Application

Libeeth B. Guevarra
Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences

Math136 - Differential and Integral Calculus 1

 Rate of Change

Let y = f (x). If x changes from x1 to x1 , then the change in x is

∆x = x2 − x1 . Correspondingly, y also changes by ∆y = y2 − y1 .
Definition
∆y y2 − y1
The quotient = is the average rate of change of y
∆x x2 − x1
with respect to x over the interval [x1 , x2 ]. The derivative of y with
respect to x is the limit of this quotient as ∆x → 0 and is called the
instantaneous rate of change of y with respect to x at x = x1 .

Math136 - Differential and Integral Calculus 2

 Rate of Change

Example

A circle has a radius of 6 cm. Find the rate of change of the area
with respect to its radius.

Find the rate of change of the volume of a cube with respect to the
surface area when the edge measures 5 cm.

Math136 - Differential and Integral Calculus 3

 Slope of a Curve

∆y
The slope of the secant line is . If ∆x → 0, the secant (S)
∆x
∆y
approaches the tangent (T) as the limiting position and lim
∆x→0 ∆x
becomes the slope of the tangent line.

Math136 - Differential and Integral Calculus 4

 Slope of a Curve

Example
Find the slope of the circle x 2 + y 2 = 25 at the point (−3, 4).

Find the point on the parabola y = 4x − x 2 which has a slope of 2.

Find the equation of the tangent and normal to the curve xy = 4 at

the point (1, 4)

Math136 - Differential and Integral Calculus 5

 Time Rates

Time rate is the rate of change of a given quantity with respect to

time. If t represents time, A reprsents area, and V represents volume,
dA dV
then the quantities and represents area rate and volume rate,
dt dt
respectively.
A rate is positive if the quantity is increasing and negative if the
quantity is decreasing.

Math136 - Differential and Integral Calculus 6

 Time Rates

The following steps are suggested in solving time rate problems

1 Draw the figure if necessary
2 Identify and classify the given quantities as constant, variable, or
rate.
3 In the figure, do not place values of variables.
4 Identify the requirement.
5 Form an equation involving the required quantity.
6 Differentiate the equation in step 5.
7 Answer the requirement using the stated conditions in the
problem.

Math136 - Differential and Integral Calculus 7

 Time Rates

Example

A kite at a height of 100 ft is moving horizontally away from a boy

who flies it at a rate of 4ft/s. Find how fast is the string is being
released when there is 250 ft of string out.

A 6 ft tall man walks at 5ft/sec from a wall towards a light on the

ground 60 ft from the wall. How fast is his shadow on the wall
increasing when he is 20 ft from the wall?

Math136 - Differential and Integral Calculus 8

 Maxima and Minima

Math136 - Differential and Integral Calculus 9

 Maxima and Minima

Example
Given y = x 3 − 3x 2 − 9x + 10. Find the
1 The maximum point
2 The minimum point
3 The point of inflection

Math136 - Differential and Integral Calculus 10

 Maxima and Minima

Example

A page is to contain 42 sq. in of printed area. The margins at top

and bottom are 1.5 in., and at the sides 1 in. Find the width of the
most economical area.

The sum of two numbers is 18. Find the number if the product of
one of the numbers and the square of the square of the other is
maximum.

Math136 - Differential and Integral Calculus 11

 Maxima and Minima

Exercise

1 Find the rate of change of the area of a square with respect to

its edge when the edge is 4 inches long.
2 Find the equation of the tangent and normal to the curve
y = x 2 at (2, 4)
3 A 30 ft long ladder is leaning against a vertical wall with its
lower end on the horizontal floor. The foot of the ladder is
pulled away from the wall at a rate 2 ft/sec. How fast is the
upper end descending when its foot is 15ft from the wall?
4 Find the area of the largest rectangle that can be inscribed in a
semicircle of radius 10cm.

Math136 - Differential and Integral Calculus 12