APPLICATION OF

DERIVATIVES
Chapter - 6

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Session Objectives
 Introduction
In this chapter, we will study applications of the
derivative in various disciplines, e.g., in engineering,
science, social science, and many other fields. For
instance, we will learn how the derivative can be used
(i) to determine rate of change of quantities, (ii) to find
the equations of tangent and normal to a curve at a
point, (iii) to find turning points on the graph of a
function which in turn will help us to locate points at
which largest or smallest value (locally) of a function
occurs.
We will also use derivative to find intervals on which
a function is increasing or decreasing. Finally, we use
the derivative to find approximate value of certain
quantities.
Rate of Change of Quantities

the derivative , we mean the rate of change of

distance s with respect to the time t.

In a similar fashion, whenever one quantity y varies
with another quantity x, satisfying some rule y = f (x),
then (or f′(x)) represents the rate of change of y

with respect to x and

(or f′(x0)) represents the rate of change of y with

respect to x at x = x0 .
Further, if two variables x and y are varying with
respect to another variable t, i.e., if x = f (t) and
y = g(t), then by Chain Rule

Thus, the rate of change of y with respect to x can be

calculated using the rate of change of y and that of x
both with respect to t.
Example 1 Find the rate of change of the area of a
circle per second with respect to its radius r when
r = 5 cm.
Example 2 The volume of a cube is increasing at a
rate of 9 cubic centimetres per second. How fast is the
surface area increasing when the length of an edge is
10 centimetres ?
Example 3 A stone is dropped into a quiet lake and
waves move in circles at a speed of 4cm per second.
At the instant, when the radius of the circular wave is
10 cm, how fast is the enclosed area increasing ?
Note is positive if y increases as x increases and

is negative if y decreases as x increases.

Example 4 The length x of a rectangle is decreasing at
the rate of 3 cm/minute and the width y is increasing at
the rate of 2cm/minute. When x =10cm and y = 6cm,
find the rates of change of
(a) the perimeter and
(b) (b) the area of the rectangle.
Example 5 The total cost C(x) in Rupees, associated
with the production of x units of an item is given by
C (x) = 0.005 x3 – 0.02 x2 + 30x + 5000
Find the marginal cost when 3 units are produced,
where by marginal cost we mean the instantaneous rate
of change of total cost at any level of output.
Example 6 The total revenue in Rupees received
from the sale of x units of a product is given by
R(x) = 3x2 + 36x + 5. Find the marginal revenue,
when x = 5, where by marginal revenue we mean the
rate of change of total revenue with respect to the
number of items sold at an instant.
APPLICATION OF
DERIVATIVES
Exercise 6.1

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01. Find the rate of change of the area of a circle with
respect to its radius r when
(a) r = 3 cm
(b) r = 4 cm
02. The volume of a cube is increasing at the rate of
8 cm3/s. How fast is the surface area increasing when
the length of an edge is 12 cm ?
03. The radius of a circle is increasing uniformly at the
rate of 3 cm/s. Find the rate at which the area of the
circle is increasing when the radius is 10 cm.
04. An edge of a variable cube is increasing at the rate of
3 cm/s. How fast is the volume of the cube increasing
when the edge is 10 cm long ?
05. A stone is dropped into a quiet lake and waves move
in circles at the speed of 5 cm/s. At the instant when
the radius of the circular wave is 8 cm, how fast is
the enclosed area increasing ?
06. The radius of a circle is increasing at the rate of
0.7 cm/s. What is the rate of increase of its
circumference ?
07. The length x of a rectangle is decreasing at the rate of
5 cm/minute and the width y is increasing at the rate
of 4 cm/minute. When x = 8 cm and y = 6 cm, find
the rates of change of
(a) the perimeter, and
(b) the area of the rectangle.
08. A balloon, which always remains spherical on
inflation, is being inflated by pumping in 900 cubic
centimetres of gas per second. Find the rate at which
the radius of the balloon increases when the radius is
15 cm.
09. A balloon, which always remains spherical has a
variable radius. Find the rate at which its volume is
increasing with the radius when the later is 10 cm.
10. A ladder 5 m long is leaning against a wall. The
bottom of the ladder is pulled along the ground, away
from the wall, at the rate of 2cm/s. How fast is its
height on the wall decreasing when the foot of the
ladder is 4 m away from the wall ?
11. A particle moves along the curve 6y = x3 +2. Find the
points on the curve at which the y-coordinate is
changing 8 times as fast as the x-coordinate.
12. The radius of an air bubble is increasing at the rate of

cm/s.At what rate is the volume of the bubble

increasing when the radius is 1 cm ?
13. A balloon, which always remains spherical, has a

variable diameter

Find the rate of change of its volume with respect to x.

