Unit 7: “Derivative applications” Mathematics applied to Social Science II

Unit 7: DERIVATIVE APPLICATIONS

Graph of a function
1. Domain

2. Continuity and derivability

3. Symmetry

4. Periodicity

5. Intersection points with axis

6. Asymptotes

7. Extrema and increasing and decreasing intervals

8. Inflection points and curvature

9. Graph

1. domain
If we talk about real functions with real variables:

1
–The domain of a polynomial function is always R. Example: f(x) = 3x5 – 5x +243 Dom f = R

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Unit 7: “Derivative applications” Mathematics applied to Social Science II

–We have to remove the roots of the denominator of a rational function from its domain.

x 7
Example: f (x)  Dom f = R – {-2,2}
x  4
2

–The domain of an irrational function, f(x) = √R(x), is Dom f = ,x,R(x)≥ 0-

Example: f(x) = √(x2 – 3x + 2) Dom f = (-∞,1+U*2,∞)

–The domain of a logarithmic function, f(x) = loga L(x), is Dom f = {x,L(x)> 0}

Example: f(x) = ln(7x – 21) Dom f = (3,∞)

Exercise: find the domain of these functions:

x 1
a) f(x) = ln(x2-3x + 2) b) f (x) 
x  4x  4x
3 2

Solutions: a) (-∞,1)U(2,∞); b) R-{0,2}

2. continuity and derivability

You have to study the continuity and derivability of the function whose graph you are going to
draw.

Exercise: study the continuity and derivability of the function:

x 1 x  -1
2
if

f (x)  2 if -1  x  2 Solution: f is continuous in R and f is derivable in R-{-1}
 2
 x  4 x  6 if x  2

3. symmetry
A function is even if f(-x) = f(x), that is, if its graph is symmetric with respect to y-axis:

A function is odd if f(-x) = -f(x), that is, if its graph shows rotational symmetry with respect to
the origin:

Mathematics Department IES “Juan de Padilla” – Illescas (Toledo)

Unit 7: “Derivative applications” Mathematics applied to Social Science II

x
a) f (x) 
x  2
4

Exercise: study the symmetry of these functions: 2

x
b)g (x) 
x 1
3

Solutions: a) f is an odd function; d) g is neither odd nor even function

4. periodicity
A function f is said to be periodic with a period T if, for some nonzero constant T, we have:
f(x + T) = f(x) for all values of x. If there exists a least positive constant T with this property, it is
called the prime period. A function with period T will repeat on intervals of length T, and these
intervals are sometimes also referred to as periods.

Example: f(x) = sin x, is a periodic function and its prime period is T = 2π sin (x + 2π) = sin x

Exercise. Decide if these sentences are true or false:

a) f(x) = |x| is a periodic function True. False.

b) f(x) = tan x has T = 2π as prime period True. False.

c) f(x) = dec(x) is a periodic function and T = 1 is its prime period True. False.

5. intersection points with axis

In order to find the intersection point with the axis, we have to solve the systems:
 y  f (x)  y  f (x)
x -a x is  y -a x is 
y  0 x  0

Exercise: find the intersection points with axis of these functions:

a) f(x) = x4- x3- 21x2+ 45x b) f(x) = ln(x2- 3x + 3)

Solutions: a) (-5,0),(0,0),(3,0); b) (1,0),(2,0),(0,ln3)

3

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Unit 7: “Derivative applications” Mathematics applied to Social Science II

6. asymptotes
To calculate the asymptotes, we have to calculate these limits:

–Horizontal asymptotes: y  b; b  lim f ( x )

x 

–Vertical asymptotes: x  a; lim f ( x )   

x a

- Oblique asymptotes: f (x)

y  m x  n; m  lim ; n  lim ( f ( x )  m x )
x  x x 

NOTE: if you have a rational function, P (x)

f (x) 
Q (x)
- You have to look for the vertical asymptotes in the roots of Q(x).
- When deg P < deg Q, there is a horizontal asymptote y = 0
- When deg P = deg Q, there is a horizontal asymptote
- When deg P = deg Q + 1, there is an oblique asymptote

x  5x  5
2

Example 1: f (x) 
x 2

–Vertical asymptote: x = -2 –Oblique asymptote: y = x + 3

x5
Example 2: f (x)  2
x

–Vertical asymptote: x = 0 –Horizontal asymptote: y = 0

2x 1
2

Exercise: find the asymptotes of the function: f ( x )  Solutions: x = 1/2; y = x + ½

2x 1

7. extrema and increasing and decreasing intervals

A function is said to be increasing in an interval if, for all x1 and x2 in the interval such that x1 <
x2, then f(x1) < f(x2).

A function is said to be decreasing in an interval if, for all x1 and x2 in the interval such that x1 <
x2, then f(x1) > f(x2).

