Chapter 9 Application of Derivatives
Chapter 9 Application of Derivatives
Chapter 9 Application of Derivatives
CHAPTER 9
APPLICATIONS OF DERIVATIVES
Objectives:
• Determine a new value of a quantity from the old value and the amount of
change.
• Calculate the average rate of change and explain how it differs from the
instantaneous rate of change.
• Apply rates of change to displacement, velocity, and acceleration of an
object moving along a straight line.
• Predict the future population from the present value and the population
growth rate.
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We can use this formula if we know only f(a) and f'(a) and wish to estimate the value of
f(a+h). For example; we may use the current population of a city and the rate at which it is
growing to estimate its population in the near future. As we can see in Figure, we are
approximating f(a+h) by the y coordinate at a+h on the line tangent to f(x) at x=a. Observe that
the accuracy of this estimate depends on the value of has well as the value of f'(a).
The new value of a changed quantity equals the original value plus the rate of change
times the interval of change: 𝑓 (𝑎 + ℎ ) ≈ 𝑓 (𝑎) + 𝑓′(a)h.
Solution: Begin by finding h. We have h = 3.2 − 3 = 0.2. h = 3.2 − 3 = 0.2. Thus, f(3.2) = f(3 +
0.2) ≈ f(3) + (0.2)f′ (3) = 2 + 0.2(5) = 3.
Another use for the derivative is to analyze motion along a line. We have described
velocity as the rate of change of position. If we take the derivative of the velocity, we can find
the acceleration, or the rate of change of velocity. It is also important to introduce the idea of
speed, which is the magnitude of velocity. Thus, we can state the following mathematical
definitions.
A ball is dropped from a height of 64feet. Its height above ground (in feet) t seconds later
is given by s(t)=−16t2+64.
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a. What is the instantaneous velocity of the ball when it hits the ground?
b. What is the average velocity during its fall?
Solution:
The first thing to do is determine how long it takes the ball to reach the ground. To do
this, sets (t)=0. Solving −16𝑡 2 + 64 = 0, we get t=2, so it takes 2 seconds for the ball to reach
the ground.
a. The instantaneous velocity of the ball as it strikes the ground is v(2). Since
v(t) = s′(t) = −32t, we obtain v(t)=−64ft/s.
b. The average velocity of the ball during its fall is
𝑠(2) − 𝑠(0) 0 − 64
𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑒 = = = −32 𝑓𝑡/𝑠
2−0 2
A particle moves on the x-axis and its coordinate, as a function of time, is given by
x(t) = 2𝑡 3 − 21𝑡 2 + 60t − 14, where t is measured in seconds. Describe its motion.
Solution:
We first take derivatives to find velocity and acceleration:
v(t) = 6𝑡 2 − 42t + 60
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1
The particle continues to move to the left for the next 1 seconds, until t=5. At that time,
2
the particle is at rest at x=11 and the acceleration is positive. From that time on, the particle will
move to the right with ever-increasing velocity.
If P(t) is the number of entities present in a population, then the population growth
rate of P(t) is defined to be P'(t).
The population of a city is tripling every 5 years. If its current population is 10,000, what
will be its approximate population 2 years from now?
Solution:
Let P(t) be the population (in thousands) t years from now. Thus, we know that P(0)=10
and based on the information, we anticipate P(5)=30. Now estimate P'(0), the current growth
rate, using
𝑃 (5) − 𝑃(0) 30 − 10
𝑃 ′ (0) ≈ = =4
5−0 5
By applying Equation to P(t), we can estimate the population 2 years from now by
writing
𝑃 ′ (0) ≈ P(0) + (2)𝑃 ′ (0) ≈ 10 + 2(4) = 18;
thus, in 2 years the population will be 18,000.
