Chapter 3

Applications of the Derivative

Chapter Outline

•Describing Graphs of Functions

•The First and Second Derivative Rules
•The First and Second Derivative Tests and Curve Sketching
•Curve Sketching (Conclusion)
•Optimization Problems
•Further Optimization Problems
•Applications of Derivatives to Business and Economics
 Section 3.1
Describing Graphs of Functions

•Increasing and Decreasing Functions

•Relative and Absolute Extrema
•Changing Slope
•Concavity
•Inflection Points
•x- and y-Intercepts
•Asymptotes
•Describing Graphs
Increasing Functions
Decreasing Functions
Relative Maxima & Minima
Absolute Maxima & Minima
Changing Slope
EXAMPLE

Draw the graph of a function y = f (T) with the stated properties.

In certain professions the average annual income has been
rising at an increasing rate. Let f (T) denote the average
annual income at year T for persons in one of these
professions and sketch a graph that could represent f (T).
SOLUTION
250

Since f (T) is rising at an 200

AVG ANNUAL INC

increasing rate, this means that
150
the slope of the graph of f (T) will
continually increase. The 100

following is a possible example. 50

0
Notice that the slope becomes 0 1 2 3 4 5
continually steeper. YEAR
Concavity

Concave Up Concave Down

Inflection Points

Notice that an inflection point is not where a graph changes from an

increasing to a decreasing slope, but where the graph changes its concavity.
Intercepts

Definition Definition
x-Intercept: A point at y-Intercept: A point at
which a graph crosses which a graph crosses
the x-axis. the y-axis.
Asymptotes
Definition Definition
Horizontal Asymptotes: A straight, Vertical Asymptotes: A straight,
horizontal line that a graph follows vertical line that a graph follows
indefinitely as x increases without indefinitely as y increases without
bound. bound.
Horizontal asymptotes occur when If a function is undefined at x = a, a
lim f x  or lim f x  exists, in which vertical asymptote occurs when a
x  x 
case the asymptote is: denominator equals zero, in which
y  lim f x . case the asymptote is:
x 
x = a.
6-Point Graph Description
Describing Graphs
EXAMPLE

Use the 6 categories previously mentioned to describe the graph.

SOLUTION

1) The function is increasing over the intervals  3  x  1 and 3  x  5.5.

The function is decreasing over the intervals 1  x  3. Relative maxima are
at x = -1 and at x = 5.5. Relative minima is at x = 3 and at x = -3.
Describing Graphs

CONTINUED

2) The function has a (absolute) maximum value at x = -1. The function has a
(absolute) minimum value at x = -3.

3) The function is concave up over the interval 1  x  5.5. The function is

concave down over the interval  3  x  1. This function has exactly one
inflection point, located at x =1.

4) The function has three x-intercepts, located at x = -2.5, x = 1.25, and x = 4.5.
The function has one y-intercept at y = 3.5.

5) Over the function’s domain,  3  x  5.5, the function is not undefined for
any value of x.

6) The function does not appear to have any asymptotes, horizontal or vertical.
 Section 3.2
The First and Second Derivative Rules

•First Derivative Rule

•Second Derivative Rule
First Derivative Rule
First Derivative Rule
EXAMPLE
Sketch the graph of a function that has the properties described.
f (-1) = 0; f x  0 for x < -1; f 1  0 and f x  0 for x > -1.
SOLUTION
The only specific point that the graph must pass through is (-1, 0). Further, we
know that to the left of this point, the graph must be decreasing ( f x  0 for
x < -1) and to the right of this point, the graph must be increasing ( f x  0 for
x > -1). Lastly, the graph must have zero slope at that given point ( f  1  0 ).
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
Second Derivative Rule

f x   0 f x   0
First & Second Derivative Scenarios
First & Second Derivative Rules
EXAMPLE

Sketch the graph of a function that has the properties described.

f (x) defined only for x ≥ 0; (0, 0) and (5, 6) are on the graph; f x  0 for x ≥ 0;
f x   0 for x < 5, f 5  0 , f x   0 for x > 5.

