Section 3.

6 Curve Sketching
This section combines all we have learnt in Sections 3.2 through 3.5.Here we
will graph a function using the following the recipe :

1) Find domain of the the function

2) Find the intercepts (y-intercept is easy to find. If finding x-intercept
is causing you trouble you may skip that one)
3) Find the vertical and horizontal asymptotes
4) Find critical values (first derivative info)
5) Calculate the second derivative find where the second derivative is
equal to zero or undefined
6) Prepare the sign chart using the results of step 4 and 5 above and
determine how the curve bends in each of the intervals.
7) (Optional but useful) Calculate the value of your function at the critical points.
8) Sketch the graph.

Example Sketch the graph of f (x) =

2
x
x+1

Domain f(x) is not defined when x + 1 0. So we want x + 1 > 0

x > 1 which implies Domain of f=(1, )
2

Intercepts y-intercept: 00+1 = 0 (0, 0) /x-intercept:

0 (0, 0). So there is only one intercept.

2
x
x+1

=0x=

Asymptotes
Vertical Asymptote f is not defined at x = 1 but we know we need to
check the limit to make sure that it is indeed the vertical asymptote. Since
2
lim xx+1 = , x = 1 is a vertical asymptote.
x1+

Note that I only have to check one sided limit here as f is not defined on the
other side.

Horizontal Asymptote For the horizontal asymptote we need the limit

at
x2
lim
= lim
x
x
x + 1 |{z}
0
L Hop

2x
1
2 x+1

= lim x x + 1 =
x

So f has no horizontal asymptote.

Critical V alues Find the derivative and determine where it is zero or
undefined.

1
)
2x( x + 1) x2 ( 2x+1
3x2 + 4x
0

f (x) =
=
2(x + 1)3/2
( x + 1)2
Now the critical values f 0 (x) = 0 3x2 + 4x = 0 x(3x + 4) = 0
4
x = 0 or x = 4
3 . Since x = 3 is not in our domain we will exclude this
one from out sign chart.
f 0 (x) dne when x = 1 but then again this point is not in our domain.
2nd

Derivative Resolve the concavity issue finding the second derivative

f 00 (x) =

(6x + 4)[2(x + 1)3/2 ] (3x2 + 4x)[3(x + 1)1/2 ]

3x2 + 8x + 8
=
[2(x + 1)3/2 ]2
4(x + 1)5/2
2

f00 (x) = 0 is not

p possible because
the quadratic in the numerator has
b2 4ac = 64 4(3)8 = 32 < 0. Like in the first derivative case
f 00 (x) is not defined when x = 1 which is not in fs domain.
Sign Chart Here is the sign chart based on the results of the two previous
steps.

Graph Here is the graph based on the 6 steps above:

Out[7]=

Example Sketch the graph of f (x) = 34 (x2 1)2/3

Domain f(x) is is defined for all real numbers. So Domain of f=<
Intercepts y-intercept:
x-intercept:

3 2
4 (x

3 2
4 (0

1)2/3 =

3
4

(0, 43 )

1)2/3 = 0 x2 = 1 (1, 0).

Asymptotes
Vertical Asymptote Since f has no problem points in its domain we do
not have any vertical asymptotes.
3 2
(x 1)2/3
x 4

Horizontal Asymptote lim

3 2
(x 1)2/3
x 4

= . Also lim

says there is no horizontal asymptotes either.

Critical V alues Find the derivative and determine where it is zero or

undefined.
x
3 2
f 0 (x) = ( )( )(x2 1)1/3 (2x) = 2
4 3
(x 1)1/3
Now the critical values
f 0 (x) = 0 x = 0 and f 0 (x) dne when x2 = 1 x = 1.
So critical values are x = 1, 0, 1
2nd

Derivative Resolve the concavity issue finding the second derivative

(x2 1)1/3 x 13 (x2 1)2/3 (2x)

x2 3
=
(x2 1)2/3
3(x2 1)4/3

f 00 (x) = 0 implies x2 = 3 x = 3 and f 00 (x) dne implies x = 1

f 00 (x) =

Sign Chart Here is the sign chart based on the results of the two previous
steps.

Graph Here is the graph based on the 6 steps above: