MATHEMATICS

GRADE :12
CURRICULUM DISCUSSION
: RECAP CUBIC FUNCTIONS

1
Summary: The graphical forms of a cubic

We are often required to derive a function's equation from information contained in

its graph. The detective work necessitates a good understanding of the essential
form of the basic functions and then using the particular features of the curve
(locations of intercepts, zeros, centres etc) to uniquely identify the function.
When dealing with cubic curves, we are looking for one of the following shapes
 The graphical forms of a cubic Cont…
The six graphs are broken into two sets according to whether the coefficient of the leading
term a is positive or negative.
Each graph shows a vertical red dashed line cutting across the cubic's central point. This point could
be halfway between two local extrema (graphs A and D), or one of two types of inflection - a
horizontal inflection (graphs B and E) or a rising or falling inflection (graphs C and F).

The general equation of the cubic is given as y=ax3+bx2+cx+d. A nice way to classify the six graphs
is based on calculus techniques and involves the quantity b2−3ac. The above six graphs fall into
three categories shown here in the table
The function forms of a cubic
Two of the graphs (Graphs B and E) have immediately recognisable function forms
given by y=a(x−h)3+k. It can be thought of as the translated form of the
base function y=ax3 with the horizontal inflection found at (h,k).
Two other graphs (Graphs C and F) are also immediately recognisable in that they
have forms that contain exactly one linear factor and an irreducible quadratic
factor, and this means the graph can only ever cross the x - axis once.
The other two graphs (Graphs A and D) have function forms that very much
depend on the relative position of the x - axis.
In regard to these graphs, think about this diagram showing different possibilities:

It shows the five essentially

different positions of graph A
relative to the x - axis. The same
sort of scenario would apply to
functions with a negative leading
coefficient a.
The function forms of a cubic Cont…

The three inner positions of graph

type A can be completely factored
into linear factors as shown by the
equations attached to each curve
in the above diagram

Note that the two red curves in the outside positions show graph type A with the single zero x=r.
They correspond to cubic functions of the form y=a(x−r)(x2+px+q) where the quadratic expression is
irreducible. This means it's unable to be broken into two simpler linear factors.
What this also means is that it is difficult to find the equations of the two outside graphs. It can be
done, however, we need to be given at least four pieces of information on each graph before we can
determine their equations.
For example if we knew the coordinates of four points on any one of the graphs, we could use
simultaneous equations to find its unknown coefficients.
Finding the cubic's equation
We are now in a position to determine the equation of a graphed cubic, and we will give some examples
to illustrate the techniques.
Finding the cubic's equation
Finding the cubic's equation
Solution Question 1
Solution Question 2
Solution Question 3
EXPLORE THE CUBIC FUNCTION; QUADRATIC
FUNCTION & LINEAR FUNCTION LINK

f ( x) = x − 6 x + 9 x
3 2

f ( x ) = 3 x − 12 x + 9
/ 2

f ( x ) = 6 x − 12
//
 12 y
10
8
6 (1 ; 4) (2 ; 2)
4
2 x
–1 1 2 3 4 5
–2 (3 ; 0)
–4
–6
–8
f ( x) = x − 6 x + 9 x
3 2
–10
–12 f ( x ) = 3 x − 12 x + 9
/ 2
–14
f ( x ) = 6 x − 12
//
 12 y
10
8
6
4
2 x
–1 1 2 3 4 5
–2
–4
–6 If f ( x )  0 then f ( x ) increases
/
–8
–10 If f ( x )  0 then f ( x ) decreases
/
–12
–14 If f ( x ) = 0 then f ( x ) is stationary
/
 12 y Point of inflection
10
8
6
4
2 x
–1 1 2 3 4 5
–2
–4
–6
–8
–10
–12
–14

