Derivative of a function

Let a function 𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙) be defined in the

interval 𝒂 ≤ 𝒙 ≤ 𝒃 and 𝒙 be any point
within this interval.
Now, let us assign to 𝒙 an arbitrary
increment 𝜟𝒙 ≠0 such that 𝒙 + 𝜟𝒙 lies
within the above interval and compute
the corresponding increment 𝜟𝒚 of the
function 𝒚. Then we have 𝒚 + 𝜟𝒚= 𝒇(𝒙 +
𝜟𝒙 ) so that 𝜟𝒚 =( 𝒚 + 𝜟𝒚) − 𝒚 =
𝒇(𝒙 + 𝜟𝒙 ) − 𝒇(𝒙).
𝜟𝒚 𝒇(𝒙+𝜟𝒙 )− 𝒇(𝒙)
Now the ratio = .
𝜟𝒙 𝜟𝒙
 𝜟𝒚 𝒇(𝒙+𝜟𝒙 )− 𝒇(𝒙)
The limit of the ratio = as
𝜟𝒙 𝜟𝒙
𝜟𝒙 tends to zero, if exist, is called the
derivative or differential coefficient of 𝒚
with respect to 𝒙 and is denoted usually
𝒅𝒚
by .
𝒅𝒙

𝒅𝒚 𝜟𝒚 𝒇(𝒙+𝜟𝒙 )− 𝒇(𝒙)
= lim = lim .
𝒅𝒙 𝜟𝒙→0 𝜟𝒙 𝜟𝒙→0 𝜟𝒙

Or
𝒅𝒚 ′( 𝒇(𝒙+𝒉 )− 𝒇(𝒙)
𝒐𝒓 𝒇 𝒙) = lim .
𝒅𝒙 𝒉→0 𝒉
 Existence of Derivative at a point
𝒇(𝒙+𝒉 )− 𝒇(𝒙)
If lim exists, then it is
𝒉→0+ 𝒉
known as the left-hand derivative of
𝒇(𝒙) with respect to 𝒙 and is denoted by
L𝒇′ (𝒙),
′( 𝒇(𝒙+𝒉 )− 𝒇(𝒙)
i.e., L𝒇 𝒙) = lim
𝒉→0− 𝒉

Similarly, right-hand derivative

′( 𝒇(𝒙+𝒉 )− 𝒇(𝒙)
R𝒇 𝒙) = lim
𝒉→0+ 𝒉

Existence of Derivative:
Let 𝒇(𝒙) be defined in the interval 𝒂 ≤
𝒙 ≤ 𝒃, 𝒄 being a point in this interval
then 𝒇′ (𝒄) exists only when the two
derivatives
 ′( 𝒇(𝒄+𝒉 )− 𝒇(𝒄)
L𝒇 𝒄) = lim and
𝒉→0− 𝒉

′( 𝒇(𝒄+𝒉 )− 𝒇(𝒄)
R𝒇 𝒄) = lim both exists
𝒉→0+ 𝒉
and are equal.

Let a function 𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙) be defined in the

interval 𝒂 ≤ 𝒙 ≤ 𝒃 and 𝒙 be any point
within this interval.
𝒅𝒚 ′( 𝒇(𝒙+𝒉 )− 𝒇(𝒙)
𝒐𝒓 𝒇 𝒙) = lim
𝒅𝒙 𝒉→0 𝒉

Problems on First Principle

𝒅𝒚
Find
𝒅𝒙

(i) 𝒚 = 𝒙𝟑 , (ii) 𝒚 = (𝒙 − 𝟏)𝟑

Prob.(8)
A function 𝑓(𝑥 ) defined as follows:

5 − 3𝑥, 𝑥 ≤ 0
𝑓(𝑥 ) ={
5 + 3𝑥 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥 > 0 .
Show that 𝑓 ′ (0) does not exist.