In addition to analyzing motion along a line and population growth, derivatives are useful
in analyzing changes in cost, revenue, and profit. The concept of a marginal function is common
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in the fields of business and economics and implies the use of derivatives. The marginal cost is
the derivative of the cost function. The marginal revenue is the derivative of the revenue
function. The marginal profit is the derivative of the profit function, which is based on the cost
function and the revenue function.
• If C(x) is the cost of producing x items, then the marginal cost MC(x) is
MC(x)=C'(x).
• If R(x) is the revenue obtained from selling x items, then the marginal revenue
MR(x) is MR(x)=R'(x).
• If P(x)=R(x)−C(x) is the profit obtained from selling x items, then the marginal
profit MP(x) is defined to be MP(x)=P'(x)=MR(x)−MC(x)=R'(x)−C'(x).
Assume that the number of barbeque dinners that can be sold, x, can be related to the
price charged, p, by the equation p(x) = 9 − 0.03x, 0 ≤ x ≤ 300.
In this case, the revenue in dollars obtained by selling x barbeque dinners is given by
R(x) = xp(x) = x(9 − 0.03x) = −0.03x2 + 9xfor0 ≤ x ≤ 300.
Use the marginal revenue function to estimate the revenue obtained from selling the
101st barbeque dinner. Compare this to the actual revenue obtained from the sale of this dinner.
Solution:
First, find the marginal revenue function: MR(x)=R'(x)=−0.06x+9.. Next, use R'(100) to
approximate R(101)−R(100) the revenue obtained from the sale of the 101st dinner. Since
R'(100)=3, the revenue obtained from the sale of the 101 st dinner is approximately $3.
The actual revenue obtained from the sale of the 101 st dinner is
R(101) − R(100) = 602.97 − 600 = 2.97
The marginal revenue is a fairly good estimate in this case and has the advantage of
being easy to compute.
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Objectives:
Introduction:
We have seen how we can use mathematics to model some of the phenomenon in the
world around us. If a situation is model with a continuous function, we can use calculus to
analyze how things are changing and then possibly use that information to make predictions.
Up until now, we have considered how the one quantity is changing with respect to a
change in the other quantity. Now we will consider the interaction between the rates of change
of two quantities with respect to a third quantity, which is the time. Thus, we are going to look at
how the rates of the two quantities are related to each other with respect to time.
Learning Content:
We use related rates in our day-to-day activities because anything we do here in earth
will always respect with time. Some of the related rates problems involves ladder problems,
rates of two quantities approaching each other, volume problems and air traffic controls.
If we are pumping air into a balloon, both the volume and the radius of the balloon are
increasing and their rates of increase are related to each other. But it is much easier to measure
directly the rate of increase of the volume than the rate of increase of the radius.
In a related rate problem, the idea is to compute the rate of change of one quantity in
terms of the rate of change of another quantity (which maybe more easily measured). The
procedure is to find an equation that relates the two quantities and then uses the Chain Rule
and other rules for differentiation to differentiate both sides with respect to time.
Formulas that we will use in this topic:
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Example: A 13-meter ladder is leaning against a vertical wall with its foot on the same
horizontal plane as the base of the wall. If the lower end of the ladder is moving away from
the wall horizontally at 4meters per minute, how fast is the top of the ladder descending
when the lower end is 5meters from the wall?
Given:
➢ We must first draw a diagram and label it as Figure1.
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➢ Let t be the number of minutes that has elapsed since the top of the ladder
started to slide down the wall.
➢ Let x be the distance from the wall to the foot of the ladder.
➢ Let y be the distance from the floor to the top of the ladder.
➢ Let c be the measured of the ladder
𝑑𝑥
➢ Since x is increasing at 4m per min, we have 𝑑𝑡 = 4
𝑑𝑦
➢ Note that 𝑑𝑡
is the time rate of change that we are asked to find.
Solution:
Now we need to establish a relationship between x and y by using Pythagorean
Theorem.
Since x=5c=13 we have to solve for y.
Pythagorean Theorem 𝑥2 + 𝑦 2 = 𝑐2
The distance from the floor to the top of the ladder is 12meters.
