Chapter 4

ADDITIONAL APPLICATIONS OF THE DERIVATIVE

Le Thi Thanh Hai

Contents

4.1. Extreme Values of a

Continuous Function
4.2. Sketch the Graph of a
Function
4.3. L’Hospital’s Rule
4.4. Optimization
4.1. Extreme Values of a Continuous Function
Le Thi Thanh Hai
Absolute Extreme (Global Extreme)
Let f be a function with the domain D. Then f(c) is the
 Absolute maximum value on D if and only if f(x) ≤ f(c) for all x in
D.
 Absolute minimum value on D if and only if f(x) ≥ f(c) for all x in
D.

Example
4.1
4.1. Extreme Values of a Continuous Function
Le Thi Thanh Hai
Extreme Value Theorem
If the function f is continuous on the closed interval [a, b] then it has
both an absolute maximum value and an absolute minimum value on
[a, b].

Example 4.2
4.1. Extreme Values of a Continuous Function
Le Thi Thanh Hai
Relative Extreme (Local Extreme)
Let c be an interior point of the domain of the function f. Then f(c) is a
 Relative maximum value at c if and only if f(x) ≤ f(c) for all x in an
open interval containing c.
 Relative minimum value at c if and only if f(x) ≥ f(c) for all x in an
open interval containing c.
peak
Example 4.3 D
peak no tangent E

B C
valley
A
4.1. Extreme Values of a Continuous Function
Le Thi Thanh Hai

Critical Number (Point)

 c is called a critical point of the function f

if c is in the domain of f and f’(c) = 0 or f’(c)
does not exist.
 If a continuous function f has relative
extremum at c then c must be a critical point
of f. However, we do not claim the converse.
4.1. Extreme Values of a Continuous Function
Le Thi Thanh Hai
Example 4.4
Find critical point
for the given
functions

x2
a) y
x 1

b) y3 x
4.1. Extreme Values of a Continuous Function
Le Thi Thanh Hai

Procedure for Finding the Absolute Extrema on [a, b]

1. Compute f’(x) and find all critical points on [a, b]

2. Evaluate the value of f at the endpoints a and b

and at each critical point.

3. Compare the values in step 2 to find

+ The absolute maximum is the largest value.

+ The absolute minimum is the smallest value.

4.1. Extreme Values of a Continuous Function
Le Thi Thanh Hai

Example 4.5.
Find the absolute
extreme of the
function
f  x   x 2/ 3
on the closed interval
[-2, 3]
4.1. Extreme Values of a Continuous Function
Le Thi Thanh Hai

Example 4.6
Find the absolute
extreme of the
function

 9  4 x, x  1
f  x   2
  x  6 x, x  1
on [0, 4]
4.2. Sketch the Graph of a Function
Le Thi Thanh Hai

Increasing and Decreasing Function

 The function f is strictly increasing on an interval I if
f(x1) < f(x2) whenever x1 < x2 for x1 and x2 on I.
 The function f is strictly decreasing on an interval I if
f(x1) > f(x2) whenever x1 < x2 for x1 and x2 on I.
 A function f that is either strictly increasing or
strictly decreasing on I, is said to be strictly monotonic
on I.
Example 4.7
y   x2  2
4.2. Sketch the Graph of a Function
Le Thi Thanh Hai

Monotone Function Theorem

Let f be a differentiable on the

open interval (a, b). Then

+ If f’(x) > 0 on (a, b) then f is

strictly increasing on (a, b)

+ If f’(x) < 0 on (a, b) then f is

strictly decreasing on (a, b)
4.2. Sketch the Graph of a Function
Le Thi Thanh Hai

Example 4.8.

Match the graph of the

functions with the graph
of the derivatives on the
right column.
4.2. Sketch the Graph of a Function
Le Thi Thanh Hai

Example 4.9.

Determine where the

function
f ( x)  x 3  3 x 2  9 x  1
is strictly increasing and
where it is strictly
decreasing?
4.2. Sketch the Graph of a Function
Le Thi Thanh Hai

The First Derivative Test

f is a continuous function

 If f’ changes sign from positive to negative at a critical point c then

f has a local maximum value at c.
 If f’ changes sign from negative to positive at a critical point c then
f has a local minimum value at c.
 If f’ does not change sign at a critical point c then f has no local
extreme value at c.
4.2. Sketch the Graph of a Function
Le Thi Thanh Hai

Example 4.10.

