1070.

AlQudah 2/27/2021

Chapter 4: Applications of Derivatives

4.1 Extreme Values of Functions

An absolute maximum or an absolute minimum is referred to as an

absolute extremum. (The plural form of extremum is extrema.)

Functions do not necessarily have both absolute extrema.

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Example: Use graphs to

(a) Locate any absolute extrema of f (x) = x2 − 9 on the interval (−∞,∞).
(b) Locate any absolute extrema of f (x) = x2 − 9 on the interval (−3, 3).
(c) Locate any absolute extrema of f (x) = x2 − 9 on the interval [−3, 3].

(a) (b) (c)

Slide 4

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A Function with No Absolute Maximum or Minimum

Example: Use graph to locate any absolute extrema of
𝑓 (𝑥) = 1/𝑥, on [−3, 0) ∪ (0, 3].

𝑓 clearly fails to have either an absolute

maximum or an absolute minimum on
[−3, 0) ∪ (0, 3].

Slide 5

A continuous function 𝑓 defined on a closed, bounded

interval [a, b] attains both an absolute maximum and an
absolute minimum on that interval.

(Theorem says that continuous functions are

guaranteed to have an absolute maximum and an
absolute minimum on a closed, bounded interval.)

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Example: Use the graph to find the absolute extrema of

𝑓 (𝑥) = 1/𝑥 on the interval [1, 3].
On the interval [1, 3], f is continuous.
Consequently, the Extreme Value Theorem
guarantees that f has both an absolute
maximum and an absolute minimum
on [1, 3].

Judging from the graph in the figure, it

appears that 𝑓 (𝑥) reaches its maximum
value of 1 at x = 1 and its minimum value of
1/3 at x = 3.

Slide 9

In either case, we call 𝑓 (𝑐) a local extremum of f .

(Local maxima and minima are sometimes referred to as relative
maxima and minima, respectively.)

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Notice that each local extremum seems to occur either

at a point where the tangent line is horizontal [i.e., where
𝑓’ (𝑥) = 0],
at a point where the tangent line is vertical
[where 𝑓’ (𝑥) 𝑖𝑠 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑]
or at a corner [again, where f’ (x)
is undefined].

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A Function with a Zero Derivative at a Local Maximum

Example: Use graph to locate any local extrema for
f (x) = 9 − x2 and describe the behavior of the derivative at
the local extremum.

There is a local maximum at x = 0.

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A Function with an Undefined Derivative at a Local Minimum

Example: Use graph to locate any local extrema for
𝑓 (𝑥) = |𝑥| and describe the behavior of the derivative
at the local extremum.
There is a local minimum at x = 0.

The graph has a corner at x = 0 and hence,

𝑓’ (0) is undefined.

Definition: A number c in the domain of a function f is

called a critical number of 𝑓 if 𝒇’(𝒄) = 𝟎 or 𝒇’(𝒄) is
undefined.

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Theorem: Suppose that 𝑓 is continuous on the closed

interval [a, b]. Then, each absolute extremum of f must
occur at an endpoint (a or b) or at a critical number.

Remark: Theorem gives us a simple procedure for finding

the absolute extrema of a continuous function on a
closed, bounded interval:

1. Find all critical numbers in the interval.

2. Compute function values at the critical numbers fall in
the domain and at the endpoints.
3. The largest function value is the absolute maximum
and the smallest function value is the absolute
minimum.
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Finding Absolute Extrema on a Closed Interval

Example: Find the absolute extrema of

𝑓 (𝑥) = 2𝑥3 − 3𝑥2 − 12𝑥 + 5 on the interval [−2, 4].
The maximum appears to be at the endpoint x = 4. The
minimum appears to be at a local minimum near x = 2.

The critical numbers are x = −1 and x = 2.

Both of these are in the interval [−2, 4].

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Compare the values at the endpoints:

and the values at the critical numbers:

Theorem says that the absolute extrema

must be among these four values.
Thus, f (4) = 37 is the absolute maximum
and f (2) = −15 is the absolute minimum.