SOLUTION
The only specific points that the graph must pass through are (0, 0) and (5, 6).
Further, we know that to the left of (5, 6), the graph must be concave down
( f x   0 for x < 5) and to the right of this point, the graph must be concave
up ( f x  0 for x > 5). Also, the graph will only be defined in the first and
fourth quadrants (x ≥ 0). Lastly, the graph must have positive slope everywhere
that it is defined.
First & Second Derivative Rules

CONTINUED

14

12

10

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
First & Second Derivative Rules
EXAMPLE

Looking at the graphs of f x  and f x  for x close to 10, explain why the
graph of f (x) has a relative minimum at x = 10.
First & Second Derivative Rules

CONTINUED

SOLUTION

At x = 10 the first derivative has a value of 0. Therefore, the slope of f (x) at

x = 10 is 0. This suggests that either a relative minimum or relative maximum
exists on the function f (x) at x = 10. To determine which it is, we will look at
the second derivative. At x = 10, the second derivative is above the x-axis,
suggesting that the second derivative is positive when x = 10. Therefore, f (x)
is concave up when x = 10. Since at x = 10, f (x) has slope 0 and is concave up,
this means that the f (x) has a relative minimum at x = 10.
First & Second Derivative Rules
EXAMPLE

After a drug is taken orally, the amount of the drug in the bloodstream after t
hours is f (t) units. The figure below shows partial graphs of the first and
second derivatives of the function.
First & Second Derivative Rules

CONTINUED
(a) Is the amount of the drug in the bloodstream increasing or decreasing at
t = 5?
(b) Is the graph of f (t) concave up or concave down at t = 5?
(c) When is the level of the drug in the bloodstream decreasing the fastest?

SOLUTION
(a) To determine whether the amount of the drug in the bloodstream is
increasing or decreasing at t = 5, we will need to consider the graph of the
first derivative since the first derivative of a function tells how the function
is increasing or decreasing.
At t = 5 the value of the first derivative is -4. Therefore, the value of the
first derivative is negative at t = 5. Therefore, the function is decreasing at
t = 5.
First & Second Derivative Rules

CONTINUED
(b) To determine whether the graph of f (t) is concave up or concave down at
t = 5, we will need to consider the graph of the second derivative at t = 5. At
t = 5, the value of the second derivative is 0.5. Therefore, the value of the
second derivative is positive at t = 5. Therefore, the function is concave up at
t = 5.

(c) To determine when the level of the drug in the bloodstream is decreasing the
fastest, we need to determine when the first derivative is the smallest. This
occurs when t = 4.
 Section 3.3
The First and Second Derivative Tests and Curve Sketching

•Curve Sketching
•Critical Values
•The First Derivative Test
•The Second Derivative Test
•Test for Inflection Points
Curve Sketching

A General Approach to Curve Sketching

1) Starting with f (x), we compute f x  and f x .

2) Next, we locate all relative maximum and relative minimum points and
make a partial sketch.

3) We study the concavity of f (x) and locate all inflection points.

4) We consider other properties of the graph, such as the intercepts, and

complete the sketch.
Critical Values

Definition Example
Critical Values: Given For the function below, notice that the slope
a function f (x), a of the function is 0 at x = -2 and the slope is
number a in the domain undefined at x = -0.4. Also notice that the
such that either f x  0 function has a relative minimum and a
or f x  is undefined. relative maximum at these points,
respectively.
4

0
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
-1

-2

-3

-4
First Derivative Test
First Derivative Test
EXAMPLE

Find the local maximum and minimum points of f x   6 x 3  x 2  3x  3.

3
2
SOLUTION
First we find the critical values and critical points of f:

f  x   6  3 x 2   2 x1  3
3
2
 18x 2  3x  3
 9 x  32 x  1.
The first derivative f x  0 if 9x – 3 = 0 or 2x + 1 = 0. Thus the critical
values are
x = 1/3 and x = -1/2.

Substituting the critical values into the expression of f:

First Derivative Test

CONTINUED
3 2
1 1 31 1  1  31 1 6 1 43
f    6      3   3  6      3   3   1  3 
 3  3 2  3  3  27  2  9   3  27 6 18

3 2
 1  1 3 1  1  1 3 1  1 6 3 3 33
f     6        3    3  6       3    3      3  .
 2  2 2 2  2  8 2 4  2 8 8 2 8

Thus the critical points are (1/3, 43/18) and (-1/2, 33/8). To tell whether we
have a relative maximum, minimum, or neither at a critical point we shall apply
the first derivative test. This requires a careful study of the sign of f x  ,
which can be facilitated with the aid of a chart. Here is how we can set up the
chart.
First Derivative Test