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥
2𝑦 = −2𝑥
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦 𝑥
= − 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑡 𝑦
By substituting the given we get
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦 (5)(4) 5
= 4𝑥 + 5, 𝑦 = 12 =− =−
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 12 3
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𝑑𝑦
The fact that 𝑑𝑡
is negative means that the distance from the top of the ladder to the
5
ground is decreasing at a rate of 3 meters per second.
𝟓
Therefore, the top of the ladder is descending at the rate of meters per minute.
𝟑
https://www.khanacademy.org/math/ap-calculus-ab/ab-diff-contextual-
applications-new/ab-4-5/v/falling-ladder-related-rates
Objectives:
f′(x) = 15𝑥 2 − 6x + 10
Now, this is a function and so it can be differentiated. Here is the notation that we’ll use
for that, as well as the derivative.
f′′(x) = (f′(x))′ = 30x − 6
This is called the second derivative and f′(x is now called the first derivative.
Again, this is a function, so we can differentiate it again. This will be called the third
derivative. Here is that derivative as well as the notation for the third derivative.
f′′′(x) = (f′′(x))′ = 30
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Continuing, we can differentiate again. This is called, oddly enough, the fourth
derivative. We’re also going to be changing notation at this point. We can keep adding on
primes, but that will get cumbersome after a while.
f(4)(x) = (f′′′(x))′ = 0f(4)(x) = (f‴(x))′ = 0
This process can continue but notice that we will get zero for all derivatives after this
point. This set of derivatives leads us to the following fact about the differentiation of
polynomials.
We will need to be careful with the “non-prime” notation for derivatives. Consider each of
the following.
𝑓 2 (𝑥) = 𝑓′′(𝑥)
𝑓 2 (𝑥) = [𝑓(𝑥)]2
The presence of parenthesis in the exponent denotes differentiation while the absence
of parenthesis denotes exponentiation.
Collectively the second, third, fourth, etc. derivatives are called higher order
derivatives.
Let’s take a look at some examples of higher order derivatives.
Solution:
2𝑥 + 4𝑦 3 𝑦′ = 0
𝑥
𝑦′ = −
2𝑦 3
′ 𝑥
𝑦 ′ = (− )
2𝑦 3
2𝑦 3 − 𝑥 (6𝑦 2 𝑦 ′ )
=−
(2𝑦 3 )2
2𝑦 3 − 𝑥 (6𝑦 2 𝑦 ′ )
=−
4𝑦 6
′ 𝑦 − 3𝑥𝑦 ′
𝑦′ = −
2𝑦 4
𝑥
𝑦 − 3𝑥 (− )
2𝑦 3
=−
2𝑦 4
3
𝑦 + 2 𝑥 2 𝑦 −3
=−
2𝑦 4
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Objectives:
Introduction:
In this chapter, we will discuss the important application of the derivative, which is
Maximum and Minimum. In this function we can define maxima and minima in easy way. We
can define a MAXIMUM VALUE if the point is high and if it is low point it is said to be MINIMUM
VALUE.
Learning Content:
Many of our applications in this chapter will revolve around minimum and maximum
values of a function. While we can all visualize the minimum and maximum values of a function,
we want to be a little more specific in our work here.
In this section we give several examples showing applications of calculus to maximum
and minimum problems. To solve these examples, go through the following steps.
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MAXIMUM PROBLEM
Example 1
A ball is thrown in the air. Its height any time t is
given by
ℎ = 3 + 14𝑡 − 5𝑡 2
What is its maximum height?
Solution: Using the derivatives, we can find the slope of that function:
𝑑
ℎ = 3 + 14𝑡 − 5𝑡 2
𝑑𝑡
= 0 + 14 − 5(2𝑡)
= 14 − 10𝑡
ℎ = 3 + 14𝑡 − 5𝑡 2
= 3 + 14(1.4) − 5(1.4)2
= 3 + 19.6 − 9.5
= 12.8
Therefore, the maximum height of the ball is 12.8m at 𝑡 = 1.4 seconds.
