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The Derivative, Integrals, and Graphs (Part 2)

In the essay, Derivatives, Integrals, and Graphs, by Jocelyn Evert, the relationship

between derivatives, integrals, and graphs was found. Each one is interconnected with the other

with various rules to follow and shortcuts to make. However, finding derivatives, and definite

integrals using functions, graphs and data tables was not introduced. This is critical because

finding those equations is a critical part of calculus that is used to define physics, which, in turn,

defines the laws of how the universe works. Therefore, finding the derivatives, and integrals is of

critical importance.

There are multiple methods used to find the derivative. They are all similar in the fact

that they do find the derivative, but they differ in the complexity, and the amount of time needed

to compute it. To find the derivative using a graph is a very challenging, time consuming method

because at every point the slope must be found in order to graph the derivative. The slope of each

point, is the Y value of each derivative. It also determines if the derivative is above or below the

X-axis. If there is a maximum, or a minimum point, then that is where the derivative crosses the

X-axis. An example is shown in Figure 1 below.

Figure 1. Derivatives
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The original function is shown on the right and the first and second derivatives are shown

going to the left. As shown on the original function, the slope decreases until X=5, the starts

increasing, meaning that the derivative of the function has -Y values for X<5, and +Y values for

X>5. At X=5 on the original function, there is a global minimum, which, when differentiated the

first time translates to the point where the function crosses the X-axis. The rate of change of the

first derivative at X=1 is 1, so the second derivative shows that at X=1, Y=1, so the slope of each

point is equal to the Y-value of each derivative.

Another method of finding the derivative is through a table of values. This method is

simple, but also time consuming, as many functions have to be typed into a spreadsheet to find

the derivative, or if a spreadsheet is not handy, then the work must all be done by hand. An

example of this method is shown in Table 1 below.

Table 1
Derivatives Using a Table
x Δx f(x) Δ f(x) f’(x)

1 4

3 3-1=2 8 8-4=4 4/2=2

5 5-3=2 12 12-8=4 4/2=2

7 7-5=2 16 16-12=4 4/2=2

The values in black were given and those in red were calculated. To begin, find the

difference between x values and f(x) values as shown in the columns Δ x and Δ f(x)

respectively. The derivative is the slope of the original function and to find the slope of a

function, the change in Y, or Δ f(x), must be divided by the change in X, or Δ x. Hence the

derivative using data tables is Δ f(x)/ Δ x as shown in the column f’(x).

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The most efficient method to find the derivative is through mathematical functions,

because finding the rate of change at every point is difficult for most functions and data tables

can only show as many derivatives as points were given. There are many methods to find the

derivative of a mathematical function, chief among them being the power rule, the product rule,

and the quotient rule. The power rule multiples the coefficient of the variable by the power the

variable is to, then decreases the power by one. In other words, if f(x)=Cx​n​, then f’(x)=(n*C)x​n-1​.

The product rule states that the derivative of two functions being multiplied would be equal to

the derivative of the first function, multiplied by the second function, added to the first function

multiplied by the derivative of the second function. In other words, if f(x) stands for the first

function and g(x) stands for the second function, and Y(x)=f(x)*g(x), then

Y’(x)=f’(x)*g(x)+f(x)*g’(x). The quotient rule is similar to this. If H(x)=f(x)/g(x), then

H’(x)=[f(x)’g(x)-f(x)*g’(x)]/g​2​(x). There are specific rules for some functions, such as the

derivative of e​Cx^n​ is ((n*C)x​n-1​)*e​Cx^n​, and the derivative of ln(Cx​n​) is ((n*C)x​n-1​)/(Cx​n​). The

derivatives of the trigonometric functions are shown in Table 2 below.

Table 2
Derivatives of Trig Functions
Function Derivative Function Derivative

cos(x) -sin(x) sec(x) tan(x)*sec(x)

sin(x) cos(x) csc(x) -cot(x)*csc(x)

tan(x) sec​2​(x) cot(x) -csc​2​(x)

Finding the integral is nearly the opposite of finding the derivative. In most cases, they

can simply be worked backwards. In the case with the graph, if the derivative has a point on the

X-axis, there would be a maximum or minimum on the integral, or the original function. If the
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derivative is underneath the X-axis, then the slope of the integral is decreasing and vice versa.

The second derivative shows the concavity of the original function. If the second derivative is

above the X-axis, then the original function is concave up, and if it is below the X-axis, then

original function is concave down. This can be shown by looking at Figure 1 backwards.

