Every multiple-choice question from வகை நுண்கணிதத்தின் பயன்பாடுகள் (12ஆம் வகுப்பு கணிதவியல், Samacheer Kalvi) with the correct option highlighted and a clear, worked explanation. 20 questions in all — free to read in English and Tamil.
Q1
The volume of a sphere is increasing in volume at the rate of \( 3\pi \) cm\(^3\)/sec. The rate of change of its radius when the radius is \( \frac{1}{2} \) cm is
- A. 3 cm/sCorrect
- B. 2 cm/s
- C. 1 cm/s
- D. \( \frac{1}{2} \) cm/s
Explanation. For a sphere \( V=\frac{4}{3}\pi r^{3} \), so differentiating with respect to time, \[ \frac{dV}{dt}=4\pi r^{2}\frac{dr}{dt}. \] Substituting the given rate \( \frac{dV}{dt}=3\pi \) and \( r=\frac{1}{2} \): \[ 3\pi = 4\pi\left(\tfrac{1}{2}\right)^{2}\frac{dr}{dt}=\pi\frac{dr}{dt}. \] Cancelling \( \pi \) gives \( \frac{dr}{dt}=3 \) cm/s, which is option (1).
Q2
A balloon rises straight up at 10 m/s. An observer is 40 m away from the spot where the balloon left the ground. The rate of change of the balloon's angle of elevation in radian per second when the balloon is 30 metres above the ground is
- A. \( \frac{3}{25} \) radians/sec
- B. \( \frac{4}{25} \) radians/secCorrect
- C. \( \frac{1}{5} \) radians/sec
- D. \( \frac{1}{3} \) radians/sec
Explanation. Let \( y \) be the height of the balloon. With the observer 40 m from the launch point, \( \tan\theta=\frac{y}{40} \). Differentiating, \[ \sec^{2}\theta\,\frac{d\theta}{dt}=\frac{1}{40}\frac{dy}{dt}. \] When \( y=30 \) the line of sight has length \( \sqrt{40^{2}+30^{2}}=50 \), so \( \cos\theta=\frac{40}{50}=\frac{4}{5} \) and \( \sec^{2}\theta=\frac{25}{16} \). Using \( \frac{dy}{dt}=10 \): \[ \frac{25}{16}\frac{d\theta}{dt}=\frac{10}{40}=\frac{1}{4}\;\Rightarrow\;\frac{d\theta}{dt}=\frac{1}{4}\cdot\frac{16}{25}=\frac{4}{25}\text{ rad/s}. \] Option (2).
Q3
The position of a particle moving along a horizontal line at any time \( t \) is given by \( s(t)=3t^{2}-2t-8 \). The time at which the particle is at rest is
- A. \( t=0 \)
- B. \( t=\frac{1}{3} \)Correct
- C. \( t=1 \)
- D. \( t=3 \)
Explanation. The particle is at rest when its velocity is zero. From \( s(t)=3t^{2}-2t-8 \), the velocity is \( v(t)=s'(t)=6t-2 \). Setting \( 6t-2=0 \) gives \( t=\frac{1}{3} \), option (2).
Q4
A stone is thrown up vertically. The height it reaches at time \( t \) seconds is given by \( x=80t-16t^{2} \). The stone reaches the maximum height in time \( t \) seconds given by
- A. 2
- B. 2.5Correct
- C. 3
- D. 3.5
Explanation. At the highest point the upward velocity is momentarily zero. From \( x=80t-16t^{2} \), \( \frac{dx}{dt}=80-32t \). Setting this equal to zero gives \( t=\frac{80}{32}=2.5 \) seconds, option (2).
Q5
The point on the curve \( 6y=x^{3}+2 \) at which the \( y \)-coordinate changes 8 times as fast as the \( x \)-coordinate is
- A. \( (4,11) \)Correct
- B. \( (4,-11) \)
- C. \( (-4,11) \)
- D. \( (-4,-11) \)
Explanation. \"Changes 8 times as fast\" means \( \frac{dy}{dt}=8\frac{dx}{dt} \). Differentiating \( 6y=x^{3}+2 \) with respect to time gives \( 6\frac{dy}{dt}=3x^{2}\frac{dx}{dt} \). Substituting, \[ 6(8)\frac{dx}{dt}=3x^{2}\frac{dx}{dt}\Rightarrow 48=3x^{2}\Rightarrow x^{2}=16\Rightarrow x=\pm4. \] For \( x=4 \): \( 6y=64+2=66\Rightarrow y=11 \), giving the point \( (4,11) \). (The choice \( x=-4 \) gives a point not among the options.) Option (1).