Solution:
We have
′( 𝒇(𝒄+𝒉 )− 𝒇(𝒄)
L𝒇 𝒄) = lim and
𝒉→0− 𝒉

′( 𝒇(𝒄+𝒉 )− 𝒇(𝒄)
R𝒇 𝒄) = lim
𝒉→0+ 𝒉
 ′( 𝒇(𝟎+𝒉 )− 𝒇(𝟎)
Here L𝒇 𝟎) = lim =-3
𝒉→0− 𝒉

′( 𝒇(𝟎+𝒉 )− 𝒇(𝟎)
and R𝒇 𝟎) = lim =3,
𝒉→0+ 𝒉

Thus L𝒇′ (𝟎) ≠ 𝐑𝒇′ (𝟎).

Hence, 𝒇′ (𝟎) does not exist.

Differentiation of some standard

functions:
𝒅
(i) (𝒙𝒏 ) = 𝒏𝒙𝒏−𝟏 ,
𝒅𝒙
𝒅
(ii) (𝒆𝒎𝒙 ) = 𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒙 ,
𝒅𝒙
𝒅 𝟏
(iii) ( 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒙𝒆 ) = ; (𝒙 > 𝟎);
𝒅𝒙 𝒙
 𝒅
(iv) ( 𝒂𝒎𝒙 ) = 𝒎𝒂𝒎𝒙 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒂𝒆 ; 𝒂 > 𝟎.
𝒅𝒙
 Fundamental Theorems on
Differentiation

Theorem 1. Derivative of a constant is

𝒅
zero; i.e. (𝒄) = 𝟎, where c is a
𝒅𝒙
constant.
𝒅
e.g., (𝟒) = 𝟎.
𝒅𝒙

Theorem 2. Let 𝒇(𝒙) be a differentiable

function of 𝒙 and 𝒄 is a constant, then
𝒅 𝒅
{𝒄𝒇(𝒙)} = 𝒄 𝒇(𝒙)
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙
e.g.,
𝒅
{𝟐𝒆𝟑𝒙 } = 𝟔𝒆𝟑𝒙
𝒅𝒙

Theorem 3. Let 𝒇(𝒙) and 𝒈(𝒙) be two

functions of 𝒙, then
𝒅 𝒅 𝒅
{𝒇(𝒙) ± 𝒈(𝒙)}= 𝒇(𝒙) ± 𝒈(𝒙).
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙
e.g.,
𝒅 𝟐
𝒅 𝟐
𝒅
{𝒙 + 𝟓𝒙} = (𝒙 ) + (𝟓𝒙)
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙
= 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟓.

Theorem 4. Let 𝒇(𝒙) and 𝒈(𝒙) be two

functions of 𝒙, then
𝒅 𝒅
{𝒇(𝒙). 𝒈(𝒙)}={ 𝒇(𝒙)} . 𝒈(𝒙) +
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙
𝒅
𝒇(𝒙). { 𝒈(𝒙)}.
𝒅𝒙
 𝒅𝒚
Prob.(1) Find , when
𝒅𝒙

(i) 𝒚 = (𝒙 + 𝟐)(𝒙 + 𝟏)𝟐 ,

(ii) 𝒚 = 𝒙𝟐 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒙,
(iii) 𝒚 = 𝒙𝟐 𝐞𝟓𝒙

Solution:
𝒅𝒚 𝒅
(i) = (𝒙 + 𝟐) (𝒙 + 𝟏)𝟐 + (𝒙 +
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙
𝒅
𝟏)𝟐 (𝒙 + 𝟐) = (𝒙 + 𝟐). 𝟐. (𝒙 + 𝟏) +
𝒅𝒙
(𝒙 + 𝟏)𝟐 . 𝟏 = 𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝟔𝒙 + 𝟒 + 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒙 +
𝟏 = 𝟑𝒙𝟐 + 𝟖𝒙 + 𝟓

𝒅𝒚 𝒅 𝒅
(ii) = 𝒙𝟐 . 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒙 + 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒙 . (𝒙𝟐 ) = 𝒙 +
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙
𝟐𝒙 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒙 = 𝒙(𝟏 + 𝟐 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒙)
Theorem 5:
𝒅 𝒅
𝒅 𝒇 (𝒙 ) { 𝒇(𝒙)}.𝒈(𝒙)−𝒇(𝒙).{ 𝒈(𝒙)}
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙
{ }= {𝒈(𝒙)}𝟐
.
𝒅𝒙 𝒈(𝒙)

