NCERT Solutions · Class 12 Maths · NCERT Mathematics Part I and II Part I · Chapter 6
Chapter 6: Application of Derivatives (Calculus)
Step-by-step solutions to all exercises of Chapter 6, Application of Derivatives (NCERT Class 12 Maths Part I, 2026-27): Exercise 6.1 (rate of change), 6.2 (increasing and decreasing functions), 6.3 (maxima and minima, including word problems on boxes, cylinders and cones) and the Miscellaneous Exercise. All 82 questions are answered, with the key answer highlighted.
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Free NCERT solutions by Notes Bazar · www.notesbazar.in/ncert-solutions/class-12-maths/chapter-6-application-of-derivatives
Rate of change: dtdA=drdA⋅dtdr. f is increasing where f′(x)>0 and decreasing where f′(x)<0. At a critical point c (f′(c)=0): f′′(c)<0 ⇒ local maximum, f′′(c)>0 ⇒ local minimum. Absolute max/min on [a, b]: compare f at the critical points and at the end points.
The radius of a circle is increasing uniformly at the rate of 3 cm/s. Find the rate at which the area of the circle is increasing when the radius is 10 cm.
A stone is dropped into a quiet lake and waves move in circles at the speed of 5 cm/s. At the instant when the radius of the circular wave is 8 cm, how fast is the enclosed area increasing?
The length x of a rectangle is decreasing at the rate of 5 cm/minute and the width y is increasing at the rate of 4 cm/minute. When x = 8 cm and y = 6 cm, find the rates of change of (a) the perimeter, and (b) the area of the rectangle.
A balloon, which always remains spherical on inflation, is being inflated by pumping in 900 cubic centimetres of gas per second. Find the rate at which the radius of the balloon increases when the radius is 15 cm.
A balloon, which always remains spherical has a variable radius. Find the rate at which its volume is increasing with the radius when the later is 10 cm.
A ladder 5 m long is leaning against a wall. The bottom of the ladder is pulled along the ground, away from the wall, at the rate of 2 cm/s. How fast is its height on the wall decreasing when the foot of the ladder is 4 m away from the wall?
Solution
Let the foot be x m from the wall and the top y m high: x2+y2=25. When x=4, y=3.
Sand is pouring from a pipe at the rate of 12 cm³/s. The falling sand forms a cone on the ground in such a way that the height of the cone is always one-sixth of the radius of the base. How fast is the height of the sand cone increasing when the height is 4 cm?
The total cost C (x) in Rupees associated with the production of x units of an item is given by C (x) = 0.007x³ – 0.003x² + 15x + 4000. Find the marginal cost when 17 units are produced.
The total revenue in Rupees received from the sale of x units of a product is given by R(x) = 3x² + 36x + 5. The marginal revenue, when x = 15 is (A) 116 (B) 96 (C) 90 (D) 126
Find the intervals in which the following functions are strictly increasing or decreasing: (a) x² + 2x – 5 (b) 10 – 6x – 2x² (c) –2x³ – 9x² – 12x + 1 (d) 6 – 9x – x² (e) (x + 1)³ (x – 3)³
Solution
(a)f′=2x+2: decreasing for x<−1, increasing for x>−1.
(b)f′=−6−4x: increasing for x<−23, decreasing for x>−23.
(c)f′=−6x2−18x−12=−6(x+1)(x+2): positive for −2<x<−1; negative for x<−2 and x>−1.
(d)f′=−9−2x: increasing for x<−29, decreasing for x>−29.
(e)f′=3(x+1)2(x−3)3+3(x+1)3(x−3)2=3(x+1)2(x−3)2(2x−2)=6(x+1)2(x−3)2(x−1). The squares are ≥ 0, so the sign is that of (x−1).
(a) dec x < −1, inc x > −1. (b) inc x < −3/2, dec x > −3/2. (c) inc −2 < x < −1; dec x < −2 and x > −1. (d) inc x < −9/2, dec x > −9/2. (e) inc on (1, 3) and (3, ∞); dec on (−∞, −1) and (−1, 1).
On which of the following intervals is the function f given by f (x) = x¹⁰⁰ + sin x – 1 decreasing? (A) (0, 1) (B) (π/2, π) (C) (0, π/2) (D) None of these
Solution
f′(x)=100x99+cosx.