Figure 1. Derivatives

Looking at these graphs from left to right, the second derivative is above the X-axis

meaning that the original function is concave up, or in the shape of a “u”. The first derivative

shows that the original function has a decreasing slope because the first derivative is below the

X-axis, until the point X=5, where the first derivative crosses the X-axis and the original function

has either a maximum or a minimum. Then the slope increases on the original function, implying

that at X=5 there is a minimum, because the first derivative is above the X-axis. To find the exact

integral given a starting point, add the area from the X-axis to the derivative to the starting point.

This process can be difficult and inaccurate as people view the points on each graph differently

unless specifically defined or an equation is given to use to find the exact points.

To find the integral using graphs, simply work backward from the method shown in

Table 1 above.
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Table 3
Integrals Using a Table
x Δx f’(x) Δ f(x) f(x)

1 4

3 3-1=2 8 8*2=16 4+16=20

5 5-3=2 12 12*2=24 20+24=44

7 7-5=2 16 16*2=32 44+32=76

The values in black were given and those in red were calculated. Given x, find the

difference between the values as shown in column Δ x. To find the derivative, f’(x), the Δ f(x)

must be divided by the Δ x. When the equation is flipped around, the Δ f(x)=f’(x)* Δ x. This is

shown in the column Δ f(x). Given a starting point of 4 in the column f(x), add the Δ f(x) to the

previous number to get the next point of the original function. This is very similar to finding the

derivative because they are both simple, but time consuming methods, and can only find as many

data points on the original function as points of the derivative were given.

While it may be difficult to do sometimes, finding the integral of a mathematical equation

is the most efficient method of finding any integral with nearly no setbacks. Once the integral

equation is found, it can be graphed and as many points as needed can be found to support

theories and answers. There are several ways to find the integral of a function, the simplest being

sighting it, or doing a u-substitution. Sighting it simply means that you can easily see the

integral. An example is, if T’(x)=x, then the integral is the reverse of the power rule, which is

f(x)=(1/[n+1])*x​n+1​ , meaning that T(x)=.5x​2​+C. The C stands for a constant that may exist. In

the same case, if there was a point (2,4) on the original function that the equation had to pass

through, then the X, and Y values must be substituted in to find the constant C, which in the case
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if T(x), would be 2. Most u-substitutions can be sighted easily. After finding the most convoluted

part of the function, (u), or the part of the function whose derivative (du) can be seen in the rest

of the function, take out the derivative and multiply whatever is not classified as the “u” by a

constant to make it equal to one. A variable cannot be multiplied to make the equation equal to

one. Multiply this constant by the “u” to get the original equation. Another method of finding the

integral is by integrating by parts. This can be a tricky method. Two equations are shown below

in Figure 2.

∫ x3 ex ∫ ex cos(x)
​u dv ​ ​u dv
+ x3 ex + cos(x) ex
- 3 x2 ex - − sin(x) ex
+ 6x ex + − cos(x) ex
- 6 ex
+ 0 ex
∫ x3 ex = x3 ex − 3 x2 ex +6 xex -6 ex + ∫ 0ex ∫ ex cos(x) = cos(x)ex + sin(x)ex − ∫ cos(x)ex

∫ x3 ex = x3 ex − 3 x2 ex +6 xex -6 ex +C 2 ∫ ex cos(x) = cos(x)ex + sin(x)ex

∫ ex cos(x) =[ cos(x)ex + sin(x)ex ]/2 +C

Figure 2. Integrating By Parts

There are two ways to integrate by parts. The first is demonstrated on the left in Figure 2.

The equation is given at the top, the split into two under the u, dv signs. Choose the one that is

easiest to integrate and put it under the dv sign, and integrate to as many parts as the other side

differentiates to. Put the other part of the equation under the u sign and differentiate it, until it

cannot be differentiated anymore. Then, arrange the addition/subtraction signs as shown on the

left part of the equation, and multiply u, by dv on the diagonal. So + x3 is multiplied by the ex
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down and across from it, then added to - 3 x2 which is multiplied by the ex down and across from

it. This continues until the equation cannot be multiplied by the diagonal, so the last number in

the u column is multiplied straight across to the ex . This last part need to be integrated as shown

in the equations below, but since the integral is any random number, it can just be tacked into the

constant added at the end of every integral. The other way to integrate is cyclical and shown on

the right. The same methods described in the left equation are used in the right equation, but

there is not stopping point because the derivative of cosine is sine and it keeps repeating. There

must be a stopping point, which is when the exact equation as the original integration is found.