14. Sand is pouring from a pipe at the rate of 12 cm3/s.
The falling sand forms a cone on the ground in such a
way that the height of the cone is always one-sixth of
the radius of the base. How fast is the height of the
sand cone increasing when the height is 4 cm ?
15. The total cost C (x) in Rupees associated with the
production of x units of an item is given by
C (x) = 0.007x3 – 0.003x2 + 15x + 4000.
Find the marginal cost when 17 units are produced.
16. The total revenue in Rupees received from the sale of
x units of a product is given by
R (x) = 13x2 + 26x + 15.
Find the marginal revenue when x = 7.
Choose the correct answer in the Exercises 17 and 18.
17. The rate of change of the area of a circle with respect
to its radius r at r = 6 cm is
(A) 10π (B) 12π
(C) 8π (D) 11π
18. The total revenue in Rupees received from the sale of
x units of a product is given by
R(x) = 3x2 + 36x + 5. The marginal revenue, when
x = 15 is
(A) 116 (B) 96
(C) 90 (D) 126
Increasing and Decreasing Functions
In this section, we will use differentiation to find out
whether a function is increasing or decreasing or
none.
Consider the function f given by f (x) = x2, x ∈ R. The
graph of this function is a parabola
First consider the graph (Fig) to the right of the origin.
Observe that as we move from left to right along the
graph, the height of the graph continuously increases.
For this reason, the function is said to be increasing
for the real numbers x > 0.
Now consider the graph to the left of the origin and
observe here that as we move from left to right along
the graph, the height of the graph continuously
decreases. Consequently, the function is said to be
decreasing for the real numbers x < 0.
 Definition 1 Let I be an interval contained in the
domain of a real valued function f. Then f is said to be
(i) increasing on I if x1 < x2 in I ⇒ f(x1) ≤ f (x2) for all
x1, x2 ∈ I.
(ii) strictly increasing on I if x1 < x2 in I ⇒ f (x1) < f
(x2) for all x1, x2 ∈ I.
(iii) decreasing on I if x1 < x2 in I ⇒ f (x1) ≥ f (x2) for all
x1, x2 ∈ I.
(iv) strictly decreasing on I if x1 < x2 in I ⇒ f (x1) > f (x2)
for all x1, x2 ∈ I.
Definition 2 Let x0 be a point in the domain of
definition of a real valued function f. Then f is said to
be increasing, strictly increasing, decreasing or
strictly decreasing at x0 if there exists an open interval
I containing x0 such that f is increasing, strictly
increasing, decreasing or strictly decreasing,
respectively, in I.
Let us clarify this definition for the case of increasing
function.
A function f is said to be increasing at x0 if there exists
an interval I = (x0 – h, x0 + h), h > 0 such that for
x1, x2 ∈ I
x1 < x2 in I ⇒ f (x1) ≤ f (x2)
Similarly, the other cases can be clarified.
Example 7 Show that the function given by
f(x) = 7x – 3 is strictly increasing on R.
Theorem 1 Let f be continuous on [a, b] and
differentiable on the open interval (a, b). Then
(a) f is strictly increasing in [a, b] if f′(x) > 0 for each
x ∈ (a, b)
(b) f is strictly decreasing in [a, b] if f ′(x) < 0 for each
x ∈ (a, b)
(c) f is a constant function in [a, b] if f ′(x) = 0 for each
x ∈ (a, b)
 Remarks
(i) There is a more generalised theorem, which states
that if f ′(x) > 0 for x in an interval excluding the end
points and f is continuous in the interval, then f is
strictly increasing. Similarly, if f ′(x) < 0 for x in an
interval excluding the end points and f is continuous
in the interval, then f is strictly decreasing.
(ii) If a function is strictly increasing or strictly decreasing
in an interval I, then it is necessarily increasing or
decreasing in I. However, the converse need not
be true.
Example 8 Show that the function f given by
f (x) = x3 – 3x2 + 4x, x ∈ R
is strictly increasing on R.
Example 9 Prove that the function given by
f (x) = cos x is
(a) strictly decreasing in (0, π)
(b) strictly increasing in (π, 2π), and
(c) neither increasing nor decreasing in (0, 2π).
Example 10 Find the intervals in which the function
f given by f (x) = x2 – 4x + 6 is
(a) strictly increasing
(b) strictly decreasing
Example 11 Find the intervals in which the function
f given by f (x) = 4x3 – 6x2 – 72x + 30 is
(a) strictly increasing
(b) strictly decreasing.
Example 12 Find intervals in which the function

given by f (x) = sin 3x, is

(a) increasing
(b) decreasing.
Example 13 Find the intervals in which the function
f given by
f (x) = sin x + cos x, 0 ≤ x ≤ 2π
is strictly increasing or strictly decreasing.
APPLICATION OF
DERIVATIVES
Exercise 6.2

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01. Show that the function given by f (x) = 3x + 17 is
strictly increasing on R.
02. Show that the function given by f (x) = e2x is strictly
increasing on R.
03. Show that the function given by f (x) = sin x is

(a) strictly increasing in ,

(b) strictly decreasing in ,

(c) neither increasing nor decreasing in (0, π)

04. Find the intervals in which the function f given by
f (x) = 2x2 – 3x is
(a) strictly increasing
(b) strictly decreasing
05. Find the intervals in which the function f given by
f (x) = 2x3 – 3x2 – 36x + 7 is
(a) strictly increasing
(b) strictly decreasing
06. Find the intervals in which the following functions are
strictly increasing or decreasing:
(a) x2 + 2x – 5 (b) 10 – 6x – 2x2
(c) –2x3 – 9x2 – 12x + 1 (d) 6 – 9x – x2
(e) (x + 1)3 (x – 3)3
07.

is an increasing function of x throughout its domain.

