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2.1 Increasing and Decreasing PDF

The function is increasing and decreasing on different intervals based on the sign of its derivative. It is decreasing when x < 0, increasing between x = 0 and x = 1, decreasing between x = 1 and x = 2, and increasing when x > 2. The critical points where the derivative is 0 are x = 0, 1, and 2, and these divide the intervals where the function is increasing or decreasing.

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patrick alves
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283 views9 pages

2.1 Increasing and Decreasing PDF

The function is increasing and decreasing on different intervals based on the sign of its derivative. It is decreasing when x < 0, increasing between x = 0 and x = 1, decreasing between x = 1 and x = 2, and increasing when x > 2. The critical points where the derivative is 0 are x = 0, 1, and 2, and these divide the intervals where the function is increasing or decreasing.

Uploaded by

patrick alves
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Topic: Increasing and decreasing

Question: Determine the intervals on which the function is increasing and


decreasing.

f (x) = x 4 − 3x 2

Answer choices:

A Increasing on (− 3,0) and ( 3, ∞)

Decreasing on (−∞, − 3 ) and (0, 3 )

( 2 ) ( 2 )
3 3
B Increasing on − ,0 and ,∞

( 2) ( 2)
3 3
Decreasing on −∞, − and 0,

( 2 )
1
C Increasing on ,0

( 2)
1
Decreasing on −∞, −

D Increasing on (−∞, − 3 ) and ( 3, ∞)

411
Decreasing on (− 3,0) and (0, 3 )

Solution: B

A function is increasing on intervals where the derivative of the function is


positive and decreasing on intervals where the derivative of the function is
negative, and makes the transition at critical points, where the derivative
of the function is 0. So, we first find the critical numbers by setting the first
derivative of the function equal to 0 and solving for x.

f ′(x) = 4x 3 − 6x

4x 3 − 6x = 0

2x (2x 2 − 3) = 0

2x = 0

x=0

or

2x 2 − 3 = 0

2 3
x =
2

3
x=±
2

412
We use these critical numbers to create intervals on which to check the
value of the derivative.

Interval (−∞, − 3/2 ) (− 3/2,0) (0, 3/2 ) ( 3/2, ∞)

Test value x = − 2 x =−1 x=1 x=2

f ′(x) 4(−2)3 − 6(−2) 4(−1)3 − 6(−1) 4(1)3 − 6(1) 4(2)3 − 6(2)

−20, Negative 2, Positive −2, Negative 20, Positive

f (x) Decreasing Increasing Decreasing Increasing

413
Topic: Increasing and decreasing

Question: Where is the function increasing and decreasing?

f (x) = x 2

Answer choices:

A Increasing when x < 1 and decreasing when x > 1

B Increasing when x < 0 and decreasing when x > 0

C Increasing when x > 0 and decreasing when x < 0

D Increasing when x > 1 and decreasing when x < 1

414
Solution: C

To find the critical numbers, take the first derivative of the function

f (x) = x 2

f′(x) = 2x

Now set the derivative equal to 0 and solve for x.

0 = 2x

x=0

There is one critical number at x = 0. Now take a point on either side of


x = 0 (we will use x = − 1 and x = 1) and substitute these into the first
derivative.

f′(−1) = 2(−1)

f′(−1) = − 2

and

f′(1) = 2(1)

f′(1) = 2

We can see that on the left-hand side of x = 0 the function is negative, so


it’s decreasing. On the right-hand side of x = 0 the function is positive, so
it’s increasing.

The function f (x) = x 2 is increasing when x > 0 and is decreasing when x < 0.

415
Topic: Increasing and decreasing

Question: Where is the function increasing and decreasing?

f (x) = x 4 − 4x 3 + 4x 2 − 7

Answer choices:

A Decreasing when x < 0, increasing between x = 0 and x = 1/2,


decreasing between x = 1/2 and x = 3/2, and increasing when x > 3/2.

B Decreasing when x < 0, increasing between x = 0 and x = 1,


decreasing between x = 1 and x = 2, and increasing when x > 2.

C Increasing when x < 0, decreasing between x = 0 and x = 1/2,


increasing between x = 1/2 and x = 3/2, and decreasing when x > 3/2.

D Increasing when x < 0, decreasing between x = 0 and x = 1,


increasing between x = 1 and x = 2, and decreasing when x > 2.

416
Solution: B

To find the critical numbers, take the first derivative of the function

f (x) = x 4 − 4x 3 + 4x 2 − 7

f′(x) = 4x 3 − 12x 2 + 8x

f′(x) = 4x (x 2 − 3x + 2)

f′(x) = 4x(x − 2)(x − 1)

Now set the derivative equal to 0 and solve for x.

0 = 4x(x − 2)(x − 1)

x = 0, 1, 2

There are three critical numbers at x = 0, 1, 2. Now take a point in each


interval (we will use x = − 1, x = 1/2, x = 3/2, and x = 3) and substitute these
into the first derivative.

f′(−1) = 4(−1)3 − 12(−1)2 + 8(−1)

f′(−1) = − 4 − 12 − 8

f′(−1) = − 24

and

(2) (2) (2) (2)


3 2
1 1 1 1
f′ =4 − 12 +8

417
(2) (8) (4)
1 1 1
f′ =4 − 12 +4

(2) 2
1 1
f′ = −3+4

(2) 2
1 3
f′ =

and

(2) (2) (2) (2)


3 2
3 3 3 3
f′ =4 − 12 +8

(2) ( 8) (4)
3 27 9
f′ =4 − 12 + 12

(2)
3 27
f′ = − 27 + 12
2

(2)
3 3
f′ =−
2

and

f′(3) = 4(3)3 − 12(3)2 + 8(3)

f′(3) = 4(27) − 12(9) + 24

f′(3) = 108 − 108 + 24

f′(3) = 24

418
We can see that on the left-hand side of x = 0 the function is negative, so
it’s decreasing. Between x = 0 and x = 1, the function is positive, so it’s
increasing. Between x = 1 and x = 2, the function is negative, so it’s
decreasing. On the right-hand side of x = 2 the function is positive, so it’s
increasing.

The function f (x) = x 4 − 4x 3 + 4x 2 − 7 is decreasing when x < 0, increasing


between x = 0 and x = 1, decreasing between x = 1 and x = 2, and
increasing when x > 2.

419

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