Maximum and Minimum values of functions y=f(x)

y=f(x)
dy
dx
=tan  =slope or gradient of the tangent at the point (x,y) of the
curve y=f(x)
y
y=f(x)


o x

Fig19

At maximum and minimum tangent is horizontal or vertical so

dy
dx
=0 or 
dy
y dx
=0
dy dy
dx
= dx
=0

dy dy dy
dx
=0
dx
=0
dx
=
o x

Fig20

Determination maximum or minimum

Following tests are used

1. First derivative test:

For max. at x=a, f  (a-h)>0, f  (a+h)<0,

y
dy
dx
=0

dy dy
dx
>0 dx
<0

o x
Fig21

For min. at x=a, f  (a-h)<0, f  (a+h)>0

y
dy
dx
=0

dy dy
dx
<0 dx
>0

dy
dx
=0
o x
Fig22

2. Second derivative test:

d2y
For max. at x=a, dx 2
<0,

2
 y d ( y)
Slope dx
<0

P(x,y)
y=f(x)


o x

D
D
C y=f(x) E
B F
A G
15 30 45 105 120 135
x
o
Fig23

tan45>tan30>tan15>……>tan0>……….>tan135>tan120>tan105
1>0.58>0.27>………….>0>……………>-1>-1.73>-3.73

d  dy  d2y
For max. at x=a, dx  dx  <0
  or, dx 2
<0,

d2y
For min. at x=a, dx 2
>0

y Slope
d ( y)
>0
dx

y=f(x)
3
 P(x,y)


o x

A G
y=f(x) F
B
E
C D
105 120135 15 30 45
x
o
Fig24

tan105>tan120>tan135>……>tan0>……….>tan15>tan30>tan45
-3.73<-1.73<-1<………..<0<………….<0.27<0.58<1

d  dy  d2y
For min. at x=a, dx  dx  >0
  or, dx 2
>0

Mathematical Proof:
For f(x) has maximum or minimum value at x=a we have
f(a+h)-f(a) and f(a-h)-f(a) are both negative and both positive h
being indefinitely small h  0

By Taylor’s theorem
h2 h3
f (a  h)  f (a)  hf (a)  f (a)  f (a)  .........
2! 3!

4
 h2 h3
f ( a  h)  f ( a )  hf ( a)  f ( a)  f ( a)  .........
2! 3!

h2 h3
f ( a  h)  f ( a )  f (a )  f ( a )  .........
2! 3!
h2 h3
f ( a  h)  f ( a )  f (a )  f (a )  .........
2! 3!
Since h is very small we can neglect the second term on the right
side
h2
f ( a  h)  f ( a )  f ( a)
2!
h2
f (a  h)  f ( a )  f (a )
2!
As h2 is always positive so the sign of f ( a  h)  f (a ) depends upon
f (a )
Since f (a  h)  f (a) <0 for maximum of f(x) at x=a f (a) must be
negative
Similarly for a minimum value of f(x) at x=a f (a) must be
positive.

3. Higher derivative test:

If f  (a)=0 and then if f  (a)= f (a) =......... f
iv n1
( a ) =0
and f (a)  0
n

If n is odd it is a point of inflection

If n is even f(x) is max. or min. according as f n (a ) is less than or
greater than zero

Point of inflection:
Inflection means deviation from the normal path.
An inflection point is a point on the graph where the function
crosses its tangent line and changes from concave to convex or
vice versa. Inflection points are possible only where the second
derivative equals zero or is undefined.

1. f (a) is zero
2. Concavity changes at x=a
3. Graph crosses the tangent line at x=a

5
To find the point of inflection put f ( x)  0 , suppose it gives x=a

First derivative test

1. If f (a  h)  0 and f (a  h)  0 it is a point of inflection
2. If f (a  h)  0 and f (a  h)  0 it is a point of inflection

Second derivative test

3. If f (a  h)  0 and f (a  h)  0 it is a point of inflection
4. If f (a  h)  0 and f (a  h)  0 it is a point of inflection

