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3.06 Further applications of differentiation

Worksheet
Equations of functions from stationary points
1

The function y = a x^{2} - b x + c passes through the points (5, - 42) and (4, - 66) and has a maximum turning point at x = 3. Find the following:

a

\dfrac{dy}{dx}

b

a

c

c

d

b

2

The function f \left( x \right) = a x^{2} + \dfrac{b}{x^{2}} has turning points at x = 1 and x = - 1.

a

Use the fact that there is a turning point at x = 1 to form an equation for a in terms of b.

b

Use the fact that there is a turning point at x = - 1 to form an equation for a in terms of b.

c

What can you deduce about the values of a and b?

3

Consider the cubic function y = x^{3} - a x^{2} + b x + 11, which has stationary points at x=2 and x=10. Find the following:

a

\dfrac{dy}{dx}

b

a

c

b

4

The function f \left( x \right) = a x^{3} + b x^{2} + 9 x + 4 has a horizontal point of inflection at x = 1.

a

Write down the value of f'(1).

b

Hence, write an equation involving a and b.

c

Write down the value of f''(1).

d

Hence, write an equation for b in terms of a.

e

Find the value of a.

f

Find the value of b.

5

The function f \left( x \right) = a x^{3} + 9 x^{2} + c x + 11 has a turning point at x = 1 and a point of inflection at x = - 1.

a

Use the fact that there is a turning point at x = 1 to form an equation in terms of a and c.

b

Use the fact that there is a point of inflection at x = - 1 to solve for a.

c

Hence solve for the value of c.

6

The function f \left( x \right) = a x^{3} + 18 x^{2} + c x + 4 has turning points at x = 4 and x = 2. Find the value of:

a

a

b

c

7

Determine the values of the non-zero constants, a and b, for the following function, given it has a turning point at \left(0.25, 1\right):

f \left( x \right) = a x e^{ b x}
Applications
8

The number of cars (N) parked in the drive through section of a fast food restaurant t hours after midnight is given by: N = \frac{18 t}{2 + t^{2}}

a

Find the number of cars parked in the drive through at 12:30 am.

b

Determine the rate of change of the number of cars parked in the drive through at time t.

c

Determine the average rate of change of the number of cars parked in the drive through in the second hour.

d

Find the exact time t when the number of cars in the drive through is decreasing most rapidly.

9

The world's largest swing is set up so that when you leave the platform, you swing through a valley. Your height h \left( x \right) above the ground, x \text { m} horizontally from the platform, is given by: h \left( x \right) = 170 e^{\cos \left(\frac{\pi x}{220}\right)}where x is defined from 0 to the first time you return to the height of the platform.

a

Determine your exact height above the ground when you are standing on the platform.

b

Calculate the horizontal distance travelled, x, before you return to the height of the platform.

c

Find the x-values of the stationary points of h \left( x \right).

d

Find the value of x at which you are closest to the ground.

e

Hence find the maximum vertical distance you are located from the platform during a swing, correct to two decimal places.

10

A barrel is being filled and then emptied with water in such a way that the volume of water, V\text{ mL}, in the barrel after a time t seconds is given by: V \left( t \right) = \frac{40}{3} t^{2} - \frac{1}{9} t^{3}for 0 \leq t \leq 120.

a

Find the average rate of flow in the first 20 seconds in millilitres per second.

b

Find the rate of flow at t=20 seconds, in millilitres per second.

c

After reaching its maximum volume the barrel springs a large leak and empties. What was the maximum volume of the barrel, in millilitres?

d

Determine when the rate of water flowing into the barrel is greatest.

e

Determine the rate of water flowing out of the barrel when the rate is fastest, in millilitres per second.

11

A population, P in thousands of insects, was observed to follow the model: P \left( t \right) = 1.5 \sin \left(\frac{\pi t}{6}\right) + 5 for 0 \leq t \leq 12 where t is the time in months after January 1st in a given year.

a

Find P' \left( t \right).

b

At what value of t is the population at its highest?

c

At what possible value(s) of t is the population increasing at the fastest rate?

d

What is the fastest rate of decrease in the population over the year? Give your answer in 1000 of insects per month.

e

Find the average rate of change in population between the population's peak and consecutive low? Give your answer in 1000 insects per month.

12

The success of a product depends on the initial interest in the product in the first few weeks. A few marketing researchers use a special score to quantify the interest in a product, modelled by I \left( t \right) = 1590 t e^{ - 0.3 t } where t is the number of days since the product was available.

a

Find I' \left( t \right).

b

Hence find the maximum interest in the product.

c

Find the rate of change in interest after 10 days.

d

At what value of t does the rate of interest in the product start to decrease? Round your answer to two decimal places.

e

It is known that if a product has an interest score of at least 1000 for over 3 weeks, then the product will be mass produced. Will this product be mass produced?

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Outcomes

3.2.1.2

recognise that 𝑒 is the unique number 𝑎 for which the limit (in 3.2.1.1) is 1

3.2.1.5

identify contexts suitable for mathematical modelling by exponential functions and their derivatives and use the model to solve practical problems; verify and evaluate the usefulness of the model using qualitative statements and quantitative analysis

3.2.3.3

use trigonometric functions and their derivatives to solve practical problems; including trigonometric functions of the form 𝑦 = sin(𝑓(𝑥)) and 𝑦 = cos(𝑓(𝑥)).

4.1.1.4

understand and use the second derivative test for finding local maxima and minima

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