Increasing and Decreasing functions

There are some functions which are increasing and decreasing at the same time. The
function 𝒚 = (𝒙 − 𝟐)𝟐 is an increasing function for 𝑥 > 2 and a decreasing function
for 𝑥 < 2

Examples

1. By making a sketch or otherwise, state whether the function 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟒 − 𝒙𝟐 is an

increasing or a decreasing function or both
Solution

By sketching,
Increasing and decreasing function

𝒅𝒚
2. A curve has equation 𝒚 = 𝒙𝟑 − 𝒙. Find the value of 𝒅𝒙 at 𝑥 = 1. Hence state whether

the function is increasing or decreasing at 𝑥 = 1

Solution
3. Given 𝒚 = 𝒙𝟑 − 𝒙𝟐 . Find the range of values of 𝑥 for which 𝑦 is increasing
Solution

𝑦 = 𝑥3 − 𝑥2

𝑑𝑦
= 3𝑥 2 − 2𝑥
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
But > 0, ∴ 3𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 > 0
𝑑𝑥

𝑥(3𝑥 − 2) > 0

3
CVs are 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 or by graphical means;
2

3
𝑥 < 0 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 >
2

Stationary Points
  There are three types of stationary points; minimum point, maximum point and
point of inflexion. However, we may have a point of inflexion which is not a
stationary point.
 At a stationary point, 𝑦 𝑜𝑟 𝑓(𝑥) has a stationary value
𝒅𝒚
 At a stationary point, the gradient of a curve is zero, i.e 𝒅𝒙
=𝟎

 From the diagram, point A is a maximum point, point B is a minimum point and point
C is a point of inflexion
 The value of y at A is called a maximum value and A is called a maximum point
 The value of y at B is called a minimum value and B is called a minimum point
 The tangent is always horizontal at a turning point.
 The maximum value of y is not necessarily the greatest value of y overall. The
terms maximum and minimum apply only to the behaviour of a curve at a
stationary point
 Any point on the curve where the sense of turning changes is a point of inflexion

Nature of stationary points

𝒅𝟐 𝒚
 To determine the nature of a point, we find 𝒅𝒙𝟐
𝒅𝒚 𝒅𝟐 𝒚
 At a minimum point, 𝒅𝒙 = 𝟎 and >𝟎
𝒅𝒙𝟐
𝒅𝒚 𝒅𝟐 𝒚
 At a maximum point, 𝒅𝒙 = 𝟎 and <𝟎
𝒅𝒙𝟐
𝒅𝒚 𝒅𝟐 𝒚
 If both 𝒅𝒙 = 𝟎 and 𝒅𝒙𝟐 = 𝟎 then there is a point of inflexion

Examples
1. Find the coordinates of the stationary points on the following curves and determine
their nature. Hence sketch the curve
a. 𝒚 = 𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟑

Solution

𝑦 = 𝑥2 − 𝑥3

𝑑𝑦
= 2𝑥 − 3𝑥 2 = 0
𝑑𝑥

𝑥(2 − 3𝑥) = 0

2
𝑥 = 0 𝑜𝑟
3

When 𝑥 = 0, 𝑦 = (0)2 − (0)3

𝑦=0

(0; 0)

𝑑2 𝑦
= 2 − 6𝑥
𝑑𝑥 2

= 2 − 6(0)

=2

𝑑2𝑦
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑒 > 0, (0; 0) 𝑖𝑠 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡
𝑑𝑥 2

2 2 2 2 3
When = 3 , 𝑦 = (3) − (3)

4
𝑦=
27

2 4
( ; )
3 27

𝑑2 𝑦
= 2 − 6𝑥
𝑑𝑥 2

2
= 2 − 6( )
3
 −2

𝑑2𝑦 2 4
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑒 < 0, ( ; ) 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑚𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡
𝑑𝑥 2 3 27

Sketch

𝑦 = 𝑥2 − 𝑥3

𝑦 = 𝑥 2 (1 − 𝑥)

𝑥 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡𝑠, 𝑦 = 0

0 = 𝑥 2 (1 − 𝑥)

𝑥 = 0 𝑜𝑟 1

2 4
Turning points (0; 0) and (3 ; 27) must be seen on the graph

b. 𝒚 = 𝟔𝒙 − 𝟐𝒙𝟑

Solution

𝟏
2. Find the stationary value of 𝒙 + 𝒙 and determine its nature

Exercise

Gendah : page 107 Ex 8.7 No. 1;3;;9;10;11

Core Maths: page168 Ex 14C No. 15

Linsky P1: page 157 Ex 9.1 No. 3c;4a;4b

Gendah : page 113 Ex 8.9 No. 1;6;12

Problems involving maximum and minimum values

 We can use differentiation to solve problems involving minimising and maximising

quantities.