y y=f(x)
y2>0
P
y2<0

x
o x=a
f (a)  0
f (a )  0
Fig25

y
y=f(x)
y2>0
P
y2<0

o x
x=a

6
 f (a )  0
f (a )  0
Fig26

y2<0 y=f(x)
P

y2>0
x
o x=a
f (a )  0
f (a )  0
Fig27

y=f(x)
y2>0
y2<0
x
o x=a

y
 f (a)  0
f (a )  0

Fig28

Ex 1. Find the maximum and minimum values of the function

f ( x )  x 4  8 x 3  22 x 2  24 x  5
Let y= x 4  8 x 3  22 x 2  24 x  5
dy
dx
= 4 x 3  24 x 2  44 x  24
dy
For maximum and minimum dx =0, 4 x 3  24 x 2  44 x  24 =0 ,
x 3  6 x 2  11x  6 =0
x 2 ( x  1)  5 x( x  1)  6( x  1)  0
( x  1)( x 2  5 x  6)  0
( x  1)( x  2)( x  3)  0
x=1, 2, 3
d2y
dx 2
= 12 x 2  48 x  44
d2y
At x=1 dx 2
=8>0 y is min.
Minimum value is y  x 4  8 x 3  22 x 2  24 x  5 = -4
2
d y
At x=2 dx 2
=-4<0 y is max.
Maximum value is y  x 4  8 x 3  22 x 2  24 x  5 = -3
2
d y
At x=3 dx 2
=8>0 y is min.
Minimum value is y  x 4  8 x 3  22 x 2  24 x  5 = -4

y
5 (4,5)
4
3
8
 2
1
o 1 x
2 3 4
-1

-2
(2,-3)
-3

-4 (1,-4) (3,-4)

Fig29
Ex 2. Examine f ( x)  x  9 x  24 x  12 for maximum or minimum
3 2

points and find the point of inflection

f ( x)  x 3  9 x 2  24 x  12
f ( x )  3 x 2  18 x  24 =3(x-2)(x-4)
For max. and min. f ( x )  0 3(x-2)(x-4)=0 x= 2, 4
For x=2
f (2  h)  3(2  h  2)(2  h  4)  3(h)(h  2)  3h 2  6h  0

has a maximum value for x=2

f (x )
and the maximum value is f ( x)  x  9 x 3 2
 24 x  12 = 2 3  9.2 2  24.2  12  8
Maximum point is (2,8)

For x=4
f ( 4  h)  3(4  h  2)( 4  h  4)  3(2  h)(  h)  3h 2  6h  0
f ( 4  h)  3(4  h  2)(4  h  4)  3(2  h)(h)  3h 2  6h  0
has a minimum value for x=4
f (x )
and the minimum value is f ( x)  x  9 x 3 2
 24 x  12 = 4 3  9.4 2  24.4  12  4
Minimum point is (4,4)
For point of inflection

9
f ( x)  6 x  18  0 gives x=3
f (3  h)  6(3  h)  18  6h  0
f (3  h)  6(3  h)  18  6h  0

x=3 is a point of inflection.

f (3)  33  9.3 2  24.3  12  6

Point of inflection is (3,6)

y
(2,4)
8
7
6
(3,6)
5
4 (4,4)
3

10
 2
1
o 1 x
2 3 4
-1

-2

-3

-4

Fig30

Ex 3 Find the maximum and minimum values of y where

y 7  ( x  3) 4
y 7  ( x  3) 4
dy 4 1
 dy
=  , x-3=0,
4

y  ( x  3) 7 dx 7 3
For max and min dx
( x  3) 7

x=3
4 1 4 1
f (3  h)   0
for x=3, 7 3
7 3

(3  h  3) 7
(  h) 7

4 1 4 1
f (3  h)  3
 3
0
7 7
(3  h  3) 7
( h) 7

For x=3 f(x) is minimum and the minimum value is y=0

Ex 4. Find the maximum and minimum values of y  ( x  1) 3

dy
y  ( x  1) , 3
 3( x  1) 2

dx
dy
For max and min dx
=0, x-1=0, x=1

11
d2y d2y
dx 2
 6( x  1) For x=1, dx 2
=0 second derivative test fails
We use first derivative test
f (1  h)  3(1  h  1) 2  3h 2  0
f (1  h)  3(1  h  1) 2  3h 2  0 It is neither max. nor min. It is a point of
inflection y

1
y=(x-1)3

o x
1 2

-1

Fig31

We can also use higher derivative test

d3y
 6 0
dx 3
Odd order derivative is nonzero
It is neither max. nor min. It is a point of inflection

Ex 5. Find the maximum and minimum values of y  ( x  1) 4

dy
y  ( x  1) ,
4
 4( x  1) 3

dx
dy
For max and min dx
=0, x-1=0, x=1

12
d2y d2y
dx 2
 12( x  1) 2 For x=1, dx 2
=0 second derivative test fails

f (1  h)  4(1  h  1) 3  4h 3  0

f (1  h)  4(1  h  1) 3  4h 3  0
It is min. The minimum value is 0
y

1
y=(x-1)4

o x
1 2

Fig32

We can use higher derivative test

d3y d3y
dx 3
 24( x  1) For x=1, dx 3
=0
d4y
 24  0
dx 4
Even order derivative is positive
It is min. Minimum value is 0

