Activity 13

OBJECTIVE MATERIAL REQUIRED

To understand the concepts of Pieces of wire of different lengths,
decreasing and increasing functions. piece of plywood of suitable size,
white paper, adhesive, geometry
box, trigonometric tables.
METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION
1. Take a piece of plywood of a convenient size and paste a white paper on it.
2. Take two pieces of wires of length say 20 cm each and fix them on the white
paper to represent x-axis and y-axis.
3. Take two more pieces of wire each of suitable length and bend them in the
shape of curves representing two functions and fix them on the paper as
shown in the Fig. 13.

4. Take two straight wires each of suitable length for the purpose of showing
tangents to the curves at different points on them.

DEMONSTRATION
1. Take one straight wire and place it on the curve (on the left) such that it is
 tangent to the curve at the point say P1 and making an angle α1 with the
positive direction of x-axis.
2. α1 is an obtuse angle, so tanα1 is negative, i.e., the slope of the tangent at P1
(derivative of the function at P1) is negative.
3. Take another two points say P2 and P3 on the same curve, and make tangents,
using the same wire, at P2 and P3 making angles α2 and α3, respectively with
the positive direction of x-axis.
4. Here again α2 and α3 are obtuse angles and therefore slopes of the tangents
tan α2 and tan α3 are both negative, i.e., derivatives of the function at P2 and
P3 are negative.
5. The function given by the curve (on the left) is a decreasing function.
6. On the curve (on the right), take three point Q1, Q2, Q3, and using the other
straight wires, form tangents at each of these points making angles β1, β2,
β3, respectively with the positive direction of x-axis, as shown in the figure.
β1, β2, β3 are all acute angles.
So, the derivatives of the function at these points are positive. Thus, the
function given by this curve (on the right) is an increasing function.

OBSERVATION
1. α1 = _______ , > 90° α2 = _______ > _______, α3 = _______> _______,
tan α1 = _______, (negative) tan α2 = _______, ( _______ ), tan α3 =
_______, ( _______). Thus the function is _______.
2. β1 = _______< 90°, β2 = _______, < _______, β3 = _______ , < _______

tan β1 = _______ , (positive), tan β2 = _______, ( _______ ), tan β3 =

_______( _______ ). Thus, the function is _______.

APPLICATION
This activity may be useful in explaining the concepts of decreasing and
increasing functions.

Mathematics 133
Activity 14
OBJECTIVE MATERIAL REQUIRED
To understand the concepts of local A piece of plywood, wires,
maxima, local minima and point of adhesive, white paper.
inflection.

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION
1. Take a piece of plywood of a convenient size and paste a white paper on it.
2. Take two pieces of wires each of length 40 cm and fix them on the paper on
plywood in the form of x-axis and y-axis.
3. Take another wire of suitable length and bend it in the shape of curve. Fix
this curved wire on the white paper pasted on plywood, as shown in Fig. 14.
 4. Take five more wires each of length say 2 cm and fix them at the points A, C,
B, P and D as shown in figure.

DEMONSTRATION
1. In the figure, wires at the points A, B, C and D represent tangents to the
curve and are parallel to the axis. The slopes of tangents at these points are
zero, i.e., the value of the first derivative at these points is zero. The tangent
at P intersects the curve.
2. At the points A and B, sign of the first derivative changes from negative to
positive. So, they are the points of local minima.
3. At the point C and D, sign of the first derivative changes from positive to
negative. So, they are the points of local maxima.
4. At the point P, sign of first derivative does not change. So, it is a point of
inflection.

OBSERVATION
1. Sign of the slope of the tangent (first derivative) at a point on the curve to
the immediate left of A is _______.
2. Sign of the slope of the tangent (first derivative) at a point on the curve to
the immediate right of A is_______.
3. Sign of the first derivative at a point on the curve to immediate left
of B is _______.
4. Sign of the first derivative at a point on the curve to immediate right
of B is _______.
5. Sign of the first derivative at a point on the curve to immediate left
of C is _______.
6. Sign of the first derivative at a point on the curve to immediate right
of C is _______.
7. Sign of the first derivative at a point on the curve to immediate left
of D is _______.