𝒅𝒚
Prob.(2) Find , when
𝒅𝒙
𝒙𝟐 +𝟏
(i) 𝒚= ,
𝒙−𝟏
𝒙
(ii) 𝒚 = ,
𝒆𝒙 −𝟏
𝟏−𝒙
(iii) 𝒚 = √
𝟏+𝒙
Solution:
𝒅 𝒅
𝒅𝒚 (𝒙−𝟏) (𝒙𝟐 +𝟏)−(𝒙𝟐 +𝟏). (𝒙−𝟏) (𝒙−𝟏).𝟐𝒙−(𝒙𝟐 +𝟏).𝟏
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙
(i) = (𝒙−𝟏)𝟐
= (𝒙−𝟏)𝟐
=
𝒅𝒙
𝒙𝟐 −𝟐𝒙−𝟏
(𝒙−𝟏)𝟐

(ii)
𝒅 𝒅
𝒅𝒚 (𝒆𝒙 − 𝟏) (𝒙) − 𝒙. (𝒆𝒙 − 𝟏)
= 𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙
𝒅𝒙 (𝒆𝒙 − 𝟏)𝟐
(𝒆𝒙 − 𝟏). 𝟏 − 𝒙. 𝒆𝒙 𝒆𝒙 . (𝟏 − 𝒙) − 𝟏
= =
(𝒆𝒙 − 𝟏)𝟐 (𝒆𝒙 − 𝟏)𝟐
 Logarithm Differentiation
𝒅𝒚
Prob.(3) Find , if
𝒅𝒙

(i) 𝒚 = 𝒙𝒙 , (ii) 𝒚 = (𝒙𝒙 )𝒙

𝟏
(ii) 𝒚 = 𝒙 (iv) 𝒚 = (𝟏 + 𝒙)𝟐𝒙
𝒙

𝒆𝒙
(v) 𝒚 = 𝒙

Solution:

(i) 𝒚 = 𝒙𝒙
⇒ 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒚 = 𝒙. 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒙
Differentiating both sides w.r.t. 𝒙, we get
𝒅 𝒅
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒚 = (𝒙. 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒙)
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙
𝟏 𝒅𝒚 𝒅𝒙 𝒅
⇒ = 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒙 . + 𝒙. 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒙 =
𝒚 𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙
𝟏
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒙 + 𝒙. = 𝟏 + 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒙
𝒙
 𝒅𝒚
⇒ = 𝒚(𝟏 + 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒙) = 𝒙𝒙 . (𝟏 + 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒙).
𝒅𝒙

𝟏
(iii) 𝒚=𝒙 𝒙

𝟏
⇒ 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒚 = . 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒙
𝒙
Differentiating both sides w.r.t. 𝒙, we get
𝟏 𝒅𝒚 𝟏 𝒅 𝒅 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
= . (𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒙) + (𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒙). ( ) = 𝟐 − 𝟐 . 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒙
𝒚 𝒅𝒙 𝒙 𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙 𝒙 𝒙 𝒙
𝟏
𝒅𝒚 𝟏 𝟏 𝒙𝒙 .(𝟏−𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒙)
⇒𝒅𝒙 = 𝒚 (𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟐 . 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒙) = 𝒙𝟐

(iv)
𝟐𝒙
𝒚 = (𝟏 + 𝒙)

⇒ 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒚 = 𝟐𝒙. 𝐥𝐨𝐠(𝟏 + 𝒙)

Differentiating both sides w.r.t. 𝒙, we get

 𝟏 𝒅𝒚 𝒅 𝒅
= (𝟐𝒙). 𝐥𝐨𝐠(𝟏 + 𝒙) + 𝐥𝐨𝐠(𝟏 + 𝒙) . (𝟐𝒙)
𝒚 𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙
𝟏
= 𝟐𝒙. + 𝟐. 𝐥𝐨𝐠(𝟏 + 𝒙)
𝟏+𝒙
𝟐𝒙
⇒ 𝒅𝒚
𝒅𝒙
= 𝟐. (𝟏 + 𝒙) . {
𝒙
𝟏+𝒙
+ 𝐥𝐨𝐠(𝟏 + 𝒙)}

Differentiation of Parametric functions:

If 𝒙 = 𝒇(𝒕) and 𝒚 = ɸ(𝒕), 𝒕 being a parameter, then

𝒅𝒚
𝒅𝒚 𝒅𝒕 𝒅𝒙
= 𝒅𝒙 , ≠𝟎
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒕
𝒅𝒕
 𝒅𝒚
Prob.(4) Find , if
𝒅𝒙
𝟏
(i) 𝒙 = √𝟏 + 𝒕, 𝒚 = √𝟏 − 𝒕 at 𝒕 =
𝟐
𝟐𝒂𝒕 𝟏−𝒕𝟐
(ii) 𝒙 = ,𝒚= .
𝟏+𝒕𝟐 𝟏+𝒕𝟐

Solution:

𝒅𝒚 𝒅 𝟏 𝒅 𝟏
= 𝒅𝒕 √𝟏 − 𝒕 = 𝟐√𝟏−𝒕 𝒅𝒕 (𝟏 − 𝒕) = − 𝟐√𝟏−𝒕
𝒅𝒕

𝒅𝒙 𝒅 𝟏 𝒅 𝟏
and = 𝒅𝒕 √𝟏 + 𝒕 = 𝟐√𝟏+𝒕 𝒅𝒕 (𝟏 + 𝒕) = 𝟐√𝟏+𝒕
𝒅𝒕

𝑑𝑦 1
−
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑡 2√1 − 𝑡 1+𝑡
= = = −√
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 1 1−𝑡
𝑑𝑡 2√1 + 𝑡
 1
𝒅𝒚 𝟏+
2
Hence [𝒅𝒙] 1 = −√ 1 = −√𝟑
𝑡= 𝟏−
2 2

Prob.(5) Find 𝒅𝒚
𝒅𝒙
:

(i) 𝒙𝒚 𝒚𝒙 = 𝟏 ,
(ii) 𝒙𝟐 𝒚 + 𝒙𝒚𝟐 = 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐
𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟐
(iii) 𝒂 𝟐 + 𝒃𝟐
= 𝟏,
𝒚 𝒙
(iv) 𝒙 + 𝒚 = 𝟏𝟏,

(V) 𝒚 = √𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒙 + √𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒙 + √𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒙 + ⋯ + ∞

Solution:
(i) 𝒙𝒚 𝒚𝒙 = 𝟏
⇒ 𝐥𝐨𝐠(𝒙𝒚 𝒚𝒙 ) = 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟏
⇒ 𝒚 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒙 + 𝒙 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒚 = 𝟎
Differentiating both sides w.r.t. 𝒙, we get
𝐝𝒚 𝟏 𝟏 𝐝𝒚
⇒ 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒙 𝐝𝒙 + 𝒚. 𝒙 + 𝒙. 𝐲 𝐝𝒙 + 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒚. 𝟏 = 𝟎

𝒙 𝐝𝒚 𝐲
⇒ ( 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒙 + 𝐲) 𝐝𝐱 = − (𝒙 + 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒚)
𝐲
𝐝𝒚 −( +𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒚) 𝐲(𝐲+𝒙 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒚)
𝒙
⇒ 𝐝𝒙 = 𝒙 = − 𝒙(𝒙+𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒙)
( 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝐱+ )
𝒚

(ii) 𝒙𝟐 𝒚 + 𝒙𝒚𝟐 = 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐
Differentiating both sides w.r.t. 𝒙, we get
𝒅 𝟐 𝒅 𝟐
(𝒙 𝒚 + 𝒙𝒚𝟐 ) = (𝒙 + 𝒚𝟐 )
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙
𝒅𝒚 𝒅𝒚 𝒅𝒚
⇒ 𝟐𝒙𝒚 + 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒙. 𝟐𝒚 + 𝒚𝟐 . 𝟏 = 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟐𝒚
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙
𝒅𝒚
⇒ . (𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒙𝒚 − 𝟐𝒚) = 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟐𝒙𝒚 − 𝒚𝟐
𝒅𝒙
𝒅𝒚 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟐𝒙𝒚 − 𝒚𝟐
⇒ =
𝒅𝒙 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒙𝒚 − 𝟐𝒚

(v)

𝒚 = √𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒙 + √𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒙 + √𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒙 + ⋯ + ∞