Ex 6. Show that f ( x)  x 3  6 x 2  24 x  4 has neither maximum nor

minimum.

f ( x)  x 3  6 x 2  24 x  4
f ( x)  3x 2  12 x  24
 3( x 2  4 x  8)
 3{( x  2) 2  4)

13
is never equal to zero and always positive. So it has no maximum
or minimum

Ex 7. Show that the largest rectangle with a given perimeter is a

square

Let x and y be the length and breadth of the rectangle

Perimter=2(x+y)=a(say) x+y=a/2 y=a/2 -x

A=xy=x(a/2 –x)=ax/2 –x2
dA
For maximum and minimum dx =0, a/2 –2x=0 x=a/4, y=a/2
-x=a/4
d2A
At x= a/4 dx 2
=-2<0, y is max.
x=y, length = breadth, so the rectangle is a square

Ex 8. Find the altitude of the right cone of maximum volume that

can be inscribed in a sphere of radius a
OC= radius of the sphere= a
CD= radius of the base of the cone= r
AD=height of the cone = h
CD2=OC2-OD2 r2=a2-(h-a)2 =2ah-h2
1 1 2 1
V= 3 r h = 3  (2ah  h )h = 3 ah  3 h
2 2 2 3

dV 4 4a
For maximum and minimum dh
=0, 3
ah  h 2 =0 h(
3
 h) =0
4a
h=0 or 3
d 2V 4 4a d 2V 4a
dh 2
= 3 a  2h ,
for h= 3 dh 2 =

3
<0
4a
V is maximum for h= 3
2 1 2 4a 1 4a 32
Maximum volume is V= 3 ah 2  3 h 3 = 3 a( 3 ) 2  3  ( 3 ) 3 = 81  a 3

14
 O

D C

Fig33

Ex. 9 A window in the form of a rectangle is surmounted by a

semicircle. If the total perimeter be 25ft. find the dimensions so
that the greatest possible amount of light may be admitted.

Let height = x, the radius of the semicircle is y then breadth = 2y

Total perimeter = AB+BC+CD+arcDA=x+2y+x+  y
It is given that x+2y+x+  y=25
2x=25-2y-  y
If area A of the window is maximum then amount of light will be
maximum.
y 2 y 2
A= 2  x 2 y 
2
 y ( 25  2 y  y )

dA
 y  (25  2 y  y )  y (2   )  25  4 y  y
dy
For maximum and
dA 25
minimum dy
 0 or, 25  4 y  y =0, y
 4
2
d A 25
 4    0 A is maximum for y 
dy 2
 4
50 25 25  100  50  25 50
2 x  25  2 y  y  25    
 4  4  4  4
25
x
 4
x=y
So the greatest amount of light will be admitted if the height of the
window is equal to the radius of the semicircular part of the
window.

15
 y
A D
y y
A
x x

B C
2y

Fig34

Ex. 10 A gardener having 120 ft of fencing wishes to enclose a

rectangular plot of land and also to erect a fence across the land
parallel to two of the sides. What is the maximum area he can
enclose?

Let x and y be the length and breadth of the rectangular area. Then
2x +3y=120

120  2 x
y
3
1 1
A  xy  x (120  2 x )  (120 x  2 x 2 )
3 3
dA 1
 (120  4 x)  0 x  30
dx 3
d2A 4
2
 0
dx 3
X=30 y=20 A=30x20=600

y y y

16
 x

Fig35

Curvature of a curve y=f(x)

 is the change in the inclination of the tangent line as the point
of contact of the tangent line describes the arc

s
=average curvature of the arc PQ (= s )
 d
Curvature at P is   Lt
s 0 s

ds

y
Q
s


P

   

o x

Fig36

17
Curvature is the rate of change of the direction of the curve with
respect to the arc or roughly speaking curvature is the rate at which
the curve curves
The reciprocal of the curvature at a any point P is called the radius
ds
of curvature at P and it is denoted by  . Thus  = d
1



1. Formula for radius of curvature of the curve y=f(x)

x ds
 cos  sec
s dx
s y

x
dy
 tan
dx
ds sec 3 
2
d y d d ds d  2
dx 2
 sec 2 
dx
= sec 2

ds dx
= sec 3

ds
, d d y ,
dx 2
3

  dy  
2 2

1  y 
3
1 
    2 2

   
dx 
  1
2
d y y2
dx 2
2. Formula for radius of curvature of the curve x   (t ) , y   (t )
(parametric)
3
( x 2  y 2 ) 2

x y   x y 
3. Formula for the implicit equation f(x,y)=0
f 
3
2 2 2
x  fy
 2 2
f xx f y  2 f xy f x f y  f yy f x
4. Formula for the polar equation r  f ( )