On (0, 1) and (0, π/2): both terms ≥ 0 and the sum is positive. On (π/2, π): x>1, so 100x99>100>∣cosx∣, hence f′>0. f is increasing on all three.
Find the maximum and minimum values, if any, of the following functions given by (i) f (x) = (2x – 1)² + 3 (ii) f (x) = 9x² + 12x + 2 (iii) f (x) = – (x – 1)² + 10 (iv) g (x) = x³ + 1
Solution
(i)(2x−1)2≥0, so f(x)≥3, equality at x=21. Min = 3; no maximum (f grows without bound).
(ii)9x2+12x+2=(3x+2)2−2≥−2. Min = −2 (at x=−32); no maximum.
(iii)−(x−1)2≤0, so f(x)≤10. Max = 10 (at x=1); no minimum.
(iv)x3+1 takes all real values, so it has neither.
(i) min 3 (ii) min −2 (iii) max 10 (iv) neither max nor min.
Find the maximum and minimum values, if any, of the following functions given by (i) f (x) = | x + 2 | – 1 (ii) g (x) = – | x + 1| + 3 (iii) h (x) = sin (2x) + 5 (iv) f (x) = | sin 4x + 3| (v) h (x) = x + 1, x ∈ (– 1, 1)
Solution
(i)∣x+2∣≥0⇒f≥−1 (at x=−2). Min −1; no max.
(ii)−∣x+1∣≤0⇒g≤3 (at x=−1). Max 3; no min.
(iii)−1≤sin2x≤1⇒4≤h≤6. Min 4, max 6.
(iv)2≤sin4x+3≤4, so ∣sin4x+3∣ lies in [2, 4]. Min 2, max 4.
(v) On the open interval (−1, 1), x+1 takes values in (0, 2) but never reaches 0 or 2.
(i) min −1 (ii) max 3 (iii) min 4, max 6 (iv) min 2, max 4 (v) neither max nor min.
Find the local maxima and local minima, if any, of the following functions. Find also the local maximum and the local minimum values: (i) f (x) = x² (ii) g (x) = x³ – 3x (iii) h (x) = sin x + cos x, 0 < x < π/2 (iv) f (x) = sin x – cos x, 0 < x < 2π (v) f (x) = x³ – 6x² + 9x + 15 (vi) g(x)=2x+x2, x > 0 (vii) g(x)=x2+21 (viii) f(x)=x1−x, 0 < x < 1
Solution
(i)f′=2x=0⇒x=0; f′′=2>0. Local min at 0, value 0.
(ii)g′=3x2−3=0⇒x=±1; g′′=6x. At x=1: g′′>0, local min g(1)=−2. At x=−1: g′′<0, local max g(−1)=2.
(iii)h′=cosx−sinx=0⇒x=4π; h′′=−sinx−cosx<0. Local max at 4π, value 2.
(iv)f′=cosx+sinx=0⇒tanx=−1⇒x=43π,47π. f′′=−sinx+cosx: at 43π it is −2<0 (local max =2); at 47π it is 2>0 (local min =−2).
(v)f′=3x2−12x+9=3(x−1)(x−3); f′′=6x−12. At 1: f′′<0, local max f(1)=19. At 3: f′′>0, local min f(3)=15.
(vi)g′=21−x22=0⇒x=2 (x>0); g′′=x34>0. Local min g(2)=2.
(vii)g′=(x2+2)2−2x=0⇒x=0; g′ changes from + to −. Local max g(0)=21.
(viii)f′=1−x−21−xx=21−x2−3x=0⇒x=32; f′ changes from + to −. Local max f(32)=3231=923.
(i) min 0 at 0 (ii) max 2 at −1, min −2 at 1 (iii) max √2 at π/4 (iv) max √2 at 3π/4, min −√2 at 7π/4 (v) max 19 at 1, min 15 at 3 (vi) min 2 at 2 (vii) max 1/2 at 0 (viii) max 2√3/9 at 2/3
Find the absolute maximum value and the absolute minimum value of the following functions in the given intervals: (i) f (x) = x³, x ∈ [– 2, 2] (ii) f (x) = sin x + cos x, x ∈ [0, π] (iii) f(x)=4x−21x2, x ∈ [−2, 9/2] (iv) f (x) = (x – 1)² + 3, x ∈ [– 3, 1]
A square piece of tin of side 18 cm is to be made into a box without top, by cutting a square from each corner and folding up the flaps to form the box. What should be the side of the square to be cut off so that the volume of the box is the maximum possible.