There may be a constant with this but that will be taken care of. So cos(x) is differentiated until

it can be multiplied by ex again. Then the last part is integrated again, but since it cannot be

integrated, add it to the other integral, then divide the entire equation by the constant, which in

this case would be 2. This is where the other constants would be taken care of. Add a constant to

the end and the integral is found. Other substitutions can be made to the equations to make them

2
easier to integrate. Say the equation was ∫ x3 ex , one of the x’s can be moved over in order to

2
make the ex integratable.

Another method of finding the integral is through trigonometric functions. This method is

shown in Figure 3 and is very similar to a u-substitution.

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2
∫ 1/(√ x + 9) *dx
2
tan( θ )=x/3 sec( θ )= [√ (x + 9)] /3
2
3tan( θ )=x 3sec( θ )= √(x + 9)
3sec​2​( θ )=dx
∫[1/3sec(θ) ]*3sec​2​( θ )d θ

∫ 3sec(θ) d θ
3ln(sec θ +tan θ )+C
2
3ln[ (√ x + 9) /3+x/3]+C

Figure 3. Integration by Trig Functions

To do this problem, the integrals of the trig functions must be known and they are shown

in Table 4 below. To start, place the parts of the equation on the triangle as demonstrated on the

picture to the right and fill in the rest of the triangle. After doing this, use the trig rules to set a

trig function equal to the variables with the constant in the denominator. Use these equations to

isolate x, and find the derivative as shown in the first steps of the equation above. Then isolate

the original part of the triangle that was used to get the other parts of the triangle. Substitute dx,

and the original part of the triangle in using the trig functions and simplify the equations. Then,

using the integrals of the trig functions as shown in Table 4 below, find the integral of the

function and substitute the equations using x back into the regular equation to get the integral of

the original problem. Add a constant to the end.

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Table 4
Integrals of Trig Functions
Function Integral Function Integral

cos(x) sin(x)+C sec(x) ln(sec(x)+tan(x))+C

sin(x) -cos(x)+C csc(x) -ln(csc(x)+cot(x))+C

tan(x) -ln(cos(x))+C cot(x) ln(sin(x))+C

There are many real-life applications for calculus. Finding out how long it would take for

a plane to reach its destination when it is accelerating or coasting, or how far it has traveled, are

just the beginning uses of calculus in the real-world. The area underneath a graph of its’ velocity

can easily do those things. One of the most useful ways to use calculus in real-life is finding the

minimum amount of money needed to build a path using differing rates of how much it would

cost to build a path on land or over the sea, or a variation of that. However, using calculus to find

the minimum distance to save a drowning friend is not a probable scenario. Just go and save the

friend.

Another usage of calculus in the real-world would be finding how long it would take you

to get to work if you decided to bike there. The amount of time would be determined by the

distance traveled, which can be shown by finding the area underneath a velocity-time graph, and

the velocities at which you travel on a bike. Another usage of calculus is determining when an

asteroid can hit Earth. By mapping the direction and speed of the asteroid using calculus, or

physics, which is defined by calculus, we can determine if the asteroid will hit us, after being

affected by the pull of gravity of other planets, its mass, and its rate of change of position and
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velocity and its distance from us. Calculus can also help us find the time until collision giving us

a deadline until the end of the world. However, this is an extreme example.

Calculus is everywhere and can be used to do most everything. And the fundamentals of

calculus are in differentiating and integrating. Of the three ways to integrate or differentiate,

mathematical functions are the simplest and easiest to find , and there are no downsides to them

as there are to differentiating or integrating graphs or data tables. Graphs do not give exact points

but they can show trends over time, and data tables can only do find as many points as were

given in the beginning but both cannot find a specific function. Mathematical functions can be

used to find any points necessary and can be easily graphed. While they may take some time to

do, they have no downsides making them the most efficient to calculate. Finding these equations

is a critical part of calculus, which defines the laws of how the universe works.
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Appendix A

To demonstrate an understanding of the derivative and the integral, two equations and

their solutions are given below.

1.) A scientist measures the depth of the Doe River at Picnic Point. The river is 24 feet wide

at this location. The measurements are taken in a straight line perpendicular to the edge of the

river. The data is shown in the table below. The velocity of the water at Picnic Point, in feet per

minute is modeled by v(t)=16+2sin( √t + 10 ) for 0 ≤ t ≤ 120 minutes.