Example 2
Farmer has 800m of fencing material to enclose a rectangular pen adjacent to
an existing wall. He will use the wall for one side of the pen and the available fencing
material for the remaining three sides. What is the maximum area that can be
enclosed this way?
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Solution: Let x be the length of the two sides (800-2x) be the length of the third side A be the
area.
𝐴 = 𝑥(800 − 2𝑥)
= 800𝑥 − 2𝑥 2
Domain: (0, 400)
To find the critical points, set A’=0, and find x.
𝐴 = 800𝑥 − 2𝑥 2
A’ = 800𝑥 − 4𝑥 800 − 2𝑥 = 0
0 = 800𝑥 − 4𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑 800 − 2(200) = 0
4x = 800𝑥 800 − 400 = 400
x = 200
Find the second derivative. A’′ = −4
Since A” is always negative, A has a relative maximum at x = 200, which is the only one
critical number A.
Therefore, A has an absolute maximum at x = 200. The maximum area is 80000m².
MINIMUM PROBLEM
Example 1 Find the two numbers whose sum is 10, and the sum of whose squares is a
minimum.
Solution: Let x and 10-x represents a number, and y the sum of their squares.
Example 2 Ms. Harris has a taco stand. She has found that her daily costs are
approximated by: 𝑐 (𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 40𝑥 + 610. c(x) is the cost in dollars to sell x units of the
tacos. Find the number of units of tacos she must sell to minimize her cost. Find that
minimum cost.
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Solution:
Given: Let x–units of tacos
c(x) – daily operating cost
If the unit of tacos are 20 then the minimum cost for tacos is 210.
Objectives:
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Objectives:
PROCEDURE:
1. Find the function value at the critical numbers of f on (a,b).
2. Find the values of f(a) and f(b).
3. The largest of the values from step 1 and step 2 is the absolute maximum
1
Example 1 Find the absolute extrema of f on [−2, 2] if 𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑥 3 + 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 + 1
𝑓′(𝑥) = 3𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 1
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Because 𝑓′(𝑥) exists for all real numbers, the only critical numbers of f will be the value
of x for which 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 0. Set 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 0
(3𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1) = 0
1
𝑥= 𝑥 = −1
3
1
The critical numbers of f are –1 and , and each of these numbers is in the given closed
3
1
interval [−2, 2]. The function values at the critical numbers and at the endpoints of the interval
are given in table below.
1
The absolute maximum of f on [−2, 2] ] is therefore 2, which occurs at –1, and the
1
absolute minimum value of f on [−2, ] is –1, which occurs at the left endpoints –2.
2
SAMPLEAPPLICATIONOFANABSOLUTEEXTREMUMONACLOSEDINTERVAL
1. Point A and B are opposite each other in on shores of a straight river 3km wide.
Point C is on the same shore as B but 2km down the river from B. A telephone
company wishes to lay a cable from A to C. If the cost per kilometer of the cable is
25 percent more under the water than it on land, what line of cable would be least
expensive for the company?
Solution: Let P be a point on the same shore as B and C and between B and C so that the
cable will run from A to P to C. Let x kilometer be the distance from B to P. Then 2-x kilometers
5
is the distance from P to C, and x∈[0,2]. Let k dollars be the cost per kilometer on land and 𝑘
4
dollars be the cost per kilometer under the water (k is a constant). If C(x) dollars is the total cost
of running the cable from A to P and from P to C, then
5
𝐶 (𝑥) = 𝑘√32 + 𝑥 2 + k(2 − x)
4
Because C is continuous on [0,2], the extreme value theorem applies, thus C has both
an absolute maximum value and an absolute minimum value on [0,2]. We wish to find the
absolute minimum value.