 Or, 𝒚 = √𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒙 + 𝒚
⇒𝒚𝟐 = 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒙 + 𝒚
Differentiating both sides w.r.t. 𝒙, we get
𝑑𝑦 1 𝑑𝑦
2𝑦. = +
𝑑𝑥 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦 1
⇒ 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑥(2𝑦−1)
 Second order Derivative
If 𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙) be a derivable function of 𝒙,
then its derivative ( first order
𝒅𝒚
derivative) is denoted by or 𝒚𝟏 or 𝒚′ .
𝒅𝒙

The derivative of the first order

derivative is known as second order
𝒅𝟐 𝒚 ′
derivative 𝟐 or 𝒚 𝟐 or 𝒚′
𝒅𝒙

Prob.: If 𝒚 =2𝒙𝟑 − 𝟗𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏𝟐𝒙 + 𝟔,

Find 𝒚𝟏 and 𝒚𝟐 at 𝒙 = 𝟏
Prob.: If 𝒚 = 𝒆𝒂𝒙 − 𝒆−𝒂𝒙 ,
𝒅𝟐 𝒚
Then show that = 𝒂𝟐 . 𝒚.
𝒅𝒙𝟐

Application of Derivative

Let 𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙) be a function continuous in

the interval 𝒂 < 𝒙𝟏 < 𝒙𝟐 < 𝒃,

Then (i) for increasing function:

𝒇(𝒙𝟐 ) > 𝒇(𝒙𝟏 );
(i) for decreasing function:
𝒇(𝒙𝟐 ) < 𝒇(𝒙𝟏 );
A function 𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙) will be
(i) Increasing at a point 𝒙 = 𝒂 , if
𝒇′ (𝒂) > 𝟎.
(ii) Decreasing at a point = 𝒂 , if
𝒇′ (𝒂) < 𝟎 .

Prob. Test 𝒚 = 𝟐𝟎 − 𝟔𝒙 + 𝒙𝟐 for

increasing or decreasing function at the
point: (i) 𝒙 = 𝟎, (ii) 𝒙 = 𝟐, (iii), 𝒙 = 𝟒.
Maximum and Minimum values of a
function:

Let 𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙) be a function, then 𝒇(𝒙) is

maximum at 𝒙 = 𝒄 if 𝒇′ (𝒄) = 𝟎 and
𝒇′′ (𝒄) < 𝟎.
Similarly 𝒇(𝒙) is minimum if 𝒇′ (𝒄) = 𝟎
and 𝒇′′ (𝒄) > 𝟎.

Prob. Find the maximum and minimum

values of the following functions:
(i) 𝒚 =2𝒙𝟑 − 𝟗𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏𝟐𝒙 + 𝟔,
(ii) 𝒚 = 𝒙𝟑 − 𝟗𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝟒𝒙 − 𝟏𝟐,
(iii) 𝒚 = 𝒙𝟑 − 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟏,
(iv) 𝒚 = 𝟒𝒙𝟑 − 𝟏𝟓𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏𝟐𝒙 − 𝟐.
Solution:
(i) Given 𝒚 =2𝒙𝟑 − 𝟗𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏𝟐𝒙 + 𝟔
𝒅𝒚
𝒐𝒓 𝒚′ = 𝟔𝒙𝟐 − 𝟏𝟖𝒙 + 𝟏𝟐
𝒅𝒙
= 𝟔(𝒙 − 𝟏)(𝒙 − 𝟐)
𝒅𝟐 𝒚
and 𝒐𝒓 𝒚′′ = 𝟏𝟐𝒙 − 𝟏𝟖
𝒅𝒙𝟐
𝒅𝒚
Now =𝟎
𝒅𝒙

⇒ 𝟔(𝒙 − 𝟏)(𝒙 − 𝟐) = 𝟎
⇒ 𝒙 = 𝟏 and 𝒙 = 𝟐
At 𝒙 = 𝟏 and 𝒙 = 𝟐, 𝒚 has maximum or a
minimum value.
𝒅𝟐 𝒚
Now at = 𝟏, = 𝟏𝟐 × 𝟏 − 𝟏𝟖 = −𝟔 < 𝟎.
𝒅𝒙𝟐