Solution
Cut squares of side x: V=x(18−2x)2, 0<x<9.
V′=(18−2x)2−4x(18−2x)=(18−2x)(18−6x)=0⇒x=3 (x = 9 gives no box).
A rectangular sheet of tin 45 cm by 24 cm is to be made into a box without top, by cutting off square from each corner and folding up the flaps. What should be the side of the square to be cut off so that the volume of the box is maximum?
Solution
V=x(45−2x)(24−2x)=4x3−138x2+1080x, 0<x<12.
V′=12x2−276x+1080=12(x−5)(x−18)=0⇒x=5 (18 is not allowed).
Of all the closed cylindrical cans (right circular), of a given volume of 100 cubic centimetres, find the dimensions of the can which has the minimum surface area?
A wire of length 28 m is to be cut into two pieces. One of the pieces is to be made into a square and the other into a circle. What should be the length of the two pieces so that the combined area of the square and the circle is minimum?
Solution
Square piece x (side 4x), circle piece 28−x (radius 2π28−x).
The two equal sides of an isosceles triangle with fixed base b are decreasing at the rate of 3 cm per second. How fast is the area decreasing when the two equal sides are equal to the base?
A tank with rectangular base and rectangular sides, open at the top is to be constructed so that its depth is 2 m and volume is 8 m³. If building of tank costs Rs 70 per sq metres for the base and Rs 45 per square metre for sides. What is the cost of least expensive tank?
The sum of the perimeter of a circle and square is k, where k is some constant. Prove that the sum of their areas is least when the side of square is double the radius of the circle.
A window is in the form of a rectangle surmounted by a semicircular opening. The total perimeter of the window is 10 m. Find the dimensions of the window to admit maximum light through the whole opening.
Solution
Let the rectangle be 2r wide and y high (semicircle radius r). Perimeter: 2r+2y+πr=10⇒y=210−(2+π)r.
A=2ry+21πr2=10r−2r2−2πr2.
A′=10−(4+π)r=0⇒r=π+410; A′′<0, maximum.
Width 2r=π+420; y=210−(2+π)π+410=π+410.
Rectangle: length π+420 m, width (height) π+410 m
A point on the hypotenuse of a triangle is at distance a and b from the sides of the triangle. Show that the minimum length of the hypotenuse is (a2/3+b2/3)3/2.
Solution
Let the hypotenuse make angle θ with one leg. The point splits it into asecθ and bcosecθ, so L=asecθ+bcosecθ, 0<θ<2π.
L′=asecθtanθ−bcosecθcotθ=0⇒tan3θ=ab (L′ changes − to +, a minimum).
Then secθ=a1/3a2/3+b2/3, cosecθ=b1/3a2/3+b2/3.
Let f be a function defined on [a, b] such that f ′(x) > 0, for all x ∈ (a, b). Then prove that f is an increasing function on (a, b).
Solution
Take x1<x2 in (a, b). f is differentiable (hence continuous) on [x1,x2], so by the Mean Value Theorem there is c in (x1,x2) with f(x2)−f(x1)=f′(c)(x2−x1).
Show that height of the cylinder of greatest volume which can be inscribed in a right circular cone of height h and semi vertical angle α is one-third that of the cone and the greatest volume of cylinder is (4/27)πh³ tan² α.
Solution
Cylinder height H, radius x. By similar triangles, x=(h−H)tanα.
V=π(h−H)2tan2α⋅H. dHdV=πtan2α(h−H)(h−3H)=0⇒H=3h (V′ changes + to −).
A cylindrical tank of radius 10 m is being filled with wheat at the rate of 314 cubic metre per hour. Then the depth of the wheat is increasing at the rate of (A) 1 m/h (B) 0.1 m/h (C) 1.1 m/h (D) 0.5 m/h