Mathematics 135
 8. Sign of the first derivative at a point on the curve to immediate right
of D is _______.
9. Sign of the first derivative at a point immediate left of P is _______ and
immediate right of P is_______.
10. A and B are points of local _______.
11. C and D are points of local _______.
12. P is a point of _______.

APPLICATION
1. This activity may help in explaining the concepts of points of local maxima,
local minima and inflection.
2. The concepts of maxima/minima are useful in problems of daily life such
as making of packages of maximum capacity at minimum cost.

136 Laboratory Manual

Activity 15
OBJECTIVE MATERIAL REQUIRED
To understand the concepts of Drawing board, white chart paper,
absolute maximum and minimum adhesive, geometry box, pencil and
values of a function in a given closed eraser, sketch pens, ruler, calculator.
interval through its graph.

Y
22
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
¢ 1.27
X X
2 3 1 1 O 1 1 3 2
2 2 2 2 2
4
¢
Y

Fig 15
METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION
1. Fix a white chart paper of convenient size on a drawing board using adhesive.
2. Draw two perpendicular lines on the squared paper as the two rectangular axes.
3. Graduate the two axes as shown in Fig.15.
4. Let the given function be f (x) = (4x2 – 9) (x2 – 1) in the interval [–2, 2].
5. Taking different values of x in [–2, 2], find the values of f (x) and plot the
ordered pairs (x, f (x)).
6. Obtain the graph of the function by joining the plotted points by a free hand
curve as shown in the figure.

DEMONSTRATION
1. Some ordered pairs satisfying f (x) are as follows:

x 0 ± 0.5 ± 1.0 1.25 1.27 ± 1.5 ±2

f (x) 9 6 0 – 1.55 –1.56 0 21

2. Plotting these points on the chart paper and joining the points by a free hand
curve, the curve obtained is shown in the figure.

OBSERVATION
1. The absolute maximum value of f (x) is ________ at x = ________.
2. Absolute minimum value of f (x) is ________ at x = _________.

APPLICATION
The activity is useful in explaining the concepts of absolute maximum / minimum
value of a function graphically.

138 Laboratory Manual

 NOTE
Consider f (x) = (4x2 – 9) (x2 – 1)
3
f (x) = 0 gives the values of x as ± and ±1 . Both these values of x lie in the
2
given closed interval [–2, 2].
f ′ (x) = (4x2 – 9) 2x + 8x (x2 – 1) = 16x3 – 26x = 2x (8x2 – 13)
13
f ′ (x) = 0 gives x = 0, x = ± = ± 1.27 . These two values of x lie in [–2, 2].
8
The function has local maxima/minima at x = 0 and x = ± 1.27, respectively.

Mathematics 139
Activity 16
OBJECTIVE MATERIAL REQUIRED
To construct an open box of maximum Chart papers, scissors, cellotape,
volume from a given rectangular sheet calculator.
by cutting equal squares from each
corner.

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION
1. Take a rectangular chart paper of size 20 cm × 10 cm and name it as ABCD.
2. Cut four equal squares each of side x cm from each corner A, B, C and D.
3. Repeat the process by taking the same size of chart papers and different
values of x.
4. Make an open box by folding its flaps using cellotape/adhesive.

DEMONSTRATION
1. When x = 1, Volume of the box = 144 cm3
2. When x = 1.5, Volume of the box = 178.5 cm3
 3. When x = 1.8, Volume of the box = 188.9 cm3.
4. When x = 2, Volume of the box = 192 cm3.
5. When x = 2.1, Volume of the box = 192.4 cm3.
6. When x = 2.2, Volume of the box = 192.2 cm3.
7. When x = 2.5, Volume of the box = 187.5 cm3.
8. When x = 3, Volume of the box = 168 cm3.
Clearly, volume of the box is maximum when x = 2.1.

