Behavior of the Function and Curve Sketching

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 Behavior of the Function and Curve Sketching

Maxima and minima of functions (extrema) – definitions

• Global minimum — The global minimum is the lowest value of

the function across its entire domain.
• Global maximum — The global maximum is the highest value of
the function across its entire domain.
• Local minimum — a local minimum is the lowest value of a
function in some local neighborhood, such as some defined
interval [a, b].
• Local maximum — a local maximum is the highest value of a
function in some local neighborhood.

The global or absolute maximum is the highest point on the graph

of the function and the upper limit of its domain. The opposite is
true for the global or absolute minimum.

A local max. or min. is just the highest or lowest point in an isolated

region or "neighborhood."

Point If c is a number in the domain [a, b] of the

function f, then f(c) is the
Global minimum on [a, b] if f(c) ≤ f(x) for all x in [a, b]
Global maximum on [a, b] if f(c) ≥ f(x) for all x in [a, b]
Local minimum of f if f(c) ≤ f(x) when x is near c
Local maximum of f if f(c) ≥ f(x) when x is near c
On a closed interval, [ ], make sure to test the
endpoints of the interval when checking for
End points
maxima or minima. They might, in fact, be the
highest or lowest points in that interval.

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 Behavior of the Function and Curve Sketching

Intercepts: Points where the curve crosses the x-axis (x-

intercepts) or y-axis (y-intercepts).

Turning Points: Points on the curve where it changes direction

from increasing to decreasing or vice versa.

Asymptotes: Lines that the curve approaches but never actually

reaches.

First Derivative: A mathematical expression that gives the rate

of change of a function at any given point. It's denoted
as f′(x) or dy/dx.
If f'(x) > 0 on an interval, then f(x) is increasing on that interval.
If f'(x) < 0, then f(x) is decreasing. To fully grasp this concept, it's
helpful to review the basics of differentiation.

Second Derivative: It measures how the rate of change of a

function's first derivative changes. Denoted as f″(x) or d2y/dx2,
it's a key indicator of the concavity of the curve.
If f''(x) > 0, f(x) is concave up. If f''(x) < 0, f(x) is concave down.

Inflection Point: A point on the curve at which the concavity

changes, signalled by a change in the sign of the second
derivative.

Differentiability: A function is considered differentiable at a point

if its derivative exists at that point. Differentiability implies
continuity, thereby ensuring the curve can be smoothly drawn
without breaks.

T-table: A simple table used to plot values of a function for

various inputs. It helps in organizing data points before
graphically representing them on a curve.

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 Behavior of the Function and Curve Sketching

The critical points: of a function are the zeros (or roots) of its first
derivative. Sometimes critical points are called critical numbers.

Increasing Function: A function f(x) is said to be increasing on an

interval if, for any two numbers x1 and x2 in the interval, x1 < x2
implies f(x1) < f(x2).

Decreasing Function: A function f(x) is decreasing on an interval

if, for any two numbers x1 and x2 in the interval, x1 < x2 implies
f(x1) > f(x2).

Concave Up: A function f(x) is concave up on an interval if its

graph opens upwards, like a parabola.

Concave Down: A function f(x) is concave down on an interval if

its graph opens downwards.

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 Behavior of the Function and Curve Sketching

The straight line, y = x, should be

quite straightforward! The bullet
indicates the single zero or root.

This is a parabola, of course. It

has a zero slope at x = 0. From
the point of view of factorization,
y = x × x, we may say that it also
has a ‘double zero’ at x = 0. This
will be important below. The
bottom of the parabola (double
bullet) shows what a double zero
looks like.
This is a downward-facing
parabola. All parabola,
y = ax2 + bx + c, will look like
this when a < 0, although the
maximum will not be at the
origin in general.

This parabola is identical to the

one -. We see that there is a
double root at x = 1, note the
repeated (x − 1) factor.

This parabola is identical to the

one, but it has been shifted
downwards by 1. The resulting
expression for y may be
factorized into y = x (x − 2) and
hence there are two zeros:
x = 0 and x = 2.

