CS 132

Mathematics for Computer Science

Applications of Derivatives

By
Dale D. Miguel

SLU - SAMCIS 1
Essential Concept
The first derivative of a function is a rate of change.

dy/dx = rate of change of y with respect to x

ds/dt = rate of change in distance traveled (s) with respect to time (t)
= velocity

SLU - SAMCIS 2
Essential Concept
The first derivative of a function representing a curve can be used to determine the slope of a
tangent line to the curve at a certain point.

The value of the first derivative at the point of tangency of a tangent line is the slope of the
tangent line.
◦ To get the value of the first derivative, substitute the coordinates(e.g. x and y) of the point in the
derivative

The slope of the tangent line is also the slope of the curve at the point of tangency.

SLU - SAMCIS 3
Essential Concept
The/A point in a curve where the tangent line has a slope that is equal to zero is a MINIMUM
point or a MAXIMUM point.
◦ In some applications, the function dealt with is corresponding to a curve showing measurements of
errors (i.e. error function ).

y =f(x)
Where y represents error as a function of a certain parameter x.

The interest is usually the point corresponding to a minimum error, that is, a minimum point in the
curve.
A minimum point is a point where the slope of the tangent line is zero(horizontal line). Hence, a
minimum point corresponds to “when the first derivative is equal to 0”.

SLU - SAMCIS 4
Essential Concept
The/A point in a curve where the tangent line has a slope that is equal to zero is a MINIMUM
point or a MAXIMUM point.

Profit, or something of the same nature, may be the concern of a function (i.e. profit function).

p = f(i)

Profit(p) is a function of the variable(i).

With the profit function, the interest is the point corresponding to a maximum value, that is, a
maximum point in the curve. Like the minimum point, the tangent line to a curve at the maximum
point is 0 (horizontal line). That is, dp/di = 0.

SLU - SAMCIS 5
SLU - SAMCIS 6
V = (4/3)r3

dV/dr = (4/3)(3r3-1)(dr/dr)
= (4/3)(3r2)(1)
= (4/3) 3(r2)
= 4 r2
rate of change of volume as radius increases
ANSWER

SLU - SAMCIS 7
SLU - SAMCIS 8
Let S = surface area of the box
Given.
height =b, width=b+1, length=b+4

S = 2*((b+4)(b+1)) + 2*((b+4)(b)) + 2*((b+1)(b))

SLU - SAMCIS 9
SLU - SAMCIS 10
S = 6b2 + 20b + 8
dS/db = d/db (6b2 + 20b + 8 )
= d/db(6b2 ) + d/db(20b ) + d/db(8
= 6(2b2-1(db/db)) + 20(db/db) + 0
= 12b1(1) + 20(1)
= 12b + 20
rate of change of total surface area as b changes
ANSWER!

SLU - SAMCIS 11
Summary (Rate of change)
1. Formulate the equation that expresses the dependent variable as a function of the
independent variable
2. Get the first derivative of the dependent variable with respect to the independent variable

SLU - SAMCIS 12
Summary ( Maxima/Minima Problem)
1. Formulate the equation that expresses the dependent variable as a function of the
independent variable
2. Get the first derivative of the dependent variable with respect to the independent variable
3. Equate the first derivative to 0 (rate of change =0)

SLU - SAMCIS 13
Example: Maxima/Minima Problem
What number exceeds its square by the maximum amount?

Let n be the number

If the number n exceeds its square by the maximum amount, the derivative of the (difference
between n and n2 ) with respect to n is equal to 0.

SLU - SAMCIS 14
 What number exceeds its square by the
maximum amount?
Let n be the number

If the number n exceeds its square by the maximum amount, the derivative of the (difference between n and n2 ) with respect to n is equal to 0.

Let D be the difference of n and n2.

D = n – n2.

dD/dn = d/dn (n – n2 ) =d/dn(n) - d/dn(n2) = 0  Apply the appropriate formulas for differentiation

1 – 2n2-1(dn/dn) = 0

1 – 2n = 0

1 = 2n

n=½

ANSWER

SLU - SAMCIS 15
Example: Maxima/Minima Problem
A box is to be made of a piece of a 9 inches by 9 inches cardboard by cutting equal squares out
of the corners and turning up the sides. Find the volume of the largest box that can be made in
this way.

SLU - SAMCIS 16
SLU - SAMCIS 17
Volume of box = (length)(width)(height)

For the box created, length=width = 9-2x and the height is x

V = (9-2x)(9-2x)(x)  Multiplying (9-2x) by (9-2x) results to (81-36x+4x2)

The largest box is formed if the volume is maximum.

SLU - SAMCIS 18
V = 81x – 36x2 + 4x3
dV/dx = d/dx(81x – 36x2 + 4x3 )
= d/dx(81x) – d/dx(36x2)+ d/dx(4x3)
= 81(dx/dx) – 36(2)(x2-1)(dx/dx) + 4(3)(x3-1)(dx/dx)
= 81(1) -72x1(1) + 12x2(1) = 0
= 81 -72x + 12x2 = 0

SLU - SAMCIS 19
The largest box is formed if the volume is maximum.
The volume is maximum if the derivative of volume with respect to x is equal to 0

dV/dx = 0
81 -72x + 12x2 = 0
Solve for x in 81 -72x + 12x2 = 0
12x2 - 72x + 81 = 0  divide all terms by 3
4x2 - 24x + 27 = 0. <— Quadratic Equation

SLU - SAMCIS 20
 4x2 - 24x + 27 = 0. <— Quadratic Equation
◦ Use quadratic formula or use factoring or create a program that solves for x

By factoring:
(2x – 9 ) (2x – 3) = 0
2x-9 = 0 or 2x-3=0
2x = 9 or 2x = 3
X=9/2 or x=3/2

SLU - SAMCIS 21
By factoring:

(2x – 9 ) (2x – 3) = 0

2x-9 = 0 or 2x-3=0

2x = 9 or 2x = 3

x=9/2 or x=3/2

The first possible value of x should be discarded because if we cut out (9/2 by 9/2) from each corner of a (9 by 9) board, nothing will be left.

Therefore x = 3/2.

Hence, the volume of largest the box that can be constructed is

V = (9 -2(3/2))(9-2(3/2))(3/2)

V = (9-3)(9-3)(3/2)

V = (6)(6)(3/2)

V = 54 cubic units ANSWER

SLU - SAMCIS 22
The challenge for you is to integrate the use of Computer Programming ( or Computer
Applications ) in the problem solving task.

MORE POWER

SLU - SAMCIS 23