High School
SAT
ACT
University
MCAT
LSAT
DAT

Concavity, Inflection Points, Extrema and Intervals

Related Topics

Wize University Calculus 1 Textbook > Applications of Differentiation

Critical Points and Extrema

3 Activities

Wize University Calculus 1 Textbook > Applications of Differentiation

Concavity and Inflection Points

3 Activities

Wize University Calculus 1 Textbook > Applications of Differentiation

Intervals of Increase and Decrease

3 Activities

checklist
Mark Yourself Question
  1. Grab a piece of paper and try this problem yourself.
  2. When you're done, check the "I have answered this question" box below.
  3. View the solution and report whether you got it right or wrong.
Given f(x)=2−2x+13x3f(x)=2-2x+\frac{1}{3}x^3, find
  • the intervals of increase and decrease
  • the local maximum and minimum values
  • the intervals of concavity
  • the inflection points.
More Critical Points and Extrema Questions:
Critical points and extrema
Find all local extreme values of the function f(x)=x3−6x2+9x+1f(x)=x^3-6x^2+9x+1
Critical points and Extrema
For what values of pp the function f(x)=13x3+x2+px−1\displaystyle f(x)=\frac{1}{3}x^3+x^2+px-1 has at least one critical point.
Critical points and Extrema
Given this table of values, which of the following statements must NOT be true?
f(x)f′(x)f′′(x)x=0313x=100−1x=20−20\begin{array}{|c|c|c|c|} \hline &f(x)&f'(x)&f''(x)\\ \hline x=0&3&1&3\\ x=1&0&0&-1\\ x=2&0&-2&0\\ \hline \end{array}
Critical Points and Relative Extrema
Find all relative extrema for the function f(x)=4x−3x2/3f(x)=4x-3x^{2/3}.
Critical points and extrema
Where does the absolute maximum occur for the function f(x)=ex+1xf(x) = e^x + \frac{1}{x} on the interval [1,2][1, 2] .
Example: Absolute max and min
Example: Absolute max and minWize Concept Clarifier
Find the absolute extrema (max/min) of f(x)=e−x2+1f\left(x\right)=e^{-x^2}+1 on the interval [−1, ∞]\left[-1,\ \infty\right].
Relative Extrema
Find and classify all local and absolute extrema of f(x)=sin⁡xcos⁡xf\left(x\right)=\sin x\cos x on the interval [0,  2π]\left[0,\ \ 2\pi\right].
Max, Min, and Inflection Points
Given the following table of values, which statement(s) must always be true about f(x)f\left(x\right)? (Assume f(x)f\left(x\right) is continuous)
Select all that apply.
Critical Points and Extrema: Max and Min
Find and classify the critical points of f(x)=xex−exf(x)=xe^{x}-e^{x} as relative maxima or minima.
Critical Points and Extrema
What can be said about the extreme values of even and odd functions?
Q.\textbf{Q.} Find the absolute extrema of f(x)=2xx2+1\displaystyle f(x)=\frac{2x}{x^2+1} on the interval [0,2][0,2]. Then find the local/absolute extrema on its domain, and intervals of increase and decrease.
Critical Points and Relative Extrema
Find all relative extrema for the function f(x)=4x−3x2/3f(x)=4x-3x^{2/3}.
Continuity
Let f(x)f(x) be a continuous function on the open interval (a,b)(a, b). Which of the following four statements are always true.
Select all that apply.
Critical Points and Extrema
The following is the graph of f′′(x)f''\left(x\right), which of the following statements (if any) is correct?
Critical points and Extrema
Given this table of values, which of the following statements must NOT be true?
f(x)f′(x)f′′(x)x=0313x=100−1x=20−20\begin{array}{|c|c|c|c|} \hline &f(x)&f'(x)&f''(x)\\ \hline x=0&3&1&3\\ x=1&0&0&-1\\ x=2&0&-2&0\\ \hline \end{array}
Critical Points and Extrema
What can be said about the extreme values of even and odd functions?
What are the critical numbers for the function f(x)=x3exf(x)=x^3e^x ?
Conside the function f(x)=x1/4(x2−81)f(x)=x^{1/4}(x^2-81) which has derivative f′(x)=9(x2−9)4x3/4f'(x)=\frac{9(x^2-9)}{4x^{3/4}}. Which of the following lists all the critical points of f(x)f(x)?
Practice: Minimum Value (Similar to April 2018 Q45)