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 Behavior of the Function and Curve Sketching

Cubic functions
This cubic has a local maximum
and a local minimum. Given that
it may be factorized into the form
, y = x(x−1) (x+1), it has the
three roots, x = −1, 0, 1. Note that
cubits of this type don’t always
have three roots: if this cubic
were moved upwards by 100 to
give, y = x3 − x+ 100, then there
would only be one root
This is the standard cubic
function. It has a point of
inflexion at x = 0, which means
that both the slope and the
second derivative are zero there.
Given that we may write this as
y = x × x × x, we see that a point
of inflexion sitting on the
horizontal axis corresponds to a
triple zero.
Cubic's such as this have no
critical points, by which I mean
maxima, minima or points of in-
flexion. They always have one
zero, though. In this case it is at
x = 0.

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 Behavior of the Function and Curve Sketching

Quartic functions
This quartic curve has three
extrema: two minima and one
maximum. It also has four zeros,
namely x = −2, −1, 1 and 2,
which may be found directly
from the function itself. Note that
if we were to add exactly the right
constant (it turns out to be 9/4)
to this function in order to raise
the minima so that they both lie
on the x-axis, then we would now
have a pair of double zeros.
This curve has four zeros: x = 0,
0, 0 and 2. Therefore there is a
point of inflexion at x = 0
(i.e., a triple zero) and a simple
zero at x = 2.
The pure quartic function:
y = x4. The first three derivatives
are zero at x = 0 and therefore
this curve has a much flatter base
than the parabola does, and this
must be shown clearly in the
sketch. We also have a four-times
repeated root, and therefore
x = 0 is a quadruple zero.
This looks like a parabola
because the x2 term is much
larger than x4 is when x is small.
The value, x = 0, corresponds to
a double zero because
x4 +x2 = x2(x2 +1). However,
the function grows much faster
as x increases than a parabola
does because of the x4 term,
although this is quite difficult to
show on a simple sketch.

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 Behavior of the Function and Curve Sketching

FAQs on Curve Sketching

Define Curve Sketching.
Curve Sketching is the set of techniques used to approximate
sketch of graph of any given function.

Why is Curve Sketching Important?

Curve Sketching is important as it helps us visualize and
understand properties and behavior of any function. By
sketching the graph of any function, we can find out about a lot
things such as maxima and minima value of the function,
increasing or decreasing behavior etc.

What are Some Common Features of a Graph that can be

Determined through Curve Sketching?
Some common features of a graph that can be determined
through curve sketching include the function’s
Intercepts
Extrema
Asymptotes
End Behavior

How do you Find the Intercepts of a Graph?

To find the x-intercepts of a graph, you need to set the function
equal to zero and solve for x and similarly to find the
y-intercepts, you need to evaluate the value of y when x=0.

How do you Find the Extrema of a Graph?

To find the extrema of a graph, you need to find the critical
points of the function, which are the points where the derivative
is equal to zero or does not exist. Then, you can use the first or
second derivative test to determine whether these critical
points correspond to local maxima, local minima, or neither.

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 Behavior of the Function and Curve Sketching

What are Asymptotes?

Asymptotes are imaginary lines that the graph of a function
approaches but never touches. They can be vertical, horizontal,
or oblique (slanted). Vertical asymptotes occur when the
function approaches positive or negative infinity as x
approaches a certain value. Horizontal asymptotes occur when
the function approaches a constant value as x approaches
positive or negative infinity. Oblique asymptotes occur when
the function approaches a slanted line as x approaches positive
or negative infinity.

How do you Determine the End Behavior of a Graph?

To determine the end behavior of a graph, you need to examine
what happens to the function as x approaches positive or
negative infinity. If the function approaches a horizontal
asymptote, its end behavior will be similar to the behavior of
the asymptote. If the function approaches positive or negative
infinity, its end behavior will be increasing or decreasing,
respectively.

What does curve sketching mean in the context of engineering

mathematics?
Curve sketching in Engineering Mathematics is a process used to
provide a visual interpretation of mathematical functions. It
involves plotting specific points derived from a mathematical
equation to form a continuous curve, enabling analysis of the
function's behaviour.

How is curve sketching relevant to engineering projects?

Curve sketching is relevant to engineering projects as it helps
visualise and model systems, structures or natural elements. It
facilitates understanding of variations, trends or behaviours,
which can aid in the problem-solving, design and optimization
stages of an engineering project.

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 Behavior of the Function and Curve Sketching

What are some examples of curve sketching in engineering?

Examples of curve sketching in engineering include the design of
car body structures, plotting stress-strain curves in materials
engineering, interpretation of thermodynamic cycles in a P-V or
T-S diagram, contour mapping in civil engineering, and electrical
waveform sketches in electrical engineering.

How does one sketch a curve?

