CONCAVITY & POINTS

OF INFLECTION

Alyssa Shaw
& Laurel
Levine

INTRODUCTION

This StAIR project is designed for a

student who is reviewing for a
concavity and point of infl ection test.
However, due to the amount of prerequisite knowledge needed before
learning these subjects, it is also
included before reaching the concavity
and points of infl ection portion of the
project.

KEY INFORMATION
This button will take you to the next slide:

This button will take you back to wherever you came

from:

Highlighted and underlined purple words are

hyperlinked to the original slide.

OBJECTIVES
After completing the review, a student should
be able to
Look at graphs off , f ' ,& f "
and determine
points of infl ection and concavity.
Analytically determine concavity intervals
and points of infl ection.
Walk into the test feeling confi dent and
prepared !

PRE-REQUISITE KNOWLEDGE
D E R I VAT I V E

Defi nition of a Derivative:

A general function that represents the slope of
a function fof
at any x-value is called a
derivative function.

PRE-REQUISITE KNOWLEDGE

REMEMBER ALL THE DERIVATIVE

RULES!
TEST YOURSELF!

RULES OF DIFFERENTIATION
Derivative Rule
Constant
Power Rule
Constant Multiple Rule
Sum Rule
Difference Rule

Equation

d
(c ) 0
dx
d n
( x ) nx n 1
dx
d
d
[cf ( x)] c [ f ( x)]
dx
dx
d
d
d
[ f ( x) g ( x)]
f ( x) g ( x)
dx
dx
dx
d
d
d
[ f ( x) g ( x)]
f ( x) g ( x)
dx
dx
dx

RULES OF DIFFERENTIATION
C O N T.
Rules of Differentiation

Equation

Product Rule

d
[ f ( x ) g ( x)] f ( x) g ' ( x) g ( x) f ' ( x)
dx

Quotient Rule

d f x
g ( x) f ' ( x) f ( x) g ' ( x)

dx g x
( g ( x)) 2

Chain Rule

d
[ f ( g ( x))] f ' ( g ( x)) g ' ( x )
dx
d
1
[ln x]
dx
x

Natural Base Log Function & Chain

Rule
Natural Base Log Chain Rule
Natural Base Exponential Function
Natural Base Exponential Chain
Rule

d
1
[ln( f ( x))]
f ' ( x)
dx
f ( x)
d x
[e ] e x
dx
d f ( x)
[e ] e f ( x ) f ' ( x )
dx

RULES OF DIFFERENTIATION
C O N T.
Rules of Differentiation

Equation

Sin(x)

d
[sin x] cos x
dx

Tan(x)

d
[tan x] sec 2 x
dx

Sec(x)

d
[sec x] sec x tan x
dx
d
[cos x] sin x
dx
d
[cot x] csc 2 x
dx
d
[csc x] csc x cot x
dx

Cos(x)
Cot(x)
Csc(x)

FIRST DERIVATIVE
A N A LY T I C A L LY

Example 1:

f ( x) 4 x 5 3 x 2 5

Constant Rule:

f ' ( x) 20 x 4 9 x

Example 2:

f ( x) x 2 sin x

Product & Trig Rules:

x2

d
sin x sin x 2 x
dx

x 2 cos x sin x 2 x

f ' ( x) x( x cos x 2 sin x)

FIRST DERIVATIVE
G RA P H I C A L LY

)
' ( x) the
Example 1: Use the graph off (x
the
equation in order tof create
' ( x) to
f (x)slope of the
graph. **Remember to look at the
inf order
create the
graph.
From(,0) the slope is increasing. Also(0from
the slope is
, )
increasing. Therefore
graph is above thef 'x-axis
f ' ( x)the whole
( x) 0due
to the rule
.

f ( x) x 3

f ' ( x) 3x 2

PRE-REQUISITE QUIZ
A N A LY T I C A L

Question 1: What is the fi rst derivative of the equation

below?

f ( x) ln( x 3 4 x)

1
f ' ( x) 3
x 4x
a)

x3
f ' ( x)
c) 4 x

f ' ( x) 3 xex

3x 2 4
f ' ( x) 3
x 4x

b)

d)

CORRECT

CLICK HERE TO SEE FULL ANSWER

DESCRIPTION

INCORRECT

CLICK HERE TO SEE FULL ANSWER DESCRIPTION

DESCRIPTION
Question 1:f ( x) ln( x
Ln(x
)
Chai
n
Rule
First
Derivative
Answer

4 x)

1
3
3x 2 4
x 4x

3x 2 4
f ' ( x) 3
x 4x

3x 2 4
f ' ( x) 3
= D
x 4x

CLICK HERE TO GO
BACK TO DERIVATIVE
RULES

PRE-REQUISITE QUIZ
G RA P H

f ' ( x)
Question 2: What is the correct
original
graph?

f (x)

a)

c)

graph from the f (x)

b)

d)

CORRECT

CLICK HERE TO SEE FULL ANSWER

INCORRECT

CLICK HERE TO SEE FULL ANSWER

DESCRIPTION

DESCRIPTION
CLICK HERE TO GO BACK TO ORIGINAL
QUESTION

x
One should recognize the graph as being
e

Then one should remember the derivative

rule for
functionsthe derivative is the
same as the original!