Table 1
Data From The River
Distance from the river’s edge (ft) 0 8 14 22 24

Depth of the water (ft) 0 7 8 2 0

a.) Use a trapezoidal sum with the four subintervals indicated by the data in the table to

approximate the area of the cross section of the river at Picnic Point, in square feet. Show the

computations that led to your answer.

The trapezoidal rule cannot be used because the change in x, or the distance from the

river’s edge is not uniform, thus the triangles and rectangles are calculated below.

.5*8*7+6*7+.5*6*1+8*2+.5*8*6+.5*2*2=115 square feet

b.) The volumetric flow at a location along the river is the product of the cross-sectional area

and the velocity of the water at that location. Use your approximation from part (a) to estimate

the average value of the volumetric flow at Picnic Point, in cubic feet per minute, from t=0 to

t=120 minutes.

115(the answer found in part (a))*16.28 is equal to 1872.2 cubic ft/min

The average value of a function is the integral of the function divided by (b-a)
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120
Avg value of the velocity= [ ∫ 16+2sin( √t + 10 )dx]/(120-0)=16.28 ft/min
0

c.) The scientist proposes the function f, given by f(x)=8sin( π x/24) as a model for the depth

of the water, in feet, at Picnic Point x feet from the water’s edge. Find the area of the

cross-section of the river at Picnic Point based on this model.

24
∫ 8sin( π x/24)dx=122.23 square feet. The area is the integral of the graph of depth and
0

distance of the river from 0 to 24 feet across which is how wide the river is.

d.) Recall that the volumetric flow is the product of the cross sectional area and the velocity

of the water at a location. To prevent flooding, water must be diverted if the average value of the

volumetric flow at Picnic Point exceeds 2100 cubic feet per minute for a 20-minute period.

Using your answer from part (c), find the average value of the volumetric flow during the time

interval 40 ≤ t ≤ 60 minutes. Does the value indicate that the water must be diverted?

60
Avg value of the velocity= [ ∫ 16+2sin( √t + 10 )dx]/(60-40)=17.85*122.23=2181 cubic
40

ft/min Yes this value indicates that the water needs to be diverted. This is the same as part (b)

above.

2.) There are 700 people in line for a popular amusement-park ride when the ride begins

operation in the morning. Once it begins operation, the ride accepts passengers until the park

closes 8 hours later. While there is a line, people move onto the ride at a rate of 800 people per

hour. The graph below shows the rate, r(t), at which people arrive at the ride throughout the day.

Time, t, is measured in hours from the time the ride begins operation.
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Figure 1. Rate of People Arriving

a.) How many people arrive at the ride between t=0 and t=3? Show the computations.

This is the area under the graph.

1000+1000+800+.5*2*200+.5*1*400=3200 people arrived between t=0 and t=3.

b.) Is the number of people waiting in line to get on the ride increasing or decreasing

between t=2 and t=3? Justify.

The number of people waiting to get in line between t=2 and t=3 is increasing. In a single

hour, 800 people can go through the ride, but between hours 2 and 3, 1000 people join the line as

shown in Figure 1 above, so the line increases by 200 people.

c.) At what time, t, is the line for the ride the longest? How many people are in line at that

time? Justify.

Table 2
Justification/ Work
Time People in Line Go Through the Ride People Still in Line

0-1 1750 800 950

1-2 2100 800 1300

2-3 2300 800 1500

3-4 2100 800 1300

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Time People in Line Go Through the Ride People Still in Line

4-5 1700 800 900

5-6 1300 800 500

6-7 800 800 0

7-8 100 800 0

Between time t=2 and 3, which is when the line for the ride is longest, there are 2300 people

waiting in line at the beginning of the second hour, and 1500 people waiting in line at the end of

the second hour.

d.) Write, but do not solve, an equation involving an integral expression of r, whose solution

gives the earliest time, t, at which there is no longer a line for the ride.
r
f(x)=700+ ∫ r(t)dt-800*r where r is the hours after the ride opens and r(t) is the amount
0

of people who came in that hour, and f(x) is the number of people in line. This equation is the

same as the one shown in the graph and with some rearranging, the time, r, can be isolated to be
r
set equal to zero, in other words, the equation would look like [f(x)-700- ∫ r(t)dt]/-800=r
0
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Works Cited

Evert, Jocelyn G. “The Derivative, Integral, and Graphs.” ​MMSTC​, 2018.