5.

10 APPLICATIONS OF DERIVATIVES
5.11 Maxima and Minima
Example 1 Find the values of x at which maximum and minimum values
of y and points of inexion occur on the curve y = 12 lnx +x
2
10x
dy
dx
= 0 Turning points;
d
2
y
dx
2
> 0 minimum;
d
2
y
dx
2
< 0 maximum
dy
dx
=
12
x
+ 2x 10
dy
dx
= 0
2x
2
10x + 12 = 0
2 (x 2) (x 3) = 0
x = 2, x = 3
TP @ (2, 7. 68) (3, 7. 82)
d
dx
_
dy
dx
_
=
d
2
y
dx
2
=
12
x
2
+ 2
d
2
y
dx
2
x=2
=
12
2
2
+ 2 = 1 < 0
d
2
y
dx
2
< 0 maximum TP @ (2, 7. 68)
d
2
y
dx
2
x=3
=
12
3
2
+ 2 =
2
3
d
2
y
dx
2
> 0 minimum TP @ (3, 7. 82)
Inexion point @
d
2
y
dx
2
= 0
d
2
y
dx
2
=
12
x
2
+ 2 = 0, Solution is:

6,

6
Only x =

6
Inexion point @
_
6, 7. 74
_
y = 12 lnx +x
2
10x
Example 2 xr
2
ln
_
1
r
_
x = kr
2
ln
_
1
r
_
dx
dr
= 2kr ln
_
1
r
_
kr
2kr ln
_
1
r
_
kr = 0
69
kr
_
2 ln
_
1
r
_
1
_
= 0
2 ln
_
1
r
_
1 = 0
ln
_
1
r
_
=
1
2
r =
1
e
1
2
= 0.606 53
d
2
x
dr
2
= 2k ln
_
1
r
_
2k k
d
2
x
dr
2
r=0.606 53
= 2k ln
_
1
r
_
2k k
2k ln
_
1
0.606 53
_
2k k = 2k
70
5.12 Optimization
Example 1 The total area of a sheet of paper is 20 cm
2
. The margins at the
top and bottom are 1 cm and on the sides
3
4
cm in length. What must the
dimensions of the paper be so that the area between the margins is a maximum.

1cm 1cm
3
4
cm
3
4
cm
x
y
Total Area A
T
= xy = 20
Area between margins A
BM
= (x 2)
_
y
3
2
_
Total area of Margins A
M
= 2y +
3
2
(x 2)
Maximize Area between margins
xy = 20
y =
20
x
Area between margins A
BM
= (x 2)
_
y
3
2
_
A
BM
(x) = (x 2)
_
20
x

3
2
_
71
d
dx
(A
BM
) =
_
20
x

3
2
_
+ (x 2)
_

20
x
2
_
=
20
x
+
40 20x
x
2

3
2
d
dx
(A
BM
) =
20
x
+
40 20x
x
2

3
2
d
2
dx
2
(A
BM
) =
d
dx
_
20
x
+
40 20x
x
2

3
2
_
=
1
x
3
(40x 80)
40
x
2
d
2
dx
2
(A
BM
) =
40x 80
x
3

40
x
2
Maximum @
d
dx
(A
BM
) = 0 and
d
2
dx
2
(A
BM
) < 0
d
dx
(A
BM
) = 0
d
dx
(A
BM
) =
20
x
+
40 20x
x
2

3
2
= 0
x =
4
3

15, x =
4
3

15
x =
4
3

15 Only solution because measurement can never be ve

d
2
dx
2
(A
BM
)
x=
4
3

15
=
40
_
4
3

15
_
80
_
4
3

15
_
3

40
_
4
3

15
_
2
= 0.580 95 < 0
x =
4
3

15 = 5. 164 0
y =
20
4
3

15
=

15 = 3. 873 0
The dimensions of the paper
x = 5. 16
y = 3. 87
so that the area between
the margins is a maximum.
Example 2 A piece of wire 12 m long is cut into two lengths. The one
length is bent into a circle and the other into a square. if the sum of the areas
of the circle and the square are required to be a minimum, nd the radius of
the circle and the sides of the square.
L
c
= 2r
L
s
= 4l
L = 2r + 4l = 12
l = 3
r
2
A
c
= r
2
A
s
= l
2
A = r
2
+l
2
A = r
2
+
_
3
r
2
_
2
72
dA
dr
= 2r
_
3
r
2
_

dA
dr
= 0

_
2r 3 +
r
2
_
= 0
r =
3
1
2
+ 2
= 0.84
d
2
A
dr
2
> 0 minimum
d
2
A
dr
2
=
_
2 +