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Example:𝑓 𝑥 = 10𝑥(2 − ln 𝑥), [1, 𝑒 2 ]

𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = 10[1 − ln 𝑥]

The only critical point in the domain [1, 𝑒 2 ]

is 𝑥 = 𝑒.
The values of 𝑓 at the critical point and endpoints
are

𝑓 𝑒 = 10𝑒, 𝑓 1 = 20, 𝑓 𝑒2 = 0

Absolute maximum is 10𝑒 at 𝑥 = 𝑒.

Absolute minimum is 0 at 𝑥 = 𝑒 2 .

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2
Example: Find abs. extrema of 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 3 𝑜𝑛 [−2, 3]
2
𝑓′ 𝑥 =
33 𝑥

Has NO zeros,
but is undefined at 𝑥 = 0.
The values of 𝑓 at the critical point and
endpoints are
3 3
𝑓 0 = 0, 𝑓 −2 = 4, 𝑓 3 = 9

3
Absolute maximum is 9 at 𝑥 = 3.
Absolute minimum is 0 at 𝑥 = 0.

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Critical numbers WITHOUT extreme values.

Note that the domain is not closed.

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Theorem: (Fermat’s Theorem)

Suppose that f (c) is a local extremum (local maximum or
local minimum). Then c must be a critical number of f .

The only domain points where a function can assume extreme

values are critical points and endpoints.

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4.3 Monotonic Functions and The First Derivative Test

Definition:
A function f is increasing on an interval I if for every 𝑥1, 𝑥2 ∈
𝐼 with 𝑥1 < 𝑥2, 𝑓 (𝑥1) < 𝑓 (𝑥2) [i.e., 𝑓 (𝑥) gets larger as x gets
larger].

A function f is decreasing on the interval I if for every

𝑥1, 𝑥2 ∈ 𝐼 with 𝑥1 < 𝑥2, 𝑓 (𝑥1) > 𝑓 (𝑥2) [i.e., 𝑓 (𝑥) gets smaller
as x gets larger].

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See if you can notice what happens at every point at which the
function is increasing or decreasing.

Local extrema occur at points where a function changes from

increasing to decreasing or vise versa. Slide 23

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Example: 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 3 − 12𝑥 − 5
𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = 3(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 2)

Critical numbers are -2,2.

No endpoints
Local minimum at 𝑥 = 2
Local maximum at 𝑥 = −2
Increasing −∞, −2 , (2, ∞)
Decreasing (−2,2)

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Example: 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 4/3 − 4𝑥1/3

4(𝑥 − 1)
𝑓′ 𝑥 = 3
3 𝑥2

𝑓 ′ 𝑥 has zero at 𝑥 = 1.
𝑓 ′ 𝑥 undefined 𝑥 = 0.
No endpoints

𝑓 𝑥 has a local minimum at 𝑥 = 1.

𝑓 𝑥 does not have an extreme at 𝑥 = 0.
Increasing (1, ∞)
Decreasing (−∞, 1)

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Example: 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑒 𝑥 (𝑥 2 − 3)
𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = 𝑒 𝑥 (𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 3)

𝑓 ′ 𝑥 has zero at 𝑥 = −3,1.

No endpoints

𝑓 𝑥 has a local minimum at 𝑥 = 1.

𝑓 𝑥 has a local maximum at 𝑥 = −3.
Increasing −∞, −3 , (1, ∞)
Decreasing (−3,1)

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Finding Local Extrema of a Function with Fractional Exponents

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Example: Find the local extrema of 𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 3 .

The critical numbers are 6/5 [ 𝑓’(6/5) = 0]

and 0 [ 𝑓’(0) is undefined].

f has a local maximum at x = 0 and a local minimum at x = 6/5. Slide 29

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Example: Find the critical numbers and local extrema of

𝑓 (𝑥) = 2𝑥3 − 3𝑥2 − 12𝑥 + 5.

The critical numbers x = –1 and x = 2 correspond

to local extrema.

Example: Find the critical numbers and local extrema of

f (x) = (3x + 1)2/3.

