Applications of the

Derivative
 Problem.

The following figure shows a spring-mass-damper system. Plot the response of

the system when the initial displacement of mass m is 0.1 meters.

c = 1 kg/s
k = 100N/m

m = 5 kg
Equation of motion.

The equation of motion is as follows:

.. .
m x c x kx 0
x (t 0) 0.1

Now we need to change it to first order equation to solve it.

Rewriting the equation we get,

c k
x x x
m m
x(t 0) 0.1
Cont.

.
Consider the fact that x vis just velocity. So we can rewrite the
equation as two first order differential equations

c k
v v x
m m
x v
v(t 0) 0
x(t 0) 0.1
 Cont.

Or in general form we get:

c k
x1 x1 x2
m m
x2 x1
x1 (t 0) 0
x2 (t 0) 0.1
Absolute Maximum/Minimum

Absolute Max

Local Max

The max/min occurs at the x-value, but the actual max/min is the y-value
Max/Min

Max/min can occur at endpoints

An absolute extrema is either the largest or smallest value in some

interval (open or closed). A function can have only one absolute
extrema.
Example

Find the absolute extrema, if they exist, for the

function f(x) = 3x4 4x3 12x2 + 2

f(x) = 12x3 12x2 24x

0 = 12(x2 x 2)
0 = 12x(x + 1)(x 2)
x = 0, -1, 2
There are no values where f(x) does not exist, so
evaluate the critical numbers.
 Example Cont
f(-1) = -3
f(0) = 2
f(2) = -30 Absolute Min

This is an open interval so we cannot evaluate the

endpoints. Instead we evaluate the limit of the
function f(x) = 3x4 4x3 12x2 + 2 as x becomes
increasingly large (x).
Since the function grows without bound, the absolute
min of -30 occurs at x = 2. Graphing proves this.
Maximizing Volume

An open box is to be made from cutting a square from each corner of

a 12-in. by 12-in. piece of metal and then folding up the sides. What
size square should be cut from each corner to produce a box of
maximum volume?

1. Known: 12 x 12 in. sides

Maximizing Volume

2.
Maximizing Volume

3. Volume is to be maximized so V = lwh = x(12 2x)(12 2x) = 4x3

48x2 + 144x
4. Domain: Volume cant be negative; neither can length, width, or
height. What is the largest x that can be put into the equation
without causing it to go negative?
Maximizing Volume

6. Find the critical points and evaluate

V(x) = 12x2 96x + 144
0 = 12(x2 8x + 12)
0 = 12(x 2)(x 6)
x = 2, 6
7. Evaluate

When x = 2 in. the maximum

volume is 128 in.3
Business Applications: Lot Size
A manufacturer must determine:
What production level will result in minimum production and
storage costs
A purchaser must decide:
How much to order to minimize reordering and storage costs