Section

4.2
Derivatives and the Shapes of Curves
V63.0121.034, Calculus I

November 11, 2009

Announcements
I

Final Exam Friday, December 18, 2:003:50pm

Wednesday, November 25 is a regular class day

.
.Image credit: cobalt123

Outline
Recall: The Mean Value Theorem
Monotonicity
The Increasing/Decreasing Test
Finding intervals of monotonicity
The First Derivative Test
Concavity
Denitions
Testing for Concavity
The Second Derivative Test

Recall: The Mean Value Theorem

Theorem (The Mean Value

Theorem)
Let f be continuous on [a, b]
and differentiable on (a, b).
Then there exists a point c in
(a, b) such that
f(b) f(a)
= f (c).
ba

.
.b
.

.
.
a

Recall: The Mean Value Theorem

Theorem (The Mean Value

Theorem)
Let f be continuous on [a, b]
and differentiable on (a, b).
Then there exists a point c in
(a, b) such that
f(b) f(a)
= f (c).
ba

.
.b
.

.
.
a

Recall: The Mean Value Theorem

Theorem (The Mean Value

Theorem)

..
c

Let f be continuous on [a, b]

and differentiable on (a, b).
Then there exists a point c in
(a, b) such that
f(b) f(a)
= f (c).
ba

.
.b
.

.
.
a

Why the MVT is the MITC

Most Important Theorem In Calculus!

Theorem

Let f = 0 on an interval (a, b). Then f is constant on (a, b).

Proof.
Pick any points x and y in (a, b) with x < y. Then f is continuous
on [x, y] and differentiable on (x, y). By MVT there exists a point
z in (x, y) such that
f(y) f(x)
= f (z) = 0.
yx
So f(y) = f(x). Since this is true for all x and y in (a, b), then f is
constant.

Outline
Recall: The Mean Value Theorem
Monotonicity
The Increasing/Decreasing Test
Finding intervals of monotonicity
The First Derivative Test
Concavity
Denitions
Testing for Concavity
The Second Derivative Test

What does it mean for a function to be increasing?

Denition
A function f is increasing on (a, b) if
f(x) < f(y)
whenever x and y are two points in (a, b) with x < y.

What does it mean for a function to be increasing?

Denition
A function f is increasing on (a, b) if
f(x) < f(y)
whenever x and y are two points in (a, b) with x < y.
I

An increasing function preserves order.

Write your own denition (mutatis mutandis) of decreasing,

nonincreasing, nondecreasing

The Increasing/Decreasing Test

Theorem (The Increasing/Decreasing Test)
If f > 0 on (a, b), then f is increasing on (a, b). If f < 0 on (a, b),
then f is decreasing on (a, b).

The Increasing/Decreasing Test

Theorem (The Increasing/Decreasing Test)
If f > 0 on (a, b), then f is increasing on (a, b). If f < 0 on (a, b),
then f is decreasing on (a, b).

Proof.
It works the same as the last theorem. Pick two points x and y in
(a, b) with x < y. We must show f(x) < f(y). By MVT there exists
a point c in (x, y) such that
f(y) f(x)
= f (c) > 0.
yx
So

f(y) f(x) = f (c)(y x) > 0.

Finding intervals of monotonicity I

Example
Find the intervals of monotonicity of f(x) = 2x 5.

Finding intervals of monotonicity I

Example
Find the intervals of monotonicity of f(x) = 2x 5.

Solution

f (x) = 2 is always positive, so f is increasing on (, ).

Finding intervals of monotonicity I

Example
Find the intervals of monotonicity of f(x) = 2x 5.

Solution

f (x) = 2 is always positive, so f is increasing on (, ).

Example
Describe the monotonicity of f(x) = arctan(x).

Finding intervals of monotonicity I

Example
Find the intervals of monotonicity of f(x) = 2x 5.

Solution

f (x) = 2 is always positive, so f is increasing on (, ).

Example
Describe the monotonicity of f(x) = arctan(x).

Solution

Since f (x) =

1
is always positive, f(x) is always increasing.
1 + x2

Finding intervals of monotonicity II

Example
Find the intervals of monotonicity of f(x) = x2 1.

Finding intervals of monotonicity II

Example
Find the intervals of monotonicity of f(x) = x2 1.

Solution
I f (x)

= 2x, which is positive when x > 0 and negative when x

is.

Finding intervals of monotonicity II

Example
Find the intervals of monotonicity of f(x) = x2 1.

Solution
I f (x)

= 2x, which is positive when x > 0 and negative when x

is.
I

We can draw a number line:

.
.0.
.0

f.