08. Find the values of x for which y = [x(x – 2)]2 is an
increasing function.
09.
10. Prove that the logarithmic function is strictly increasing
on (0, ∞).
11. Prove that the function f given by f (x) = x2 – x + 1 is
neither strictly increasing nor strictly decreasing on
(– 1, 1).
12. Which of the following functions are strictly decreasing

on

(A)cos x (B) cos 2x

(C) cos 3x (D) tan x
13. On which of the following intervals is the function
f given by f(x) = x100 + sin x –1 strictly decreasing ?
14. Find the least value of a such that the function f given
by f (x) = x2 + ax + 1 is strictly increasing on (1, 2).
15. Let I be any interval disjoint from [–1, 1]. Prove that
the function f given by
16. Prove that the function f given by f (x) = log sin x is

strictly increasing on and strictly decreasing on

17. Prove that the function f given by f (x) = log cos x is

strictly decreasing on
18. Prove that the function given by
f (x) = x3 – 3x2 + 3x – 100 is increasing in R.
19. The interval in which y = x2 e–x is increasing is
(A) (– ∞, ∞) (B) (– 2, 0)
(C) (2, ∞) (D) (0, 2)
Tangents and Normals
In this section, we shall use differentiation to find the
equation of the tangent line and the normal line to a
curve at a given point.
Recall that the equation of a straight line passing
through a given point (x0, y0) having finite slope m is
given by
y – y0 = m (x – x0)
Note that the slope of the tangent to the curve y = f (x)

at the point (x0, y0) is given by

So the equation of the tangent at (x0, y0) to the curve

y = f (x) is given by
y – y0 = f ′(x0) (x – x0)
Also, since the normal is perpendicular to the tangent,
the slope of the normal to the curve y = f (x) at (x0, y0)
is Therefore, the equation of the

normal to the curve y = f(x) at (x0, y0) is given by

Note If a tangent line to the curve y = f (x) makes an
angle θ with x-axis in the positive direction, then

= slope of the tangent tan

 Particular cases
(i) If slope of the tangent line is zero, then tan θ = 0 and
so θ = 0 which means the tangent line is parallel to the
x-axis. In this case, the equation of the tangent at
the point (x0, y0) is given by y = y0.
(ii) which means the
tangent line is perpendicular to the x-axis, i.e.,
parallel to the y-axis. In this case, the equation of the
tangent at (x0, y0) is given by x = x0 (Why ?).
Example 14 Find the slope of the tangent to the curve
y = x3 – x at x = 2.
Example 15 Find the point at which the tangent to the

curve
Example 16 Find the equation of all lines having
slope 2 and being tangent to the curve
Example 17 Find points on the curve
at which the tangents are
(i) Parallel to x-axis
(ii) Parallel to y-axis.
Example 18 Find the equation of the tangent to the
curve at the point where it cuts the

x-axis.
Example 19 Find the equations of the tangent and

normal to the curve

Example 20 Find the equation of tangent to the curve
given by
x = a sin3 t , y = b cos3 t
APPLICATION OF
DERIVATIVES
Exercise 6.3

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01. Find the slope of the tangent to the curve y = 3x4 – 4x
at x = 4.
02. Find the slope of the tangent to the curve
03. Find the slope of the tangent to curve y = x3 – x + 1 at
the point whose x-coordinate is 2.
04. Find the slope of the tangent to the curve y = x3 –3x + 2
at the point whose x-coordinate is 3.
05. Find the slope of the normal to the curve
06. Find the slope of the normal to the curve
07. Find points at which the tangent to the curve
y = x3 – 3x2 – 9x + 7 is parallel to the x-axis.
08. Find a point on the curve y = (x – 2)2 at which the
tangent is parallel to the chord joining the points (2, 0)
and (4, 4).
09. Find the point on the curve y = x3 – 11x + 5 at which
the tangent is y = x – 11.
10. Find the equation of all lines having slope – 1 that are

tangents to the curve

11. Find the equation of all lines having slope 2 which are

tangents to the curve

12. Find the equations of all lines having slope 0 which

are tangent to the curve

13. Find points on the curve at which the
tangents are

(i) parallel to x-axis (ii) parallel to y-axis.

14. Find the equations of the tangent and normal to the
given curves at the indicated points :
15. Find the equation of the tangent line to the curve
y = x2 – 2x +7 which is
(a) parallel to the line 2x – y + 9 = 0
(b) perpendicular to the line 5y – 15x = 13.
16. Show that the tangents to the curve y = 7x3 + 11 at the
points where x = 2 and x = – 2 are parallel.
17. Find the points on the curve y = x3 at which the slope
of the tangent is equal to the y-coordinate of the
point.
18. For the curve y = 4x3 – 2x5, find all the points at which
the tangent passes through the origin.
19. Find the points on the curve x2 + y2 – 2x – 3 = 0 at
which the tangents are parallel to the x-axis.
20. Find the equation of the normal at the point (am2, am3)
for the curve ay2 = x3.
21. Find the equation of the normals to the curve
y = x3 + x + 6 which are parallel to the line x + 14y +
4 = 0.
22. Find the equations of the tangent and normal to the
parabola y2 = 4ax at the point (at2, 2at).
23. Prove that the curves x = y2 and xy = k cut at right
angles* if 8k2 = 1.
24. Find the equations of the tangent and normal to the

