5.

8 Sketching Graphs of Derivatives 
Calculus 
Practice
The graph of a function 𝒇 is shown. On the same coordinate plane, sketch a graph of 𝒇 , the derivative of 𝒇.
1. 2.
𝑓 𝑥 𝑓 𝑥

The graph of 𝒇 , the derivative of 𝒇, is shown. On the same coordinate plane, sketch a possible graph of 𝒇.
3. 4.
𝑓 𝑥 𝑓 𝑥
 Match each function with the graph of its derivative.
Function Derivative
5. 6. A B
5. _____

6. _____

7. 8. C D
7. _____

8. _____

9. 10. 9. _____ E F

10. _____

11. _____
11. 12. G H

12. _____

13. _____
13. 14. I J
14. _____

15. _____

15. 16. K L
16. _____

17. _____

17. 18. 18. _____ M N

19. _____

20. _____
19. 20. O P
21. Using the figure below, complete the chart by indicating whether each value is positive (+), negative (-), or
zero (0) at the indicated points. For these problems, if the point appears to be a max or min, assume it is. If it
appears to be a point of inflection, assume it is.
y

𝑓 𝑥
f

b e g
c

d j
a

𝒙 𝒂 𝒃 𝒄 𝒅 𝒆 𝒇 𝒈 𝒉 𝒊 𝒋

𝒇 𝒙

𝒇 𝒙

𝒇 𝒙

Place the values of 𝒇 𝒙 , 𝒇 𝒙 , and 𝒇 𝒙 in increasing order for each point on the graph of 𝒇 𝒙 . For
these problems, if the point appears to be a max, min, or point of inflection assume it is.
22.

𝑓 𝑥

5.8 Sketching Graphs of Derivatives  Test Prep

23. The graph of the function 𝑓 is shown in the figure to the right. For which of the following values of 𝑥 is 𝑓 𝑥
negative and decreasing.

(A) a
y
(B) b

(C) c

(D) d

(E) e
𝑎 𝑏 𝑐 𝑑 𝑒 x
24. Let 𝑓 be a function that is continuous on the closed interval 0, 4 . The function 𝑓 and its derivatives have the
properties indicated in the table below.

𝑥 0 0 𝑥 1 1 1 𝑥 2 2 2 𝑥 3 3 3 𝑥 4 4
𝑓 𝑥 1 Pos. 0 Neg. 2 Neg. 0 Neg. 1
𝑓 𝑥 0 Neg. 20 Neg. 0 Pos. DNE Neg. 0
𝑓 𝑥 0 Neg. 0 Pos. 0 Pos. DNE Pos. 0

(a) Find the 𝑥-coordinate of each point at which 𝑓 attains a

maximum value or a minimum value.


(b) Find the 𝑥-coordinate of each point of inflection on the 

graph of 𝑓.
     



(c) In the 𝑥𝑦-plane provided sketch the graph of a function 

with all the above characteristics of 𝑓.

y
        












Graph of 𝑔 𝑥

25. The continuous function 𝑔 is defined on the closed interval 4, 5 . The graph of 𝑔 consists of two line
segments and a parabola. Let 𝑓 be a function such that 𝑓 𝑥 𝑔 𝑥 .
a. Fill in the missing entries in the table below to describe the behavior of 𝑔 and 𝑔 . Indicate Positive,
Negative, or 0. Give reasons for your answers.
𝑥 4 𝑥 1 1 𝑥 2 2 𝑥 3 3 𝑥 5

𝑔 𝑥 Negative Negative Negative Negative

𝑔 𝑥 Negative Positive Negative Positive

𝑔 𝑥 𝟎 𝟎 Positive Positive

𝒈 𝒙 is negative for 𝟒 𝒙 𝟏 and 𝟐 𝒙 𝟑 because 𝒈 is decreasing there.

𝒈 𝒙 is positive for 𝟏 𝒙 𝟐 and 𝟑 𝒙 𝟓 because 𝒈 is increasing there.
𝒈 𝒙 𝟎 for 𝟒 𝒙 𝟏 and 𝟏 𝒙 𝟐 the graph of 𝒈 is linear there.
𝒈 𝒙 is positive for 𝟐 𝒙 𝟑 and 𝟑 𝒙 𝟓 because the graph of 𝒈 is concave up there.
b. There is no value of 𝑥 in the open interval 0, 3 at which 𝑔 𝑥 . Explain why this does not
violate the Mean Value Theorem.

The Mean Value Theorem can only be applied if 𝒈 is differentiable on the interval. At 𝒙 𝟐, there
is a sharp corner and 𝒈 is not differentiable. Therefore it cannot be applied on the interval 𝟎 𝒙
𝟑.

c. Find all values 𝑥 in the open interval 4, 5 at which the graph of 𝑓 has a point of inflection. Explain
your reasoning.

The graph of 𝒇 has a point of inflection at 𝒙 𝟏, 𝒙 𝟐, and 𝒙 𝟑.

𝒇 𝒙 𝒈 𝒙 changes from increasing to decreasing at 𝒙 𝟐, and 𝒇 𝒙 𝒈 𝒙 changes from
decreasing to increasing at 𝒙 𝟏 and 𝒙 𝟑.

d. At what value of 𝑥 does 𝑓 attain its absolute minimum on the closed interval 4, 5 ? Give a reason for
your answer.

Because 𝒇 𝒙 𝒈 𝒙 𝟎 on the interval 𝟒, 𝟓 , 𝒇 is decreasing on the interval 𝟒, 𝟓 .

Therefore, the absolute minimum value of 𝒇 on the closed interval 𝟒, 𝟓 occurs at the right
endpoint 𝒙 𝟓.