CHAPTER 3

APPLICATIONS OF DIFFERENTIATION

3.2 ANALYSIS OF FUNCTIONS

Finding Intervals for Increasing and Decreasing Functions.

Objectives:
1. To determine increasing and decreasing functions
2. To find extremum points..

Let f be differentiable on the open interval (a, b)

a. If f’(x) > 0 on (a, b) then f is increasing on (a, b)
b. If f’(x) < 0 on (a, b), then f is decreasing on (a, b)
c. If f’(x) = 0 on (a, b) then f is linear on (a, b)

First Derivative Test: to determine intervals where f(x) is increasing and decreasing.

Finding Critical points

Given f(x) is continuous in the interval (a, b).

If c is a critical value, then (c, f(c)) is a critical point.

Critical point, (c, f(c)) can be classified as:

Interval Sign of f’(c) (c, f(c))

(a, c) +
(c, b) - Maximum point

(a, c) +
Minimum point
(c, b) -

(a, c) + OR -
No extremum
(c, b) + -

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Chapter 3 Applications of Differentiation

Example 1

Determine the interval where f(x) is increasing and decreasing for f ( x )  4 x 2  3x  2 . Hence
determine the extremum point(s).

Solution:

Find f’(x)
f ( x )  4 x 2  3x  2
f ' ( x )  8x  3
Determine critical values: f’(x) = 0
8x  3  0
3
x
8

3/8
3  3    3 23 
Critical point:  , f      , 
8
 8
   8 16 

First derivative test:

Interval Test Value Sign of f’(x) Slope

 3
  ,  0 - Decreasing
 8
3 
 , 1 + Increasing
8 

3 
f(x) increasing in the interval  ,  
8 
 3
f(x) decreasing in the interval   , 
 8

3/8
 3 23 
Minimum point:  , 
 8 16 

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Chapter 3 Applications of Differentiation

Example 5

Find the interval of x where the function f ( x )  x 4  18x 2 is increasing and decreasing. Hence
determine the extremum point(s).

Example 6

Find all critical points of f ( x )  x 3  4 x 2  3x  8 . Hence, determine the extremum point(s).

3.1.1 Concavity and inflection points

Objectives:
 to determine concavity
 to find inflection points

Let f be differentiable on an interval.

a. f(x) is concave up on any interval where f ’’(x)>0
b. f(x) is concave down on any interval where f ’’(x) < 0

increase
decrease
increase
decrease

Second derivative test: to determine concavity

Procedure for Concavity

Step 1: Find f’(x)

Step 2: Find f’’(x)
Step 3: Let f’’(x)=0 and solve for x. Let say the solution is x = c and x = d
Step 4: Check the concavity on x < c, c < x < d and x > d

Example 7

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Chapter 3 Applications of Differentiation

Find the interval where f ( x )  x 4  4 x 3  10 x is concave up and down.

Solution:
f ( x )  x 4  4 x 3  10 x
f ' ( x )  4x3 – 12x2 +10

f’’(x) = 12x2 -24x

Let f’’(x)=0,
12x2 -24x = 0
12x(x-2)=0
x = 0, 2

Concavity test:
Interval Test Value Sign of f’’(x) Concavity Conclusion
 ,0 -1 (-) (-) = + Concave upward

0,2 Concave
1 (-) (+) = -
downward
2,   3 (+) (+) = + Concave upward

An inflection point is a point where the concavity changes. Let c is an inflection value, then
(c,f(c)) is an inflection point.

From example 7, f ( x )  x 4  4 x 3  10 x

At x = 0, the concavity changes (up to down)

At x = 2, the concavity changes (down to up)

(2, 4)

(0, 0)

Inflection values: 0, 2
Inflection points: (0, f (0)) and (2, f (2))
Therefore, the inflection points are (0, 0) and (2, 4)

3.1.2 Asymptotes

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Chapter 3 Applications of Differentiation

Vertical asymptote

A vertical asymptote occurs at x = c when the following are all true

1. f (c) is undefined
2. lim f ( x )   or  
x c
3. lim f ( x )   or  
x c 

This happens most often with a rational function at a value of x that leads to a denominator of
zero

Example 8
2
Determine the vertical asymptote for f ( x ) 
2x  2
Solution:

f(x) is undefined when 2x + 2 = 0 where x = -1.

2
lim   
x  1 2 x  2

2
lim  
x  1 2 x  2

Horizontal asymptote

A horizontal asymptote is a horizontal line that the graph of a function approaches, but never
touches as x approaches negative or positive infinity.

A horizontal asymptote occurs at x = c when the following are all true

1. lim f ( x )  L
x  

2. lim f ( x )  L
x 

Then, the line y = L is a horizontal asymptote of the function f.

Example 9
2x
Find the horizontal asymptote for f ( x ) 
3  2x

Solution:

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Chapter 3 Applications of Differentiation

2 x 2
 1
2x x x  lim x 1
lim  lim 
x   3  2x x   3 2x x   3 2
 2
x x x

1
y  
2