hyperbola
25. Find the equation of the tangent to the curve
Choose the correct answer in Exercises 26 and 27.
26. The slope of the normal to the curve y = 2x2 + 3 sin x at
x = 0 is
27. The line y = x + 1 is a tangent to the curve y2 = 4x at
the point
(A) (1, 2) (B) (2, 1)
(C) (1, – 2) (D) (– 1, 2)
Approximations
In this section, we will use differentials to approximate
values of certain quantities.
 Let f : D→ R, D ⊂R, be a given function and let y = f
(x). Let ∆x denote a small increment in x. Recall that
the increment in y corresponding to the increment in x,
denoted by ∆y, is given by ∆y = f (x + ∆x) – f (x). We
define the following
(i) The differential of x, denoted by dx, is defined by
dx = ∆x.
(ii) The differential of y, denoted by dy, is defined by

dy = f′(x) dx or
In case dx = ∆x is relatively small when compared
with x, dy is a good approximation of ∆y and we
denote it by dy ≈ ∆y.
Note In view of the above discussion and Fig, we may
note that the differential of the dependent variable is
not equal to the increment of the variable where as the
differential of independent variable is equal to the
increment of the variable.
Example 21 Use differential to approximate
Example 22 Use differential to approximate
Example 23 Find the approximate value of f (3.02),
where f (x) = 3x2 + 5x + 3.
Example 24 Find the approximate change in the
volume V of a cube of side x meters caused by
increasing the side by 2%.
Example 25 If the radius of a sphere is measured as
9 cm with an error of 0.03 cm, then find the
approximate error in calculating its volume.
APPLICATION OF
DERIVATIVES
Exercise 6.4

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01. Using differentials, find the approximate value of each
of the following up to 3 places of decimal.
02. Find the approximate value of f (2.01), where
f (x) = 4x2 + 5x + 2.
03. Find the approximate value of f (5.001), where
f (x) = x3 – 7x2 + 15.
04. Find the approximate change in the volume V of a
cube of side x metres caused by increasing the side by
1%.
05. Find the approximate change in the surface area of a
cube of side x metres caused by decreasing the side
by 1%.
06. If the radius of a sphere is measured as 7 m with an
error of 0.02 m, then find the approximate error in
calculating its volume.
07. If the radius of a sphere is measured as 9 m with an
error of 0.03 m, then find the approximate error in
calculating its surface area.
08. If f(x) = 3x2 + 15x + 5, then the approximate value of
f (3.02) is
(A) 47.66 (B) 57.66
(C) 67.66 (D) 77.66
09. The approximate change in the volume of a cube of
side x metres caused by increasing the side by 3% is
(A) 0.06 x3 m3 (B) 0.6 x3 m3
(C) 0.09 x3 m3 (D) 0.9 x3 m3
Maxima and Minima
In this section, we will use the concept of derivatives
to calculate the maximum or minimum values of
various functions. In fact, we will find the ‘turning
points’ of the graph of a function and thus find points
at which the graph reaches its highest (or lowest)
locally.
The knowledge of such points is very useful in
sketching the graph of a given function. Further, we
will also find the absolute maximum and absolute
minimum of a function that are necessary for the
solution of many applied problems.
 Let us consider the following problems that arise in
day to day life.

(i) The profit from a grove of orange trees is given by

P(x) = ax + bx2, where a, b are constants and x is the
number of orange trees per acre. How many trees per
acre will maximise the profit ?
(ii) A ball, thrown into the air from a building 60 metres

high, travels along a path given by

where x is the horizontal distance from the building

and h(x) is the height of the ball . What is the
maximum height the ball will reach ?
(iii) An Apache helicopter of enemy is flying along the path
given by the curve f (x) = x2 + 7. A soldier, placed at
the point (1, 2), wants to shoot the helicopter when it is
nearest to him. What is the nearest distance ?
 Definition 3 Let f be a function defined on an interval
I. Then