Of course, f’ (x) ≠ 0 for all x, but f’ (x) is undefined at

x = −1/3 , which is in the domain of f . Thus x = −1/3
is the only critical number of f .

x = –1/3 corresponds to the location of a local minimum

(also the absolute minimum).
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A Horizontal Tangent at a Point That Is Not a Local Extremum

Example: Find the critical numbers and local extrema of
𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑥3.

f has a horizontal tangent line at x = 0, but

does not have a local extremum there.

A Vertical Tangent at a Point That Is Not a

Local Extremum
Example: Find the critical numbers and local
extrema of f (x) = x1/3.

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Finding Critical Numbers of a Rational Function

Example:

Note that the domain of f consists of all real numbers other

than x = −2.

𝑓’(𝑥) = 0 for x = 0,−4 and 𝑓’(𝑥) is undefined for x = −2.

However, −2 is not in the domain of f and consequently, the
only critical numbers are x = 0 and x = −4.

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4.4 Concavity and Curve Sketching

Example: 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 3
𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = 3𝑥 2

𝑓 ′′ 𝑥 = 6𝑥

Concave up (0, ∞)
Concave down (−∞, 0)

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Example: 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 2

𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = 2𝑥

𝑓 ′′ 𝑥 = 2 > 0 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑥.

Concave up (−∞, ∞)

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Example: 𝑓 𝑥 = 3 + sin 𝑥

𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = cos(𝑥)
𝑓 ′′ 𝑥 = − sin 𝑥

Concave up 𝜋, 2𝜋
Concave down 0, 𝜋

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Example: 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 5/3

5 2
𝑓′ 𝑥 = 𝑥 3
3
′′
10 −1
𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 3
9

Concave up 0, ∞
Concave down −∞, 0

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Example: 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 4

𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = 4𝑥 3

𝑓 ′′ 𝑥 = 12𝑥 2

Has NO inflection point

[𝑓 ′′ 𝑥 𝑑𝑖𝑑 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛]

Concave up −∞, ∞

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Example: 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥1/3

1 2
𝑓′ 𝑥 = 𝑥− 3
3
2 5
𝑓 ′′ 𝑥 = − 𝑥 − 3
9

Both derivatives fail to exist at x=0.

Point of inflection where 𝑦 ′ and 𝑦 ′′ fail to exist.

Concave down 0, ∞
Concave up −∞, 0

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Example: 𝑠 𝑡 = 2𝑡 3 − 14𝑡 2 + 22𝑡 − 5, 𝑡 ≥ 0

𝑠 ′ 𝑡 = 2(𝑡 − 1)(3𝑡 − 11)
𝑠 ′′ 𝑡 = 12𝑡 − 28 = 4(3𝑡 − 7)

When the function 𝑠(𝑡) is increasing, the particle is moving right.

When the function 𝑠(𝑡) is decreasing, the particle is moving left.
11
He particle is moving to the right in the time intervals [0,1) and ,∞ , and movingto the
3
11 11
left in 1, . It is momentarily stationary (at rest) at t = 1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡=
3 3

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𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞: 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 4 − 4𝑥 3 + 10
𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = 4𝑥 2 (𝑥 − 3) 𝑥 = 0,3 are critical numbers.
𝑓 ′′ 𝑥 = 12𝑥(𝑥 − 2)

𝑓 𝑥 Increasing (3, ∞)
𝑓 𝑥 decreasing −∞, 0 , (0,3)

𝑥 = 0, 2 are zeros of 𝑓 ′′ 𝑥 .

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Graphical Behavior of functions from derivatives

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4.5 Indeterminate Forms and L’ Hopital’s Rule

Limits give rise to the forms , called indeterminate forms.