5𝑘𝑥
𝐶 (𝑥) = −k = 0
4√9 + 𝑥 2
5𝑥 = 4√9 + 𝑥 2
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25𝑥 2 = 16(9 + 𝑥 2 )
9𝑥 2 = 16(9)
𝑥 2 = 16
𝑥 = ±4
The number –4 is an extraneous root of (1), and 4 is not in the interval [0,2]. Therefore,
there are no critical numbers of C in [0,2]. The absolute minimum value of C on [0,2] must
therefore occur at an endpoint of the interval. Computing C(0) and C(2) we get
23 5
𝐶 (0) = 𝑘 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐶 (2) = 𝑘√13
4 4
5 23 5
Because 4 𝑘√13 < 4
𝑘 the absolute minimum value of C on [0,2] is 4 𝑘√13, occurring
when x=2. Therefore, for the cost of the cable to be least, the cable should go directly from A to
C under the water.
Objectives:
Example 1
Given 𝑓 (𝑥) = 4𝑥 3 − 9𝑥. Verify that conditions (i), (ii), and (iii) of the hypothes is of
3 3 3 3
Rolle’s theorem are satisfied for each of the following intervals: [− , 0] , [0, ] , 𝑎𝑛𝑑 [− , ].
2 2 2 2
Then find the suitable value for c in each of these intervals for which 𝑓 ′ (𝑐) = 0
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12𝑥 2 − 9 = 0
1 1
𝑥 = − √3 𝑥 = √3
2 2
3 1 3
Therefore, in the interval [− , 0] a suitable choice for c is − √3. In the interval [0, ],
2 2 2
1 3 3 1 1
take 𝑐 = 2 √3. In the interval [− 2 , 2] there are two possibilities for c either − 2 √3 or 2 √3
Example 2
Given 𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑥 3 − 5𝑥 2 − 3𝑥. Verify that the hypothesis of the mean value theorem
is satisfied for a=1 and b=3. Then find all numbers c in the open interval (1,3) such that
𝑓 (3) − 𝑓(1)
𝑓 ′ (𝑐) =
3−1
Solution: Because f is a polynomial function, f is continuous and differentiable for all value of
x. Therefore, the hypothesis of the mean value theorem is satisfied for any a and b.
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𝑓′(𝑥) = 3𝑥 2 − 10𝑥 − 3
𝑓(1) = −7 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓 (3) = −27
Hence,
𝑓(3) − 𝑓(1) −27 − (−7)
= = −10
3−1 2
Set 𝑓 ′ (𝑐) = −10 to obtain
3𝑐 2 − 10𝑐 − 3 = −10
3𝑐 2 − 10𝑐 + 7 = 0
(3𝑐 − 7)(𝑐 − 1) = 0
7
𝑐= 𝑐=1
3
7
Because 1 is not in the open interval (1,3), the only possible value for 𝑐 = 3.
Objectives:
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The function of figure above is decreasing on the following closed intervals: [𝑥2 , 𝑥3 ]; [𝑥4
, 𝑥5 ].
If a function is either increasing on an interval or decreasing on an interval, then it is said
to be monotonic on the interval.
Before stating a theorem that gives a test for determining if a function is monotonic on an
interval, let us see what happening geometrically. Refer to figure above, and observe that when
the slope of the tangent line is positive the function is increasing and when it is negative the
function is decreasing. Because f'(x) is the slope of the tangent line to the curve y=f(x), f is
increasing when f'(x)>0 and decreasing when f' (x)<0, the function values are decreasing as x
increases.
𝑓 (𝑥2 ) − 𝑓 (𝑥1 )
𝑓 ′ (𝑐 ) =
𝑥2 − 𝑥1
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Solution:
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 3𝑥 2 − 12𝑥 + 9 = 0
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) exists for all values of x. Set 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 0
3𝑥 2 − 12𝑥 + 9 = 0
(3𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 − 1) = 0
𝑥=3 𝑥=1
Thus ,the critical numbers of f are 1 and 3. To determine whether f has a relative
extremum at either of these numbers, apply the first derivative test. The results are summarized
in table below.