(a) f is said to have a maximum value in I, if there exists a

point c in I such that f (c) > f (x), for all x ∈ I.
The number f (c) is called the maximum value off in I
and the point c is called a point of maximum value of f
in I.
(b) f is said to have a minimum value in I, if there exists a
point c in I such that f (c) < f (x), for all x ∈ I.
The number f (c), in this case, is called the minimum
value of f in I and the point c, in this case, is called a
point of minimum value of f in I.
(c) f is said to have an extreme value in I if there exists a
point c in I such that f (c) is either a maximum value or
a minimum value of f in I.
The number f (c), in this case, is called an extreme
value of f in I and the point c is called an extreme
point.
Remark In Fig 6.9(a), (b) and (c), we have exhibited
that graphs of certain particular functions help us to
find maximum value and minimum value at a point.
Infact, through graphs, we can even find
maximum/minimum value of a function at a point at
which it is not even differentiable (Example 27).
Example 26 Find the maximum and the minimum
values, if any, of the function f given by
f (x) = x2, x ∈ R.
Note If we restrict the domain of f to [– 2, 1] only,
then f will have maximum value(– 2)2 = 4 at x = – 2.
Example 27 Find the maximum and minimum values
of f , if any, of the function given by f(x) = | x|, x ∈ R.
 Note
(i) If we restrict the domain of f to [– 2, 1] only,
then f will have maximum value |– 2| = 2.
(ii) One may note that the function f in Example 27
is not differentiable at x = 0.
Example 28 Find the maximum and the minimum
values, if any, of the function given by
f (x) = x, x ∈ (0, 1).
Remark The reader may observe that in Example 28,
if we include the points 0 and 1 in the domain of f ,
i.e., if we extend the domain of f to [0,1], then the
function f has minimum value 0 at x= 0 and maximum
value 1 at x = 1. Infact, we have the following results
(The proof of these results are beyond the scope of the
present text)
Every monotonic function assumes its maximum /
minimum value at the end
points of the domain of definition of the function.
A more general result is
Every continuous function on a closed interval has a
maximum and a minimum value.
Note By a monotonic function f in an interval I, we
mean that f is either increasing in I or decreasing in I.
Let us now examine the graph of a function as shown
in Fig 6.13. Observe that at points A, B, C and D on
the graph, the function changes its nature from
decreasing to increasing or vice-versa. These points
may be called turning points of the given function.
Further, observe that at turning points, the graph has
either a little hill or a little valley. Roughly speaking,
the function has minimum value in some
neighbourhood (interval) of each of the points A and C
which are at the bottom of their respective valleys.
Similarly, the function has maximum value in some
neighbourhood of points B and D which are at the top
of their respective hills. For this reason, the points A
and C may be regarded as points of local minimum
value (or relative minimum value) and points B and D
may be regarded as points of local maximum value
(or relative maximum value) for the function. The
local maximum value and local minimum value of the
function are referred to as local maxima and local
minima, respectively, of the function.
 Definition 4 Let f be a real valued function and let c
be an interior point in the domain of f. Then
(a) c is called a point of local maxima if there is an
h > 0 such that f (c) > f (x), for all x in (c – h,
c + h) The value f (c) is called the local maximum
value of f.
(b) c is called a point of local minima if there is an
h > 0 such that f (c) < f (x), for all x in (c – h, c + h)
The value f (c) is called the local minimum value of
f.
Geometrically, the above definition states that if x = c
is a point of local maxima of f, then the graph of
f around c will be as shown in Fig 6.14(a). Note that
the function f is increasing (i.e., f ′(x) > 0) in the
interval (c – h, c) and decreasing (i.e., f ′(x) < 0) in the
interval (c, c + h).
This suggests that f′(c) must be zero.
Similarly, if c is a point of local minima of f , then the
graph off around c will be as shown in Fig 6.14(b).
Here f is decreasing (i.e., f ′(x) < 0) in the interval
(c – h, c) and increasing (i.e., f ′(x) > 0) in the interval
(c, c + h). This again suggest that f ′(c) must be zero.
Theorem 2 Let f be a function defined on an open
interval I. Suppose c ∈ I be any point. If f has a local
maxima or a local minima at x = c, then either
f ′(c) = 0 or f is not differentiable at c.
Remark The converse of above theorem need
not be true, that is, a point at which the derivative
vanishes need not be a point of local maxima or
local minima. For example, if f (x) = x3, then
f′(x) = 3x2 and so f ′(0) = 0. But 0 is neither a point of
local maxima nor a point of local minima (Fig 6.15).
Note A point c in the domain of a function f at which
either f ′(c) = 0 or f is not differentiable is called a
critical point of f. Note that if f is continuous at c and
f ′(c) = 0, then there exists an h > 0 such that f is
differentiable in the interval (c – h, c + h).
 Theorem 3 (First Derivative Test) Let f be a function
defined on an open interval I. Let f be continuous at a
critical point c in I. Then
(i) If f ′(x) changes sign from positive to negative as x
increases through c, i.e., if f ′(x) > 0 at every point
sufficiently close to and to the left of c, and f ′(x) < 0
at every point sufficiently close to and to the right of
c, then c is a point of local maxima.
(ii) If f ′(x) changes sign from negative to positive as x
increases through c, i.e., if f ′(x) < 0 at every point
sufficiently close to and to the left of c, and f ′(x) > 0 at
every point sufficiently close to and to the right of c,
then c is a point of local minima.

(iii) If f ′(x) does not change sign as x increases through c,

then c is neither a point of local maxima nor a point
of local minima. Infact, such a point is called point of
inflection (Fig 6.15).
Note If c is a point of local maxima of f , then f(c) is a
local maximum value of f. Similarly, if c is a point of
local minima of f , then f(c) is a local minimum value
of f.
Example 29 Find all points of local maxima and local
minima of the function f given by
f (x) = x3 – 3x + 3.
Example 30 Find all the points of local maxima and
local minima of the function f given by
f (x) = 2x3 – 6x2 + 6x +5.
Remark One may note that since f ′(x), in Example 30,
never changes its sign on R, graph of f has no turning
points and hence no point of local maxima or local
minima.
 Theorem 4 (Second Derivative Test) Let f be a
function defined on an interval I and c ∈ I. Let f be
twice differentiable at c. Then
(i) x = c is a point of local maxima if f ′(c) = 0 and
f ″(c) < 0
The value f (c) is local maximum value of f .
(ii) x = c is a point of local minima if f c ′( ) 0 = and
f ″(c) > 0
In this case, f (c) is local minimum value of f .

(iii) The test fails if f ′(c) = 0 and f ″(c) = 0.

