MTH 251 Calculus I Lab Write-Up #6

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Lab 9

Critical Numbers and Graphing from

Formulas

9.5 Inflection Points

When searching for inflection points on a function, you can narrow your search by identifying num-
bers where the function is continuous (from both directions) and the second derivative is either zero
or undefined. (By definition an inflection point cannot occur at a number where the function is not
continuous from both directions.) You can then build a sign table for the second derivative that
implies the concavity of the given function.
When performing this analysis, you need to simplify the second derivative formula in the same way
you simplify the first derivative formula when looking for critical numbers and local extreme points.

Alex Jordan Fall 2024

MTH 251 Calculus I Lab Write-Up #6

9.5.1 Exercises

1. Identify the inflection points for the function shown in the figure.
y
x = −5

2
x
−6 −4 −2 2 4 6
−2

−4

−6

(x+2)2
The first two derivatives of the function y(x) = (x+3)3 are
p p
0 −x(x + 2) 00 2(x + 3)(x − 3)
y (x) = y (x) = .
(x + 3)4 (x + 3)5
2. Yolanda was given this information and asked to find the inflection points on y. The first
p p
thing Yolanda wrote was, “The critical numbers of y are 3 and − 3.” Explain to Yolanda
why this is not true.

3. What are the critical numbers of y and in what way are they important when asked to identify
the inflection points on y?

4. Fill in the missing information.

Interval Sign of y 00 Behavior of y

(−∞, −3)

p
−3, − 3

p p
− 3, 3

p
3, ∞
p p
2( x+ 3)( x− 3)
Table 9.5.1: y 00 (x) = (x+3) 5

Alex Jordan Fall 2024

MTH 251 Calculus I Lab Write-Up #6

5. State the inflection points on y; you may round the dependent coordinate of each point to
the nearest hundredth.

6. The function y has a vertical asymptote at −3. Given that fact, it was impossible that y
p
an inflection point at −3. Why, then, did we never-the-less break the interval
would have
−∞, − 3 at −3 when creating our concavity table?

Perform each of the following for the functions in Exercises 9.5.1.7–9.5.1.9.

• State the domain of the function.

• Find, and completely simplify, the formula for the second derivative of the function. It is not
necessary to simplify the formula for the first derivative of the function.
• State the values in the domain of the function where the second derivative is either zero or does
not exist.
• Create a table similar to 9.5.1. Number the table. Don’t forget to include table headings and
column headings.
• State the inflection points on the function. Make sure that you explicitly address this question
even if there are no inflection points.

7. f (x) = x 4 − 12x 3 + 54x 2 − 10x + 6

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MTH 251 Calculus I Lab Write-Up #6

8. g(x) = (x − 2)2 e x

p p
9. G(x) = x3 + 6 x

10. The second derivative of the function w(t) = t 1.5 − 9t 0.5 is w00 (t) =
3(t+3)
4t 1.5 yet w has no inflection
points. Why is that?

Alex Jordan Fall 2024

MTH 251 Calculus I Lab Write-Up #6

9.6 End Behavior

We are frequently interested in a function’s “end behavior.” That is, what is the behavior of the
function as the input variable increases without bound or decreases without bound.
Many times a function will approach a horizontal asymptote as its end behavior. If the horizontal
asymptote y = L represents the end behavior of the function f both as x increases without bound
and as x decreases without bound, we write lim f (x) = L and lim f (x) = L.
x→∞ x→−∞

While working Limits and Continuity you investigated strategies for formally establishing limit values
as x → ∞ or x → −∞. In this activity you are going to investigate a more informal strategy for
determining these type limits.
4x−2
Consider lim . When the value of x is really large, we say that the term 4x dominates the
x→∞ 3+20x
numerator of the expression and the term 20x dominates the denominator. We actually call those
terms the dominant terms of the numerator and denominator. The dominant terms are significant
because when the value of x is really large, the other terms in the expression contribute almost
nothing to the value of the expression. That is, for really large values of x:

For example, even if x has the paltry value of

4x − 2 4x 1000,
≈
3 + 20x 20x
1 4(1000) − 2 3998
= =
5 3 + 20(1000) 20003
1
≈ 0.19987 . . . ≈
5

4x−2 1 1 4x−2
This tells us that lim3+20x = 5 and that y = 5 is a horizontal asymptote for the graph of y = 3+20x .
x→∞

Alex Jordan Fall 2024

MTH 251 Calculus I Lab Write-Up #6

9.6.1 Exercises

The formulas used to graph Figures 9.6.1–9.6.5 are given below. Focusing first on the dominant
terms of the expressions, match the formulas with the functions ( f1 through f5 ).

