More questions on applications of derivatives: IITJEE mains maths tutorial

  1. Prove that the minimum value of (a+x)(b+x)/(c+x) for x>-c, is (\sqrt{a-c}+\sqrt{b-c})^{2}.
  2. A cylindrical vessel of volume 25\frac{1}{7} cubic meters, open at the top, is to be manufactured from a sheet of metal. Find the dimensions of the vessel so that the amount of metal used is the least possible.
  3. Assuming that the petrol burnt in driving a motor boat varies as the cube of its velocity, show that the most economical speed when going against a current of c kmph is 3c/2 kmph.
  4. Determine the altitude of a cone with the greatest possible volume inscribed in a sphere of radius R.
  5. Find the sides of a rectangle with the greatest possible perimeter inscribed in a semicircle of radius R.
  6. Prove that in an ellipse, the distance between the centre and any normal does not exceed the difference between the semi-axes.
  7. Determine the altitude of a cylinder of the greatest possible volume which can be inscribed in a sphere of radius R.
  8. Break up the number 8 into two parts such that the sum of their cubes is the least possible. (Use calculus techniques, not intelligent guessing).
  9. Find the greatest and least possible values of the following functions on the given interval: (i) y=x+2\sqrt{x} on [0,4]. (ii) y=\sqrt{100-x^{2}} on [-6,8] (iii) y=\frac{a^{2}}{x}+\frac{b^{2}}{1-x} on (0,1) with a>0 and b>0 (iv) y=2\tan{x}-\tan^{2}{x} on [0,\pi/2) (iv) y=\arctan{\frac{1-x}{1+x}} on [0,1].
  10. Prove the following inequalities: (in these subset of questions, you can try to use pure algebraic methods, apart from calculus techniques to derive alternate solutions): (i) 2\sqrt{x} >3-\frac{1}{x} for x>1 (ii) 2x\arctan{x} \geq \log{(1+x^{2})} (iii) \sin{x} < x-\frac{x^{3}}{6}+\frac{x^{5}}{120} for x>0. (iv) \log{(1+x)}>\frac{\arctan{x}}{1+x} for x>0 (iv) e^{x}+e^{-x} > 2+x^{2} for x \neq 0.
  11. Find the interval of monotonicity of the following functions: (i) y=x-e^{x} (ii) y=\log{(x+\sqrt{1+x^{2}})} (iii) y=x\sqrt{ax-x^{2}} (iv) y=\frac{10}{4x^{3}-9x^{2}+6x}
  12. Prove that if 0<x_{1}<x_{2}<\frac{\pi}{2}, then \frac{\tan{x_{2}}}{\tan{x_{1}}} > \frac{x_{2}}{x_{1}}
  13. On the graph of the function y=\frac{3}{\sqrt{2}}x\log{x} where x \in [e^{-1.5}, \infty), find the point M(x,y) such that the segment of the tangent to the graph of the function at the point intercepted between the point M and the y-axis, is the shortest.
  14. Prove that for 0 \leq p \leq 1 and for any positive a and b, the inequality (a+b)^{p} \leq a^{p}+b^{p} is valid.
  15. Given that f^{'}(x)>g^{'}(x) for all real x, and f(0)=g(0), prove that f(x)>g(x) for all x \in (0,\infty), and that f(x)<g(x) for all x \in (-\infty, 0).
  16. If f^{''}(x)<0 for all x \in (a,b), prove that f^{'}(x)=0 at most once in (a,b).
  17. Suppose that a function f has a continuous second derivative, f(0)=0, f^{'}(0)=0, f^{''}(x)<1 for all x. Show that |f(x)|<(1/2)x^{2} for all x.
  18. Show that x=\cos{x} has exactly one root in [0,\frac{\pi}{2}].
  19. Find a polynomial P(x) such that P^{'}(x)-3P(x)=4-5x+3x^{2}. Prove that there is only one solution.
  20. Find a function, if possible whose domain is [-3,3], f(-3)=f(3)=0, f(x) \neq 0 for all x \in (-3,3), f^{'}(-1)=f^{'}(1)=0, f^{'}(x)>0 if |x|>1 and f^{'}(x)<0, if |x|<1.
