maths.free › Calculus › Related rates and optimisation

Related rates and optimisation

Turning a word problem into a derivative: what is changing, what is fixed, what is extreme.

Related rates differentiate a relation with respect to time; optimisation sets a derivative to zero. Both begin by naming the variables and writing the one equation that ties them. Picture it: the graph of the quantity being optimised; the peak is where the tangent is flat. Think it: Lagrange multipliers extend the same idea to constrained problems in many variables.

Voorbeeld van werk · maximum of -x^2 + 4x

Critical points of -x^2 + 4x

- x^{2} + 4 x

Stap voor stap

  1. f(x) = - x^{2} + 4 x

    Critical points are where f′(x) = 0 or is undefined.

  2. f'(x) = 4 - 2 x

    Differentiate.

  3. x = 2

    Solve f′(x) = 0.

  4. f''(x) = -2

    Second-derivative test: f″ < 0 → maximum, f″ > 0 → minimum.

  5. f''(2) = -2 \Rightarrow (2, 4) \text{ is a local maximum}

Onthul het antwoord
(2, 4)\ \text{local maximum}

Nu jij. Kies een probleem, type of teken je eigen. Elke stap, een foto, het antwoord verborgen totdat je het vraagt.

Blijf jezelf aan het werk

Een gratis account voegt notities toe bij elke les, een record van wat je klaar bent, je problemen opgelost op één plaats, en een leraar die je kunt vragen over deze pagina. De wiskunde zelf is open voor iedereen, ingelogd of niet.

Aanmelden Aanmelden

Hier gebruikte symbolen

Tik op elk symbool voor de volledige definitie, een afbeelding en wat elke letter erin betekent.

Hoe: Related rates and optimisation

  1. Critical points are where f′(x) = 0 or is undefined.
  2. Differentiate.
  3. Solve f′(x) = 0.
  4. Second-derivative test: f″ < 0 → maximum, f″ > 0 → minimum.

Vragen die mensen stellen

What is a derivative in one sentence?

The slope of the graph at a point, the rate at which the output is changing there. Speed is the derivative of position.

What is an integral in one sentence?

The accumulated total of a rate: the area under the curve. Distance travelled is the integral of speed.

Why are derivatives and integrals opposites?

That is the fundamental theorem of calculus: accumulating a rate and then measuring how fast the accumulation grows gets you back the rate. Integration undoes differentiation up to a constant.

When do I use substitution and when integration by parts?

Substitution when part of the integrand is the derivative of another part (u and du both present). Parts when the integrand is a product of two unrelated kinds of function, a polynomial times an exponential, log or trig function.

Meer in Calculus