MATHEMATICS PROJECT

2023-24

Name:Jeswin Jacob
Class:XII C
Roll no:13

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 SECTION A

INCREASING AND DECREASING

FUNCTIONS

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 INDEX

Sr.no Topic Page no.

1. Increasing Functions 6

2. Decreasing Functions 8

3. Properties of Increasing and Decreasing Functions 10

4. How to find decreasing and increasing intervals 12

5. Solved questions 15

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 STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The aim of a project on increasing and decreasing functions is to explore and

analyze the behavior, properties, and applications of functions in mathematics.
The project aims to achieve several specific objectives related to
understanding the patterns and characteristics of functions as they relate to
changes in the input variable. Here's a more detailed breakdown of the aims:

1. Understanding Function Behavior:

• Explore the fundamental concepts of increasing and decreasing
functions to understand how these functions behave with changes
in the input (independent variable).
2. Analyzing Properties and Conditions:
• Investigate and describe the essential properties and conditions
that distinguish a function as increasing or decreasing, providing a
clear and systematic characterization.
3. Real-world Application:
• Illustrate and demonstrate how increasing and decreasing
functions are applicable in real-world scenarios, such as
economics, population growth, sales trends, and other fields.

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INCREASING AND DECREASING FUNCTIONS

If you’re studying calculus, then you’re probably familiar with the

concepts of increasing and decreasing functions. These terms refer to the
behavior of a function as its input values change. Specifically, an
increasing function is one that becomes larger as its input values
increase, while a decreasing function is one that becomes smaller as its
input values increase. Understanding these concepts is crucial for
solving a variety of calculus problems, from finding maximum and
minimum values to understanding the behavior of graphs.

Increasing Function Definition

In simple words, an increasing function is a type of function where with
increasing input (or the independent variable), output also increases (or
the value of the function). Now, let’s define increasing function
formally.
Now, let us consider I to be an interval that presents in the domain of a
real-valued function f, then the function f is increasing on I,
if x1 < x2 ⇒ f(x1) ≤ f(x2) ∀ x1 and x2 ∈ I
Some common examples of increasing functions include linear functions
with positive slope (such as y = mx + b), exponential functions (such as
y = ax, where a is a positive constant), and power functions (such as y =
xn, where n is a positive integer).
Strictly Increasing Function
For a function to be strictly increasing, the function should be increasing
but it can’t be equal for any two unequal values i.e.,
if x1 < x2 ⇒ f(x1) < f(x2) ∀ x1 and x2 ∈ I

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Decreasing Function Definition
In simple words, a decreasing function is a type of function where with
increasing input (or the independent variable), the output value
decreases (or the value of the function). To define decreasing function
formally let us consider I to be an interval that presents in the domain of
a real-valued function f, then the function f is increasing on I,
if x1 < x2 ⇒ f(x1) ≥ f(x2) ∀ x1 and x2 ∈ I

Some common examples of decreasing functions include exponential

decay functions (such as y = a^(-x), where a is a positive constant), and
negative power functions (such as y = x^(-n), where n is a positive
integer).
Strictly Decreasing Function
For a function to be strictly decreasing, the function should be
decreasing but it can’t be equal for any two unequal values i.e.,
if x1 < x2 ⇒ f(x1) > f(x2) ∀ x1 and x2 ∈ I

Constant Function Definition

In simple words, a constant function is a type of function where
regardless of the input or independent variable the output always
remains the same i.e., for all the inputs output remains constant. To
define a constant function more formally, a function f is said to be a
constant function if and only if
f(x) = k
Where k is the real number.

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Properties of Increasing and Decreasing Functions
Since we know how to check if a function is increasing or decreasing, let
us go through the algebraic properties of increasing and decreasing
functions:
• If the functions f and g are increasing functions on an open interval
I, then the sum of the functions f + g is also increasing on this
interval.
• If the functions f and g are decreasing functions on an open
interval I, then the sum of the functions f + g is also decreasing on
this interval.
• If the function f is an increasing function on an open interval I,
then the opposite function -f is decreasing on this interval.
• If the function f is a decreasing function on an open interval I, then
the opposite function -f is increasing on this interval.
• If the function f is an increasing function on an open interval I,
then the inverse function 1/f is decreasing on this interval.
• If the function f is a decreasing function on an open interval I, then
the inverse function 1/f is increasing on this interval.
• If the functions f and g are increasing functions on an open interval
I and f, g ≥ 0 on I, then the product of the functions fg is also
increasing on this interval.
• If the functions f and g are decreasing functions on an open
interval I and f, g ≥ 0 on I, then the product of the functions fg is
also decreasing on this interval.
Important Notes on Increasing and Decreasing Functions
• The first derivative of a function is used to check for increasing
and decreasing functions.
• Increasing and decreasing functions are also called non-decreasing
and non-increasing functions.

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How to Find Increasing and Decreasing Intervals

Given a function, f(x), we can determine the intervals where it is

increasing and decreasing by using differentiation and algebra.

Step 1: Find the derivative, f'(x), of the function.

Step 2: Find the zeros of f'(x). Remember, zeros are the values of x for
which f'(x) = 0. Set f'(x) = 0 and solve for x.

Step 3: Determine the intervals. The intervals are between the endpoints
of the interval of f(x) and the zeros of f'(x). If the interval of f(x) is not
given, assume f(x) is on the interval (-∞, ∞).

Step 4: Determine whether the function is increasing or decreasing on

each interval. Given the interval (a, c), choose a value b, a < b < c.
Solve for f'(b). If f'(b) is positive, f(x) is increasing on (a, c). If f'(b) is
negative, f(x) is decreasing on (a, c).