2
_
=
_
1
2
+ 2
_
= 11. 218 > 0
r =
3
1
2
+ 2
= 0.840 15
l = 3

_
_
_
3
1
2
+ 2
_
_
_
2
= 1. 680 3
Check:
L = 2r + 4l = 20
2 (0.84) + 4 (1. 68) = 11. 998 12.0
.
Example 3 A farmer witht a eld adjancent to a straight river wishes to fence
a rectangular region for grazing. If no fence is needed along the river, and the
farmer has available 1600 metres of fence, what should be the dimentions of the
eld in order that it ha a maximum area?
l
w
SOLUTION
l + 2w = 1600 (1)
73
We are to maximize
A = lw (2)
equation (2) is a function of two variables. Using equation (1), thus l =
1600 2w, substitute this into equation (2), thus
A = w(1600 2w) = 1600w 2w
2
.
Then
dA
dw
= 1600 4w,
d
2
A
dw
2
= 4.
dA
dw
= 1600 4w = 0 w = 400, and the second derivative is negative thus
maximum area is achieved.
Thus l = 800, w = 400.
Maximum area is 320 000 m
2
Example 4 The strength of a rectangular beam varies directily as the width
and the square of the de[th. what are the dimentions of the strngest rectangular
beam that can be cut from a cylindrical log of radious r.
(r, 0)
P (x, y)
y
x
Let the strength of the beam be denoted by S : S = 2x(2y)
2
= 8xy
2
since P lies on the circle x
2
+y
2
= r
2
y
2
= r
2
x
2
S = 8x
_
r
2
x
2
_
= 8x
_
r
2
x
2
_
= 8
_
r
2
x x
3
_
dS
dx
= 8
_
r
2
3x
2
_
,
d
2
S
dx
2
= 48x.
dS
dx
= 8
_
r
2
3x
2
_
= 0 x =
r