.+

Finding intervals of monotonicity II

Example
Find the intervals of monotonicity of f(x) = x2 1.

Solution
I f (x)

= 2x, which is positive when x > 0 and negative when x

is.
I

We can draw a number line:

.
.0.
.0
.

f.
.f

.
+
.

Finding intervals of monotonicity II

Example
Find the intervals of monotonicity of f(x) = x2 1.

Solution
I f (x)

= 2x, which is positive when x > 0 and negative when x

is.
I

We can draw a number line:

.
.0.
.0
.

f.
.f

.
+
.

So f is decreasing on (, 0) and increasing on (0, ).

Finding intervals of monotonicity II

Example
Find the intervals of monotonicity of f(x) = x2 1.

Solution
I f (x)

= 2x, which is positive when x > 0 and negative when x

is.
I

We can draw a number line:

.
.0.
.0
.

f.
.f

.
+
.

So f is decreasing on (, 0) and increasing on (0, ).

In fact we can say f is decreasing on (, 0] and increasing

on [0, )
.

Finding intervals of monotonicity III

Example
Find the intervals of monotonicity of f(x) = x2/3 (x + 2).

Finding intervals of monotonicity III

Example
Find the intervals of monotonicity of f(x) = x2/3 (x + 2).

Solution
f (x) = 23 x1/3 (x + 2) + x2/3 = 13 x1/3 (5x + 4)
The critical points are 0 and and 4/5.
.
.

..

.0
..
0
.4/5

.+

x. 1/3

.+

.5x + 4

Finding intervals of monotonicity III

Example
Find the intervals of monotonicity of f(x) = x2/3 (x + 2).

Solution
f (x) = 23 x1/3 (x + 2) + x2/3 = 13 x1/3 (5x + 4)
The critical points are 0 and and 4/5.
.
.

..

.0
..
0
.4/5
.0.
.4/5

.+

x. 1/3

.+

.5x + 4
f. (x)

..

.0

.f(x)
.

Finding intervals of monotonicity III

Example
Find the intervals of monotonicity of f(x) = x2/3 (x + 2).

Solution
f (x) = 23 x1/3 (x + 2) + x2/3 = 13 x1/3 (5x + 4)
The critical points are 0 and and 4/5.
.
.
.
+
.

..

.0
..
0
.4/5
..
.0. .
.4/5 . .0

.+

x. 1/3

.+

.5x + 4
f. (x)

.
+
.

.f(x)
.

The First Derivative Test

Theorem (The First Derivative Test)

Let f be continuous on [a, b] and c a critical point of f in (a, b).
I

If f (x) > 0 on (a, c) and f (x) < 0 on (c, b), then c is a local
maximum.

If f (x) < 0 on (a, c) and f (x) > 0 on (c, b), then c is a local
minimum.

If f (x) has the same sign on (a, c) and (c, b), then c is not a
local extremum.

Finding intervals of monotonicity II

Example
Find the intervals of monotonicity of f(x) = x2 1.

Solution
I f (x)

= 2x, which is positive when x > 0 and negative when x

is.
I

We can draw a number line:

.
.0.
.0
.

f.
.f

.
+
.

So f is decreasing on (, 0) and increasing on (0, ).

In fact we can say f is decreasing on (, 0] and increasing

on [0, )
.

Finding intervals of monotonicity II

Example
Find the intervals of monotonicity of f(x) = x2 1.

Solution
I f (x)

= 2x, which is positive when x > 0 and negative when x

is.
I

We can draw a number line:

.
.0.
.0
.
.min

f.
.f

.
+
.

So f is decreasing on (, 0) and increasing on (0, ).

In fact we can say f is decreasing on (, 0] and increasing

on [0, )
.

Finding intervals of monotonicity III

Example
Find the intervals of monotonicity of f(x) = x2/3 (x + 2).

Solution
f (x) = 23 x1/3 (x + 2) + x2/3 = 13 x1/3 (5x + 4)
The critical points are 0 and and 4/5.
.
.
.
+
.

..

.0
..
0
.4/5
..
.0. .
.4/5 . .0

.+

x. 1/3

.+

.5x + 4
f. (x)

.
+
.

.f(x)
.

Finding intervals of monotonicity III

Example
Find the intervals of monotonicity of f(x) = x2/3 (x + 2).

Solution
f (x) = 23 x1/3 (x + 2) + x2/3 = 13 x1/3 (5x + 4)
The critical points are 0 and and 4/5.
.
.
.
+
.

..

