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Calc Lecture Notes 8-2aa

The document discusses critical points and points of inflection in the context of AP Calculus AB, focusing on how to determine local maxima, minima, and concavity changes using first and second derivatives. It explains the identification of critical points where the first derivative is zero or undefined and inflection points where the second derivative changes signs. Examples are provided to illustrate the analysis and sketching of functions based on derivative information.

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15 views7 pages

Calc Lecture Notes 8-2aa

The document discusses critical points and points of inflection in the context of AP Calculus AB, focusing on how to determine local maxima, minima, and concavity changes using first and second derivatives. It explains the identification of critical points where the first derivative is zero or undefined and inflection points where the second derivative changes signs. Examples are provided to illustrate the analysis and sketching of functions based on derivative information.

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mathmaster339
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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8.

2: Critical Points & Points of Inflection [AP Calculus AB]

Objective: From information about the first and second derivatives of a function, decide whether the y-value
is a local maximum or minimum at a critical point and whether the graph has a point of inflection, then use
this information to sketch the graph or find the equation of the function.

Critical Points (First Derivative Analysis)


The critical point(s) of a function is the x-value(s) at which the first derivative is zero or
undefined. The y-value of a critical point may be classified as a local (relative) minimum, local
(relative) maximum, or a plateau point.
Notes:
Types of Critical Points * Critical points are graphical
features of an original function.
Analyzing the derivative of the
function helps you identify the
critical points.
* If there were no endpoints and
continued going down, then
there would be no definite global
(absolute) minimum.
* Global (absolute) maximum and
minimums are not critical points
because the first derivative is not
equal to zero or undefined at
those points.

Although you can classify each type of critical point by seeing the graph, you can draw a
number-line to analyze the behavior around each critical point and justify your classification of
each critical point. Sketch of First Derivative:

cusp
max min max plateau

Und.

 The critical points are and because the first derivative of the function
equals zero or is undefined at those x-values.
 There is a local (relative) maximum at and because the first derivative changes
signs from positive to negative.
 There is a local (relative) minimum at because the first derivative changes signs from
negative to positive.
 The critical point, , is not a maximum or minimum because the first derivative’s signs
remains negative (unchanged).
Inflection Points (Second Derivative Analysis)
The inflection point(s) of a function is the x-value(s) at which the second derivative is zero or
undefined and the function is changing concavity. You can tell that the function changes
concavity if the second derivative changes signs.

Sketch of Second Derivative:

no p.i.
p.i.
p.i.

Und.

 The inflection points are and because the second derivative of the function
equals zero or is undefined at those x-values, and the sign of the second derivative
changes signs:
 At the second derivative changes signs from negative to positive, which means
the function changes concavity from concave down to concave up.
 At the second derivative changes signs from positive to negative, which means
the function changes concavity from concave up to concave down.
 Although the second derivative is undefined at , it is not an inflection point because
the second derivative does not change signs, it remains concave up.
Other Notes on Concavity:
Example 1: Critical & Inflection Points Given a Graph of f

For the graphed function, sketch a number-line graph for and a


number-line graph for that shows the sign of each derivative in a
neighborhood of the critical point at On the number-line
graphs, indicate whether is a local maximum or a local
minimum and whether the graph has a point of inflection at

Example 2: Critical Points & Points of Inflection Given a Number-Line of Derivatives


The figure shows number-line graphs for the
first and second derivatives of a continuous
function f. Use this information to sketch the
graph of f if . Describe the behavior
of the function at the critical points.
Example 3: Critical & Inflection Points Given a Graph of f’
The figure shows the graph of the derivative of a continuous,
piecewise function f defined on the closed interval .
Sketch, the graph of f, given the initial condition that
. Put a dot at the approximate location of each
critical point and each point of inflection.

Example 4: Critical & Inflection Points Given an Equation for f

The figure shows the graph of .


a. Sketch number-line graphs of f’and f” that show features that
appear clearly on the graph.
b. Find equations for f’ and f”. Show algebraically that the critical points you drew in part a are
correct. Fix any errors.

c. Write x- and y-coordinates of all maxima, minima, and points of inflection.

Example 5: Critical & Inflection Points Given an Equation for f

Let with domain .


a. Plot the graph. Estimate the x- and y-coordinates of all local maxima or minima and of all
points of inflection. State the global maximum and minimum.
b. Write equations for and . Use them to find, either numerically or algebraically,
the precise values of the x-coordinates in part a.

c. Show that the second derivative is negative at the local maximum point and positive at the
local minimum point. Explain the graphical meaning of these facts.

d. Explain why there are no other critical points or points of inflection.


Textbook Summaries:

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