The maximum and minimum of a function, known collectively as extrema, are the largest and
smallest value that the function takes at a point either within a given neighbourhood (local or
relative extremum) or on the function domain in its entirety (global or absolute extremum).

If f is derivable in (a,b):
– f is increasing in (a,b) ↔ f’(x) > 0  x  (a, b)

– f is decreasing in (a,b) ↔ f’(x) < 0  x  (a , b )

4

If f is derivable in cЄR, then f has a relative extremum in c → f’(c) = 0

Mathematics Department IES “Juan de Padilla” – Illescas (Toledo)

Unit 7: “Derivative applications” Mathematics applied to Social Science II

NOTE: the candidates to be relative extrema are cЄR/ f’(c) = 0 or f is not derivable in c
Exercise: find the increasing and decreasing intervals and the extrema of the function y = x·ex
Solutions: minimum (-1,-1/e), increasing (-1,∞): decreasing (-∞,-1)

8. inflection points and curvature

To study the curvature of a derivable function, you have to find the intervals in which the
function is concave up or concave down.

f is concave up in c if the graph is above the tangent line to the curve in c.

f is concave down in c if the graph is under the tangent line to the curve in c.

An inflection point is a point on a curve at which the curvature or concavity changes.

If f is derivable in (a,b)
– f is concave up in (a,b) ↔ f’’(x) > 0  x  (a , b )

– f is concave down in (a,b) ↔ f’’(x) < 0  x  (a , b )

If is derivable in cЄR, then: f has an inflection point in c → f’’(c) = 0

Exercise: study the curvature of the function y = x·ex and find its inflection points

Solutions: inflection point (-2, -2/e2); concave up (-2,∞); concave down (-∞,-2)

9. graph
Example 1: f(x) = x4 + 8x3 + 22x2 + 24x + 9

•1. Domf = R

5
•2. f is continuous and derivable in R because it is a polynomial function.

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Unit 7: “Derivative applications” Mathematics applied to Social Science II

•3. Symmetry: f is a function which is neither odd nor even.

•4. f is not a periodic function.

•5. intersection points: (-3,0),(-1,0),(0,9)

•6. There are no asymptotes because it is a polynomial function.

•7. f’(x) = 4x3 + 24x2 + 44x + 24 f’(x) = 0 ↔ x Є {-3, -2, -1}

•8. f’’(x) = 12x2 + 48x + 44 f’’(x) = 0 ↔ x ≈ -2.58, -1.42

•9. Graph

x 9
2

Example 2: f (x) 
x  4
2

•1. Domf = R – {-2,2} 6

•2. f is continuous and derivable in its domain because it is a rational function.

Mathematics Department IES “Juan de Padilla” – Illescas (Toledo)

Unit 7: “Derivative applications” Mathematics applied to Social Science II

•3. Symmetry: f is an even function.

•4. f is not a periodic function.
•5. intersection points: (-3,0),(3,0),(0,9/4)
•6. Asymptotes: x = 2; x = -2; y = 1
•7.
2 x ·( x  4 )  2 x ·( x  9 )
2 2
10 x
f '( x )   f '( x )  0  x  0
x  4 x  4
2 2
2 2

•8. 1 0·( x  4 )  2 ( x  4 )·2 x ·1 0 x

2 2 2
30 x  40
2

f ''( x )   f ''( x )  0 
x  4 x  4
4 3
2 2

•9. Graph

 x  2
2

Example 3 (PAEG September 2014): if x  1


f (x)  2 if 1  x 1

  x  2 
2
if x 1

a) Study its continuity in x = -1

7

b) Find the relative extrema in the interval (1,4)

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Unit 7: “Derivative applications” Mathematics applied to Social Science II

c) Calculate the intervals of increasing and decreasing in the interval (1,4)

a) f is discontinuous in x = -1, it has a jump discontinuity with jump 1

b) f '( x )  2 ( x  2 ) f '( x )  0 if x  2 f ''( x )  2  0 It has a minimum in x = 2

c) f is decreasing in the interval (1,2) and increasing in the interval (2,4)

Exercise: draw the graphs of the functions:

a) f(x) = x·ex
2
x
b) f ( x ) 
x  4x  4
2

Solutions:
a)

b)

Mathematics Department IES “Juan de Padilla” – Illescas (Toledo)

Unit 7: “Derivative applications” Mathematics applied to Social Science II

Optimization problems
1. Find the rectangle which has the maximum area among the rectangles whose perimeter is
4 m.

