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Supporting Australian Mathematics Project

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A guide for teachers – Years 11 and 12

Calculus: Module 12

Applications of differentiation
 A guide for teachers – Years 11 and 12 • {5}
In this module, we consider three topics:

• graph sketching
• maxima and minima problems
• related rates.

We will mainly focus on nicely behaved functions which are differentiable at each point
of their domains. Some of the examples are very straightforward, while others are more
difficult and require technical skills to arrive at a solution.

Content

Graph sketching

Increasing and decreasing functions

Let f be some function defined on an interval.

Definition
The function f is increasing over this interval if, for all points x 1 and x 2 in the interval,

x 1 ≤ x 2 =⇒ f (x 1 ) ≤ f (x 2 ).

This means that the value of the function at a larger number is greater than or equal to
the value of the function at a smaller number.

The graph on the left shows a differentiable function. The graph on the right shows a
piecewise-defined continuous function. Both these functions are increasing.

y y

x x
0 0
Examples of increasing functions.
{6} • Applications of differentiation
Definition
The function f is decreasing over this interval if, for all points x 1 and x 2 in the interval,

x 1 ≤ x 2 =⇒ f (x 1 ) ≥ f (x 2 ).

The following graph shows an example of a decreasing function.

x
0

Example of a decreasing function.

Note that a function that is constant on the interval is both increasing and decreasing
over this interval. If we want to exclude such cases, then we omit the equality component
in our definition, and we add the word strictly:

• A function is strictly increasing if x 1 < x 2 implies f (x 1 ) < f (x 2 ).

• A function is strictly decreasing if x 1 < x 2 implies f (x 1 ) > f (x 2 ).

We will use the following results. These results refer to intervals where the function is
differentiable. Issues such as endpoints have to be treated separately.

• If f 0 (x) > 0 for all x in the interval, then the function f is strictly increasing.
• If f 0 (x) < 0 for all x in the interval, then the function f is strictly decreasing.
• If f 0 (x) = 0 for all x in the interval, then the function f is constant.

Stationary points

Definitions
Let f be a differentiable function.

• A stationary point of f is a number x such that f 0 (x) = 0.

• The point c is a maximum point of the function f if and only if f (c) ≥ f (x), for all x
in the domain of f . The value f (c) of the function at c is called the maximum value
of the function.
• The point c is a minimum point of the function f if and only if f (c) ≤ f (x), for all x in
the domain of f . The value f (c) of the function at c is called the minimum value of
the function.
 A guide for teachers – Years 11 and 12 • {7}
Local maxima and minima

In the following diagram, the point a looks like a maximum provided we stay close to it,
and the point b looks like a minimum provided we stay close to it.

x
0 a b

Definitions
• The point c is a local maximum point of the function f if there exists an interval (a, b)
with c ∈ (a, b) such that f (c) ≥ f (x), for all x ∈ (a, b).
• The point c is a local minimum point of the function f if there exists an interval (a, b)
with c ∈ (a, b) such that f (c) ≤ f (x), for all x ∈ (a, b).

These are sometimes called relative maximum and relative minimum points. Local
maxima and minima are often referred to as turning points.

The following diagram shows the graph of y = f (x), where f is a differentiable function.
It appears from the diagram that the tangents to the graph at the points which are local
maxima or minima are horizontal. That is, at a local maximum or minimum point c, we
have f 0 (c) = 0, and hence each local maximum or minimum point is a stationary point.

x
0 a b

The result appears graphically obvious, but we will present a formal proof in the case of
a local maximum.
{8} • Applications of differentiation
Theorem
Let f be a differentiable function. If c is a local maximum point, then f 0 (c) = 0.

Proof
Consider the interval (c − δ, c + δ), with δ > 0 chosen so that f (c) ≥ f (x) for all
x ∈ (c − δ, c + δ).