Hence at 𝒙 = 𝟏, 𝒚 is maximum and its value is:

𝒚 =2× 𝟏𝟑 − 𝟗 × 𝟏𝟐 + 𝟏𝟐 × 𝟏 + 𝟔 = 𝟏𝟏
𝒅𝟐 𝒚
Again, at = 𝟐, = 𝟏𝟐 × 𝟐 − 𝟏𝟖 = 𝟔 > 𝟎.
𝒅𝒙𝟐
Hence at 𝒙 = 𝟐, 𝒚 is minimum and its value is:
𝒚 =2× 𝟐𝟑 − 𝟗 × 𝟐𝟐 + 𝟏𝟐 × 𝟐 + 𝟔 = 𝟏𝟎.

(iv) Given 𝒚 =4𝒙𝟑 − 𝟏𝟓𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏𝟐𝒙 − 𝟐

𝒅𝒚
𝒐𝒓 𝒚′ = 𝟏𝟐𝒙𝟐 − 𝟑𝟎𝒙 + 𝟏𝟐
𝒅𝒙
= 𝟔(𝟐𝒙 − 𝟏)(𝒙 − 𝟐)
𝒅𝟐 𝒚
and 𝒐𝒓 𝒚′′ = 𝟐𝟒𝒙 − 𝟑𝟎
𝒅𝒙𝟐
𝒅𝒚
Now =𝟎
𝒅𝒙

⇒ 𝟔(𝟐𝒙 − 𝟏)(𝒙 − 𝟐) = 𝟎
𝟏
⇒ 𝒙 = and 𝒙 = 𝟐
𝟐
𝟏
At 𝒙 = and 𝒙 = 𝟐, 𝒚 has maximum or a
𝟐
minimum value.
𝟏 𝒅𝟐 𝒚 𝟏
Now at 𝒙 = , = 𝟐𝟒 × − 𝟑𝟎 = −𝟏𝟖 < 𝟎.
𝟐 𝒅𝒙𝟐 𝟐
 𝟏
Hence at 𝒙 = , 𝒚 is maximum and its value is:
𝟐

𝟏 𝟑 𝟏 𝟐 𝟏 𝟑
𝒚 =4× ( ) − 𝟏𝟓 × ( ) + 𝟏𝟐 × − 𝟐 =
𝟐 𝟐 𝟐 𝟒

𝒅𝟐 𝒚
Again, at 𝑥 = 𝟐, = 𝟐𝟒 × 𝟐 − 𝟑𝟎 = 𝟏𝟖 > 𝟎.
𝒅𝒙𝟐

Hence at 𝒙 = 𝟐, 𝒚 is minimum and its value is:

𝒚 =4× 𝟐𝟑 − 𝟏𝟓 × 𝟐𝟐 + 𝟏𝟐 × 𝟐 − 𝟐 = −𝟔.
Rate Measure: Let 𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙) be a
function:
𝒅𝒚
= 𝒇′ (𝒙) is the instantaneous rate or
𝒅𝒙
simply rate of change of 𝒚 with respect
to 𝒙 at the point.
Application of Maximum and Minimum
values of a function:

Cost Function: The total cost (Rs. 𝑪) of

producing 𝒙 units of product is known as
cost function and is denoted by 𝑪(𝒙).

Cost function has two parts: (i) Fixed

cost and (ii) Variable cost.

𝟏
e.g., 𝑪(𝒙) = 𝒙𝟑 -5𝒙𝟐 +𝟗𝟗𝒙 + 𝟑𝟓,
𝟑

here, 𝐑𝐬. 𝟑𝟓 is fixed cost

𝟏
𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑹𝒔. ( 𝒙𝟑 − 𝟓𝒙𝟐 + 𝟗𝟗𝒙) is the
𝟑
variable cost.
Average Cost (AC): Average cost =
𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝑪 (𝒙 )
= .
𝑵𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒙

Average Variable Cost (AVC): Average

𝑽𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒕
Variable cost = =
𝑵𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒆𝒅
𝑪(𝒙)−𝑭𝒊𝒙𝒆𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒕
.
𝒙
Marginal Cost (MC):
𝒅𝑪
Marginal Cost (MC)=
𝒅𝒙