.0
..
0
.4/5
.0. . ..
.4/5 . .0
.max .min

.+

x. 1/3

.+

.5x + 4
f. (x)

.
+
.

.f(x)
.

Outline
Recall: The Mean Value Theorem
Monotonicity
The Increasing/Decreasing Test
Finding intervals of monotonicity
The First Derivative Test
Concavity
Denitions
Testing for Concavity
The Second Derivative Test

Denition
The graph of f is called concave up on and interval I if it lies
above all its tangents on I. The graph of f is called concave down
on I if it lies below all its tangents on I.

concave up
concave down
We sometimes say a concave up graph holds water and a
concave down graph spills water.
.

Denition
A point P on a curve y = f(x) is called an inection point if f is
continuous there and the curve changes from concave upward to
concave downward at P (or vice versa).
.concave up
i.nection point
.
.concave .
down

Theorem (Concavity Test)

I

If f (x) > 0 for all x in an interval I, then the graph of f is

concave upward on I

If f (x) < 0 for all x in I, then the graph of f is concave

downward on I

Theorem (Concavity Test)

I

If f (x) > 0 for all x in an interval I, then the graph of f is

concave upward on I

If f (x) < 0 for all x in I, then the graph of f is concave

downward on I

Proof.

Suppose f (x) > 0 on I. This means f is increasing on I. Let a and

x be in I. The tangent line through (a, f(a)) is the graph of
L(x) = f(a) + f (a)(x a)
By MVT, there exists a c between a and x with
So

f(x) f(a)
= f (c).
xa

f(x) = f(a) + f (c)(x a) f(a) + f (a)(x a) = L(x)

.

Example
Find the intervals of concavity for the graph of f(x) = x3 + x2 .

Example
Find the intervals of concavity for the graph of f(x) = x3 + x2 .

Solution
I

We have f (x) = 3x2 + 2x, so f (x) = 6x + 2.

Example
Find the intervals of concavity for the graph of f(x) = x3 + x2 .

Solution
I

We have f (x) = 3x2 + 2x, so f (x) = 6x + 2.

This is negative when x < 1/3, positive when x > 1/3, and
0 when x = 1/3

Example
Find the intervals of concavity for the graph of f(x) = x3 + x2 .

Solution
I

We have f (x) = 3x2 + 2x, so f (x) = 6x + 2.

This is negative when x < 1/3, positive when x > 1/3, and
0 when x = 1/3

So f is concave down on (, 1/3), concave up on

(1/3, ), and has an inection point at (1/3, 2/27)

Example
Find the intervals of concavity of the graph of f(x) = x2/3 (x + 2).

Example
Find the intervals of concavity of the graph of f(x) = x2/3 (x + 2).

Solution
I f (x)

10 1/3 4 4/3 2 4/3

x
x
= x
(5x 2)
9
9
9

Example
Find the intervals of concavity of the graph of f(x) = x2/3 (x + 2).

Solution
10 1/3 4 4/3 2 4/3
x
x
= x
(5x 2)
9
9
9
The second derivative f (x) is not dened at 0

I f (x)
I

Example
Find the intervals of concavity of the graph of f(x) = x2/3 (x + 2).

Solution
10 1/3 4 4/3 2 4/3
x
x
= x
(5x 2)
9
9
9
The second derivative f (x) is not dened at 0

I f (x)
I
I

Otherwise, x4/3 is always positive, so the concavity is

determined by the 5x 2 factor

Example
Find the intervals of concavity of the graph of f(x) = x2/3 (x + 2).

Solution
10 1/3 4 4/3 2 4/3
x
x
= x
(5x 2)
9
9
9
The second derivative f (x) is not dened at 0

I f (x)
I

Otherwise, x4/3 is always positive, so the concavity is

determined by the 5x 2 factor

So f is concave down on (, 0], concave down on [0, 2/5),

concave up on (2/5, ), and has an inection point when
x = 2/5

The Second Derivative Test

Theorem (The Second Derivative Test)

Let f, f , and f be continuous on [a, b]. Let c be be a point in

(a, b) with f (c) = 0.
I

If f (c) < 0, then f(c) is a local maximum.

If f (c) > 0, then f(c) is a local minimum.

The Second Derivative Test

Theorem (The Second Derivative Test)

Let f, f , and f be continuous on [a, b]. Let c be be a point in

(a, b) with f (c) = 0.
I

If f (c) < 0, then f(c) is a local maximum.

If f (c) > 0, then f(c) is a local minimum.