Q6
The abscissa of the point on the curve \( f(x)=\sqrt{8-2x} \) at which the slope of the tangent is \( -0.25 \) is
- A. \( -8 \)
- B. \( -4 \)Correct
- C. \( -2 \)
- D. \( 0 \)
Explanation. Write \( f(x)=(8-2x)^{1/2} \). Then \[ f'(x)=\frac{1}{2}(8-2x)^{-1/2}(-2)=\frac{-1}{\sqrt{8-2x}}. \] Setting the slope equal to \( -0.25=-\frac{1}{4} \): \[ \frac{-1}{\sqrt{8-2x}}=-\frac{1}{4}\Rightarrow\sqrt{8-2x}=4\Rightarrow 8-2x=16\Rightarrow x=-4. \] Option (2).
Q7
The slope of the line normal to the curve \( f(x)=2\cos 4x \) at \( x=\frac{\pi}{12} \) is
- A. \( -4\sqrt{3} \)
- B. \( -4 \)
- C. \( \frac{\sqrt{3}}{12} \)Correct
- D. \( 4\sqrt{3} \)
Explanation. Differentiate: \( f'(x)=-8\sin 4x \). At \( x=\frac{\pi}{12} \) we have \( 4x=\frac{\pi}{3} \) and \( \sin\frac{\pi}{3}=\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \), so the tangent slope is \( -8\cdot\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}=-4\sqrt{3} \). The normal is perpendicular to the tangent, so its slope is \[ -\frac{1}{-4\sqrt{3}}=\frac{1}{4\sqrt{3}}=\frac{\sqrt{3}}{12}. \] Option (3).
Q8
The tangent to the curve \( y^{2}-xy+9=0 \) is vertical when
- A. \( y=0 \)
- B. \( y=\pm\sqrt{3} \)
- C. \( y=\frac{1}{2} \)
- D. \( y=\pm 3 \)Correct
Explanation. A tangent is vertical where \( \frac{dy}{dx} \) is undefined. Differentiating \( y^{2}-xy+9=0 \) implicitly: \[ 2y\,y'-\left(y+x\,y'\right)=0\Rightarrow y'(2y-x)=y\Rightarrow y'=\frac{y}{2y-x}. \] This is undefined when the denominator vanishes, i.e. \( x=2y \). Substituting into the curve: \[ y^{2}-(2y)y+9=0\Rightarrow -y^{2}+9=0\Rightarrow y^{2}=9\Rightarrow y=\pm 3. \] Option (4).
Q9
The angle between \( y^{2}=x \) and \( x^{2}=y \) at the origin is
- A. \( \tan^{-1}\frac{3}{4} \)
- B. \( \tan^{-1}\left(\frac{4}{3}\right) \)
- C. \( \frac{\pi}{2} \)Correct
- D. \( \frac{\pi}{4} \)
Explanation. Find each curve's tangent direction at the origin. For \( y^{2}=x \): \( 2y\,y'=1\Rightarrow y'=\frac{1}{2y} \), undefined at \( y=0 \) — the tangent is the vertical \( y \)-axis. For \( x^{2}=y \): \( y'=2x \), which is \( 0 \) at \( x=0 \) — the tangent is the horizontal \( x \)-axis. A vertical and a horizontal line meet at right angles, so the angle is \( \frac{\pi}{2} \). Option (3).
Q10
The value of the limit \( \displaystyle\lim_{x\to 0}\left(\cot x-\frac{1}{x}\right) \) is
- A. 0Correct
- B. 1
- C. 2
- D. \( \infty \)
Explanation. Combine over a common denominator: \[ \cot x-\frac{1}{x}=\frac{x\cos x-\sin x}{x\sin x}, \] which is the indeterminate form \( \frac{0}{0} \) as \( x\to 0 \). Apply L'Hopital's rule: the numerator derivative is \( \cos x-x\sin x-\cos x=-x\sin x \) and the denominator derivative is \( \sin x+x\cos x \); this is still \( \frac{0}{0} \). Applying the rule once more, \[ \lim_{x\to0}\frac{-\sin x-x\cos x}{2\cos x-x\sin x}=\frac{0}{2}=0. \] Option (1).