For all positive h such that 0 < h < δ, we have f (c) ≥ f (c + h) and therefore

f (c + h) − f (c)
≤ 0.
h
Hence,

f (c + h) − f (c)
f 0 (c) = lim+ ≤ 0. (1)
h→0 h
For all negative h such that −δ < h < 0, we have f (c) ≥ f (c + h) and therefore

f (c + h) − f (c)
≥ 0.
h
Hence,

f (c + h) − f (c)
f 0 (c) = lim− ≥ 0. (2)
h→0 h

From (1) and (2), it follows that f 0 (c) = 0.

The first derivative test for local maxima and minima

The derivative of the function can be used to determine when a local maximum or local
minimum occurs.

Theorem (First derivative test)

Let f be a differentiable function. Suppose that c is a stationary point, that is, f 0 (c) = 0.

a If there exists δ > 0 such that f 0 (x) > 0, for all x ∈ (c − δ, c), and f 0 (x) < 0, for all
x ∈ (c, c + δ), then c is a local maximum point.

b If there exists δ > 0 such that f 0 (x) < 0, for all x ∈ (c − δ, c), and f 0 (x) > 0, for all
x ∈ (c, c + δ), then c is a local minimum point.

Proof
a The function is increasing on the interval (c − δ, c), and decreasing on the in-
terval (c, c + δ). Hence, f (c) ≥ f (x) for all x ∈ (c − δ, c + δ).

b The function is decreasing on the interval (c − δ, c), and increasing on the in-
terval (c, c + δ). Hence, f (c) ≤ f (x) for all x ∈ (c − δ, c + δ).
 A guide for teachers – Years 11 and 12 • {9}
In simple language, the first derivative test says:

• If f 0 (c) = 0 with f 0 (x) > 0 immediately to the left of c and f 0 (x) < 0 immediately to the
right of c, then c is a local maximum point.

(c,f(c))

x
0

We can also illustrate this with a gradient diagram.

Value of x c

Sign of f 0 (x) + 0 −

Slope of graph y = f (x)  — 

• If f 0 (c) = 0 with f 0 (x) < 0 immediately to the left of c and f 0 (x) > 0 immediately to the
right of c, then c is a local minimum point.

(c,f(c))

x
0

We can also illustrate this with a gradient diagram.

Value of x c

Sign of f 0 (x) − 0 +

Slope of graph y = f (x)  — 

{10} • Applications of differentiation
There is another important type of stationary point:

• If f 0 (c) = 0 with f 0 (x) > 0 on both sides of c, then c is a stationary point of inflexion.

(c,f(c))

x
0

Here is a gradient diagram for this situation.

Value of x c

Sign of f 0 (x) + 0 +

Slope of graph y = f (x)  — 

• If f 0 (c) = 0 with f 0 (x) < 0 on both sides of c, then c is a stationary point of inflexion.

(c,f(c))

x
0

Here is a gradient diagram for this situation.

Value of x c

Sign of f 0 (x) − 0 −

Slope of graph y = f (x)  — 

 A guide for teachers – Years 11 and 12 • {11}

Example

Find the stationary points of f (x) = 3x 4 + 16x 3 + 24x 2 + 3, and determine their nature.

Solution

The derivative of f is

f 0 (x) = 12x 3 + 48x 2 + 48x

= 12x(x 2 + 4x + 4)

= 12x(x + 2)2 .

So f 0 (x) = 0 implies x = 0 or x = −2.

• If x < −2, then f 0 (x) < 0.

• If −2 < x < 0, then f 0 (x) < 0.
• If x > 0, then f 0 (x) > 0.

We can represent this in a gradient diagram.

Value of x −2 0

Sign of f 0 (x) − 0 − 0 +

Slope of graph y = f (x)  —  — 

Hence, there are stationary points at x = 0 and x = −2: there is a local minimum at x = 0,
and a stationary point of inflexion at x = −2.

The graph of y = f (x) is shown in the following diagram, but not all the features of the
graph have been carefully considered at this stage.

y = 3x4 + 16x3 + 24x2 + 3

(–2,19)
x
(0,3)