Find the minimum value of f(x)=14x4+13x3f(x)=\frac{1}{4}x^4+\frac{1}{3}x^3
How many critical numbers does the function f(x)=x2exf(x)=x^2e^x have?
Practice: Max, Min, and Inflection Points
Practice Question: Max, Min, and Inflection Points
Given the following table of values, which statement(s) must always be true about f(x)f\left(x\right)?
i.) f(x)f\left(x\right) has 3 critical points
Critical points and extrema
Find all local extreme values of the function f(x)=x3−6x2+9x+1f(x)=x^3-6x^2+9x+1
Critical Points and Extrema
The graph of the derivative f′(x)f^{'}(x) is shown
Where are the local minimums of f(x)f(x)located?
The graph of the derivative f′(x)f^{'}(x) is shown
Where are the local minimums of f(x)f(x)located? Also list the intervals for which f is concave up or down.
Find the critical points for f(x)=x−3x3f(x)=x-3\sqrt[3]{x}.
The graph of the derivative f′(x)f^{'}(x) is shown
Where are the local minimums of f(x)f(x)located? Also list the intervals for which f is concave up or down.
Q.\textbf{Q.} Find the absolute extrema of f(x)=2xx2+1\displaystyle f(x)=\frac{2x}{x^2+1} on the interval [0,2][0,2]. Then find the local/absolute extrema on its domain, and intervals of increase and decrease.
Critical Points and Relative Extrema
Find all relative extrema for the function f(x)=4x−3x2/3f(x)=4x-3x^{2/3}.
Critical Points and Extrema: Max and Min
Find and classify the critical points of f(x)=xex−exf(x)=xe^{x}-e^{x} as relative maxima or minima.
Optimization
For the following function, determine the intervals in which the function is increasing or decreasing, its critical points, and the intervals in which the function is concave upwards or downwards.
f(x)=x2−2ln⁡xf(x)=x^2-2\ln{x}
Critical points and Extrema
For what values of pp the function f(x)=13x3+x2+px−1\displaystyle f(x)=\frac{1}{3}x^3+x^2+px-1 has at least one critical point.
Consider the function f(x)=x2/3(x−5)f(x)=x^{2/3}(x-5) which has derivative f′(x)=5(x−2)3x1/3f'(x)=\frac{5(x-2)}{3x^{1/3}}. Which of the following lists all the critical points of f(x)f(x)?
Find the critical points for f(x)=x−3x3f(x)=x-3\sqrt[3]{x} as an ordered pair (x, y).
For the following function, determine all the local and global minimum/maximum and inflection points over the given interval
g(x)=x+2x on  (0,∞)g(x)=\sqrt{x}+\frac{2}{x} \text{ on }\ (0,\infty)
f′(x)f'(x) plot for a differentiable function is depicted below.
a) Find all critical point of ff in the range shown in the plot.
b) Determine which of the critical points found in the previous part are local max/min.
Find the critical points of f(x)=x+1x\displaystyle f(x)=x+\frac{1}{x}.
Find the critical point(s) of f(x)=x−3x3f(x)=x-3\sqrt[3]{x}.
Intervals of increase and decrease
For the following function, determine the intervals in which the function is increasing or decreasing, its critical points, and the intervals in which the function is concave upwards or downwards.
f(x)=x3ln⁡xf(x) = x^3 \ln x
Optimization
For the following function, determine the intervals in which the function is increasing or decreasing, its critical points, and the intervals in which the function is concave upwards or downwards.
y=e4x2xy=\frac{e^{4x}}{2x}
Which of the following statements is true about the function f(x)=(x2−3)e−xf\left(x\right)=\left(x^2-3\right)e^{-x}?
i.) The function has critical points at x=±3x=\pm\sqrt{3}
ii.) The function has a relative maximum at x=3x=3
Concavity and Inflection points
Give the graph of f′(x)f'\left(x\right) below, which of the following statments must be true about the graph of f(x)f\left(x\right)?
(Select all that apply)
Intervals of increase and decrease
If f′(x)=x5x+1(x−1)3(x+2)f'\left(x\right)=x^5\sqrt{x+1}\left(x-1\right)^3\left(x+2\right), which of the following statements about the graph of f(x)f\left(x\right) must be true?
