

  (https://intercom.help/kognity)  DD
Overview
2. Functions / 2.4 Key features of graphs
(/study/ap
2025-
mathema
applicatio Turning points
and-
interpreta

sl-
c/sid-
122-
cid-
261340/o
Describing the graph of a function

Table of Increasing and decreasing functions
contents


Notebook  Important
 A function is increasing when the y value increases as the x value
Glossary increases. The graph of an increasing function goes up as you move in
the positive direction of the x -axis (from left to right).

Reading
assistance
A function is decreasing when the y value decreases as the x value
increases. The graph of the decreasing function goes down as you
move in the positive direction of the x -axis (from left to right).


Minimum and maximum

When modelling with functions, you are often interested in points where the
function takes maximum or minimum values. The points are called extrema.
In your study, you will need to be able to distinguish between two types of
extrema:

Global minimum and global maximum points.

Local minimum and local maximum (turning) points.

 Important
 
A global minimum is the point where the function takes its smallest
value on its entire domain.  (https://intercom.help/kognity)
Overview
(/study/ap
2025- A global maximum is the point where the function takes its largest
mathema value on its entire domain.
applicatio
and-
interpreta
sl-
c/sid-
122-
cid-  Important
261340/o
A local maximum of a function is a point (x, y) on the graph of the
function whose y - coordinate is larger than all other y -coordinates
on the graph at points ‘close to’ (x, y) .

Similarly, a point (x, y) is local minimum if it has locally the smallest y

-coordinate.

 Be aware
The local maximum and local minimum points are called turning
points, as the function changes direction at these points.

Given that a function has a maximum turning point, what information can you
deduce regarding the shape of the function before and after the turning point?
What about the shape of a function before and after a minimum turning point?
 
 (https://intercom.help/kognity)
Overview
(/study/ap
2025-
mathema
applicatio
and-
interpreta
sl-
c/sid-
122-
cid-
261340/o

A function is increasing on the left of a local maximum and it is decreasing on

the right of the local maximum. A function is decreasing on the left of a local
minimum and it becomes increasing on the right of the local minimum.
For example, consider the function

3 2
f (x) = x − 6x − 7x − 6

and use a GDC to determine the turning points, as shown below.

These instructions assume

that you have a graph of
3 2
y = x − 6x − 7x − 6

on the screen displayed in

the window −4 ≤ x ≤ 8
and −100 ≤ y ≤ 50.

Press F5 (G-Solv) to bring

up the options to analyse a
graph.

Press F2 (MAX) to find the

local maximum point. To
find local minimum points,
you need to press F3 at
this point.
 
The cursor is moved to a  (https://intercom.help/kognity)
Overview
local maximum point and
(/study/ap
2025- the coordinates are
mathema displayed. This graph only
applicatio has one local maximum
and-
point, but in case more
interpreta
than one local maximum
sl-
c/sid- points are visible in the
122- view, you can move
cid- between them.
261340/o

You can find the local

minimum point(s) in a
similar way.

These instructions assume

that you have a graph of
3 2
y = x − 6x − 7x − 6

on the screen displayed in

the window −4 ≤ x ≤ 8
and −100 ≤ y ≤ 50.

Choose the menu.

In the function submenu

choose the extremum
option. This calculator
finds both kind of turning
points (maximum and
minimum) at the same
time.

The cursor is moved to a

turning point and the
coordinates are displayed.
In this case the cursor is at
the minimum point. The
calculator will find the
turning point closest to the
position of the cursor
where you started the
process.
 
To find the local maximum  (https://intercom.help/kognity)
Overview
point, move the cursor
(/study/ap
2025- close to it and start the
mathema process again.
applicatio
and-
interpreta
sl-
c/sid-
122-
cid-
261340/o

These instructions assume

that you have a graph of
3 2
y = x − 6x − 7x − 6

on the screen displayed in

the window −4 ≤ x ≤ 8
and −100 ≤ y ≤ 50.

Choose ‘calc’ to bring up

the options to analyse a
graph.

Choose the option (4) to

find the local maximum
point. To find local
minimum points, you need
to choose (3) at this point.

The calculator asks for

more information. First,
you need to move the
cursor to the left of the
turning point that you are
looking for.
 
Next, move the cursor to  (https://intercom.help/kognity)
Overview
the right of the turning
(/study/ap
2025- point.
mathema
applicatio
and-
interpreta
sl-
c/sid-
122-
cid-
261340/o

Move the cursor close to

the turning point and press
enter. Tha calculator will
find the local maximum
point closest to the cursor
within the bounds you set.

The cursor is moved to a

local maximum point and
the coordinates are
displayed.

You can find the local

minimum point(s) in a
similar way.

These instructions assume

that you have a graph of
3 2
y = x − 6x − 7x − 6

on the screen displayed in

the window −4 ≤ x ≤ 8
and −100 ≤ y ≤ 50.

Press menu to find the

option to analyse a graph.
 
 (https://intercom.help/kognity)
Overview
Choose the option to find a
(/study/ap
2025-
maximum point. To find
mathema local minimum points, you
applicatio need to choose the
and- appropriate option at this
interpreta
point.
sl-
c/sid-
122-
cid-
261340/o

The calculator asks for

more information. First,
you need to move the
cursor to the left of the
turning point that you are
looking for.

Next, move the cursor to

the right of the turning
point.

You can find the local

minimum point(s) in a
similar way.

The function f (x) = x

3
− 6x
2
− 7x − 6 has two turning points: a local
maximum at (−0.517, −4.12) and a local minimum at (4.52, −67.9) .

 Making connections
In the topic of Calculus, you will learn how to determine the local and
global extrema of a function analytically (without a GDC).
  Example 1
 (https://intercom.help/kognity)
Overview
★☆☆
(/study/ap
2025-
mathema
applicatio Sketch the graph of the function f (x) = x
2
− 5x + 6 showing all relevant
and- features.
interpreta
sl-
c/sid-
122-
cid- Use a GDC to graph the function and show the turning points and axes-
261340/o intercepts of the graph in your sketch. Your sketch should look like this:

Example 2
★☆☆

Sketch the graph of the function f (x) = x

3
− 3x − 2 showing all relevant
features.

Use a GDC to graph the function and show the turning points and axes-
intercepts of the graph. Your sketch should look like this:
 
 (https://intercom.help/kognity)
Overview
(/study/ap
2025-
mathema
applicatio
and-
interpreta
sl-
c/sid-
122-
cid-
261340/o

Example 3
★☆☆

Sketch the graph of the function f (x) = x

3
− 6x
2
+ 11x − 6 showing all
relevant features.

The function f (x) = x 3

− 6x
2
+ 11x − 6 has two turning points: a
local maximum at (1.42, 0.38) and a local minimum at
(2.58, −0.38) . The diagram below is the graph of the function
f (x) = x
3
− 6x
2
+ 11x − 6 showing the turning points and the
axes-intercepts of the function.
 
 (https://intercom.help/kognity)
Overview
(/study/ap
2025-
mathema
applicatio
and-
interpreta
sl-
c/sid-
122-
cid-
261340/o

Complete section with 3 questions

Start questions

 Previous(/study/app/grad-2025-mathematics-applications-and-interpretation-sl-c/sid-122-cid-261340/book/the-big-picture-id-26190) Next (/stud