Q11
The function \( \sin^{4}x+\cos^{4}x \) is increasing in the interval
- A. \( \left[\frac{5\pi}{8},\frac{3\pi}{4}\right] \)
- B. \( \left[\frac{\pi}{2},\frac{5\pi}{8}\right] \)
- C. \( \left[\frac{\pi}{4},\frac{\pi}{2}\right] \)Correct
- D. \( \left[0,\frac{\pi}{4}\right] \)
Explanation. Simplify with identities: \[ \sin^{4}x+\cos^{4}x=(\sin^{2}x+\cos^{2}x)^{2}-2\sin^{2}x\cos^{2}x=1-\tfrac{1}{2}\sin^{2}2x=\tfrac{3}{4}+\tfrac{1}{4}\cos 4x. \] Then \( f'(x)=-\sin 4x \). The function increases where \( f'(x)>0 \), i.e. where \( \sin 4x<0 \). On \( \left[\frac{\pi}{4},\frac{\pi}{2}\right] \), the angle \( 4x \) runs through \( [\pi,2\pi] \), where the sine is negative — so \( f \) is increasing there. Option (3).
Q12
The number given by Rolle's theorem for the function \( x^{3}-3x^{2} \), \( x\in[0,3] \) is
- A. 1
- B. \( \sqrt{2} \)
- C. \( \frac{3}{2} \)
- D. 2Correct
Explanation. The function \( f(x)=x^{3}-3x^{2} \) is a polynomial (continuous and differentiable everywhere), and \( f(0)=0=f(3) \), so Rolle's theorem applies on \( [0,3] \). It guarantees a \( c\in(0,3) \) with \( f'(c)=0 \). Here \( f'(x)=3x^{2}-6x=3x(x-2) \), giving \( x=0 \) or \( x=2 \). Only \( x=2 \) lies in the open interval, so \( c=2 \). Option (4).
Q13
The number given by the Mean Value Theorem for the function \( \frac{1}{x} \), \( x\in[1,9] \) is
- A. 2
- B. 2.5
- C. 3Correct
- D. 3.5
Explanation. The Mean Value Theorem guarantees a \( c\in(1,9) \) with \( f'(c)=\frac{f(9)-f(1)}{9-1} \). For \( f(x)=\frac{1}{x} \), \( f'(x)=-\frac{1}{x^{2}} \), and the average rate of change is \[ \frac{\tfrac{1}{9}-1}{8}=-\frac{1}{9}. \] Setting \( -\frac{1}{c^{2}}=-\frac{1}{9} \) gives \( c^{2}=9 \), so \( c=3 \) (the value lying in \( [1,9] \)). Option (3).
Q14
The minimum value of the function \( |3-x|+9 \) is
- A. 0
- B. 3
- C. 6
- D. 9Correct
Explanation. An absolute value is never negative, so \( |3-x|\ge 0 \), with its smallest value \( 0 \) attained at \( x=3 \). Adding the constant \( 9 \), the least value of \( |3-x|+9 \) is \( 0+9=9 \). Option (4).
Q15
The maximum slope of the tangent to the curve \( y=e^{x}\sin x \), \( x\in[0,2\pi] \) is at
- A. \( x=\frac{\pi}{4} \)
- B. \( x=\frac{\pi}{2} \)Correct
- C. \( x=\pi \)
- D. \( x=\frac{3\pi}{2} \)
Explanation. The tangent's slope is \[ m(x)=\frac{dy}{dx}=e^{x}\sin x+e^{x}\cos x=e^{x}(\sin x+\cos x). \] To maximise the slope, differentiate it again: \[ m'(x)=e^{x}(\sin x+\cos x)+e^{x}(\cos x-\sin x)=2e^{x}\cos x. \] Setting \( m'(x)=0 \) gives \( \cos x=0 \), i.e. \( x=\frac{\pi}{2} \) or \( x=\frac{3\pi}{2} \) on \( [0,2\pi] \). Comparing the slope, \( m\!\left(\frac{\pi}{2}\right)=e^{\pi/2}>0 \) while \( m\!\left(\frac{3\pi}{2}\right)=-e^{3\pi/2}<0 \); the slope is greatest at \( x=\frac{\pi}{2} \). Option (2).