18
 3
2 2
(r  r1 )
2
 2
r 2  2r1  rr2
Ex 1. Find the radius of curvature of the curve y 2  4ax at any
point (x,y)
2a 2a 2a 2 a 4a 2
y 2  4ax 2 yy1  4a y1  y2   y1     
y y2 y2 y y3
3
 4a 2  2
 
3
2 2 1  2  3

  1  y1 = y   ( y 2
 4 a 2 2
)
y2 4a 2 4a 2
 3
y
3 3 3 3 3

=  (4ax  42a )   (4a) ( x2  a) = - 2( x  a)   2( x  a ) 2

2 2 2 2 2

4a 4a a a
at x=0   2a , at x=a   4 2a

(a,2a)

o (a,0) x

19
 Fig37

Ex 2. Find the radius of curvature of the curve x  a cos 3  , y  a sin 3 


at  = 4
3

( x  y )
2 2 2

x y   x y 
x  a cos 3  , y  a sin 3 
3a 3a
x   3a cos 2  sin  = 2 2
y   3a sin 2  cos  =2 2

3a 3a
x   3a (cos 2  cos   2 cos  sin  sin  ) = y  =
2 2 2 2
2 2 3
9a 9a
 ( ) 2
8 8 3a  3a
 = =
3a 3a 3a 3a 2 2
 
2 22 2 2 22 2

Ex 3. Find the radius of curvature of the curve r 2  a 2 cos 2 at  =

0

r 2  a 2 cos 2
2rr1  2a 2 sin 2
a 2 sin 2 ra 2 sin 2 ra 2 sin 2
r1       r tan 2
r r2 a 2 cos 2

r2   r 2 sec 2 2  r1 tan 2
at  =0 r  a r1  0 r2  2 a

3 3
2 2
(r  r1 )
2
= (a  0 )
2 2 2
=
a

r 2  2r1  rr2
2 a 2  2 .0 2  a (  2 a ) 3

Ex 4. Find the radius of curvature at any point (x,y) for the curve

20
 x2 y2
 1
a 2 b2
x2 y2
Let f(x,y) = a 2  b 2  1 =0
2x 2y 2 2
f x  2 f y  2 f xx  2 f yy  2 f xy  0
a b a b
3 3

 4x 4y   b4 x2  a 4 y 2  2
f 
3 2 2 2
2 2 2  4  4  8 
 fy  a b   a 4 4
b  =
  
x
 2 2 
f xx f y  2 f xy f x f y  f yy f x 2 4y 2
2 4x 2 8 y 2
x 
2

 0    2 
a2 b4 b2 a4 a 2b 2  b 2 a 
3
(b x  a y )
4 2 4 2 2

a 4b 4

Centre of curvature of the curve y=f(x)

If ( ,  ) be the centre of curvature of the curve y=f(x) at the point
(x,y) then

y 1  y1
  x 1
 2
   y
1  y  1
2

y2 y2
Ex 1. Find the centre of curvature of the curve y=x3+2x2+x+1 at
(0,1) and hence find the circle of curvature
y=x3+2x2+x+1 at (0,1) y=1,y1=1,y2=4
y1=3x2+4x+1
y2= 6x+4
y 1  y1
  x 1
 2
  0
11  12  = 1   1
1  1  = 3
2

y2 4 2 4 2
1 3
centre of curvature is ( , )
2 2

  = 1  1 
3 3
2 2 1
  1  y1 =
2 2

2
y2 4
2
1 3  1 
Hence the circle of curvature is (x  )2  ( y  )2  
2 2  2


Ex 2. If ( ,  ) be the coordinates of the centre of curvature of the

parabola x  y   a at (x,y) then show that     3( x  y )

21
 1 1
1 2 1 2 y
x y  a x  y y1 =0 y1  
2 2 x

1 2
1
1 
1
x  y y y
x y y1  y x 2   1
2 2 y 
 x  x = x  x y
y2     
x 2x 2x 2x x
a
2x x
y y

  x

y1 1  y1
 x
2

x
1  
x=
x
2 y ( x  y)
y2 a a
2x x
 y

  y

1  y1
2

 y
1  
x=
y
2 x ( x  y)
y2 a a
2x x

2( x  y )( x 
   x y
y)
= x  y  2( x  y ) a
 3( x  y )
a a

22