CONTINUED
• Divide the real line into intervals with the critical values as endpoints.
• Since the sign of f  depends on the signs of its two factors 9x – 3 and 2x + 1,
determine the signs of the factors of f  over each interval. Usually this is
done by testing the sign of a factor at points selected from each interval.
• In each interval, use a plus sign if the factor is positive and a minus sign if the
factor is negative. Then determine the sign of f  over each interval by
multiplying the signs of the factors and using

• A plus sign of f  corresponds to an increasing portion of the graph f and a

minus sign to a decreasing portion. Denote an increasing portion with an
upward arrow and a decreasing portion with a downward arrow. The sequence
of arrows should convey the general shape of the graph and, in particular, tell
you whether or not your critical values correspond to extreme points.
First Derivative Test

CONTINUED 1/3
-1/2
Critical Points,
x < -1/2 -1/2 < x < 1/3 x > 1/3
Intervals
__ __
9x - 3 +

__ + +
2x + 1

f x  + __ +
Increasing Decreasing Increasing
f x  on  1  on  1 1  on  1 
  ,    ,   ,
 2   2 3 3 

Local Local
maximum minimum
 1 33   1 43 
 ,   , 
 2 8   3 18 
First Derivative Test

CONTINUED
You can see from the chart that the sign of f x varies from positive to
negative at x = -1/2. Thus, according to the first derivative test, f has a local
maximum at x = -1/2. Also, the sign of f x varies from negative to positive at
x = 1/3; and so f has a local minimum at x = 1/3. In conclusion, f has a local
maximum at (-1/2, 33/8) and a local minimum at (1/3, 43/18).

NOTE: Upon the analyzing the various intervals, had any two consecutive
intervals not alternated between “increasing” and “decreasing”, there would not
have been a relative maximum or minimum at the value for x separating those
two intervals.
Second Derivative Test
Second Derivative Test
EXAMPLE

Locate all possible relative extreme points on the graph of the function
f x   x 3  6 x 2  9 x. Check the concavity at these points and use this information
to sketch the graph of f (x).

SOLUTION
We have

f x   x 3  6 x 2  9 x
f x   3x 2  12x  9
f x   6 x  12.

The easiest way to find the critical values is to factor the expression for f x  :
3x 2  12x  9  3x  9x  1 .
Second Derivative Test

CONTINUED
From this factorization it is clear that f x  will be zero if and only if x = -3 or
x = -1. In other words, the graph will have horizontal tangent lines when x = -3
and x = -1, and no where else. To plot the points on the graph where x = -3 and
x = -1, we substitute these values back into the original expression for f (x).
That is, we compute
f  3   3  6 3  9 3  0
3 2

f 1  1  61  91  4.

3 2

Therefore, the slope of f (x) is 0 at the points (-3, 0) and (-1, -4).
Next, we check the sign of f x  at x = -3 and at x = -1 and apply the second
derivative test:
f  3  6 3  12  6  0 (local maximum)

f 1  61  12  6  0 (local minimum).

Second Derivative Test

CONTINUED
The following is a sketch of the function.

20
15
10
5
(-3, 0)
0
-6 -4 -2 0 2
(-1, -4) -5
-10
-15
-20
-25
Test for Inflection Points

Locating Inflection Points:

Second Derivative Test
EXAMPLE

Sketch the graph of f x   x 3  x  2.

SOLUTION
We have
f x   x 3  x  2

f x   3x 2  1

f x   6x.

We set f x  0 and solve for x.

3x 2  1  0
3x 2  1
x2  1/ 3
3
x (critical values)
3
Second Derivative Test

CONTINUED
Substituting these values of x back into f (x), we find that
3
 3  3  3 18  2 3
f  
 
 
 
2 

 3   3   3  9
3
 3  3  3 18  2 3

f          2  .
3   3   3  9
     
We now compute
 3  3
f    6
 
2 30

(local minimum)
 3   3 

 3  3

f   
 6    2 3  0 (local maximum).
 
 3   3 
Second Derivative Test

CONTINUED
3 3
Since the concavity reverses somewhere between x  and x   , there
3 3
must be at least one inflection point. If we set f x  0 , we find that
6x  0
x  0.

So the inflection point must occur at x = 0. In order to plot the inflection point,
we compute
f 0   0   0   2  2.
3

The final sketch of the graph is given below.

Second Derivative Test

CONTINUED

 3 18  2 3  4
 
 3 , 9 
 
(0, 2)
2
 3 18  2 3 
 
 3 , 9 
 
0
-2 -1 0 1 2
-2

-4