Therefore, the answer must be A since it is

the only one that matches the original graph!

CLICK HERE TO GO BACK TO DERIVATIVE RULES

END OF PRE-REQUISITE

LETS BEGIN
CONCAVITY AND
POINTS OF
INFLECTION !

INTRODUCTION TOf " ( x )

Definition of the Second Derivative:
A general function that represents the slope of a f ' ( x)
function of
at any x-value is
called a second derivative function.

f " ( x)
Remember
**Solving forf " ( x )
.

is the same as solving

f ' ( xfor
)

CLICK HERE TO GO BACK TO DERIVATIVE RULES!

CONSTANT
PRODUCT & NATURAL BASE
TRIG

SECOND DERIVATIVE
A N A LY T I C A L LY

Example 1: f ( x) e

x
2

Start

End

x
2

d x
e
dx 2
x
2

1
e
2

x
2

1
2

1 2x
d 2x
(e ) e
2
dx
x
2

e
f ' ( x)
2

1 2x
f ' ( x) e
4

1 2x 1
e
2
2
CLICK HERE TO SEE FULL DESCRIPTION

SECOND DERIVATIVE
A N A LY T I C A L LY

Example 1:f ( x) e

x
2

Start
x
2

d x
e
dx 2

x
2

1
e
2
e x Chain Rule

x
2

1 2x
d 2x
(e ) e
2
dx

1
e
2
x
2

e
f ' ( x)
2

First Derivative
Answer
CLICK HERE TO SEE
ex

1 2x 1
e
2
2
DERIVATIVE

e x Chain
Rule
En
d

1 2x
f ' ( x) e
4

SECOND DERIVATIVE
G RA P H

(x)
Example 1: Use the graph of fthe
equation
( x)
f " ( x) the
in order to createf ' the
graph and then
graph.
Increasing where
Decreasing
where

f Is

f ' ( x) 0
f ' ( x) 0

THE GRAPHS
f ( x) cos x

f ' ( x) sin x

f " ( x) cos x

CLICK HERE TO
SEE FULL
DESCRIPTION

THE GRAPHS
f ( x) cos x

f ' ( x) sin x

As indicated by the signs on the graph, + means increasing slope while

means decreasing slope.
The lines mark the intervals of increasing or decreasing slopes.
From thef (x)
graph.

f ' ( x) on the
graph + intervals translate to be above the x-axis

THE GRAPHS
f ' ( x) sin x

f " ( x) cos x

Same rules apply as in the previous slide. CLICK HERE TO GO BACK TO

ORIGINAL QUESTION.
From thef ' ( x)
graph.

f " ( x) on the
graph + intervals translate to be above the x-axis

NOW TRY TO FIND THE INTERVALS

A N A LY T I C A L LY

f (x)
To determine where
decreasing :

is increasing or
f (x)

f ' ( x) 0 & DNE

1. Find all the critical numbers of

(
).
f ' ( x)
2. Put all criticalf ' numbers
on a
( x)

number line.

f ' ( x)

3. Test values in
in between each critical
number
f ' ( x) 0to determine if
f is positive or negative
on that interval.

f ' ( x) 0

4. If
If

on an interval, then
on an interval, then

is increasing.
is decreasing.

CONT.
Example 1: f

( x) x 4 x
4

Start
Constant
Derivativ
e Rule

Step 1:
Find the
Zeros

f ' ( x) 4 x 3 12 x 2

0 4 x 3 12 x 2
0 4x2 (x 3 )

0 4 x 2 equalx 0
to
0 3

CLICK HERE TO GO
BACK TO DERIVATIVE
RULES

CLICK HERE TO GO
BACK TO INTERVAL
STEPS

CONT.
f ' (4) 4 x 3 12 x 2

f ' ( x)
Step 2: Put
Zeros on
the Number
Line

-3

Step 3: Test
Numbers in Test -4
between the 1
Zeros.

f ' (4) 128

0

Test -2

f ' (2) 4 x 3 12 x 2
f ' (2) 40
Test

f ' (1) 4 x 3 12 x 2
f ' (1) 16

CONT.

f ' ( x)
-3
Step 4:
f
Determine
if
is increasing or
decreasing on
the intervals.

is increasing on the intervals

(,3) (3,0) (0, )
becausef ' ( x) 0
.

CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO ORIGINAL QUESTION

INTRO TO CONCAVITY
Defi nition of Concavity:
f
If f lies above all of its tangent lines on an interval,
then
is concave up on the interval.

If f lies below all of its tangent lines on an interval,

f
then is concave down on the interval.

INTRO TO CONCAVITY
C O N T.

Concave Up where:
f " ( x)
increasing.

f " ( x) 0

Concave Down where:

decreasing.

f ' ( x)

or where

f ' ( x)

or where

is

is

CONCAVITY INTERVAL RULES

f (x)
To determine where
concave down:
f " ( x)

1.

Find

is concave up or

f " ( x) 0 & DNE

. Then fi nd where

f " ( x)

2. Place all values on a

number line.

f (x)

3. Test values in between to determine concavity of

f
f " ( x) 0
4. If f " ( x) 0 on an interval, then
f
If

on an interval, then

is concave up.
is concave down.

CONCAVITY
A N A LY T I C A L

Start
Constant
Derivativ
e Rule

Step 1:
Find the
Zeros

2 x 3 3x 2
Example 1:f ( x )

1x
3
2
f ' ( x) 2 x 2 3x 1

f " ( x) 4 x 3

CLICK HERE TO GO
BACK TO DERIVATIVE
RULES

0 4x 3
3
x
4

CLICK HERE TO GO
BACK TO INTERVAL
STEPS

CONT.

f ' ' ( x)
Step 2: Put
Zeros on
the Number
Line

Step 3: Test
Numbers in Test 0
between the 1
Zeros.

f ' (0) 4 x 3
f ' (0) 3

0.75

Test

f ' (1) 4 x 3
f ' (1) 1

CONT.

f ' ' ( x)
End

Step 4:
Determine iff
is
increasing or
decreasing on
the intervals.

0.75

(,0.75)
f is decreasing on the interval
.
(0.75, )
is increasing on the interval
.

CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO ORIGINAL

f " ( x) 0
because

f " ( x) 0

because

CONCAVITY
G RA P H

f
Example 1: Determine the intervals in which
concave up.

f ' ( x)
f ' ( x) 0

is concave down and

( 2, )

Concave Up:

(,2)

Concave Down:

f ' ( x) 0
f ' ( x) 0

CLICK HERE TO GO BACK

TO CONCAVITY RULES OF
f ' ( x)
GRAPHS

CONCAVITY
C O N T.
Example 1: Determine the intervals in which
f
concave up.

f " ( x)
f " ( x) 0

is concave down and

( 2, )

Concave Up:

(,2)

Concave Down:

f " ( x) 0
f " ( x) 0

CLICK HERE TO GO
BACK TO CONCAVITY
f " ( x)OF
RULES
GRAPHS

MINI QUIZ #1
Question 1: In which interval(s) is f

f ( x) x 3 x 3
3

a)

b)

(,1)
(1, )
(, )

c)

concave up?

CORRECT

CLICK HERE TO SEE FULL ANSWER

DESCRIPTION

INCORRECT

CLICK HERE TO SEE FULL ANSWER DESCRIPTION

DESCRIPTION
Question 1: In which interval(s) is f
3
2

concave up?

f ( x) x 3x 3

Step 1: Find
the First
Derivative
Step 2: Find
the Second
Derivative
Step 3: Find
the Zeros

f ' ( x) 3x 6 x
2

f " ( x) 6 x 6
0 6( x 1)
x 1

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE

DESCRIPTION

DESCRIPTION
Question 1: In which interval(s) is f

concave up?

f ( x) x 3 x 3
3

Zeros
Step 3:
Second
Derivative
Number Line
Step 4:Test
Numbers in
between the
Zero

x 1
f " ( x)
-1

Test -2
0

Test

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE DESCRIPT

DESCRIPTION
Question 1: In which interval(s) is f
3
2

f ( x) x 3 x 3
f " (2) 6 x 6
f " (2) 6
Test Results

concave up?

f " ( x) 6 x 6

f " ( x)
Step 5:
Determine
Concavity

-1

f " (0) 6 x 6
f " (0) 6

Answer:

Concave Up:
(1, )
Answer is

CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO ORIGINAL

MINI QUIZ #1
f
Question 2: In what interval is

concave down?

f ' ( x)
a) ,2)
(

(b)
2, )
(c)2,0)

CORRECT

CLICK HERE TO SEE FULL ANSWER

INCORRECT

CLICK HERE TO SEE FULL ANSWER

DESCRIPTION

DESCRIPTION
Question 2: In what intervalf is

concave down?

f ' ( x)
Remember:
Concave down means
f ' ( x)
decreasing.

is

So the slope of the graph must be

negative.
f
(,2)
From
down.

the

is concave

INTRO TO POINTS OF INFLECTION

(POI)
Defi nition Of POI: A point on the graph of a
continuous
function
where
changes from concave
f
f
up to concave down or from concave down to
concave up.