We cannot determine the limit of indeterminate forms without

further work. Note that each of the following have the form

(does not exist)

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The Indeterminate Form 0/0

Example:

From the graph, the limit appears to be 0. This

limit has the indeterminate form 0/0 and all
the hypotheses of Theorem are met. We apply
l’Hôpital’s Rule to get

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The Indeterminate Form ∞/∞

Example:

This has the form ∞/∞ and from the graph it appears the
function grows larger and larger as x → ∞. Using
l’Hôpital’s Rule, we confirm our suspicion

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A Limit Requiring Two Applications of L’Hôpital’s Rule

Example:

This has the form ∞/∞ and will require us to apply L’Hôpital’s
Rule twice.

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An Erroneous Use of l’Hôpital’s Rule

Example:

Notice that , so l’Hôpital’s Rule does

not apply.

The correct evaluation is

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Simplification of the Indeterminate form ∞/∞

Example:

This has the form ∞/∞, so we

apply L’Hôpital’s Rule to get

This again has the form ∞/∞, but, rather than apply
l’Hôpital’s Rule, we rewrite the expression to evaluate the
limit.

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Other Indeterminate Forms

There are five other indeterminate forms to consider:

The objective is to reduce these forms to

at which point l’Hôpital’s Rule can be applied.

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The Indeterminate Form ∞ − ∞

Example:

This has the (∞ − ∞ ) form. We first rewrite in a form to

which l’Hôpital’s Rule can be applied.

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Slide 54

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The Indeterminate Form 0 ∙ ∞

Example:

This has the (0 ∙ ∞ ) form. We first rewrite in a form to

which l’Hôpital’s Rule can be applied.

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Example: Evaluate the following limit lim 𝑥𝑒 𝑥

𝑥→−∞

This has the (0 ∙ ∞ ) form. This means that we’ll need to write
it as a quotient.

With each application of L’Hospital’s Rule we just end up with

another 0/0 indeterminate form and in fact the derivatives
seem to be getting worse and worse.

Let’s move the exponential function instead.

The quotient is now an indeterminate form of ∞/∞ and use
L’Hospital’s Rule gives,
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The Indeterminate Form 1∞

Example:

This has the (1∞) form. To rewrite we define . We

may now write

Taking the limit of both sides of this equation, we have

We may now proceed as in previous examples

We have shown .
The original limit is thus given by Slide 57

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4.8 Antiderivatives
We need to find a way to undo differentiation. That is, given a function, f ,
we’d like to find another function 𝐹 such that 𝐹’(𝑥) = 𝑓 (𝑥). We call such
a function F an antiderivative of f.

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Example:

Observe that if F is any antiderivative of f and c is any constant, then

Are there any other antiderivatives of f (x) besides F(x) + c?

The answer, as provided in Theorem, is no.
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Theorem: Suppose that F and G are both antiderivatives of f on an interval

I . Then,
G(x) = F(x) + c,
for some constant c.

Definition: Let F be any antiderivative of f on an interval I . The indefinite

integral of f (x) (with respect to x) on I is defined by

where c is an arbitrary constant (the constant of integration).

The process of computing an integral is called integration. Here, f (x) is called
the integrand and the term dx identifies x as the variable of integration.

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An Indefinite Integral
Example
You should recognize 3x2 as the derivative of x3 and so,

Example

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Derivative Rules Give Integration Rules

Every differentiation rule gives rise to a corresponding integration rule.
For instance, recall that for every rational power, r,

Likewise,

This proves the following result.

Theorem: For any rational power r ≠ −1,

Here, if r < −1, the interval I on which this is defined can be any interval that
does not include x = 0.
Example:

From the power rule,

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Example:

In any interval not containing 0,

Example

(a)

(b)

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Some Integration Rules

By reversing any derivative

formula, we get a corresponding
integration formula.

The formulas here can be

obtained using this strategy.

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Theorem: Suppose that f (x) and g(x) have antiderivatives. Then, for
any constants, a and b,

Note that Theorem says that we can easily compute integrals of sums,
differences and constant multiples of functions.
Proof: We have that

It then follows that

Example

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Example:

Theorem:

Corollary:

Example:

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Example:

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Example: Which of the following integrals can you evaluate given the rules
developed in this section?

(a)

(c)

(d)

(e)
As yet, we do not know how to evaluate integrals (b) and (f). Slide 68

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