  21. Suppose that f is a continuous function on its domain [a,b] and f(a)=f(b). Prove that f has at least one critical point in (a,b).
  22. A right circular cone is inscribed in a sphere of radius R. Find the dimensions of the cone, if its volume is to be maximum.
  23. Estimate the change in volume of right circular cylinder of radius R and height h when the radius changes from r_{0} to r_{0}+dr and the height does not change.
  24. For what values of a, m and b does the function: f(x)=3, when x=0; f(x)=-x^{2}+3x+a, when 0<x<1; and f(x)=mx+b, when 1 \leq x \leq 2 satisfy the hypothesis of the Lagrange’s Mean Value Theorem.
  25. Let f be differentiable for all x, and suppose that f(1)=1, and that f^{'}<0 on (-\infty, 1) and that f^{'}>0 on (1,\infty). Show that f(x) \geq 1 for all x.
  26. If b, c and d are constants, for what value of b will the curve y=x^{3}+bx^{2}+cx+d have a point of inflection at x=1?
  27. Let f(x)=1+4x-x^{2} \forall x \in \Re and g(x)= \left\{  \begin{array}{ll} max \{ f(x): x\leq t\leq x+3\} & 0 \leq x \leq 3\\ min (x+3) & 3 \leq x \leq 5 \end{array} \right. Find the critical points of g on [0,5]
  28. Find a point P on the curve x^{2}+4y^{2}-4=0 so that the area of the triangle formed by the tangent at P and the co-ordinate axes is minimum.
  29. Let f(x) = \left \{ \begin{array}{ll} -x^{3}+\frac{b^{3}-b^{2}+b-1}{b^{2}+3b+2} & 0 \leq x <1 \\ 2x-3 & 1 \leq x \leq 3 \end{array}\right. Find all possible real values of b such that f(x) has the smallest value at x=1.
  30. The circle x^{2}+y^{2}=1 cuts the x-axis at P and Q. Another circle with centre Q and variable radius intersects the first circle at R above the x-axis and line segment PQ at x. Find the maximum area of the triangle PQR.
  31. A straight line L with negative slope passes through the point (8,2) and cuts the positive co-ordinate axes at points P and Q. Find the absolute minimum value of OP+PQ, as L varies, where O is the origin.
  32. Determine the points of maxima and minima of the function f(x)=(1/8)\log{x}-bx+x^{2}, with x>0, where b \geq 0 is a constant.
  33. Let (h,k) be a fixed point, where h>0, k>0. A straight line passing through this point cuts the positive direction of the co-ordinate axes at points P and Q. Find the minimum area of the triangle OPQ, O being the origin.
  34. Let -1 \leq p \leq 1. Show that the equations 4x^{3}-3x-p=0 has a unique root in the interval [1/2,1] and identify it.
  35. Show that the following functions have at least one zero in the given interval: (i) f(x)=x^{4}+3x+1, with [-2,-1] (ii) f(x)=x^{3}+\frac{4}{x^{2}}+7 with (-\infty,0) (iii) r(\theta)=\theta + \sin^{2}({\theta}/3)-8, with (-\infty, \infty)
  36. Show that all points of the curve y^{2}=4a(x+\sin{(x+a)}) at which the tangent is parallel to axis of x lie on a parabola.
  37. Show that the function f defined by f(x)=|x|^{m}|x-1|^{n}, with x \in \Re has a maximum value \frac{m^{m}n^{n}}{(m+n)^{m+n}} with m,n >0.
  38. Show that the function f defined by f(x)=\sin^{m}(x)\sin(mx)+\cos^{m}(x)\cos(mx) with x \in \Re has a minimum value at x=\pi/4 which m=2 and a maximum at x=\pi/4 when m=4,6.
  39. If f^{''}(x)>0 for all x \in \Re, then show that f(\frac{x_{1}+x_{2}}{2}) \leq (1/2)[f(x_{1})+f(x_{2})] for all x_{1}, x_{2}.
  40. Prove that (e^{x}-1)>(1+x)\log(1+x), if x \in (0,\infty).

Happy problem solving ! Practice makes man perfect.


Nalin Pithwa.




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