Find all critical numbers of

the function
f (t )  t  2sin t , 0  t  2
and determine whether
each corresponds to a
relative maximum, a
relative minimum or
neither.
4.2. Sketch the Graph of a Function
Le Thi Thanh Hai

Concavity and Inflection Point

 The graph of a twice-

f '' (x) 0
differentiable function f is concave
up on any open interval where
f ' (x) 0
f’’(x) > 0 and concave down where
inflection
f’’(x) < 0. point
 If f’’(c) = 0 and f’’ changes the
sign at c then c is called an
inflection point of f
4.2. Sketch the Graph of a Function
Le Thi Thanh Hai

Example 4.11.

Given the function

f ( x)  x 3  3 x 2  9 x  1
a) Determine where the
function is concave up and
where it is concave down?
b) Find the inflection point
of the function (if any)
4.2. Sketch the Graph of a Function
Le Thi Thanh Hai

The Second Derivative Test

Suppose c is the critical point of a function f. Then
 If f’’ (c) < 0 then f has a local maximum at c.
 If f’’ (c) > 0 then f has a local minimum at c.
 If f’’ (c) = 0 then the second-derivative test fails.
4.2. Sketch the Graph of a Function
Le Thi Thanh Hai

Example 4.12.

Use the second-derivative

test to determine whether
each critical points of the
function
f ( x)  3 x5  5 x 3  2
corresponds to a relative
maximum, a relative
minimum or neither.
4.2. Sketch the Graph of a Function
Le Thi Thanh Hai

Example 4.13.
Find constants A, B,
C that guarantee
that the function
f ( x)  Ax 3  Bx 2  C
will have a relative
extreme at (2, 11)
and an inflection
point at (1, 5).
4.2. Sketch the Graph of a Function
Le Thi Thanh Hai

Example 4.14.
x
Given f ( x)  2
x 1
a) Determine where the
function is increasing and
where it is decreasing.
b) Determine where its
graph is concave up and
where its graph is
concave down.
c) Find the relative
extrema and inflection
points (if any).
4.2. Sketch the Graph of a Function
Le Thi Thanh Hai

Asymptotes
 The line x = a is a vertical
asymptote of the graph of a
function y = f(x) if either
lim f  x     or lim f  x    
x a x a

 The line y = b is a horizontal

asymptote of the graph of a
function y = f(x) if either
lim f  x   b or lim f  x   b
x  x 
4.2. Sketch the Graph of a Function
Le Thi Thanh Hai

Example 4.15
Find the vertical
asymptote and the
horizontal asymptote of
the graph of the function

3x  5
f ( x) 
x2
4.2. Sketch the Graph of a Function
Le Thi Thanh Hai

Cusp and Vertical Tangent

Cusp

lim f '  x     lim f '  x    

x c  x c 

lim f '  x     lim f '  x    

x c  x c 

Vertical Tangent

lim f '  x     lim f '  x    

x c x c

lim f '  x     lim f '  x    

x c  x c 
4.2. Sketch the Graph of a Function
Le Thi Thanh Hai

Example 4.16.

1
 x  4
2
yx 3
 2 x  5 yx 3
4.3. L’Hospital Rule
Le Thi Thanh Hai

Suppose f and g be differentiable functions with g '( x )  0 on an open

interval containing c and satisfy

f ( x) 0 
 lim produces an indeterminate form or
x c g ( x) 0 

f ' ( x)
 lim '  L , where L is either a finite number or infinity.
x c g ( x )

f ( x) f ' ( x)
Then lim  lim ' L
x c g ( x ) x c g ( x )
4.3. L’Hospital Rule
Le Thi Thanh Hai

Example 4.17.

x 7  128
a) lim 3
x 2 x  8

1 1 
b) lim   
x 0  x sin x 
4.3. L’Hospital Rule
Le Thi Thanh Hai

Example 4.18.

Find all horizontal

asymptotes of the
graph of the
function
f ( x)  xe 2 x
4.4. Optimization
Le Thi Thanh Hai

Optimization Procedure

1. Draw a figure and label all quantities relevant to the problem.

2. Find a formula for the quantity to be maximized or minimized.

3. Use conditions in the problem to express the quantity to be

maximized or minimized in term of a single variable.

4. Use the method of calculus to obtain the required optimum

value with the practical domain of the single variable.
4.4. Optimization
Le Thi Thanh Hai

Example 4.19.
You need to build a
rectangular fence to enclose
a play zone for children.
What is the maximum area
for this play zone if it is to
fit into a right-triangular plot
with sides measuring 4m
and 12m?
4.4. Optimization
Le Thi Thanh Hai
Example 4.20.
A painting is hung on a wall in
such a way that its upper and lower
edges are 10 ft and 7 ft above the
floor, respectively. An observer
whose eyes are 5 ft above the floor
stands x ft from the wall. How far
away from the wall should the
observer stand to maximize the
angle subtended by the painting?