𝑥 2 − 4 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 < 3
Example 2: Given 𝑓 (𝑥) = {
8 − 𝑥 𝑖𝑓 3 ≤ 𝑥
Find the relative extrema of f by applying the first derivative test. Determine the
values of x at which the relative extrema occur, as well as the intervals on which f is
increasing and the interval on which f is decreasing. Draw a sketch of a graph.
Solution:
If 𝑥 < 3, 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = −2𝑥. If 3 ≤ 𝑥, 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 1. Because 𝑓−′ (3) = 6 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓+′ (3) = −1, 𝑓 ′ (3), does
not exist. Therefore, 3 is a critical number of f. Because f'(x)=0 when x=0, it follows that 0 is a
critical number of f. Applying the first derivative test, we summarize the results in table below.
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Example
4
Given 𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑥 4 + 3 𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 2 .
Find the relative maxima and minima of f by applying the second derivative test.
Draw a sketch of the graph of f.
𝑓′′(𝑥) = 12𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 − 8
Set f'(x)=0
4𝑥(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 1) = 0
𝑥=0 𝑥 = −2 𝑥=1
Thus the critical numbers of f are –2, 0, and 1. We determine whether or not there is a
relative extremum at any of these critical numbers by finding the sign of the second derivative
there.
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Illustration1
Figure 2 shows a sketch of a portion of the graph of a function f that is concave upward
at the point (c,f(c)), and Figure 3 shows a sketch of a portion of the graph of a function f that is
concave downward at the point (c,f(c)).
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The graph in Figure 1 is concave downward at all points (x,f(x)) for which x is in either of
the following open intervals: (𝑥1 , 𝑥3) or (𝑥5 , 𝑥6 ). Similarly, the graph in Figure 1 is concave
upward at all points (x,f(x)) for which x is in either (𝑥3 , 𝑥5 ) or (𝑥6 , 𝑥7 ).
Illustration 2
Illustration 3
Suppose it is estimated that t hours after starting work at 7am a factory worker on an
assembly line has performed a particular task on f(t) units, and
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conclude that in the first three hours (from 7am until 10am) the worker is performing the task at
an increasing rate, and during the remaining two hours (from 10am to noon) the worker is
performing at a decreasing rate. At t=3 (10am) the workers are producing most efficiently, and
when 3<t<5 (after 10am) there is a reduction in the worker’s production rate. The point of
diminishing returns; this point is a point of inflection of the graph of f.
Definition 9.8.7 indicates nothing about the value of the second derivative of f at a point
of inflection. The following theorem states that if the second derivative exists at a point of
inflection, it must be zero there.
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9. Check for concavity of the graph. Find the values of x for which f''(x) is positive to
obtain points at which the graph is concave upward; to obtain points at which the
graph is concave downward find the values of x for which f''(x) is negative.
10. It is helpful to find the slope of each inflectional tangent.
11. Check for any possible horizontal, vertical, or oblique asymptotes.
Example
Given 𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 + 3.
Draw a sketch of the graph of f first finding the following: the relative extrema of f;
the points of inflection of the graph of f; the intervals on which f is increasing; the intervals
on which f is decreasing; where the graph is concave upward; where the graph is
concave downward; and the slope of any number.
Solution: The domain of f is the set of all real numbers. The y intercept is 3.
′
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 3𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 6𝑥 − 6
Set f'(x)=0 to obtain x=0 and x=2. From f''(x)=0 we get x=1. In
making the table, consider the points at which x=0, x=1, and x=2, and
intervals excluding these values of x:
𝑥<0 0<𝑥<1 1<𝑥<2 2<𝑥
From the information in table below and by plotting a few
points, we obtain the sketch of the graph appearing in Figure 6. Figure 6
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MODULE CALCULUS 1 WITH ANALYTIC GEOMETRY
REFERENCES
CHAPTER 9 27