3
74
Thus x =
r

3
because x =
r

3
has no physical meaning.
for this x value we have y =

r
2
x
2
=
_
r
2

r
2
3
=
_
2
3
r
2
=

0.666 667 r
2
=

0.666 667 r
2
the width is therefore
2r

3
= 1. 154 7r and the depthis 2r
_
2
3
= 1. 632 99r for
a beam of maximum strength.
Example 5 Find two positive numbers whosw product is 100 and whse sum
is as small as possible
SOLUTION
10 and 10
Example 6 Determine the altitude(height = h) of a cylinder of maximum
volume that can be inscribed in a right circular come of height (H) and base
radius (R).
H
R
From the notion of similar triangles:
75
B A
C
D
E
ACE BCD Thus:
AC
BC
=
CE
CD
=
AE
DB
R
Rr
=
H
h
=h =
H
R
(Rr)
Volume of a cylinder
_
V
c
= r
2
h
_
V
cyl
= r
2
_
H
R
(Rr)
_
For maximum volume:
dV
c
dr
= 0
dV
cyl
dr
=
H
R
r (2R3r)
H
R
r (2R3r) = 0, Solution is: r = 0, or r =
2
3
R
r = 0 has no meaning since we want to have a cylinder inscribed in the
cone thus radius can not be zero.
Thus for a maximum volume r =
2
3
R and h =
1
3
H
Example 7 Show that the right circular cylinder of greatest volume that can
be inscribed in a right circular cone has volume that is
4
9
of the cone
From example 6:
A right circular cylinder of greatest volume that can be inscribed in a right
circular cone has r =
2
3
R and h =
1
3
H
V
cone
=
1
3
R
2
H =H =
3
R
2
V
cone
V
cyl
= r
2
h Since: r =
2
3
R and h =
1
3
H
V
cyl
=
_
2
3
R
_
2
_
1
3
H
_
=
4
27
R
2
H
=
_
4
27
R
2
__
3
R
2
V
cone
_
76
Figure 8:
=
_
4
9
_
V
cone
V
cyl
=
4
9
V
cone
PROVED
Example 7 Find two numbers whose sum is 18 and for which the sum of the
fourth power of the rst and the sqaure of the second is a minumum.
SOLUTION:
Let the rst number be x and the second y.
x +y = 18 =y = 18 x
A = x
4
+y
2
=A = x
4
+ (18 x)
2
dA
dx
= 4x
3
+ 2 (18 x) (1) = 4x
3
+ 2x 36
For minimum
dA
dx
= 0
4x
3
+ 2x 36 = 0, Solution is: x = 2.
y = 16
x = 2, y = 16
Example 7 Plans for a new supermaerket requires a oor area of 900m
2
. The
supermarket is to be rectangular in shape with three solid brick walls and a very
fancy all-glass front. If the glass costs 1.88 times as much as the brick wall per
77
linear metre, what should be the dimentions of the building so that the cost of
meterials for the walls is a minimum.
Area: xy = 900 =y =
900
x
Cost: A = xh + 2yh + 1.88
2
xh
A = xh
_
1 + 1.88
2
_
+ 2yh
900
x
minimize the cost:
dA
dx
= 0
dA
dx
= h
_
1 + 1.88
2
_
2h
900
x
2
dA
dx
= 0
h
_
1 + 1.88
2
_
2h
900
x
2
= 0
x =
750
1417

1417 = 19. 924 0

y =
900
x
=
900
750
1417

1417
=
6
5

1417 = 45. 171 7

x = 19.9m, y = 45.2m
Check if cost is minumum:
d
2
A
dx
2
=
d
dx
_
h
_
1 + 1.88
2
_
2h
900
x
2
_
= 3600
h
x
3
> 0
Thus cost is indeed minumum.
The dimensions of the building so that the cost of meterials for the walls is
a minimum are x = 19.9m and y = 45.2m.
Example 7b Suppose that the supermarket has a heat loss across the glass
front and the heat loss is seven times as great as the heat loss across the brick
walls per square metre. neglecting the heat loss across the roof and through the
oor. What should be the dimentions of the building so that the heat loss is a
minimum.
Area: xy = 900 =y =
900
x
Heat loss: H = xh + 2yh + 7xh
Minimize heat loss:
dH
dx
= 0
H = 8xh + 2
_
900
x
_
h
dH
dx
= 8h
1800
x
2
h = 0
Solution is: x = 15
But x = 15, has no physical meaning thus x = 15.
y =
900
15
= 60m
Check if heat loss is minumum:
78
d
2
A
dx
2
=
d
dx
_
8h
1800
x
2
h
_
= 3600
h
x
3
> 0
Thus heat loss is indeed minumum.
The dimentions of the building so that the heat loss is a minimum are x =
15m and y = 60m.
Exercise 3 An open cylindrical can has to be made out of a sheet metal with a
predetermined volume of V litres. If the radius is r cm determine the following:
1. the area of sheet metal required in terms of the radius
2. the value of the radius (r) for a minimum surface area for the cylindrical
can.
3. the value for minimum area required to construct the cylinder.
79
5.13 Partial Dierentiation and Applications
Consider: z = f (x; y) let x change by x while y is held temporarily
constant. Then z changes by z because z depends on x then:
z +z = f (x +x; y)
z = f (x +x; y) f (x; y)
z
x
=
f (x +x; y) f (x; y)
x
lim
x0
z
x
=
z
x
= lim
x0
f (x +x; y) f (x; y)
x
This is denoted by
z
x
= lim
x0
f (x +x; y) f (x; y)
x
Similarly
z
y
= lim
y0
f (x; y +y) f (x; y)
y
Notations:
f
x
(x, y) =
z
x
= z
x
f
y
(x, y) =
z
y
= z
y
The partial derivative of f (x, y) with
respect to x.
z
x
= z
x
.
The partial derivative of f (x, y) with
respect to y.
z
y
= z
y
.
Examples
80