Topic: Application of Derivative

JEE Main & Advanced

Maxima and Minima

1. f ( x ) =| x |, x  0 and g( x ) =| x |, x  0 .
= 5, x = 0 = −5, x = 0 Discuss extrema at x = 0
2. Discuss 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 − 5{𝑥}, {⋅} FPF at 𝑥 = 2 for extremum. [Ans: MAX]
3. Discuss for extremum in [−1,2]
𝑓(𝑥) = {−𝑥} , −1 ≤ 𝑥 < 0
= 1 − 𝑥2 , 0≤𝑥≤1
= [𝑥] , 1<𝑥≤2
x
4. If f ( x ) = cos , x 0
2
= x + a, x  0 then f(x) has local maxima at the point x = 0 , find a. [Ans: a  1 ]
b3 − b2 + b − 1
5. If f ( x ) = − x 3 + , 0  x 1
b2 + 3b + 2
= 2x − 3, 1  x  3
If f ( x ) has local minima at x = 1 . Find b. [Ans: b  ( −2, −1)  [1,  ) ]
6. f ( x ) = 4x − x 3 + ln( a 2 − 3a + 3 ), 0  x  3
= x − 18 , x  3
If f ( x ) has local minima at x = 3 . Find a. [Ans: a  ( −,1]  [ 2,  ) ]
7. Find out local maxima/minima of following function.
(i) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 (𝑥 − 2)2 [L. Min 0,2, L. Max 1]
(ii) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 5 − 5𝑥 4 + 5𝑥 3 − 1 [L. Min 3, L. Max 1, No. Ext. 0]
(iii) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 4 − 4𝑥 3 + 6𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 1 [L. Min 1 ].
(iv) 𝑓(𝑥) = |𝑥 2 − 2𝑥| [L. Min 0,2, L. Max 1]
𝑥 2 +𝑥+1
(v) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 −𝑥+1 [L. Min -1, L. Max 1]

ax + b
8. Curve y = has local maxima at point (2, −1). Find 𝑎 and 𝑏 [Ans: a = 1,b = 0 ]
( x − 1)( x − 4 )
9. If 𝑓(𝑥) = sin2 𝑥 − 𝑎cos 𝑥 has exactly one point of local minimum in (0, 𝜋), find 𝑎.
[Ans: 𝑎 ∈ 𝜙].
10. Find Global Maximum of 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 4 − 2𝑎𝑥 2 + 3𝑎 − 6𝑎2 in [−7,10]
(Cubic Function)
1. If the cubic 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 + 𝑝𝑥 + 𝑞 has 3 distinct real roots then P.T. 4𝑝3 + 27𝑞 2 < 0
2. Find ' 𝑎 ' such that 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 + [𝑎], [⋅] = 𝐺1𝐹 has 3 real and distinct roots. [Ans: [−1,2)]
ax 3
3. For a cubic f ( x ) = + (a + 2 )x 2 + (a − 1)x + 2 , find ' 𝑎 ' for which 𝑓(𝑥) has
3
(i) positive abscissa of point of maxima
(ii) negative abscissa of point of maxima
(iii) positive abscissa of point of minima
(iv) negative abscissa of point of minima
(v) positive abscissa of point of inflection
 1
4. If 4𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 − 𝑝 = 0 where −1 ≤ 𝑝 ≤ 1 has unique root in [2 , 1] then the root is
cos−1 𝑝 1
(A) (B) cos (3 cos−1 𝑝) (C) cos (cos −1 𝑃) (D) N.O.T.
3
[Ans: (B)]
5. Maximum number of distinct real roots possible 𝑥 4 − 4𝑥 3 + 12𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 1 = 0 [Ans: Max 2]

(Application of Graphs)
1. Find the value of a for which the points of extremum of the function
f ( x ) = x 3 − 3 x 2 + 3( 2 − 1)x + 1 lie in the interval (−2,4). [Ans: −1  x  3 ]
2. f ( x ) = x + 3( a − 7 )x + 3( a − 9 )x − 1 . If f ( x ) attains maxima at positive value of x, find
3 2 2

 29 
possible values of a. [Ans: a  ( −, −3 )   3,  ]
 7 
(Word Problem)
b
1. Find the minimum value of ax + by where xy = c 2 [Ans: at x = c , min val. = 2c ab ]
a
2. A wire of length of 36 cm is cut into two pieces. One of the pieces is turned in to the form of
a square and the other in the form of an equilateral triangle. Find the length of each piece
144 3 324
so that the sum of the areas of the two figures be minimum. [Ans: cm, cm ]
9+4 3 9+4 3
3. A rectangular sheet of tin 45 cm by 24 cm is to be made into a box without top by cutting off
squares from the corners and folding up the flaps. What should be the side of the square in
order that the volume of the box is maximum. [Ans: 5 cm]
4. Show that the semi-vertical angle of a cone of maximum volume and given slant height is
 1 
tan −1 2 or cos−1  
 3
8
5. Show that the volume of the largest cone that be inscribed in a sphere of radius R is of
27
the volume of the sphere
6. Show that the volume of the greatest cylinder which can be inscribed in a cone of height h
4
and semi-vertical angle  is h3 tan 2 
27
7. Find the area of the greatest isosceles triangle that can be inscribed in a given ellipse
3 3
having its vertex coincident with one end of the major axis. [Ans: ab ]
4
x2 y 2
8. Find the area of the greatest rectangle that can be inscribed in an ellipse 2 + 2 = 1
a b
[Ans: 2ab]
9. A point on the hypotenuse of a right triangle is at distances a and b from the sides of the
triangle. Show that the minimum length of the hypotenuse is ( a2 / 3 + b2 / 3 )
3/ 2

10. Determine the points on the curve y 2 = 4 x which is nearest to the point ( 2, −8 )
[Ans: ( 4, −4 ) ]
11. A point P is given on the circumference of circle of radius ‘r’. Chords QR are parallel to
3 3 2
tangent at P. Determine maximum possible area of PQR [Ans: r ]
4
12. A cylinder is obtained by revolving a rectangle about the x-axis, the base of the rectangle
lying on the x-axis and the entire rectangle lying in the region between the curve
x 
y= 2 & the x-axis. Find the maximum possible volume of the cylinder. [Ans: ]
x +1 4
13. The lower corner of a page in a book is folded over so as to just reach the inner edge of
the page. Find the ratio of the folded width to the width of the page of the book such that
2
the folded part is minimum. [Ans: ]
3
14. Find pyramid whose lateral surface area is minimum given that it is a square based
pyramid with volume 36 2 cm 3 . [Ans: Base of side 6 cm, height 3 2 ]
15. In a regular triangular prism the distance from the centre of one base to one of the
vertices of the other base is ‘L’. Find the altitude of the prism for which the volume
L
is greatest. [Ans: ]
3