Revenue Function: The total revenue

(i.e., total selling price) obtained from the
sale of 𝑥 units of product is known as
revenue function and is denoted by 𝑅(𝑥).
If 𝑅𝑠. 𝑝 is the selling price of one unit of
product, then 𝑅(𝑥 ) = 𝑝𝑥.
 𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑅𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑒
Average Revenue= =
𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑑
𝑅(𝑥)
= 𝑝 =Selling price of one unit.
𝑥

𝑑𝑅
Marginal Revenue(MR)= .
𝑑𝑥

Profit Function: The total profit (i.e., net

revenue) obtained by selling 𝑥 units of
product is called profit function and is
denoted by 𝑃(𝑥),

𝑃(𝑥 ) = 𝑅(𝑥 ) − 𝐶(𝑥).

Demand Function:
If 𝑝 is the price of one unit commodity
and 𝑥 is the number of units demanded,
then 𝑥 = 𝑓 (𝑝) is known as demand
function.

Supply Function:
If 𝑝 is the price of one unit commodity
and 𝑥 is the number of units supplied,
then 𝑥 = 𝑓(𝑝) is known as the supply
function.
 Prob.(1). The total cost function 𝐶 (𝑥) of
producing 𝑥 items is given by

1000 + 5𝑥, 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 500

( )
𝐶 𝑥 ={
2000 + 4𝑥, 500 < 𝑥 ≤ 2000.
Find the cost of producing 430 items and 1200
items.

Prob.(2). Suppose a manufacturer can sell

𝑥 items per week at a price
𝑝 = 20 − .001𝑥 rupees each when it
costs 𝑦 = 5𝑥 + 2000 rupees to produce 𝑥
items. Determine the number of items he
should produce per week for maximum
profit.
 Solution:

At a price 20 − .001𝑥 rupees each, the selling price

of 𝑥 items

𝑅(𝑥 ) = 𝑥𝑝 = 20𝑥 − .001𝑥 2

Profit function
𝑃(𝑥 ) = 𝑅(𝑥 ) − 𝐶 (𝑥 ) = 20𝑥 − .001𝑥 2 −
(5𝑥 + 2000) = 15𝑥 − .001𝑥 2 − 2000.

Hence
𝑃′ (𝑥 ) = 15 − .002𝑥,
𝑃′′ (𝑥 ) = −.002 < 0
Now
𝑃′ (𝑥 ) = 0
⇒ 15 − .002𝑥
15
⇒𝑥=
. 002
At 𝑥 = 7500
𝑃′′ (𝑥 ) = −.002 < 0
Hence profit is maximum when the production is 7500
items per week.
Prob.(3) A radio manufacturer finds that
he can sell 𝑥 radio per week at Rs. 𝑝
𝑥
each, where 𝑝 = 2 (100 − ).
4

His cost of production of 𝑥 radios per

𝑥2
week is Rs. (120𝑥 + ). Show that his
2
profit is maximum when the production is
40 radios per week. Find also his
maximum profit per week.

Solution:
Profit function
𝑥 𝑥2
𝑃(𝑥 ) = 𝑅(𝑥 ) − 𝐶 (𝑥 ) = 2𝑥 (100 − 4) − (120𝑥 + ) = 80𝑥 −
2
𝑥 2.
Hence
𝑃′ (𝑥 ) = 80 − 2𝑥,
𝑃′′ (𝑥 ) = −2
Now
𝑃′ (𝑥 ) = 0
⇒ 80 − 2𝑥
⇒ 𝑥 = 40
At 𝑥 = 40
𝑃′′ (𝑥 ) = −2 < 0
Hence profit is maximum when the production is 40 radios per
week.

𝑃(40) = 80 × 40 − 402 = 1600.

Hence maximum profit per week is Rs. 1600.

Prob.(4) The demand function of a firm is
given by the relation 2𝑝 + 3𝑥 = 60, where
𝑝 is the price per unit and 𝑥 is the number
of units demanded. Find the total of output
which maximizes the total revenue and also
find the total maximum revenue.