To sketch a curve, first identify key points from the function, such
as intercepts, maximum, minimum and inflection points. Plot
these on your graph. Next, use the derivative to determine which
way the curve goes between these points. Finally, connect these
points smoothly.

What are the steps to follow in curve sketching?

Identify domain and range, find x and y intercepts, determine
symmetry, calculate derivatives for slope and concavity, identify
critical and inflection points, and plot points considering
asymptotic behaviour. Sketch the curve, connecting plotted
points smoothly, respecting determined attributes.

What techniques are vital for accurately sketching curves?

Vital techniques for accurately sketching curves include
identifying the domain and range, determining x and y
intercepts, finding critical points for maxima, minima, and points
of inflection, analyzing the behaviour at asymptotes, and
understanding the curve's concavity and convexity through the
first and second derivative tests.

How can I determine the key points when sketching a curve?

To determine key points when sketching a curve, find the x and
y intercepts, calculate the critical points by setting the derivative
to zero, identify points of inflection by setting the second

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 Behavior of the Function and Curve Sketching

derivative to zero, and analyze the behaviour at endpoints if the

domain is limited.

What tools are essential successful curve sketching?

Essential tools for successful curve sketching include a thorough
understanding of derivatives for identifying maxima, minima,
and points of inflection, knowledge of limits for asymptotes, and
the Cartesian plane for plotting. Recognizing symmetry and
intercepts also plays a crucial role.

How do you identify symmetry in curve during the sketching

process?
To identify symmetry in curves, test for even or odd functions. If
f(-x) = f(x), the curve is symmetric about the y-axis.
If f(-x) = -f(x), it has rotational symmetry about the origin.
Reflecting points across the y-axis or the origin helps confirm
symmetry visually.

How does the concept of limits relate to curve sketching?

Understanding limits is fundamental to curve sketching as it
helps to determine the end behaviour of a function. Specifically,
limits describe the behaviour of a function as the input (or
variable) approaches a particular value. In the context of curve
sketching, evaluating the limit of a function as x approaches
infinity or negative infinity can provide insights into the
horizontal asymptotes of the function, if they exist. This
information is crucial for sketching the graph accurately,
especially in the tails of the function. Additionally, limits can help
identify vertical asymptotes and holes in the graph by exploring
the behaviour of the function as it approaches particular x-
values.

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 Behavior of the Function and Curve Sketching

Why is it important to identify points of inflection even though

they do not give local maxima or minima?
Points of inflection, while not indicative of local maxima or
minima, are crucial in understanding the overall shape and
behaviour of the graph of a function. At a point of inflection, the
concavity of the graph changes, which can be pivotal in
interpreting and predicting the function’s behaviour, especially
in applied contexts like physics and economics. For instance, in a
scenario describing velocity and acceleration, a point of
inflection in the position-time graph might indicate a transition
from increasing to decreasing acceleration, which can be crucial
information in practical applications.

How does the concept of the second derivative relate to real-

world applications in curve sketching?
The second derivative in curve sketching, which is related to
concavity, has substantial real-world implications, particularly in
physics and economics. In physics, the second derivative of a
position function with respect to time gives acceleration,
providing insights into the object's motion dynamics. In
economics, the second derivative of a profit function can indicate
whether the profit is experiencing increasing or decreasing rates
of change, which can inform strategic decision-making regarding
production levels, pricing, and other relevant variables.

Can a function have more than one point of inflection and how
does it affect the graph?
Yes, a function can have multiple points of inflection. Each point
of inflection indicates a change in concavity of the graph,
transitioning from concave up to concave down, or vice versa.
Multiple points of inflection imply that the graph changes its
concavity multiple times across its domain. Understanding these
points and the intervals of different concavities between them is

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 Behavior of the Function and Curve Sketching

vital for accurately sketching the curve and interpreting the

various phases or states of the function, especially in scenarios
where the function models dynamic systems or processes in
real-world applications.

What are some common mistakes to avoid in curve sketching?

Some common mistakes to avoid in curve sketching include
forgetting to check for symmetry, not considering the behavior
of the function at the edges of the domain, and incorrectly
labeling the intercepts and other key points on the graph.

How to Graph a Rational Function?

To graph a rational function, first plot all the asymptotes by
dotted lines. Plot the x and y-intercepts. Make a table with two
columns labeled x and y. Put all x-intercepts and vertical
asymptotes in the column of x. Take some random numbers on
either side of each of these numbers and compute the
corresponding y-values using the function. Plot all these points
on the graph and join them by curves without touching the
asymptotes.

