Applications of Derivatives in Maths and in Real Life (With Examples) (2024)

There are various applications of derivatives not only in maths and real life but also in other fields like science, engineering, physics, etc. In previous classes, you must have learned to find the derivative of different functions, like, trigonometric functions, implicit functions, logarithm functions, etc. In this section, you will learn the use of derivatives with respect to mathematical concepts and in real-life scenarios. This is one of the important topics covered in Class 12 Maths as well.

Table of Contents:

• Application of Derivatives
  • Rate of Change
  • Increasing and Decreasing Function
  • Tangent and Normal
  • Minima and Maxima
  • Monotonicity
  • Approximation
  • Point of Inflection
• Daily Life Application
• Video Lessons
• Solved Examples
• Practice Questions
• FAQs

Applications of Derivatives in Maths

The derivative is defined as the rate of change of one quantity with respect to another. In terms of functions, the rate of change of function is defined as dy/dx = f(x) = y’.

The concept of derivatives has been used in small scale and large scale.The concept of derivatives used in many ways such as change of temperature or rate of change of shapes and sizes of an object depending on the conditions etc.,

Rate of Change of a Quantity

This is the general and most important application of derivative. For example, to check the rate of change of the volume of a cube with respect to its decreasing sides, we can use the derivative form as dy/dx. Where dy represents the rate of change of volume of cube and dx represents the change of sides of the cube.

Increasing and Decreasing Functions

To find that a given function is increasing or decreasing or constant, say in a graph, we use derivatives. If f is a function which is continuous in [p, q] and differentiable in the open interval (p, q), then,

• f is increasing at [p, q] if f'(x) > 0 for each x ∈ (p, q)
• f is decreasing at [p, q] if f'(x) < 0 for each x ∈ (p, q)
• f is constant function in [p, q], if f'(x)=0 for each x ∈ (p, q)

Tangent and Normal To a Curve

A tangent is a line that touches the curve at a point and doesn’t cross it, whereas normal is perpendicular to that tangent.

Let the tangent meet the curve at P(x₁, y₁).

Now the straight-line equation which passes through a point having slope m could be written as;

y – y₁ = m(x – x₁)

We can see from the above equation, the slope of the tangent to the curve y = f(x) and at the point P(x₁, y₁), it is given as dy/dx at P(x₁, y₁) = f'(x). Therefore,

Equation of the tangent to the curve at P(x₁, y₁) can be written as:

y – y₁ = f'(x₁)(x – x₁)

Equation of normal to the curve is given by;

y – y₁ = [-1/ f'(x₁)] (x – x₁)

Or

(y – y₁) f'(x₁) + (x-x₁) = 0

Maxima and Minima

To calculate the highest and lowest point of the curve in a graph or to know its turning point, the derivative function is used.

• When x = a, if f(x) ≤ f(a) for every x in the domain, then f(x) has an Absolute Maximum value and the point a is the point of the maximum value of f.
• When x = a, if f(x) ≤ f(a) for every x in some open interval (p, q) then f(x) has a Relative Maximum value.
• When x= a, if f(x) ≥ f(a) for every x in the domain then f(x) has an Absolute Minimum value and the point a is the point of the minimum value of f.
• When x = a, if f(x) ≥ f(a) for every x in some open interval (p, q) then f(x) has a Relative Minimum value.

Monotonicity

Functions are said to be monotonic if they are either increasing or decreasing in their entire domain. f(x) = e^x, f(x) = n^x, f(x) = 2x + 3 are some examples.

Functions which are increasing and decreasing in their domain are said to be non-monotonic

For example: f(x) = sin x , f(x) = x²

Monotonicity Of A function At A Point

A function is said to be monotonically decreasing at x = a if f(x) satisfy;

f(x + h) < f(a) for a small positive h

• f'(x) will be positive if the function is increasing
• f'(x) will be negative if the function is decreasing
• f'(x) will be zero when the function is at its maxima or minima

Approximation or Finding Approximate Value

To find a very small change or variation of a quantity, we can use derivatives to give the approximate value of it. The approximate value is represented by delta △.

Suppose change in the value of x, dx = x then,

dy/dx = △x = x.

Since the change in x, dx ≈ x therefore, dy ≈ y.

Point of Inflection

For continuous function f(x), if f'(x₀) = 0 or f’”(x₀) does not exist at points where f'(x₀) exists and if f”(x) changes sign when passing through x = x₀ then x₀ is called the point of inflection.

(a) If f”(x) < 0, x ∈ (a, b) then the curve y = f(x) in concave downward

(b) if f” (x) > 0, x ∈ (a, b) then the curve y = f(x) is concave upwards in (a, b)

For example: f(x) = sin x

Solution: f'(x) = cos x

f”(x) = sinx = 0 x = nπ, n ∈ z

Application of Derivatives in Real Life

• To calculate the profit and loss in business using graphs.
• To check the temperature variation.
• To determine the speed or distance covered such as miles per hour, kilometre per hour etc.
• Derivatives are used to derive many equations in Physics.
• In the study of Seismology like to find the range of magnitudes of the earthquake.

By solving the application of derivatives problems, the concepts for these applications will be understood in a better manner.

Video Lessons