3x + 6 16 + 4x 6x 2 − 6x − 36
1. y = 2. y = 3. y =
x −2 6+ x 36 − 3x − 3x 2
−2x + 8 15
4. y = 2 5. y =
x − 100 x −5

16 16
y y
x = −4

12 12

8 8
y =4
4 4
x x
−16 −12 −8 −4 4 8 12 16 −16 −12 −8 −4 4 8 12 16
−4 y = −2 −4

−8 −8

−12
x = −6 −12

−16 −16

Figure 9.6.1: y = f1 (x) Figure 9.6.2: y = f2 (x)

16 16
y y
12 12

8 8

4 y =3 4
y =0 x x
−16 −12 −8 −4 4 8 12 16 −16 −12 −8 −4 4 8 12 16
−4 −4

−8 −8
x = −10

x = 10

x =2

−12 −12

−16 −16

Figure 9.6.3: y = f3 (x) Figure 9.6.4: y = f4 (x)

Alex Jordan Fall 2024

MTH 251 Calculus I Lab Write-Up #6

16
y
12

4
y =0 x
−16 −12 −8 −4 4 8 12 16
−4

−8 x =5
−12

−16

Figure 9.6.5: y = f5 (x)

Use the concept of dominant terms to informally determine the value of each of the following limits.

4 + x − 7x 3 4t 2 + 1
6. lim 7. lim
x→−∞ 14x 3 + x 2 + 2 t→−∞ 4t 3 − 1

8 (3x + 1)(6x − 2)
8. lim 9. lim
γ→∞ 2γ3 x→∞ (4 + x)(1 − 2x)

4e t − 8e−t 4e t − 8e−t
10. lim 11. lim
t→∞ e t + e −t t→−∞ e t + e −t

Alex Jordan Fall 2024

MTH 251 Calculus I Lab Write-Up #6

9.7 Making Graphs

Let’s put it all together and produce some graphs.

9.7.1 Exercises
8x 2 −8
Consider the function f (x) = (2x−4)2 .

1. Evaluate each of the following limits: lim f (x), lim f (x), lim− f (x), and lim+ f (x).
x→∞ x→−∞ x→2 x→2

2. What are the horizontal and vertical asymptotes for f ’s graph?

3. What are the horizontal and vertical intercepts for f ’s graph?

4. Use the formulas f 0 (x) = and f 00 (x) =

4(1−2x) 4(4x+1)
(x−2)3 (x−2)4 to help you accomplish each of the
following.
• State the critical numbers of f .
• Create well-documented increasing/decreasing and concavity tables for f .
• State the local minimum, local maximum, and inflection points on f . Make sure that
you explicitly address all three types of points whether they exist or not.

Alex Jordan Fall 2024

MTH 251 Calculus I Lab Write-Up #6

5. Graph y = f (x) onto 9.7.1. Choose a scale that allows you to clearly illustrate each of the
features found in Exercises 9.7.1.1–9.7.1.4. Label all axes and asymptotes well and write the
coordinates of each local extreme point and inflection point next to the point.

Figure 9.7.1: y = f (x)

6. Check your graph using a graphing calculator.

7. Following analysis similar to that implied in Exercises 9.7.1.1–9.7.1.5 graph the function

1
g(t) = .
(e t + 4)2

Use the formulas

−2e t 4e t (e t − 2)
g 0 (t) = g 00 (t) = .
(e t + 4)3 (e t + 4)4

Check your graph using a graphing calculator.

Alex Jordan Fall 2024

MTH 251 Calculus I Lab Write-Up #6

Figure 9.7.2: y = g(x)

Alex Jordan Fall 2024