Prob.(5) A firm produces 𝒙 units of output

per week of a total cost of
𝟏
Rs.( 𝒙𝟑 − 𝟒𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏𝟐𝒙 + 𝟑 ). Find the level of
𝟖
output at which average variable cost attains
minimum value.
Prob.(6) A steel plant produces 𝑥 tons of
steel per week at a total cost of
𝟏 𝟑
𝑹𝒔. ( 𝒙 − 𝟓𝒙𝟐 + 𝟗𝟗𝒙 + 𝟑𝟓).
𝟑
Find the output level at which the
marginal cost attains its minimum values.
Solution:
Let 𝐶(𝑥) be the total cost of 𝑥 tons.
Here

𝟏 𝟑 𝟐 + 𝟗𝟗𝒙 + 𝟑𝟓)
𝐶(𝑥) = (
𝟑
𝒙 − 𝟓𝒙

𝑑𝐶 𝑑 1
Marginal Cost (MC)= = ( 𝑥 3 − 5𝑥 2 + 99𝑥 +
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 3

35) = 𝑥 2 − 10𝑥 + 99
𝑑(MC)
Now = 2𝑥 − 10
𝑑𝑥
𝑑(MC)
Taking =0
𝑑𝑥

⇒ 2𝑥 − 10 = 0
⇒𝑥=5
𝑑 2 (MC)
Now =2>0
𝑑𝑥 2

Hence the marginal cost is minimum when the

production is 5 tons per week.
Prob.(7) A firm produces 𝑥 units of output at a
cost of
𝟏 𝟑
𝑹𝒔. (𝟑𝟎𝟎𝒙 − 𝟏𝟎𝒙𝟐 + 𝒙 ).
𝟑
Find the output at which (i) marginal cost is
minimum, (ii) average cost is minimum; (iii)
average cost is equal to marginal cost.
Solution:
Let 𝐶(𝑥) be the total cost of 𝑥 tons.
Here

𝟏
𝐶(𝑥) = (𝟑𝟎𝟎𝒙 − 𝟏𝟎𝒙𝟐 + 𝒙𝟑 )
𝟑

𝑑𝐶 𝑑 𝟏
Marginal Cost (MC)= = (𝟑00𝑥 − 𝟏𝟎𝒙𝟐 + 𝒙𝟑 ) =
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝟑
300 − 20𝑥 + 𝒙𝟐
𝑑(MC)
Now = −20 + 2𝑥
𝑑𝑥
𝑑(MC)
Taking =0
𝑑𝑥

⇒ −20 + 2𝑥 = 0
⇒ 𝑥 = 10
𝑑 2 (MC)
Now = 2 > 0.
𝑑𝑥 2

So, the MC is minimum when 𝑥 = 10

Hence Output at which marginal cost is minimum= 10
units.
 𝟏
𝐶(𝑥) (𝟑𝟎𝟎𝒙−𝟏𝟎𝒙𝟐 + 𝒙𝟑 )
𝟑
(ii) Average cost (AC) = = =
𝑥 𝑥
𝟏
300 − 10𝑥 + 𝒙𝟐
𝟑
𝑑(AC) 2
Hence = −10 + 𝑥
𝑑𝑥 3

For maximum or minimum average cost,

𝑑(AC)
= 0,
𝑑𝑥
2
⇒ −10 + 𝑥 = 0,
3
⇒ 𝑥 = 15.
Now
𝑑 2 (AC) 2
= > 0.
𝑑𝑥 2 3
So, the average cost is minimum when 𝑥 = 15.
Hence, output at which average cost is
minimum is 15 units.

(iii) Now. If 𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑡 = 𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑡, then

𝟏
300 − 10𝑥 + 𝒙𝟐 = 300 − 20𝑥 + 𝒙𝟐
𝟑
𝟐
𝟏 𝟐
⇒ 𝒙 − 𝒙 − 20𝑥 + 10𝑥 = 0
𝟑
 𝟐 𝟐
⇒ 𝒙 − 10𝑥 = 0
𝟑
⇒ 2𝒙𝟐 − 30𝑥 = 0
⇒ 2𝑥 (𝑥 − 15) = 0
⇒ 𝑥 = 0 or 15.

Hence, output at which average cost, equals to

marginal cost, is 15 units ( we discard the first
value of 𝑥 since output cannot be 0 unit).