Note As f is twice differentiable at c, we mean second
order derivative of f exists at c.
Example 31 Find local minimum value of the function
f given by f (x) = 3 + | x|, x ∈ R.
Example 32 Find local maximum and local minimum
values of the function f given by
f (x) = 3x4 + 4x3 – 12x2 + 12
Example 33 Find all the points of local maxima and
local minima of the function f given by
f(x) = 2x3 – 6x2 + 6x +5.
Example 34 Find two positive numbers whose sum is
15 and the sum of whose squares is minimum.
Remark Proceeding as in Example 34 one may prove
that the two positive numbers, whose sum is k and the
sum of whose squares is minimum,
Example 35 Find the shortest distance of the point
(0, c) from the parabola y = x2, where 0 ≤ c ≤ 5.
Note The reader may note that in Example 35, we
have used first derivative test instead of the second
derivative test as the former is easy and short.
Example 36 Let AP and BQ be two vertical poles at
points A and B, respectively. If AP = 16 m, BQ = 22 m
and AB = 20 m, then find the distance of a point R on
AB from the point A such that RP2 + RQ2 is minimum.
Example 37 If length of three sides of a trapezium
other than base are equal to 10cm, then find the area
of the trapezium when it is maximum.
Example 38 Prove that the radius of the right circular
cylinder of greatest curved surface area which can be
inscribed in a given cone is half of that of the cone.
Maximum and Minimum Values of a Function in a
Closed Interval
Let us consider a function f given by
f (x) = x + 2, x ∈ (0, 1)
Observe that the function is continuous on (0, 1) and
neither has a maximum value nor has a minimum
value. Further, we may note that the function even has
neither a local maximum value nor a local minimum
value.
Theorem 5 Let f be a continuous function on an
interval I = [a, b]. Then f has the absolute maximum
value and f attains it at least once in I. Also, f has the
absolute minimum value and attains it at least once in
I.
 Theorem 6 Let f be a differentiable function on a
closed interval I and let c be any interior point of I.
Then
(i) f ′(c) = 0 if f attains its absolute maximum value at c.
(ii) f ′(c) = 0 if f attains its absolute minimum value at c.
In view of the above results, we have the following
working rule for finding absolute maximum and/or
absolute minimum values of a function in a given
closed interval [a, b].
Working Rule
Step 1: Find all critical points of f in the interval,
i.e., find points x where either f ′(x) 0 = or
f is not differentiable.
Step 2: Take the end points of the interval.
Step 3: At all these points (listed in Step 1 and 2),
calculate the values of f .
Step 4: Identify the maximum and minimum
values of f out of the values calculated in
Step 3 : This maximum value will be the absolute
maximum (greatest) value of f and the
minimum value will be the absolute
minimum (least) value of f .
Example 39 Find the absolute maximum and
minimum values of a function f given by
f (x) = 2x3 – 15x2 + 36x +1 on the interval [1, 5].
Example 40 Find absolute maximum and minimum
values of a function f given by
Example 41 An Apache helicopter of enemy is flying
along the curve given by y = x2 + 7. A soldier, placed
at (3, 7), wants to shoot down the helicopter when it is
nearest to him. Find the nearest distance.
APPLICATION OF
DERIVATIVES
Exercise 6.5

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01. Find the maximum and minimum values, if any, of
the following functions given by
(i) f (x) = (2x – 1) 2 + 3
(ii) f (x) = 9x2 + 12x + 2
(iii) f (x) = – (x – 1)2 + 10
(iv) g (x) = x3 + 1
02. Find the maximum and minimum values, if any, of
the following functions given by
(i) f (x) = |x + 2 | – 1
(ii) g (x) = – | x + 1| + 3
(iii) h (x) = sin(2x) + 5
(iv) f (x) = | sin 4x + 3|
(v) h (x) = x + 1, x ∈ (– 1, 1)
03. Find the local maxima and local minima, if any, of the
following functions. Find also the local maximum and
the local minimum values, as the case may be:
(i) f (x) = x2
(ii) g (x) = x3 – 3x
04. Prove that the following functions do not have
maxima or minima:
(i) f (x) = ex
(ii) g (x) = log x
(iii) h (x) = x3 + x2 + x +1
05. Find the absolute maximum value and the absolute
minimum value of the following functions in the given
intervals:
(i) f (x) = x3, x ∈ [– 2, 2]
(ii) f (x) = sin x + cos x , x ∈ [0, π]
06. Find the maximum profit that a company can make,
if the profit function is given by
p (x) = 41 – 72x – 18x2
07. Find both the maximum value and the minimum
value of
3x4 – 8x3 + 12x2 – 48x + 25 on the interval [0, 3].
08. At what points in the interval [0, 2π], does the function
sin 2x attain its maximum value ?
09. What is the maximum value of the function
sin x + cos x ?
10. Find the maximum value of 2x3 – 24x + 107 in the
interval [1, 3]. Find the maximum value of the same
function in [–3, –1].
11. It is given that at x = 1, the function x4 – 62x2 + ax + 9
attains its maximum value, on the interval [0, 2]. Find
the value of a.
12. Find the maximum and minimum values of x + sin 2x
on [0, 2π].
13. Find two numbers whose sum is 24 and whose product
is as large as possible.
14. Find two positive numbers x and y such that x + y = 60
and xy3 is maximum.
15. Find two positive numbers x and y such that their sum
is 35 and the product x2 y5 is a maximum.
16. Find two positive numbers whose sum is 16 and the
sum of whose cubes is minimum.
17. A square piece of tin of side 18 cm is to be made into
a box without top, by cutting a square from each
corner and folding up the flaps to form the box. What
should be the side of the square to be cut off so that
the volume of the box is the maximum possible.
18. A rectangular sheet of tin 45 cm by 24 cm is to be
made into a box without top, by cutting off square
from each corner and folding up the flaps. What
should be the side of the square to be cut off so that
the volume of the box is maximum ?
19. Show that of all the rectangles inscribed in a given
fixed circle, the square has the maximum area.
20. Show that the right circular cylinder of given surface
and maximum volume is such that its height is equal
to the diameter of the base.
21. Of all the closed cylindrical cans (right circular), of a
given volume of 100 cubic centimetres, find the
dimensions of the can which has the minimum surface
area ?
22. A wire of length 28 m is to be cut into two pieces. One
of the pieces is to be made into a square and the other
into a circle. What should be the length of the two
pieces so that the combined area of the square and the
circle is minimum ?
23. Prove that the volume of the largest cone that can be
inscribed in a sphere of radius R is of the volume
of the sphere.
24. Show that the right circular cone of least curved
surface and given volume has an altitude equal to 2
time the radius of the base.
25. Show that the semi-vertical angle of the cone of the
maximum volume and of given slant height is tan–1
26. Show that semi-vertical angle of right circular cone of