OBSERVATION
1. V1 = Volume of the open box ( when x = 1.6) = .................
2. V2 = Volume of the open box ( when x = 1.9) = .................
3. V = Volume of the open box ( when x = 2.1) = .................
4. V3 = Volume of the open box ( when x = 2.2) = .................
5. V4 = Volume of the open box ( when x = 2.4) = .................
6. V5 = Volume of the open box ( when x = 3.2) = .................
7. Volume V1 is ____________ than volume V.
8. Volume V2 is ____________ than volume V.
9. Volume V3 is ____________ than volume V.
10. Volume V4 is ____________ than volume V.
11. Volume V5 is ____________ than volume V.

So, Volume of the open box is maximum when x = ________.

APPLICATION
This activity is useful in explaining the concepts of maxima/minima of functions.
It is also useful in making packages of maximum volume with minimum cost.

Mathematics 141
 NOTE
Let V denote the volume of the box.
Now V = (20 – 2x) (10 – 2x) x

or V = 200x – 60x2 + 4x3

dV
= 200 –120 x +12 x 2 . For maxima or minima, we have,
dx

dV
= 0 , i.e., 3x2 – 30x + 50 = 0
dx

30 ± 900 – 600
i.e., x = = 7.9 or 2.1
6

Reject x = 7.9.

d 2V
= –120 + 24 x
dx2

d 2V
When x = 2.1, is negative.
dx 2

Hence, V should be maximum at x = 2.1.

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Activity 18
OBJECTIVE MATERIAL REQUIRED
To verify that amongst all the rect- Chart paper, paper cutter, scale,
angles of the same perimeter, the pencil, eraser cardboard, glue.
square has the maximum area.

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION
1. Take a cardboard of a convenient size and paste a white paper on it.
2. Make rectangles each of perimeter say 48 cm on a chart paper. Rectangles
of different dimensions are as follows:
 R1 : 16 cm × 8 cm, R2 : 15 cm × 9 cm

R3 : 14 cm × 10 cm, R4 : 13 cm × 11 cm

R5 : 12 cm × 12 cm, R6 : 12.5 cm × 11.5 cm

R7 : 10.5 cm × 13.5 cm
3. Cut out these rectangles and paste them on the white paper on the cardboard
(see Fig. 18 (i) to (vii)).
4. Repeat step 2 for more rectangles of different dimensions each having
perimeter 48 cm.
5. Paste these rectangles on cardboard.

DEMONSTRATION
1. Area of rectangle of R1 = 16 cm × 8 cm = 128 cm2

Area of rectangle R2 = 15 cm × 9 cm = 135 cm2

Area of R3 = 140 cm2

Area of R4 = 143 cm2

Area of R5 = 144 cm2

Area of R6 = 143.75 cm2

Area of R7 = 141.75 cm2

2. Perimeter of each rectangle is same but their area are different. Area of
rectangle R5 is the maximum. It is a square of side 12 cm. This can be verified
using theoretical description given in the note.

OBSERVATION
1. Perimeter of each rectangle R1, R2, R3, R4, R4, R6, R7 is _________.
2. Area of the rectangle R3 ________ than the area of rectangle R5.

148 Laboratory Manual

 3. Area of the rectangle R6 _______ than the area of rectangle R5.
4. The rectangle R5 has the diamensions ______ × ______ and hence it is a
________.
5. Of all the rectangles with same perimeter, the ________ has the maximum
area.

APPLICATION
This activity is useful in explaining the idea
of Maximum of a function. The result is also
useful in preparing economical packages.
NOTE
Let the length and breadth of rectangle be x and y.
The perimeter of the rectangle P = 48 cm.
2 (x + y) = 48
or x + y = 24 or y = 24 – x
Let A (x) be the area of rectangle, then
A (x) = xy
= x (24 – x)
= 24x – x2
A′ (x) = 24 – 2x
A′ (x) = ⇒ 24 – 2x = 0 ⇒ x = 12
A′′ (x) = – 2
A′′ (12) = – 2, which is negative
Therefore, area is maximum when x = 12
y = x = 24 – 12 = 12
So, x = y = 12
Hence, amongst all rectangles, the square has the maximum area.

Mathematics 149