Q16
The maximum value of the function \( x^{2}e^{-2x} \), \( x>0 \) is
- A. \( \frac{1}{e} \)
- B. \( \frac{1}{2e} \)
- C. \( \frac{1}{e^{2}} \)Correct
- D. \( \frac{4}{e^{4}} \)
Explanation. Differentiate \( f(x)=x^{2}e^{-2x} \) using the product rule: \[ f'(x)=2x\,e^{-2x}-2x^{2}e^{-2x}=2x(1-x)e^{-2x}. \] For \( x>0 \) this is zero only at \( x=1 \); \( f' \) is positive on \( (0,1) \) and negative for \( x>1 \), so \( x=1 \) gives a maximum. The maximum value is \( f(1)=1\cdot e^{-2}=\frac{1}{e^{2}} \). Option (3).
Q17
One of the closest points on the curve \( x^{2}-y^{2}=4 \) to the point \( (6,0) \) is
- A. \( (2,0) \)
- B. \( (\sqrt{5},1) \)
- C. \( (3,\sqrt{5}) \)Correct
- D. \( (\sqrt{13},-\sqrt{13}) \)
Explanation. Minimise the squared distance \( D=(x-6)^{2}+y^{2} \). On the curve \( y^{2}=x^{2}-4 \), so \[ D=(x-6)^{2}+x^{2}-4=2x^{2}-12x+32. \] Then \( \frac{dD}{dx}=4x-12=0\Rightarrow x=3 \), and \( y^{2}=3^{2}-4=5\Rightarrow y=\pm\sqrt{5} \). The nearest points are \( (3,\pm\sqrt{5}) \); the one in the list is \( (3,\sqrt{5}) \). Option (3).
Q18
The maximum value of the product of two positive numbers, when the sum of their squares is 200, is
- A. 100Correct
- B. \( 25\sqrt{7} \)
- C. 28
- D. \( 24\sqrt{14} \)
Explanation. Let the numbers be \( x,y>0 \) with \( x^{2}+y^{2}=200 \); we maximise \( P=xy \). It is easier to maximise \( P^{2}=x^{2}y^{2}=x^{2}(200-x^{2}) \). Putting \( u=x^{2} \), \( P^{2}=200u-u^{2} \), whose derivative \( 200-2u=0 \) gives \( u=100 \). Hence \( x^{2}=100 \) and \( y^{2}=200-100=100 \), so \( x=y=10 \) and the maximum product is \( P=10\cdot 10=100 \). Option (1).
Q19
The curve \( y=ax^{4}+bx^{2} \) with \( ab>0 \)
- A. has no horizontal tangent
- B. is concave up
- C. is concave down
- D. has no points of inflectionCorrect
Explanation. Concavity is governed by the second derivative: \( y'=4ax^{3}+2bx \) and \( y''=12ax^{2}+2b \). A point of inflection requires \( y''=0 \), i.e. \( x^{2}=-\frac{b}{6a} \). Since \( ab>0 \), the ratio \( \frac{b}{a}>0 \), so \( -\frac{b}{6a}<0 \) and there is no real solution — the curve has no points of inflection. (It does have a horizontal tangent at \( x=0 \), and whether it is concave up or down depends on the common sign of \( a \) and \( b \), so only option (4) is always true.) Option (4).
Q20
The point of inflection of the curve \( y=(x-1)^{3} \) is
- A. \( (0,0) \)
- B. \( (0,1) \)
- C. \( (1,0) \)Correct
- D. \( (1,1) \)
Explanation. Differentiate twice: \( y'=3(x-1)^{2} \) and \( y''=6(x-1) \). Then \( y''=0 \) at \( x=1 \), and \( y'' \) changes sign there (negative for \( x<1 \), positive for \( x>1 \)), confirming a point of inflection. At \( x=1 \), \( y=(1-1)^{3}=0 \), so the point of inflection is \( (1,0) \). Option (3).
About these வகை நுண்கணிதத்தின் பயன்பாடுகள் questions
These are the book-back multiple-choice questions for வகை நுண்கணிதத்தின் பயன்பாடுகள் from the Tamil Nadu State Board (Samacheer Kalvi) 12ஆம் வகுப்பு கணிதவியல் syllabus. Each question shows the correct option and an original, step-by-step explanation so you understand the method, not just the answer. Use the answer key above to jump to any question, then take the practice test to check yourself under exam-like conditions.