given surface area and maximum volume is

Choose the correct answer in the Exercises 27 and 29.
27. The point on the curve x2 = 2y which is nearest to the
point (0, 5) is
28. For all real values of x, the minimum value of
is
(A) 0 (B) 1 (C) 3 (D)
29. The maximum value of
Miscellaneous Examples
Example 42 A car starts from a point Pat time t = 0
seconds and stops at point Q. The distance x, in
metres, covered by it, in t seconds is given by

Find the time taken by it to reach Q and also find

distance between P and Q.
Example 43 A water tank has the shape of an inverted
right circular cone with its axis vertical and vertex
lowermost. Its semi-vertical angle is tan–1(0.5). Water
is poured into it at a constant rate of 5 cubic metre per
hour. Find the rate at which the level of the water is
rising at the instant when the depth of water in the tank
is 4 m.
Example 44 A man of height 2 metres walks at a
uniform speed of 5 km/h away from a lamp post which
is 6 metres high. Find the rate at which the length of his
shadow increases.
Example 45 Find the equation of the normal to the
curve x2 = 4y which passes through the point (1, 2).
Example 46 Find the equation of tangents to the curve
y = cos (x + y), – 2π ≤ x ≤ 2π
that are parallel to the line x + 2y = 0.
Example 47 Find intervals in which the function
given by

is (a) strictly increasing (b) strictly decreasing.

Example 48 Show that the function f given by
f (x) = tan–1(sin x + cos x), x > 0
is always an strictly increasing function in
Example 49 A circular disc of radius 3 cm is being
heated. Due to expansion, its radius increases at the
rate of 0.05 cm/s. Find the rate at which its area is
increasing when radius is 3.2 cm.
Example 50 An open topped box is to be constructed
by removing equal squares from each corner of a
3 metre by 8 metre rectangular sheet of aluminium and
folding up the sides. Find the volume of the largest
such box.
Example 51 Manufacturer can sell x items at a price of

rupees each. The cost price of x items is

Find the number of items he should

sell to earn maximum profit.
Miscellaneous Exercise on Chapter 6
01. Using differentials, find the approximate value of each
of the following:
02. Show that the function given by has
maximum at x = e.
03. The two equal sides of an isosceles triangle with fixed
base b are decreasing at the rate of 3 cm per second.
How fast is the area decreasing when the two equal
sides are equal to the base ?
04. Find the equation of the normal to curve x2 = 4y which
passes through the point (1, 2).
05. Show that the normal at any point θ to the curve
x = a cosθ + a θ sin θ, y = a sinθ – aθ cosθ
is at a constant distance from the origin.
06. Find the intervals in which the function f given by

is (i) increasing (ii) decreasing.

07. Find the intervals in which the function f given by

(i) increasing
(ii) decreasing.
08. Find the maximum area of an isosceles triangle

inscribed in the ellipse with its vertex at

one end of the major axis.

09. A tank with rectangular base and rectangular sides,
open at the top is to be constructed so that its depth is
2 m and volume is 8 m3. If building of tank costs
Rs 70 per sq metres for the base and Rs 45 per square
metre for sides. What is the cost of least expensive
tank ?
10. The sum of the perimeter of a circle and square is k,
where k is some constant. Prove that the sum of their
areas is least when the side of square is double the
radius of the circle.
11. A window is in the form of a rectangle surmounted by
a semicircular opening. The total perimeter of the
window is 10 m. Find the dimensions of the window
to admit maximum light through the whole opening.
12. A point on the hypotenuse of a triangle is at distance
a and b from the sides of the triangle.