If f ( x ) = 0 then f ( x ) has a point of inflection

//
 12 y
10
8
6
4
2 x
–1 1 2 3 4 5
–2
–4
f ( x ) = 6 x − 12
//
–6
–8
 0 = 6 x − 12
–10
–12
−6 x = −12
–14 x = 2
 12 y
The second derivative test
10
8
6
4
2 x
–1 1 2 3 4 5
–2
–4
–6
–8
–10 If f (1)  0 then f ( x ) has a max TP
//
–12
–14 If f (3)  0 then f ( x ) has a min TP
//
 12 y
10 Concavity
8
6
4
2 x
–1 1 2 3 4 5
–2
–4
–6
–8
–10
–12 If f ( x )  0 then f ( x ) is concave down
//
–14
If f ( x )  0 then f ( x ) is concave up
//
 12 y
10
8 concave down
6
4
2 x
–1 1 2 3/ / 4 5
–2
–4
f ( x)  0
–6  6 x − 12  0
–8
–10  6 x  12
–12
–14 x  2
 12 y
10
8
6
4
2 x
–1 1 2 3 4 5
–2
–4
concave up
–6
–8 f ( x)  0
//
–10
–12
 6 x − 12  0
–14  6 x  12
x  2
 12 y
10
8
6 (1 ; 4) (2 ; 2)
4
2 x
–1 1 2 3 4 5
–2 (3 ; 0)
–4
–6
–8
The grad of f decreases for all
–10 x2 f ( x )  0
–12
–14 The grad of f increases for all
x2 f ( x )  0
 12 y
10
8
6 (1 ; 4) (2 ; 2)
4
2 x
–1 1 2 3
–2 (3 ; 0) 4 5
–4
–6 At a local max, f ( x ) = 0
–8
–10 The grad of f is also decreasing
–12
–14 at the local max f ( x )  0
 12 y
10
8
6 (1 ; 4) (2 ; 2)
4
2 x
–1 1 2 3 4 5
–2 (3 ; 0)
–4
–6 At a local min, f ( x ) = 0
–8
–10 The grad of f is also increasing
–12
–14 f ( x )  0
Some Observations from the 3 graphs

o The graph of f (cubic) has stationary points where the graph of f  (parabola) has x- intercepts.
For both graphs, f (1) = f (3) = 0.
o The first derivative can be used to establish that there is a local maximum turning point at x = 1 and
a local minimum at x = 3 .
Consider x = 1:

The signs change as follows when moving from left to right: + 0 −

The gradient of f is positive, becomes stationary (zero) and then negative.
The graph of f  is above the x-axis, cuts the x-axis and then moves below the x-axis
(when moving from left to right).

Consider x = 3 :

The signs change as follows when moving from left to right: − 0 +

The gradient of f is negative, becomes stationary (zero) and then positive.

The graph of f  is below the x-axis, cuts the x-axis and then m
 The second derivative can be used as follows:
o The graph of f (cubic) has a non-stationary point of inflection at the turning point of
f (parabola). This is where the gradient of f  equals 0, i.e. f (2) = 0. The graph of the
line f  cuts the x-axis at x = 2.
o Since f (1)  0 , the graph of f has a local maximum turning point at x = 1.
The y-value of the line f  is negative at x = 1.
o Since f (3)  0 , the graph of f has a local minimum turning point at x = 3 .
The y-value of the line f  is positive at x = 3 .
o The graph of f is concave down for all f (x)  0.
The line f  is below the x-axis to the left of 2. Therefore, the graph of f is concave down
for all x  2 . Also, f  (the gradient of f ) is decreasing for all x  2 .

o The graph of f is concave up for all f (x)  0 . The line f  is above the x-axis to the right
of 2. Therefore, the graph of f is concave up for all x  2. Also, f  (the gradient of f ) is
increasing for all x  2.
o The graph of f is concave down for all f (x)  0.
The line f  is below the x-axis to the left of 2. Therefore, the graph of f is concave
down for all x  2 . Also, f  (the gradient of f ) is decreasing for all x  2 .

o The graph of f is concave up for all f (x)  0 . The line f  is above the x-axis
to the right of 2. Therefore, the graph of f is concave up for all x  2. Also, f  (the
gradient of f ) is increasing for all x  2.
Thank you