(Select all that apply)
Example: Absolute max and min
Example: Absolute max and minWize Concept Clarifier
Find the absolute extrema (max/min) of f(x)=e−x2+1f\left(x\right)=e^{-x^2}+1 on the interval [−1, ∞]\left[-1,\ \infty\right].
Max, Min, and Inflection Points
Given the following table of values, which statement(s) must always be true about f(x)f\left(x\right)? (Assume f(x)f\left(x\right) is continuous)
Select all that apply.
Relative Extrema
Find and classify all local and absolute extrema of f(x)=sin⁡xcos⁡xf\left(x\right)=\sin x\cos x on the interval [0,  2π]\left[0,\ \ 2\pi\right].
Where does the absolute maximum occur for the function f(x)=ex+1xf(x) = e^x + \frac{1}{x} on the interval [1,2][1, 2] .
Critical points and extrema
Where does the absolute maximum occur for the function f(x)=ex+1xf(x) = e^x + \frac{1}{x} on the interval [1,2][1, 2] .
Critical Points and Extrema
Let f(x)f(x) be a smooth function (a function that has infinitely many derivatives that exist everywhere) and consider x=ax = a . Which of the following statements are correct? Check off all correct statements.
Critical points and extrema
f′(x)f'(x) plot for a differentiable function is depicted as below. Answer following questions.
Determine which of the critical points are local max/min
Critical points and extrema
f′(x)f'(x) plot for a differentiable function is depicted as below. Answer following questions.
Find all critical point of ff in the range shown in the plot.
Critical Points and Extrema
A math-inclined skier is going off a jump and getting his photo taken. His height above the photographer is given by f(t)=−t2+6t+5f(t)=-t^2+6t+5, where ttis the time in seconds after the skier leaves the ground. When should the photographer take the photo to get the skier at his maximum height above ground?
Critical points and extrema: Maximum and minimum on closed intervals
Find the absolute maximum value of f(x)=2ex(sin⁡x−cos⁡x)f(x)=2e^x(\sin x-\cos x)
on the interval [π/2,π][\pi/2,\pi].
Critical points and extrema: Maximum and Minimum on closed intervals
Find the absolute minimum of f(x)=arcsin(x2)f(x)=\text{arcsin}\left(\frac{x}{2}\right) on the interval [1,2][1,2].
Critical Points and Extrema: Maximum and Minimum on Closed Intervals
Find the absolute maximum of value of f(x)=2xx2+1\displaystyle f(x)=\frac{2x}{x^2+1}
on the interval [0,2][0,2].
More Concavity and Inflection Points Questions:
Concavity and Inflection Points
Determine the intervals of concavity of the function f(x)=x6−10x4f(x)=x^6-10x^4 and the inflection points of its graph.
Critical points and Extrema
Given this table of values, which of the following statements must NOT be true?
f(x)f′(x)f′′(x)x=0313x=100−1x=20−20\begin{array}{|c|c|c|c|} \hline &f(x)&f'(x)&f''(x)\\ \hline x=0&3&1&3\\ x=1&0&0&-1\\ x=2&0&-2&0\\ \hline \end{array}
Concavity and inflection points
f′(x)f'(x)plot for a differentiable function is depicted as below. Answer following questions.
Find interval(s) at which ff is concave down.
Concavity and Inflection Points
How many inflection points does the function f(x)=−13x2−5x−e2xf\left(x\right)=-\frac{1}{3x^2}-5x-e^{2x} have?
Max, Min, and Inflection Points
Given the following table of values, which statement(s) must always be true about f(x)f\left(x\right)? (Assume f(x)f\left(x\right) is continuous)
Select all that apply.
Practice: Inflection Point
Practice: Inflection Point
Find 𝑎 and 𝑏 values such that f(x)=ax3+bx2f\left(x\right)=ax^3+bx^2 has an inflection point at (−2, 48)\left(-2,\ 48\right).
Concavity and Inflection Points: Graph of a Derivative
Practice: Graph of a Derivative
Suppose that ff is a differentiable function on the interval [−4,2]\left[-4,2\right]. If the following graph represents the derivative of ff, which of the following statements is correct?
Determine where the following function is concave up/down: f(x)=xexf(x)=xe^x
Q.\textbf{Q.} Determine the interval(s) on which the graph of f(x)=1x2+4\displaystyle f(x)=\frac{1}{x^{2}+4} is concave up or down, and the inflection points.
Practice: Graph of a Derivative (~F2018 Final Q17) (~F2016 Final Q16)
Practice: Graph of a Derivative
Suppose that ff is a differentiable function on the interval (−4,2)(-4,2). If the following graph represents the derivative of ff, which of the following statements is correct?
Concavity and Inflection Points
Let f′′(x)=6x2(x−1)(x2−6)3/2(x−3)3f''(x)=\frac{6x^2\left(x-1\right)}{(x^2-6)^{3/2}(x-3)^3}
Critical Points and Extrema
The following is the graph of f′′(x)f''\left(x\right), which of the following statements (if any) is correct?
Critical points and Extrema
Given this table of values, which of the following statements must NOT be true?
f(x)f′(x)f′′(x)x=0313x=100−1x=20−20\begin{array}{|c|c|c|c|} \hline &f(x)&f'(x)&f''(x)\\ \hline x=0&3&1&3\\ x=1&0&0&-1\\ x=2&0&-2&0\\ \hline \end{array}
Which function is both always increasing and always concave down on its domain? (Select all that apply)
Practice
f(x)=1x2+1\displaystyle f(x)=\frac{1}{x^2+1}.
The first and the second derivatives are
f′(x)=−2x(x2+1)2 and f′′(x)=6x2−2(x2+1)3.\boxed{f^{\prime}(x)=\frac{-2x}{\left(x^{2}+1\right)^{2}}\quad\text{ and }\quad f^{\prime\prime}(x)=\frac{6x^{2}-2}{\left(x^{2}+1\right)^3}.}
Practice
f(x)=1x2+1\displaystyle f(x)=\frac{1}{x^2+1}.
The first and the second derivatives are
f′(x)=−2x(x2+1)2 and f′′(x)=6x2−2(x2+1)3.\boxed{f^{\prime}(x)=\frac{-2x}{\left(x^{2}+1\right)^{2}}\quad\text{ and }\quad f^{\prime\prime}(x)=\frac{6x^{2}-2}{\left(x^{2}+1\right)^3}.}
For a function ff, its 2nd derivative is f′′(x)=8x6−40x5f''\left(x\right)=8x^6-40x^5
Find the values of x for which ff has a point of inflection
Practice: Inflection Point
Practice Question: Inflection Point
Find 𝑎 and 𝑏 values such that f(x)=ax3+bx2f\left(x\right)=ax^3+bx^2 has an inflection point at (−2, 48)\left(-2,\ 48\right).
Practice: Max, Min, and Inflection Points
Practice Question: Max, Min, and Inflection Points
Given the following table of values, which statement(s) must always be true about f(x)f\left(x\right)?
i.) f(x)f\left(x\right) has 3 critical points
Concavity and Inflection Points
Find the intervals of increase/decrease and the intervals of concavity for f(x)=ln⁡(x2−1)f(x)=\ln(x^2-1)
Concavity and Inflection Points
Find all inflection points for the function f(x)=2x3−2x2+1f(x)=2x^3-2x^2+1
Determine where the following function is concave up/down: f(x)=xexf(x)=xe^x
The graph of the derivative f′(x)f^{'}(x) is shown
List the intervals for which f is concave up or down.
The graph of the derivative f′(x)f^{'}(x) is shown
Where are the local minimums of f(x)f(x)located? Also list the intervals for which f is concave up or down.
The graph of the derivative f′(x)f^{'}(x) is shown
Where are the local minimums of f(x)f(x)located? Also list the intervals for which f is concave up or down.
Q.\textbf{Q.} Determine the interval(s) on which the graph of f(x)=1x2+4\displaystyle f(x)=\frac{1}{x^{2}+4} is concave up or down, and the inflection points.
Determine where the following function is concave up/down: f(x)=xexf(x)=xe^x
Optimization
For the following function, determine the intervals in which the function is increasing or decreasing, its critical points, and the intervals in which the function is concave upwards or downwards.
f(x)=x2−2ln⁡xf(x)=x^2-2\ln{x}
Concavity and Inflection Points
Determine the intervals of concavity of the function f(x)=x6−10x4f(x)=x^6-10x^4 and the inflection points of its graph.
If f(x)f(x) is such that f′′(x)=(x2−1)2(x2+1)f''(x)=(x^2-1)^2(x^2+1), then its inflection point(s) occur at
f′(x)f'(x) plot for a differentiable function is depicted below.
Find all the inflection points of ff shown in the plot.