Examples

1. Given that 𝑥 + 𝑦 = 3 , find the least possible value of 𝑥 2 + 14𝑦

Solution
𝑥+𝑦 =3
𝑦 =3−𝑥

𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑃 = 𝑥 2 + 14𝑦

𝑃 = 𝑥 2 + 14(3 − 𝑥)

𝑃 = 𝑥 2 − 14𝑥 + 42

𝑑𝑃
= 2𝑥 − 14 = 0
𝑑𝑥

2𝑥 = 14

𝑥=7

𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑥 = 7, 𝑦 = 3 − 7 = −4

∴ 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑥 2 + 14𝑦 = (7)2 + 14(−4)

= −7

2. A rectangular block has a base which measures 2x cm by 3x cm. Given that its

volume is 1 800 𝑐𝑚3 , prove that the total surface area, A 𝑐𝑚2, of the block is given
3000
by 𝐴 = 12𝑥 2 + .
𝑥

Calculate the value of x for which A has a stationary value. Give a reason why it is a
minimum value and not a maximum.
 Solution

𝑉 = (2𝑥)(3𝑥)(ℎ)

1800 = 6𝑥 2 ℎ

1800 300
ℎ= = 2
6𝑥 2 𝑥

𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎, 𝐴 = 2(2𝑥 × 3𝑥) + 2(2𝑥 × ℎ) + 2(3𝑥 × ℎ)

300 300
𝐴 = 12𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 ( 2 ) + 6𝑥 ( 2 )
𝑥 𝑥

1200 1800
𝐴 = 12𝑥 2 + +
𝑥 𝑥

3000
𝐴 = 12𝑥 2 +
𝑥
At a stationary point, grad is zero

𝑑𝐴 3000
= 24𝑥 − 2 = 0
𝑑𝑥 𝑥

24𝑥 3 − 3000 = 0

24𝑥 3 = 3000

𝑥 3 = 125
 𝑥=5

Nature

𝑑2𝐴 6000 6000

2
= 24 + 3 = 24 + = 72
𝑑𝑥 𝑥 125

𝑑2 𝐴
Since > 0, A has a minimum value not a maximum
𝑑𝑥 2

3. A farmer has a rectangular piece of land for pigs. One of the sides of the rectangle is
a wall.
The other three sides have fencing. The fencing is 80m in length.
Find the maximum possible area of this rectangular piece of land.

Solution

𝑦 + 2𝑥 = 80 → 𝑦 = 80 − 2𝑥
𝐴 = 𝑥𝑦
𝐴 = 𝑥(80 − 2𝑥)
𝐴 = 80𝑥 − 2𝑥 2
𝑑𝐴
𝑏𝑢𝑡 =0
𝑑𝑥
80 − 4𝑥 = 0
80 = 4𝑥
𝑥 = 20
 ∴ 𝐴 = 80(20) − 2(20)2
𝐴 = 800
∴maximum possible area is 800 𝑚2

4.

The diagram shows a glass window consisting of a rectangle o height h m and width 2r m
and a semicircle of radius r m. The perimeter of the window is 8m.

i. Express h in terms of r
ii. Show that the area of the window, A m2 , is given by
1
𝐴 = 8𝑟 − 2𝑟 2 − 𝜋𝑟 2
2

Given that r can vary,

iii. Find the value of r for which A has a stationary value

iv. Determine whether this stationary value is a maximum or a minimum

Solution

i.

𝜋𝑟 + 2ℎ + 2𝑟 = 8

2ℎ = 8 − 2𝑟 − 𝜋𝑟
 1
ℎ = 4 − 𝑟 − 𝜋𝑟
2
1
ii. Area of semi-circle = 2 𝜋𝑟 2

Ares of rectangle = 2𝑟 × ℎ
1
= 2𝑟 (4 − 𝑟 − 2 𝜋𝑟)

= 8𝑟 − 2𝑟 2 − 𝜋𝑟 2

1
Total area, 𝐴 = 8𝑟 − 2𝑟 2 − 𝜋𝑟 2 + 2 𝜋𝑟 2
1
𝐴 = 8𝑟 − 2𝑟 2 − 𝜋𝑟 2
2

iii.

𝑑𝐴
=0
𝑑𝑟

8 − 4𝑟 − 𝜋𝑟 = 0

4𝑟 + 𝜋𝑟 = 8

𝑟(4 + 𝜋) = 8

8
𝑟=
4+𝜋

iv.

𝑑𝐴
= 8 − 4𝑟 − 𝜋𝑟
𝑑𝑟

𝑑2𝐴
= −4 − 𝜋 = −7.14
𝑑𝑟 2

𝑑2 𝐴
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑒 < 0, the stationary value is a maximum
𝑑𝑟 2

5. An open box with a square base has a total surface area of 300 cm2. Find the greatest
possible volume of the box

Solution
 Total surface area, 𝐴 = 2(𝑥 × ℎ) + 2(𝑥 × ℎ) + 𝑥 × 𝑥

𝐴 = 4ℎ𝑥 + 𝑥 2

300 = 4ℎ𝑥 + 𝑥 2

4ℎ𝑥 = 300 − 𝑥 2

75 1
ℎ= −4𝑥
𝑥

𝑉 = 𝑥2ℎ

75 𝑥
𝑉 = 𝑥 2 ( 𝑥 − 4)

1
𝑉 = 75𝑥 − 4 𝑥 3

𝑑𝑉
𝑏𝑢𝑡 =0
𝑑𝑥

3
75 − 𝑥 2 = 0
4

300 − 3𝑥 2 = 0

3𝑥 2 = 300

𝑥 2 = 100

𝑥 = ±10, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑥 = 10

1
∴ 𝑉 = 75(10) − (10)3 = 500
4

∴ greatest possible value of the volume is 500 cm3

Exercise
Gendah : page 116 Ex 2;3;5;7

Linsky page 164. Ex 9.3 No. 5;6;7;11

Core Maths page 170 Ex14D No. 4;5