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Example: If g(x) = (x – 5)2, find the intervals where g(x) is increasing
and decreasing.
Solution:
Step 1: Find the derivative of the function.
Using the chain rule,
g'(x) = 2(5 – x)
Step 2: Find the zeros of the derivative function.
In other words, find the values of for which g(x) equals zero. You can do
this by setting g(x) = 0 and using algebra to solve for x. From the
definitions above, we know the function is constant at points where the
derivative is zero.
g'(x) = 0 = 2(5 – x)
0=5–x

x=5

Step 3: Use the zeros to determine intervals.

Since x = 5 is the only zero for g'(x), there are just 2 intervals: from
negative infinity to 5, and from 5 to negative infinity.
These can be denoted in inequality notation:
-∞ < x < 5
5<x<∞
Or in interval notation:
(-∞, 5), (5, ∞)

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Remember, the endpoints are NOT inclusive because g(x) is neither
increasing nor decreasing at the endpoints.
Step 4: Determine if the function is increasing or decreasing in each
interval.
For the first interval, ((-∞, 5), we’ll choose b = 0. -∞ < x < 5
g'(b) = g'(0) = 2(5-0) = 10
10 > 0 POSITIVE
For the second interval, (5, ∞), we’ll choose b = 6. 5 < 6 < ∞
g'(b) = g'(6) = 2(5-6) = -2
-2 < 0 NEGATIVE
Therefore, g(x) is increasing on (-∞, 5) and decreasing on (5, ∞). We
can verify our results visually. In the graph below, you can clearly see
that f(x) = (x – 5)2 is increasing on the interval (5, ∞) and decreasing on
the interval (-∞, 5).
We can visually verify our result by investigating the graph of g(x).
Looking at the graph, g(x) is indeed increasing in the interval from
negative infinity to 5 and decreasing in the interval from 5 to infinity.

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Solved Questions on Increasing and Decreasing Functions
Question 1: Prove that f(x) = x – sin(x) is an increasing function.

Solution: f(x) = x – sin(x)

dy/dx=1–cos(x)
(dy/dx) ≥ 0 as cos(x) having a value in the interval [-1, 1] and (dy/dx) =
0 for the discrete values of x and do not form an interval.
Hence, we can include this function as a monotonically increasing
function.

Question 2: Prove that f(x) = cos x is decreasing function in [0, π].

Solution: f(x) = cos x
f’(x) = – sin x
As sin x is positive in the first and second quadrants, i.e., sin x ≥ 0 in [0,
π], so we can say that
(dy/dx) = – (positive ) = negative ≤ 0
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(dy/dx) ≤0
So, function f(x) = cos x is decreasing in [0, π].

Question 3: Prove that a polynomial with positive coefficients is

increasing.
Solution: Let’s suppose polynomial is
A1xn + A2xn-1 + A3xn-2 +…............Anx1+An+1x0
So,

y=A1xn + A2xn-1 + A3xn-2 +…............Anx1+An+1x0

Derivate the above function with respect to x, and we have

dy/dx= (n)A1xn -1 + (n-1)A2xn-2 + (n-2)A3xn-3 +…............Anx0

As every coefficient is positive, and for a polynomial n ≥ 0.

So,

dy/dx≥0
Therefore, we can say that a polynomial with positive coefficients is
increasing.

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Question 4: Discuss the increasing and decreasing nature of the function
f(x) = x ln(x)

Solution:

Here, f(x) = x ln(x)

⇒ f’(x) = 1 + ln(x)

For a function to be increasing f’(x) > 0

⇒ 1 + ln(x) > 0

⇒ ln(x) > -1

⇒ ln(x) > – ln(e)

⇒ ln(x) > ln (e-1)

We know that ln(x) is increasing function, so for ln(x) > ln (e-1) to be hold

⇒ x > e-1

⇒ x > 1/e

Thus, function f(x) = x ln(x) to be increasing x ∈ (1/e, ∞) and for function f(x) = x
ln(x) to be decreasing x ∈ (0, 1/e).

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Question 5: Find the value of “a” if the function x3 – 6x2 + ax is increasing for
all the values of x.

Solution:

Here f(x) = x3 – 6x2 + ax

⇒ f’(x) = 3x2 – 12x + a

For a function to be increasing f’(x) > 0

So, 3x2 – 12x + a > 0

⇒ 3(x2 – 4x + a/3) > 0

⇒ x2 – 4x + a/3 > 0

⇒ (x – 2)2 – 22 + a/3 > 0

⇒ (3(x – 2)2 – 12 + a)/3 > 0

⇒ 3(x – 2)2 – 12 + a > 0

We know that 3(x – 2)2 can’t be negative and having the minimum value 0 at
x=2

The minimum value of f’(x) is at x = 2

min. f’(x) = -12 + a

So for f’(x) > 0

⇒ -12 + a > 0

⇒ a > 12.

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CONCLUSION
This project gave me a different insight on how we,as humans have
advanced as I believe that even the smallest things in our world have
small nuances of meanings with far great explanations
The small topic of increasing functions showed me that every thing in
our world even the smallest less relevant things will have greater
meaning if we just gave it a little bit of our attention

The small concept has really brought out my enthusiasm on knowing

maths and applying maths in real life world

Learning knowledge of things like this makes me feel every student is a

step closer to shapen the future of our world.

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Bibliography
1) www.cliffsnotes.com
2) https://byjus.com/jee/increasing-and-
decreasing-functions-in-calculus/
3) www.geeksforgeeks.org
4) ximera.osu.edu
5) www.cuemath.com
6) www.askiitians.com

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