f′(x)f'(x) plot for a differentiable function is depicted below.
a) Find all critical point of ff in the range shown in the plot.
b) Determine which of the critical points found in the previous part are local max/min.
Intervals of increase and decrease
For the following function, determine the intervals in which the function is increasing or decreasing, its critical points, and the intervals in which the function is concave upwards or downwards.
f(x)=x3ln⁡xf(x) = x^3 \ln x
Optimization
For the following function, determine the intervals in which the function is increasing or decreasing, its critical points, and the intervals in which the function is concave upwards or downwards.
y=e4x2xy=\frac{e^{4x}}{2x}
Which of the following statements is true about the function f(x)=(x2−3)e−xf\left(x\right)=\left(x^2-3\right)e^{-x}?
i.) The function has critical points at x=±3x=\pm\sqrt{3}
ii.) The function has a relative maximum at x=3x=3
Find the inflection points of f(x)=xexf\left(x\right)=xe^x
Concavity and Inflection points
Give the graph of f′(x)f'\left(x\right) below, which of the following statments must be true about the graph of f(x)f\left(x\right)?
(Select all that apply)
Concavity and Infection Points
Find the point(s) of inflection and intervals of concave up and concave down of the graph of y=x46+3x32−5x22y=\frac{x^4}{6}+\frac{3x^3}{2}-\frac{5x^2}{2}.
Concavity and Inflection Points
How many inflection points does the function f(x)=−13x2−5x−e2xf\left(x\right)=-\frac{1}{3x^2}-5x-e^{2x} have?
Concavity and Inflection Points: Graph of a Derivative
Practice: Graph of a Derivative
Suppose that ff is a differentiable function on the interval [−4,2]\left[-4,2\right]. If the following graph represents the derivative of ff, which of the following statements is correct?
Practice: Inflection Point
Practice: Inflection Point
Find 𝑎 and 𝑏 values such that f(x)=ax3+bx2f\left(x\right)=ax^3+bx^2 has an inflection point at (−2, 48)\left(-2,\ 48\right).
Max, Min, and Inflection Points
Given the following table of values, which statement(s) must always be true about f(x)f\left(x\right)? (Assume f(x)f\left(x\right) is continuous)
Select all that apply.
Concavity and Inflection Points
Consider the function f(x)=x4−ax3+2f(x) = x^4 - ax^3 + 2 . For which values of aa does this function have no inflection points, or does such an aa not exist?
Consider the function f(x)=x4−ax3+2f(x) = x^4 - ax^3 + 2 . For which values of aa does this function have no inflection points, or does such an aa not exist?
Concavity and Inflection Points
Which one of the following statements is ALWAYS true for all differentiable functions f(x)f(x) under the conditions given in the statement?
Concavity and inflection points
f′(x)f'(x)plot for a differentiable function is depicted as below. Answer following questions.
Find interval(s) at which ff is concave down.
Concavity and Inflection points
f′(x)f'(x) plot for a differentiable function is depicted as below. Answer following questions.
Find all the inflection points of ff shown in the plot.
Concavity and Inflection Points
Which function is both always increasing and always concave down on its domain?
More Intervals of Increase and Decrease Questions:
Log & Exponential Function Properties
Which of the following functions is/are always increasing?
Intervals of Increase and Decrease
Find the intervals on which the function f(x)=−1x+1\displaystyle f(x)=-\frac{1}{x+1} is increasing or decreasing.
Intervals of Increase and Decrease
Find the intervals in which the function f(x)=x3+3x2−9x+1f(x)=x^{3}+3x^{2}-9x+1 is increasing or decreasing.
Q.\textbf{Q.} Find the absolute extrema of f(x)=2xx2+1\displaystyle f(x)=\frac{2x}{x^2+1} on the interval [0,2][0,2]. Then find the local/absolute extrema on its domain, and intervals of increase and decrease.