How to Find the Domain and Range of a Rational Function?

To find the domain and range of a rational function:
First, simplify the function. For domain, set denominator not
equal to zero and solve for x. For range, solve the simplified
equation for x, set the denominator not equal to zero, and solve
for y.

How to Find Holes in Rational Functions?

To find holes, first, factorize both numerator and denominator. If
any linear factors are getting canceled, just set each of them to
0 and simplify. They will give the x-coordinates of the holes. We

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can use the function to find the corresponding y-coordinates of

holes.

How to Find Asymptotes of Rational Functions?

To find the asymptotes of a rational function: Simplify the
function to its lowest form. Set the denominator = 0 and solve to
find the vertical asymptotes. Solve the equation for x, set the
denominator = 0, and solve to find horizontal asymptotes.

How to Find the Inverse of a Rational Function?

To find the inverse of a rational function y = f(x), just switch x
and y first, then solve the resultant equation for y. It will give
the inverse of f(x) which is represented as f-1(x).

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 Behavior of the Function and Curve Sketching

Problems
Problem 1
. 𝑺𝒌𝒆𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝒂 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒑𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝒇(𝒙) = (𝒙 − 𝟏)𝟐 (𝒙 + 𝟐).
Solution
𝒇(𝒙) = (𝒙 − 𝟏)𝟐 (𝒙 + 𝟐) … … … … … … … … … … … … 𝟏
Step 1. Since f is a polynomial, the domain is the set of all real
numbers.
Step 2. Put x=0 into equation 1
𝒇(𝟐) = (𝟎 − 𝟏)𝟐 (𝟎 + 𝟐) = 𝟐 𝑦 − intercepts 𝑖𝑠 (0,2)
Solve equation 1 to get x-intercept
(𝒙 − 𝟏)𝟐 (𝒙 + 𝟐) = 0 ⇛ 𝑥 = 1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 = −2
∴ x − intercept 𝑎𝑟𝑒 (1,0) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (−2,0)
Step 3. We need to evaluate the end behavior of f. As x→∞
lim (𝒙 − 𝟏)𝟐 (𝒙 + 𝟐)= lim (𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 + 2) = ∞
𝑥→∞ 𝑥→∞
𝟐 (𝒙
lim (𝒙 − 𝟏) + 𝟐)= lim (𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 + 2) = −∞
𝑥→−∞ 𝑥→−∞
Step 4. Since f is a polynomial function, it does not have any vertical
asymptotes.
Step 5. The first derivative of f is
𝒇(𝒙) = (𝒙 − 𝟏)𝟐 (𝒙 + 𝟐) ⇛ 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 + 2
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 Behavior of the Function and Curve Sketching

𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 3𝑥 2 − 3 ⇛ 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 3(𝑥 2 − 1)

𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 0 ⇛ 3(𝑥 2 − 1) = 0 ⇛ 𝑥 2 = 1 ⇛ 𝑥 = ±1
We have intervals (-∞, -1), (-1,1) and (1, ∞)
𝑓 ′ (−2) = 3(−2)2 − 3 = 9 > 0 (+) ⇛ 𝑓 𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔
𝑓 ′ (0) = 3(0)2 − 3 = −3 < 0(−)𝑓 ⇛ 𝑓 𝑖𝑠 𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔.
𝑓 ′ (2) = 3(2)2 − 3 = 9 > 0 (+) ⇛ 𝑓 𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔

-1 1
f has a local maximum at x=−1 and a local minimum at x=1.
𝒇(−𝟏) = 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 + 2 = 4 local maximum value (−1,4)
𝒇(𝟏) =𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 + 2 = 0 𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 (1,0)
Step 6. The second derivative of f is
𝑓 ′′ (𝑥) = 6𝑥
𝑓 ′′ (𝑥) = 0 ⇛ 6𝑥 = 0 ⇛ 𝑥 = 0
∴ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑎𝑙 𝑖𝑠 (−∞, 0)𝑎𝑛𝑑 (0, ∞)
𝑓 ′′ (−1) = −6 < 0 ⇛ 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑛
𝑓 ′′ (1) = 6 > 0 ⇛ 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑢𝑝

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Problem 2
Determine the increasing and decreasing y=f(x)=x3-3x2+4
Solution
𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒙𝟑 − 𝟑𝒙𝟐 + 𝟒 … … … … … … … … … … … … . . 𝟏
The function is polynomial, its domain is R, and it is neither even nor
odd
𝒑𝒖𝒕 𝒙 = 𝟎 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝟏 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒚 − 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕
𝒇(𝟎) = 𝟒 ∴ 𝒚 − 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕 𝒊𝒔 (𝟎, 𝟒)
Solve equation 1 to get x-intercept
𝒙𝟑 − 𝟑𝒙𝟐 + 𝟒 = 𝟎
(𝒙 − 𝟐)𝟐 (𝒙 + 𝟏) = 𝟎 ⇛ 𝒙 = 𝟐 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒙 = −𝟏
𝒙 − 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕 𝒊𝒔 (−𝟏, 𝟎)𝒂𝒏𝒅 (𝟐, 𝟎)
𝒇′ (𝒙) = 𝟑𝒙𝟐 − 𝟔𝒙 = 𝟑𝒙(𝒙 − 𝟐) … … … … … … … … 2
𝒇′ (𝒙) = 𝟎 ⇛ 𝟑𝒙(𝒙 − 𝟐) = 𝟎 ⇛ 𝒙 = 𝟎 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒙 = 𝟐
𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒓𝒆 (−∞, 𝟎), (𝟎, 𝟐)𝒂𝒏𝒅 (𝟐, ∞)
𝒇′ (−𝟏) = 𝟑𝒙𝟐 − 𝟔𝒙 = 9 > 0 ⇛ 𝑓 𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔
𝒇′ (𝟏) = 𝟑𝒙𝟐 − 𝟔𝒙 = −3 < 0 ⇛ 𝑓 𝑖𝑠𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔
𝒇′ (𝟑) = 𝟑𝒙𝟐 − 𝟔𝒙 = 9 > 0 ⇛ 𝑓 𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔

0 2

𝑓 ′′ (𝑥) = 6𝑥 − 6 = 6(𝑥 − 1) … … … … … … … … … . .3
𝑓 ′′ (𝑥) = 0 ⇛ 𝑥 = 1
𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒓𝒆 (−∞, 𝟏) 𝒂𝒏𝒅 (𝟏, ∞)
𝑓 ′′ (0) = 6𝑥 − 6 = −6 < 0 ⇛ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑣𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑥 𝑢𝑝𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑠
𝑓 ′′ (2) = 6𝑥 − 6 = 6 > 0 ⇛ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑣𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑥 𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑛𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑 1
𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑥 = 1 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑜 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 1 𝑡𝑜 𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡
𝒇(𝟏) = 𝟏𝟑 − 𝟑 × 𝟏𝟐 + 𝟒 = 2 ⇛ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑡 (1,2)

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Problem 3
Find the inflection point(s) of the function f(x)=x3+x2−9x−9, and
show that the curvature changes from positive to negative across that
point. Sketch a graph of the function.
Solution
𝐟(𝐱) = 𝐱 𝟑 + 𝐱 𝟐 − 𝟗𝐱 − 𝟗 … … … … … … … … … … … 1
Put x=0 into equation 1 to get intercept with y-axis
𝐟(𝟎) = 𝟎𝟑 + 𝟎𝟐 − 𝟗(𝟎) − 𝟗 = −9 𝒚 − 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕 𝒊𝒔 (𝟎, −𝟗)
Solve equation 1 to get x-intercept
𝐱 𝟑 + 𝐱 𝟐 − 𝟗𝐱 − 𝟗 = 0
(𝒙 − 𝟑) (𝒙 + 𝟏) (𝒙 + 𝟑) = 𝟎
𝒙 = 𝟑, 𝒙 = −𝟏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒙 = −𝟑
𝒙 − 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕 𝒂𝒓𝒆 (𝟑, 𝟎), (−𝟏, 𝟎)𝒂𝒏𝒅 (−𝟑, 𝟎)
𝒇′ (𝒙) = 𝟑𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟗
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 0 ⇛ 𝟑𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟗 = 0
−𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 −2 ± √4 + 4 × 3 × 9 −2 ± √112
𝑥= ⇛𝑥= ⇛𝑥=
2𝑎 2×3 6
−1 + 2√7 1 + 2 √7
𝑥1 = ≈ 1.431 ≈ 1.4 & 𝑥2 = − ≈ −2.097 ≈ −2.1
3 3
𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒓𝒆 (−∞, −𝟐. 𝟏), (−𝟐. 𝟏, 𝟏. 𝟒)𝒂𝒏𝒅 (𝟏. 𝟒, ∞)
𝑓 ′ (−3) = 𝟑𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟗 = 𝟏𝟐 > 𝟎 ⇛ 𝑓 𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔
𝑓 ′ (0) = 𝟑𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟗 = −𝟗 < 𝟎 ⇛ 𝑓 𝑖𝑠 𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔
𝑓 ′ (2) = 𝟑𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟗 = 𝟕 > 0 ⇛ 𝑓 𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔
-2.1 1.4