P  2x  2 y  4  y  2  x
  A ( x )  x· ( 2  x )  2 x  x
2

A  x· y 
A '( x )  2  2 x  A '( x )  0  x  1
A ''( x )   2  0  x  1 is a m a x im u m

The rectangle with the maximum area is the square of side 1 m

2. Find the dimensions so that the cost of building a cuboid container of 16 m3 volume is
minimum, knowing that its height must be 2 m, and the costs are: 30€/m2 for the base, 36€/m2
for the lateral sides and 42€/m2 for the cover.
8
V  2 xy  16  y  C  3 0 x y  4 2 x y  2·3 6·2 y  2·3 6·2 x 
x
1152
 72 xy  144 x  144 y  C ( x)  576  144 x 
x
1152 1152
C '( x )  1 4 4  2
 C '( x )  0  1 4 4  2
 x  2 2
x x

2304  C ''( 2 2 )  0  x  2 2 is a m in im u m
C ''( x )  3
 
x  C ''(  2 2 )  0  x   2 2 is a m a x im u m

The dimensions must be 2m x 2√2m x 2√2 m

Exercises:
1) Find two nonnegative numbers whose sum is 9 and so that the product of one number and
the square of the other number is a maximum.

2) A container in the shape of a right circular cylinder with no top has surface area 3 m2.
What height h and base radius r will maximize the volume of the cylinder?
Solutions: 1) 3 and 6; 2) r = h = 1 m

Exam
1.- The extrema of the function y = x4- 3x3+ x2 are

a) maxima x = 0 and 2, minimum x = 1/4

b) minima x = 0 and 2, maximum x = 1/4
c) maximum x = 0 and minimum x = 4
d) it has no extrema 9

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Unit 7: “Derivative applications” Mathematics applied to Social Science II

2.- The function y = x·lnx is increasing in the interval:

a) (0,1/e)
b) (1/e,∞)
c) (0,1)
d) (1,∞)

3.- The extremum of the function y = x·lnx is:

a) maximum x = 1
b) minimum x = 1
c) maximum x = 1/e
d) minimum x = 1/e

3
x
4.- Which is the inflection point of the function f (x)  ?
x 1
2

a) x =1
b) x = 0
c) x = -1
d) x = -2

3
x
5.- The interval in which the function is concave up f ( x )  is:
x 1
2

a) (-∞,-1)U(0,1)
b) (-∞,-2)U(1,∞)
c) (-2,1)
d) (-1,0)U(1,∞)

6.- Consider a rectangle of perimeter 12 m. Form a cylinder by revolving this rectangle about
one of its edges. What dimensions of the rectangle will result in a cylinder of maximum
volume?

a) r = 3 m and h = 3 m
b) r = 1 m and h = 5 m 10

Mathematics Department IES “Juan de Padilla” – Illescas (Toledo)

Unit 7: “Derivative applications” Mathematics applied to Social Science II

c) r = 4 m and h = 2 m
d) None of them

7.- Find the point (x,y) on the graph of y = √x nearest to the point (4,0).

a) (0,0)
b) (7/2,√14/2)
c) (4,2)
d) (2,√2)

 x  t if x  0
8.- (PAEG- June 2014) Let the function: f (x)   . Find the relative
 x  2 x x  0
2
if
extrema in the interval (0,∞)

a) maximum x = 1
b) minimum x = 1
c) maximum x = 1; minimum x = 3
d) None of them

9.- Calculate the intervals of increasing and decreasing in (0,∞) of the function in exercise 8

a) decreasing (0,1); increasing (1,∞)

b) decreasing (1,∞); increasing (0,1)
c) decreasing (1,2); increasing (0,1)U(2,∞)
d) None of them

 x  1 if x  2
10.- (PAEG- June 2014) Let the function: f (x)   . Draw its graph
 x  6 x  8 x  2
2
if

a) b) 11

Mathematics Department IES “Juan de Padilla” – Illescas (Toledo)

Unit 7: “Derivative applications” Mathematics applied to Social Science II

c) d) None of them

Vocabulary
- Derivative applications: aplicaciones de la derivada

- Domain: dominio - Even function: función par

- Continuity: continuidad - Odd function: función impar

- Derivability: derivabilidad - Prime period: período

- Symmetry: simetría -Horizontal asymptote: asíntota horizontal

- Periodicity: periodicidad - Vertical asymptote: asíntota vertical

- Intersection points with axis: puntos de corte con los ejes - Oblique asymptote: asíntota oblícua

- Asymptotes: asíntotas - Maximum: máximo

- Extremum/extrema: extremo/s - Minimum: mínimo

- Increasing: creciente - Concave up: cóncavo hacia arriba

- Decreasing: decreciente - Concave down: cóncavo hacia abajo

- Inflection points: puntos de inflexión - Optimization problems: problemas de

optimización
- Curvature: curvatura

- Rotational symmetry with respect to the origin: simetría central

respecto al origen

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The end

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