CHAPTER 4

Applications of the Derivative

MATH 26: ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS I

SECTION AB | MIDYEAR 2016 | MATH BUILDING LECTURE HALL

LECTURER: DESTINY S. LUTERO

Chapter

Title

Analytic Geometry and the Conic Sections

Limits and Continuity

The Derivative and Differentiation

Applications of the Derivative

Antidifferentiation and the Definite Integral

Chapter Title
4.1 Rectilinear Motion
4.2 Related Rates
4.3 Curve Sketching

4.4 Maxima and Minima Problems

4.5 Differentials

O
B
J
E
C
T
I
V
E
S

By the end of this chapter,

the student should be able to:
1.

Solve problems on optimisation using derivatives

Absolute maximum
A function f has an absolute maximum
value on an interval I if there exists a
number c in I I such that f (c) f (x)
for all x in I
This means that the number f (c) is the
absolute maximum value of f on I and it
occurs at c

Absolute minimum
A function f has an absolute minimum
value on an interval I if there exists a
number c in I I such that f (c) f (x)
for all x in I
This means that the number f (c) is the
absolute minimum value of f on I and it
occurs at c

Absolute extremum
An absolute extremum of a function f on
an interval I is either an absolute
maximum value or an absolute minimum
value.

I
L
L
U
S
T
R
A
T
I
O
N

Determine the absolute extrema of the functions

represented by the following graphs.
The absolute
maximum of
the function
occurs at a.

The absolute
minimum of
the function
occurs at b.

The absolute
minimum of
the function
occurs at a.

The absolute
maximum of
the function
occurs at b.

I
L
L
U
S
T
R
A
T
I
O
N

Determine the absolute extrema of the functions

represented by the following graphs.
The absolute
minimum of
the function
occurs at a.

The absolute
maximum of
the function
occurs at c.

The absolute
minimum of
the function
occurs at c.

The absolute
maximum of
the function
occurs at b.
Figure 4.4.1(d)

Extreme Value Theorem

If a function f is continuous on a closed

interval [a, b] , then f has an absolute
maximum value and an absolute minimum
value on [a, b].

I
L
L
U
S
T
R
A
T
I
O
N

Cases for a continuous functions maximum or

minimum on a closed interval [a, b] .

I
L
L
U
S
T
R
A
T
I
O
N

Cases for a continuous functions maximum or

minimum on a closed interval [a, b] .

I
L
L
U
S
T
R
A
T
I
O
N

Cases for a continuous functions maximum or

minimum on a closed interval [a, b] .

Finding absolute extrema

on a closed interval
Let a function f be continuous an a closed
interval [a, b] .
1. Find the critical number(s) of f.
2. Find the function values at the endpoints
and at the critical points in (a, b)
3. Compare the function values.
The smallest among the function values is
the absolute minimum value of f
The largest among the function values is the
absolute maximum value of f

Find the absolute extrema of f on [0, 2].

3
2
f
(x)
=
x
+
7x
5x
Let

E
X
A
M
P
L
E

Solution:
Step 1:
0
2
x
in
f
(x)
=
3x
+ 14x
Solve for
(3x

5=0

1)(x + 5) = 0

1
x = or x =
3

1
Note that only x = is the critical point in (0, 2)
3

Find the absolute extrema of f on [0, 2].

3
2
f
(x)
=
x
+
7x
5x
Let

E
X
A
M
P
L
E

Solution:
Step 2: Compare function values and conclude.

f(x)

1/3
2

Conclusion

-23/27

f has absolute minimum

value of -23/27 at x=1/3

26

f has an absolute maximum

value of 26 at x=2

Case for a not closed interval

Theorem

Suppose a function f is continuous on an interval I

containing the number c . f (c) is a relative extremum
of f on I and c is the only number in I for which f has a
relative extremum, then f (c) has an absolute extremum of f
on I .

Second derivative test

(restatement)
Let c be a critical number contained in the domain of f.

00
f
If (c) < 0 , then f has a relative maximum value at c.

If f (c) > 0 , then f has a relative minimum value at c.