𝑓 ′′ (𝑥) = 6𝑥 + 2
1
𝑓 ′′ (𝑥) = 0 ⇛ 6𝑥 + 2 = 0 ⇛ 6𝑥 = −2 ⇛ 𝑥 = −
3
1 1
𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑎𝑙 𝑖𝑠 (−∞, − ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (− , ∞)
3 3
′′ (−1)
𝑓 = 6𝑥 + 2 = −4 < 0 ⇛ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑣𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑥 𝑢𝑝𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑠
′′ (0)
𝑓 = 6𝑥 + 2 > 0 ⇛ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑣𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑥 𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑛𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑

1
−
3

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Problem 4
Sketch a graph of the function
𝐟(𝐱) = 𝒙𝟒 − 𝟒𝒙𝟑 + 𝟏𝟎
Solution
𝐟(𝐱) = 𝒙𝟒 − 𝟒𝒙𝟑 + 𝟏𝟎 … … … … … … … … 𝟏
ƒ is continuous, the function is polynomial, its domain is R,
i.e., Domain is (-∞, ∞)
𝑓(0) = 10 ⇛ 𝒚 − 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕 𝒊𝒔 (𝟎, 𝟏𝟎)
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 4𝑥 3 − 12𝑥 2 = 4𝑥 2 (𝑥 − 3) … … … … … … . .2
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 0 ⇛ 4𝑥 2 (𝑥 − 3) = 0 ⇛ 𝒙 = 𝟎 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒙 = 𝟑
𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑎𝑙 𝑖𝑠 (−∞, 0), (0,3) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (3, ∞)
𝑓 ′ (−1) = 4(−1)3 − 12(−1)2 = −16 < 0 decreasing
𝑓 ′ (1) = 4(1)3 − 12(1)2 = −8 < 0 decreasing
𝑓 ′ (4) = 4(4)3 − 12(4)2 = 64 > 0 increasing
𝟒 𝟑
𝒇(𝟑) = (𝟑) − 𝟒(𝟑) + 𝟏𝟎 = −𝟏𝟕 ⇛ 𝐦𝒊𝒏𝒎𝒖𝒎 𝒊𝒔(𝟑, −𝟏𝟕)
𝑓 ′′ (𝑥) = 12𝑥 2 − 24𝑥 = 12𝑥(𝑥 − 2) … … … … … … … .3
𝑓 ′′ (𝑥) = 0 ⇛ 12𝑥(𝑥 − 2) = 0 ⇛ 𝒙 = 𝟎 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒙 = 𝟐
𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑎𝑙 𝑖𝑠 (−∞, 0), (0,2) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (2, ∞)
𝑓 ′′ (−1) = 12(−1)2 − 24(−1) = 36 > 0 ⇛ concave up
𝑓 ′′ (1) = 12(1)2 − 24(1) = −12 < 0 ⇛ concave down
′′ (3) 2
𝑓 = 12(3) − 24(3) = 36 > 0 ⇛ concave up
𝑡𝑜 𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡 𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑥 = 2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 = 0 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑜 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 1
𝐟(𝟐) = 𝟐𝟒 − 𝟒(𝟐)𝟑 + 𝟏𝟎 = −𝟔 ⇛ 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭 (𝟐, −𝟔)
𝐟(𝟎) = 𝟎𝟒 − 𝟒(𝟎)𝟑 + 𝟏𝟎 = 𝟏𝟎 ⇛ 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭 (𝟎, 𝟏𝟎)

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 Behavior of the Function and Curve Sketching