Remarks
I

If f (c) = 0, the second derivative test is inconclusive (this

does not mean c is neither; we just dont know yet).

We look for zeroes of f and plug them into f to determine if

their f values are local extreme values.

Example
Find the local extrema of f(x) = x3 + x2 .

Example
Find the local extrema of f(x) = x3 + x2 .

Solution
I f (x)

= 3x2 + 2x = x(3x + 2) is 0 when x = 0 or x = 2/3.

Example
Find the local extrema of f(x) = x3 + x2 .

Solution
I f (x)
I

= 3x2 + 2x = x(3x + 2) is 0 when x = 0 or x = 2/3.

Remember f (x) = 6x + 2

Example
Find the local extrema of f(x) = x3 + x2 .

Solution
I f (x)

= 3x2 + 2x = x(3x + 2) is 0 when x = 0 or x = 2/3.

Remember f (x) = 6x + 2

Since f (2/3) = 2 < 0, 2/3 is a local maximum.

Example
Find the local extrema of f(x) = x3 + x2 .

Solution
I f (x)

= 3x2 + 2x = x(3x + 2) is 0 when x = 0 or x = 2/3.

Remember f (x) = 6x + 2

Since f (2/3) = 2 < 0, 2/3 is a local maximum.

Since f (0) = 2 > 0, 0 is a local minimum.

Example
Find the local extrema of f(x) = x2/3 (x + 2)

Example
Find the local extrema of f(x) = x2/3 (x + 2)

Solution
I

Remember f (x) =
x = 4/5

1 1/3
x
(5x + 4) which is zero when
3

Example
Find the local extrema of f(x) = x2/3 (x + 2)

Solution
I

Remember f (x) =
x = 4/5

Remember f (x) =
x = 4/5

1 1/3
x
(5x + 4) which is zero when
3
10 4/3
x
(5x 2), which is negative when
9

Example
Find the local extrema of f(x) = x2/3 (x + 2)

Solution
I

Remember f (x) =
x = 4/5

Remember f (x) =
x = 4/5

1 1/3
x
(5x + 4) which is zero when
3
10 4/3
x
(5x 2), which is negative when
9

So x = 4/5 is a local maximum.

Example
Find the local extrema of f(x) = x2/3 (x + 2)

Solution
I

Remember f (x) =
x = 4/5

Remember f (x) =
x = 4/5

1 1/3
x
(5x + 4) which is zero when
3
10 4/3
x
(5x 2), which is negative when
9

So x = 4/5 is a local maximum.

Notice the Second Derivative Test doesnt catch the local

minimum x = 0 since f is not differentiable there.

Graph

Graph of f(x) = x2/3 (x + 2):

.y
.(4/5, 1.03413)
.
.

.(2, 0)

(. 2/5, 1.30292)

.
.(0, 0)

.x

When the second derivative is zero

At inection points c, if f is differentiable at c, then f (c) = 0

Is it necessarily true, though?

When the second derivative is zero

At inection points c, if f is differentiable at c, then f (c) = 0

Is it necessarily true, though?

Consider these examples:

f (x ) = x 4

g(x) = x4

h(x) = x3

When rst and second derivative are zero

function
f (x ) = x 4

g (x ) =

x4

h(x) = x3

derivatives

graph

type

f (x) = 4x3 , f (0) = 0

min

f (x) = 12x2 , f (0) = 0

g (x) = 4x3 , g (0) = 0

max

g (x) = 12x2 , g (0) = 0

h (x) = 3x2 , h (0) = 0

in.

h (x) = 6x, h (0) = 0

When the second derivative is zero

At inection points c, if f is differentiable at c, then f (c) = 0

Is it necessarily true, though?

Consider these examples:

f (x ) = x 4

g(x) = x4

h(x) = x3

All of them have critical points at zero with a second derivative of

zero. But the rst has a local min at 0, the second has a local
max at 0, and the third has an inection point at 0. This is why
we say 2DT has nothing to say when f (c) = 0.

What have we learned today?

Concepts: Mean Value Theorem, monotonicity, concavity

Facts: derivatives can detect monotonicity and concavity

Techniques for drawing curves: the Increasing/Decreasing

Test and the Concavity Test

Techniques for nding extrema: the First Derivative Test and

the Second Derivative Test

What have we learned today?

Concepts: Mean Value Theorem, monotonicity, concavity

Facts: derivatives can detect monotonicity and concavity

Techniques for drawing curves: the Increasing/Decreasing

Test and the Concavity Test

Techniques for nding extrema: the First Derivative Test and

the Second Derivative Test

Next week: Graphing functions!