 at (-1 , 1)
EXAMPLE 2. Find the rate of change of the volume of a right circular cylinder of radius
8 cm with respect to its altitude.
Steps:
1. Identify the constant and variable quantities, and instantaneous values.
2. Substitute the values right away of constant quantities.
3. Differentiate the desired quantity, whose rate of change is to be obtained, with
respect to time.
4. Substitute instantaneous values to the variables after the differentiation.
EXAMPLE 3. A rectangular box has a constant altitude 5 cm, a lengthening length, and a
shortening width. If the length is increasing at the rate of 3cm/sec and the width shortens
at the rate of 1cm/sec. Find how fast the volume is changing when the base is 2 cm long
and the width is 4 cm long.
Def. The velocity of a particle is the time rate of change of the displacement. That is,
ds Δs
v= = lim
dt t→0 Δt
Def. The acceleration of a particle is the time rate of change of velocity. That is,
dv Δv
a= = lim
dt t→0 Δt
If acceleration is the first derivative of velocity, what is the relationship of the displacement
and the acceleration?
EXAMPLE 1. Find the velocity and the acceleration of the particle whose motion is defined
1. Max-Min. Find a positive number such that this number plus 36 times its reciprocal is a
minimum. Ans. 6
2. Find the equation of the normal and tangent lines to the curve y2 = 2x + 8 at (4, 4).
Ans. T: x – 4y + 12 = 0 ; N: 4x + y = 20
4. Related rates. The base of the triangle is 5 cm and its altitude is y. Find the rate of change
of its area with respect to the altitude. Ans. 2.5 cm2 / cm
5. Time Rates. A square box has lengthening sides at the rate of 3 cm/min. Find how fast
the volume is increasing when each of the side is 4 cm long. Ans. 48 cm3 / min
motion is described analytically as the function s = 4t2 – 5t + t1/2 after moving 4 seconds
from rest, where t is in seconds and s is in feet. Ans. v = 27.25 ft/s, a =7.97 ft/s2