Each function is to be analyzed completely and sketched

without the use of a graphing calculator. You may Name ____________________

graph using your calculator to check your work.
Curve Sketching Practice

Analyze each of the following functions according to the template provided. Then,
sketch a complete graph of the function labeling all intercepts, relative extrema,
inflection points, and asymptotes. Follow the sample problem as needed.

1 4
Sample: y  6x 3
 3x 3

1 4 1 4
Symmetries: f  x   6 x  3
 3 x  3
 6x 3
 3x 3
 no symmetry
1
x-intercepts: Setting y  3x 3
 2  x   0 yields the intercepts (0, 0) and (-2, 0)
y-intercept: Setting x  0 yields the intercept (0, 0)
1 4
Vertical Asymptotes: None, since f  x   6x 3
 3x 3
is continuous everywhere

Horizontal/Oblique Asymptote(s) None since

 1 4
 1
or End Behavior: lim  6 x 3  3 x 3   lim 3 x 3  2  x   
x 
  x 
 1 4
 1
lim  6 x 3  3 x 3   lim 3 x 3  2  x   
x 
  x 
Derivatives:
2 1 2 2 2x  1
f  x   2x 3
 4x 3
 2x 3
1  2 x   2
3
x
4 5
4 2 3 4 5 4 x  1
f   x    x 3
 x  x 3
 1  x   5
3 3 3 3x 3

Sign Charts:
++++0 - - - - - - - - - - -0++++++++++ sign of f(x)

-2 0
- - - - - - - - - - - - 0++ ∞+++++++++ sign of f '(x)

decreasing incr 0 increasing

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + +++∞- - - - - - 0 + + + sign of f ‘’(x)

concave up 0 concave down 1 concave up

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 Each function is to be analyzed completely and sketched without the use of a
graphing calculator. You may graph using your calculator to check your work.
Curve Sketching Practice

Conclusions: - The graph is below the x-axis between the x-intercepts x = -2 and
x = 0 and is above the x-axis if x < -2 or x > 0.
- There is a stationary point (horizontal tangent) at x = -½ and a
critical point at x = 0 at which f is not differentiable.
2 2x  1
lim f   x   lim 2
 
x 0 x 0 3
- x
2 2x  1
lim f   x   lim 2
 
x 0  x 0
x 3
So, at (0, 0), there is an inflection point where the tangent to the
curve is vertical. The curve changes from concave up to concave
down at this point.
- The first & second derivative tests show that there is a relative
minimum at the stationary point at x = (-½, 3.572).
- There is also an inflection point at (1, 9) where the graph changes
from concave down to concave up.

Graph: y

(1, 9)

(-2, 0) (0, 0)
x

(-½, -3.572)

2 of 8
 Each function is to be analyzed completely and sketched without the use of a
graphing calculator. You may graph using your calculator to check your work.
Curve Sketching Practice

2x 2  8
1. y
x 2  16

Symmetries:

x-intercepts:

y-intercept:

Vertical Asymptotes:

Horizontal/Oblique Asymptotes:
or End Behavior:

Derivatives:

Sign Charts:

3 of 8
 Each function is to be analyzed completely and sketched without the use of a
graphing calculator. You may graph using your calculator to check your work.
Curve Sketching Practice

Conclusions:

Graph:

4 of 8
 Each function is to be analyzed completely and sketched without the use of a
graphing calculator. You may graph using your calculator to check your work.
Curve Sketching Practice
2
2. y   x  4 3

Symmetries:

x-intercepts:

y-intercept:

Vertical Asymptotes:

Horizontal/Oblique Asymptotes:
or End Behavior:

Derivatives:

Sign Charts:

5 of 8
 Each function is to be analyzed completely and sketched without the use of a
graphing calculator. You may graph using your calculator to check your work.
Curve Sketching Practice

Conclusions:

Graph:

6 of 8
 Each function is to be analyzed completely and sketched without the use of a
graphing calculator. You may graph using your calculator to check your work.
Curve Sketching Practice
 x2
3. ye 2

Symmetries:

x-intercepts:

y-intercept:

Vertical Asymptotes:

Horizontal/Oblique Asymptotes:
or End Behavior:

Derivatives:

Sign Charts:

7 of 8
 Each function is to be analyzed completely and sketched without the use of a
graphing calculator. You may graph using your calculator to check your work.
Curve Sketching Practice

Conclusions:

Graph:

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