Problem 5
(𝒙 + 𝟏)𝟐
𝐒𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝒇(𝒙) =
𝟏 + 𝒙𝟐
Solution
(𝒙 + 𝟏)𝟐
𝒇(𝒙) = ………………………..𝟏
𝟏 + 𝒙𝟐
𝒚 − 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕, 𝒑𝒖𝒕 𝒙 = 𝟎 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝟏
(𝟎 + 𝟏)𝟐
𝒇(𝟎) = =𝟏 𝒚 − 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕 𝒂𝒕 𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕 (𝟎, 𝟏)
𝟏 + 𝟎𝟐
𝒙 − 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕, 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒗𝒆 𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝟏
(𝒙 + 𝟏)𝟐 = 0 ⇛ 𝑥 = −1 𝑥 − 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕 𝒂𝒕 𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕 (−𝟏, 𝟎)
(𝒙 + 𝟏)𝟐 +
(𝒙 + 𝟏)𝟐
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟐
=𝟏 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟐
= 𝟏−
𝒙→∞ 𝟏 + 𝒙 𝒙→−∞ 𝟏 + 𝒙
Thus, the line y=1 is a horizontal asymptote.
Differentiate equation 1
′ (𝒙)
൫𝟏 + 𝒙𝟐 ൯(𝟐)(𝒙 + 𝟏) − (𝒙 + 𝟏)𝟐 (𝟐𝒙)
𝒇 =
(𝟏 + 𝒙𝟐 )𝟐
′ (𝒙)
2𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 2 − 2 𝑥 − 4 𝑥 2 − 2 𝑥 3
𝒇 =
(1 + 𝑥 2 )2
′ (𝒙)
2𝑥 2 + 2 − 4 𝑥 2 2 − 2𝑥 2 2൫1 − 𝑥 2 ൯
𝒇 = = =
(1 + 𝑥 2 )2 (1 + 𝑥 2 )2 (1 + 𝑥 2 )2
′ (𝒙)
2൫1 − 𝑥 2 ൯
𝒇 = … … … … … … … … .2
(1 + 𝑥 2 )2
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 0 ⇛ 2൫1 − 𝑥 2 ൯ = 0 ⇛ 1 = 𝑥 2 ⇛ 𝑥 = ±1
Interval is (-∞, -1), (-1,1) and (1, ∞)
′ (−2) ′ (𝒙)
2൫1 − (−2)2 ൯ −6
𝑓 =𝒇 = = < 0 ⇛ 𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔
(1 + (−2)2 )2 25
′ (0) ′ (𝒙)
2൫1 − (0)2 ൯
𝑓 =𝒇 = =2>0 ⇛ 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔
(1 + (0)2 )2
′ (2) ′ (𝒙)
2൫1 − (2)2 ൯ −6
𝑓 =𝒇 = = < 0 ⇛ 𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔
(1 + (2)2 )2 25
(𝟏 + 𝟏)𝟐 𝟒
𝒇(𝟏) = = =𝟐 (𝟏, 𝟐) ⇛ 𝒎𝒂𝒙𝒊𝒎𝒖𝒎
𝟏 + 𝟏𝟐 𝟐 1
-1
(−𝟏 + 𝟏)𝟐
𝒇(−𝟏) = =𝟎 (−𝟏, 𝟎) ⇛ 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐦𝐮𝐦
𝟏 + (−𝟏)𝟐 0 2