Show that the maximum length of the hypotenuse is

13. Find the points at which the function f given by
f (x) = (x – 2)4 (x + 1)3 has
(i) local maxima
(ii) local minima
(iii) point of inflexion
14. Find the absolute maximum and minimum values of
the function f given by
f (x) = cos2 x + sin x, x ∈ [0, π]
15. Show that the altitude of the right circular cone of
maximum volume that can be inscribed in a sphere of
radius r is
16. Let f be a function defined on [a, b] such that f ′(x) > 0,
for all x ∈ (a, b). Then prove that f is an increasing
function on (a, b).
17. Show that the height of the cylinder of maximum
volume that can be inscribed in a sphere of radius R is
Also find the maximum volume.
18. Show that height of the cylinder of greatest volume
which can be inscribed in a right circular cone of
height h and semi vertical angle α is one-third that of
the cone and the greatest volume of cylinder is
Choose the correct answer in the Exercises from
19 to 24.
19. A cylindrical tank of radius 10 m is being filled with
wheat at the rate of 314 cubic metre per hour. Then the
depth of the wheat is increasing at the rate of
(A) 1 m3/h (B) 0.1 m3/h
(C) 1.1 m3/h (D) 0.5 m3/h
20. The slope of the tangent to the curve x = t2 + 3t – 8,
y = 2t2 – 2t – 5 at the point (2,– 1) is
21. The line y = mx + 1 is a tangent to the curve y2 = 4x if
the value of m is
(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D)
22. The normal at the point (1,1) on the curve 2y + x2 = 3 is
(A) x + y = 0 (B) x – y = 0
(C) x + y +1 = 0 (D) x – y = 1
23. The normal to the curve x2 = 4y passing (1,2) is
(A) x + y = 3 (B) x – y = 3
(C) x + y = 1 (D) x – y = 1
24. The points on the curve 9y2 = x3, where the normal to
the curve makes equal intercepts with the axes are
Summary
s If a quantity y varies with another quantity x, satisfying

some rule y = f (x), then (or f ′(x)) represents the rate

rate of change of y with respect to x and

(or f ′(x0)) represents the rate of change of y with

respect to x at x = x0.
s If two variables x and y are varying with respect to
another variable t, i.e., if x = f (t) and y = g (t), then by
Chain Rule
s A function f is said to be
(a) increasing on an interval (a, b) if
x1 < x2 in (a, b) ⇒ f (x1) ≤ f(x2) for all x1, x2 ∈ (a, b).
Alternatively, if f ′(x) ≥ 0 for each x in (a, b)
(b) decreasing on (a,b) if
x1 < x2 in (a, b) ⇒ f (x1) ≥ f (x2) for all x1, x2 ∈ (a, b).
Alternatively, if f ′(x) ≤ 0 for each x in (a, b)
s The equation of the tangent at (x0, y0) to the curve
y = f (x) is given by
 dy
s If dx does not exist at the point (x0 , y0), then the
tangent at this point is parallel to the y-axis and its
equation is x = x0.
s If tangent to a curve y = f (x) at x = x0 is parallel to

x-axis, then
s Equation of the normal to the curve y = f (x) at a point
(x0 y0) is given by
s at the point (x0 , y0) is zero, then equation of the

normal is x = x0.
s at the point (x0 , y0) does not exist, then the

normal is parallel to x-axis and its equation is y = y0.

s Let y = f(x), ∆x be a small increment in x and ∆y be
the increment in y corresponding to the increment in
x, i.e., ∆y = f (x + ∆x) – f (x). Then dy given by

dy f ′ dx = (x) or dy =

is a good approximation of ∆y when dx x = ∆ is

relatively small and we denote it by dy ≈ ∆y.
s A point c in the domain of a function f at which either
f ′(c) = 0 or f is not differentiable is called a critical
point of f.
s First Derivative Test Let f be a function defined on an
open interval I. Let f be continuous at a critical point
c in I. Then
(a) If f ′(x) changes sign from positive to negative as x
increases through c, i.e., if f ′(x) > 0 at every point
sufficiently close to and to the left of c, and f ′(x) < 0
at every point sufficiently close to and to the right of c,
then c is a point of local maxima.
(b) If f ′(x) changes sign from negative to positive as x
increases through c, i.e., if f ′(x) < 0 at every point
sufficiently close to and to the left of c, and f ′(x) > 0
at every point sufficiently close to and to the right of
c, then c is a point of local minima.
(c) If f ′(x) does not change sign as x increases through c,
then c is neither a point of local maxima nor a point of
local minima. Infact, such a point is called point of
inflexion.
s Second Derivative Test Let f be a function defined on
an interval I and c ∈ I. Let f be twice differentiable at
c. Then
(i) x = c is a point of local maxima if f ′(c) = 0 and f ″(c) < 0
The values f (c) is local maximum value of f .
(ii) x = c is a point of local minima if f ′(c) = 0 and f ″(c) > 0
In this case, f (c) is local minimum value of f .
(iii) The test fails if f ′(c) = 0 and f ″(c) = 0.
In this case, we go back to the first derivative test and
find whether c is a point of maxima, minima or a point
of inflexion.
s Working rule for finding absolute maxima and / or
absolute minima
Step 1: Find all critical points of f in the interval, i.e.,
find points x where either f ′(x) = 0 or f is not
differentiable.
Step 2: Take the end points of the interval.

Step 3: At all these points (listed in Step 1 and 2),

calculate the values of f .
Step 4: Identify the maximum and minimum values of f
out of the values calculated in Step 3. This
maximum value will be the absolute maximum
value of f and the minimum value will be the
absolute minimum value of f .