Intervals of Increase and Decrease
Find the intervals on which the function f(x)=x3+3x2−9x+1f(x)=x^{3}+3x^{2}-9x+1 is increasing or decreasing.
Q:\bf{Q:} Which of the following functions is/are always increasing?
Practice: Derivatives as a Rate of Change
f′(x)f'(x) plot for a differentiable function is depicted as below. Find interval(s) for which f(x)f\left(x\right) is increasing.
Intervals of Increase and Decrease
If the function is given by f(x)=∫x2(t+1)2(t−2)t dtf(x)=\int_x^2\left(t+1\right)^2\left(t-2\right)t\ dt, then f(x)f\left(x\right) is decreasing on the interval
Critical Points and Extrema
The following is the graph of f′′(x)f''\left(x\right), which of the following statements (if any) is correct?
Intervals of Increase and Decrease: Rate of Change
f′(x)f'(x) plot for a differentiable function is depicted as below. Find interval(s) for which f(x)f\left(x\right) is increasing.
Intervals of Increase and Decrease
f′(x)f'(x) plot for a differentiable function is depicted as below. Find interval(s) for which f(x)f\left(x\right) is increasing.
Concavity and Inflection Points
Find the intervals of increase/decrease and the intervals of concavity for f(x)=ln⁡(x2−1)f(x)=\ln(x^2-1)
Increasing Interval: Relative extrema
If the derivative of the function ff is f′(x)=ex(x−3)2(x+1)(2−x)f'\left(x\right)=e^x\left(x-3\right)^2\left(x+1\right)\left(2-x\right), then f(x)f\left(x\right) is increasing on the interval?
Intervals of Increase and Decrease
Find the intervals in which the function f(x)=x3+3x2−9x+1f(x)=x^{3}+3x^{2}-9x+1 is increasing or decreasing.
Q.\textbf{Q.} Find the absolute extrema of f(x)=2xx2+1\displaystyle f(x)=\frac{2x}{x^2+1} on the interval [0,2][0,2]. Then find the local/absolute extrema on its domain, and intervals of increase and decrease.
Intervals of Increase and Decrease
Find the intervals on which the function f(x)=x3+3x2−9x+1f(x)=x^{3}+3x^{2}-9x+1 is increasing or decreasing.
Intervals of Increase and Decrease
Find the intervals on which the function f(x)=−1x+1\displaystyle f(x)=-\frac{1}{x+1} is increasing or decreasing.
Q:\bf{Q:} Which of the following functions is/are always increasing?
Optimization
For the following function, determine the intervals in which the function is increasing or decreasing, its critical points, and the intervals in which the function is concave upwards or downwards.
f(x)=x2−2ln⁡xf(x)=x^2-2\ln{x}
f′(x)f'(x) plot for a differentiable function is depicted below.
Find interval(s) at which ff is increasing.
f′(x)f'(x) plot for a differentiable function is depicted below.
a) Find all critical point of ff in the range shown in the plot.
b) Determine which of the critical points found in the previous part are local max/min.
Intervals of increase and decrease
For the following function, determine the intervals in which the function is increasing or decreasing, its critical points, and the intervals in which the function is concave upwards or downwards.
f(x)=x3ln⁡xf(x) = x^3 \ln x
Optimization
For the following function, determine the intervals in which the function is increasing or decreasing, its critical points, and the intervals in which the function is concave upwards or downwards.
y=e4x2xy=\frac{e^{4x}}{2x}
Log & Exponential Function Properties
Which of the following functions is/are always increasing?
Intervals of increase and decrease
If f′(x)=x5x+1(x−1)3(x+2)f'\left(x\right)=x^5\sqrt{x+1}\left(x-1\right)^3\left(x+2\right), which of the following statements about the graph of f(x)f\left(x\right) must be true?
(Select all that apply)
Exercises
Find the intervals in which the function f(x)=−1x+1\displaystyle f(x)=\frac{-1}{x+1} is increasing or decreasing.
f′(x)f'(x) plot for a differentiable function is depicted as below. Answer the following questions.
Find interval(s) at which ffis increasing.