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Differentiate equation 2
2
൫1 + 𝑥 2 ൯ (−4𝑥) − 2൫1 − 𝑥 2 ൯ ቀ4𝑥൫1 + 𝑥 2 ൯ቁ
𝒇′′ (𝒙) =
(1 + 𝑥 2 )4
′′ (𝒙)
𝟒 (𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏) 𝒙 (𝒙𝟐 − 𝟑) 𝟒𝒙(𝒙𝟐 − 𝟑)
𝒇 = =
(𝟏 + 𝒙𝟐 )𝟒 (𝟏 + 𝒙𝟐 )𝟑
𝒇′′ (𝒙) = 𝟎 ⇛ 𝟒𝒙൫𝒙𝟐 − 𝟑൯ = 𝟎 ⇛ 𝒙 = 𝟎 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒙 = ±ඥ𝟑
𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒂𝒍 ⇛ ቀ−∞, −ඥ𝟑ቁ , ቀ−ඥ𝟑, 𝟎ቁ , ቀ𝟎, ඥ𝟑ቁ 𝒂𝒏𝒅 ቀඥ𝟑, ∞ቁ
𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒂𝒍 ⇛ (−∞, −𝟏. 𝟕) , (−𝟏. 𝟕, 𝟎), (𝟎, 𝟏. 𝟕) 𝒂𝒏𝒅 (𝟏. 𝟕, ∞)
′′ (−𝟐)
𝟒(−𝟐)൫(−𝟐)𝟐 − 𝟑൯ 𝟖
𝒇 = = − < 𝟎 ⇛ concave down
(𝟏 + (−𝟐)𝟐 )𝟑 𝟏𝟐𝟓
′′ (−𝟏)
𝟒(−𝟏)൫(−𝟏)𝟐 − 𝟑൯ 𝟖
𝒇 = = = 𝟏 >⇛ 𝟎 ⇛ concave up
(𝟏 + (−𝟏)𝟐 )𝟑 𝟖
𝟐
𝟒(𝟏)൫(𝟏) − 𝟑൯ −𝟖
𝒇′′ (𝟏) = = = −𝟏 < 𝟎 ⇛ concave down
(𝟏 + (𝟏)𝟐 )𝟑 𝟖
′′ (𝟐)
𝟒(𝟐)൫(𝟐)𝟐 − 𝟑൯ 𝟖
𝒇 = = > 𝟎 ⇛ concave up
(𝟏 + (𝟐)𝟐 )𝟑 𝟏𝟐𝟓
𝑺𝒖𝒃𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒖𝒕𝒆 𝒙 = 𝟎 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒙 = ±ඥ𝟑 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝟏
(𝟎 + 𝟏)𝟐
𝒇(𝟎) = = 𝟏 𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒔 (𝟎, 𝟏)
𝟏 + 𝟎𝟐
𝟐
ቀඥ𝟑 + 𝟏ቁ
𝒇 ቀඥ𝟑ቁ = ≈ 𝟏. 𝟖𝟔𝟔 𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕 ቀඥ𝟑, 𝟏. 𝟖𝟔𝟔ቁ
𝟏+𝟑
𝟐
ቀ−ඥ𝟑 + 𝟏ቁ
𝒇 ቀ−ඥ𝟑ቁ = 𝟐
= 𝟎. 𝟏𝟑𝟒 𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕 ቀ−ඥ𝟑, 𝟎. 𝟏𝟑𝟒ቁ
𝟏 + ቀ−ඥ𝟑ቁ

22
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23
Behavior of the Function and Curve Sketching

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 Behavior of the Function and Curve Sketching

Problem 6
𝐒𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝒚 = 𝒙𝟑 − 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟐
Solution
𝒚 = 𝒙𝟑 − 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟐 … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … . 𝟏
y-intercept ⇛ put x=0 into equation 1
𝑦 = 03 − 3(0) + 2 = 2 ∴ 𝑦 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡 𝑖𝑠 (0,2)
x-intercept ⇛ solve equation
𝒙𝟑 − 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟐 = 0 ⇛ (𝑥 − 1)2 (𝑥 + 2) = 0
𝑥 = 1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 = −2 ∴ 𝑥 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡 𝑖𝑠 (−2,0)𝑎𝑛𝑑 (1,0)
End behavior:
lim ൫𝒙𝟑 − 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟐൯ = ∞
𝑥→∞
lim ൫𝒙𝟑 − 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟐൯ = −∞
𝑥→−∞
so, the graph increases without bound as x→+∞ and decreases
without bound as x→−∞.
First derivative.
𝑦 ′ = 3𝑥 2 − 3 … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … . .2
𝑦 ′ = 0 ⇛ 3𝑥 2 − 3 = 0 ⇛ 3(𝑥 2 − 1) = 0 ⇛ 𝑥 = ±1
𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑎𝑙 ⇛ (−∞, −1), (−1,1)𝑎𝑛𝑑 (1, ∞)
𝑓 ′ (−2) = 3(−2)2 − 3 = 9 > 0 ⇛ 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒
′ (0) 2
𝑓 = 3(0) − 3 = −3 < 0 ⇛ 𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒
′ (2) 2
𝑓 = 3(2) − 3 = 9 > 0 ⇛ 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒
Substitute x=-1 and x=1 into equation 1
-1 1
(−𝟏) = (−𝟏)𝟑 − 𝟑(−𝟏) + 𝟐 = 𝟒 ⇛ (−𝟏, 𝟒)
(𝟏) = (𝟏)𝟑 − 𝟑(𝟏) + 𝟐 = 𝟎 ⇛ (1,0)
Second derivative 4 0
𝑦 ′′ = 6𝑥
𝑦 ′′ = 0 ⇛ 6𝑥 = 0 ⇛ 𝑥 = 0
𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑎𝑙 ⇛ (−∞, 0) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (0, ∞) 0
𝑓 ′′ (−1) = −6 < 0 ⇛ 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑛
𝑓 ′′ (1) = 6 > 0 ⇛ 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑢𝑝
𝑓(0) = 2 ⇛ 𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡 (0,2) 2

25
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26