00

Solving optimization problems

1. Define your variables.
2. Identify the function you want to optimise and its constraints.
Ideally, your function should be in terms of one variable.
3. Define the domain of your function according to the context
of the problem.
4. Identify the function values at the critical points and endpoints
if they are contained in the domain.
5. Determine the absolute extremum/extrema:
If you have more than one critical point/endpoint in the
domain, compare the function values and then conclude.
If domain is unbounded and f has only one critical point,
perform second derivative test.
6. Conclude based on what the problem asks.

Find two numbers whose difference is 100 and

whose product is minimum.

E
X
A
M
P
L
E

Solution:
Step 1: Let x and y be the two numbers.
let P be the product of the two numbers.
Then, P = xy such that x
Step 2: P (x) = x(x
Step 3: with x 2 R

100) = x

y = 100
100x

Find two numbers whose difference is 100 and

whose product is minimum.

E
X
A
M
P
L
E

Solution:
0

Step 4: f (x) = 2x
f (50) = 50

100 = 0 ) x = 50
100(50) =

2500

Step 5: Since there is only one critical point, perform

second derivative test.
f 00 (x) = 2
00

f (50) = 2

Step 6: Hence, the numbers whose difference is

100 and whose product is minimum are 50 and -50.

E
X
A
M
P
L
E

A piece of wire 10 feet long is cut into two pieces.

One piece is bent into the shape of a circle and the
other into the shape of the square. How should the
wire be cut such that
a. The combined area of the two figures is as small
as possible;
b. The combined area of the two figures is as large
as possible?
Solution: (shown is an illustration of the problem)

10 x

E
X
A
M
P
L
E

Solution: (other important observations)

Total length of wire = circumference of circle +
perimeter of square
Total area = area of circle + area of square

2r = x
x
r=
2

4s = 10
10
s=

x
x
4

Solution:

E
X
A
M
P
L
E

Step 1: Let r be the radius of the circle

Let s be the side of the square
Let x be the length of the wire used for
constructing the circle
Let 10-x be the length of the wire used for
constructing the square
2

Step 2: A = r + s
x 2
10 x 2
A(x) = ( ) + (
)
2
4
2
2
x
100 20x + x
A(x) =
+
4
16
Step 3: x
2 [0, 10]

Solution:

E
X
A
M
P
L
E

x
5 x
Steps 4 and 5: A (x) =
+
+ =0
2
4
8
10
x=
+4
0

x
0

10
4+
10

f(x)
25
4

25
+4
25

Conclusion
f has absolute minimum at
this value of x
f has an absolute maximum
at this value of x

Solution:

E
X
A
M
P
L
E

Step 6:
The whole wire should be used to construct a circle
in order to get the maximum sum of areas.
10
The wire should be cut with one length equal to
+4

and used to construct a circle while the remaining

length be used to construct a square in order to get
the minimum sum of areas.

Find a positive number for which the sum of it and its

reciprocal is the smallest possible.

E
X
A
M
P
L
E

Solution:
Step 1: Let x be the positive number.
1/x is the reciprocal of the number
1
Step 2: f (x) = x +
x

Step 3: with x 2 (0, +1)

0

Step 4: f (x) = 1

1
= 0 ) x = 1, 1, 0
2
x

Note that only 1 is in the domain (0, +1)

Find a positive number for which the sum of it and its

reciprocal is the smallest possible.

E
X
A
M
P
L
E

Solution:
2
Step 5: f (x) =
x3
2
00
f (1) = 3 = 2 > 0
1
00

Step 6: The positive number whose sum of it and its

reciprocal is the smallest possible is 1.

E
X
A
M
P
L
E

If 5x units of a commodity are demanded when p

pesos is the price per unit, x+p=350. Determine the
maximum total revenue.
Solution:
Step 1: Let R the total revenue.
Step 2: R = 5xp ) R(x) = 5x(350

x) = 1750x

Step 3: with x 2 [0, 350]

Step 4: f (x) = 1750
0

10x = 0 ) x = 175

5x2

E
X
A
M
P
L
E

If 5x units of a commodity are demanded when p

pesos is the price per unit, x+p=350. Determine the
maximum total revenue.
Solution:
Step 5:

f(x)

175

153,125

350

Conclusion
f has absolute maximum at
this value of x

E
X
A
M
P
L
E

If 5x units of a commodity are demanded when p

pesos is the price per unit, x+p=350. Determine the
maximum total revenue.
Solution:
Step 6:
The maximum total revenue is 153,125 pesos.