DEFINITION CONT.
**Remember**
A POI occurs where
f " ( x)

changes from positive to negative or from

negative to positive.
AND
f ' ( x)

changes from increasing to decreasing or

decreasing to increasing.

POI
A N A LY T I C A L LY

In order to fi nd the point in which the graphf of

concavity by an equation you have to

changes

1. Find both the f ' ( x)

equation.

f ' ' ( x)
and

f
of the original

2.

Then to fi nd the x-coordinate of the possible POI you

f ' ' (the
x)
have to set
equation equal to zero.

3.

Make a f ' ' ( x ) number line and test numbers to

determine concavity as previously discussed HERE.

f (x)
4. Then take that point and plug it back into the original
equation to fi nd the y-coordinate.

Lets practice!

POI PRACTICE EQUATION

A N A LY T I C A L LY
Start

f ( x) x 3 3 x 2 7

f ' ( x) 3x 6 x
2

f ' ' ( x) 6 x 6

6x 6 0
6( x 1) 0

x 1

CLICK HERE TO GO TO DERIVATIVE

Step 1: Find the first

derivative

Step 1: Find the second

derivative

Step 2: Set equal to zero to find

possible points of inflection.

CLICK HERE TO REVIEW INTERVAL

CONT.
Step 3 Continued:
f ' ' (the
x)
Graph Zero on
number line to
determine POI and
concavity.

f ' ' ( x)
1

Test 0
2

f ' ' (0) 6(0) 6

f " (0) 6

f " (2) 6(2) 6

f " (2) 6

Test

CONT
End
Step 3:
Continued

f ' ' ( x)
1

Step 4:
Determine
the ycoordinate
f
by plugging
in POI to
original
equation.
POI

f (1) 13 3(1) 2 7

1,5

POI PRACTICE EQUATION

G RA P H I C A L LY

Lets use the equation from before!

Here is the graph of

f ( x) x 3 3 x 2 7
In order to fi nd the points of
infl ection on a graph we
need to fi nd the
f ' ( x) equation
and the graph it!

CONT.
f ( x) x 3 x 7
3

Step 1: Find the first derivative

f ' ( x) 3x 6 x
2

Step 2: Now graph this

equation in order to find the
POI.
The POIs occur where f ' ( x)
the
changes from a
positive slope to a
negative slope or a
negative to a positive
slope.

MINI QUIZ #2
Question 1: Find the x-coordinate of the POI of the f
following
equation:
(Hint! : Dont forget to do the derivative twice!)

f ( x) x 3x 45 x 81
3

a) -1
b) -5
c) 3

CORRECT

CLICK HERE TO SEE FULL ANSWER

DESCRIPTION

INCORRECT

CLICK HERE TO SEE FULL ANSWER

DESCRIPTION
f ( x) x 3x 45 x 81
3

First find the first

derivative
Find the second
derivative

f ' ( x) 3 x 2 6 x 45
f " ( x) 6 x 6

Set equal to zero

0 6x 6

Factor out the 6

0 6( x 1)

Set x+1 equal to

zero

0 x 1

Solve for X
CLICK HERE TO REVIEW DERIVATIVE

x 1
CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE

DESCRIPTION
The POI can be found by doing the
f ' ' ( x)

f ' ( x) 3x 6 x 45
2

which is

f " ( x) 6 x 6

f ' ( x)

Find the

equation

equation which is

Set it equal to zero.

Determine the X-coordinate by isolating the X. This
f ' ' ( x)

point is where the

equation changes from positive

to negative or negative to positive.

CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO ORIGINAL

MINI QUIZ #2
( x)
Question 2: How many POIs are onf 'this

a) Five
b) Four
c) Three

graph?

CORRECT

CLICK HERE TO SEE FULL ANSWER

DESCRIPTION

INCORRECT

CLICK HERE TO SEE FULL ANSWER

DESCRIPTION

DESCRIPTION

These are the POIs

where the slope
changes from positive
to negative or negative
to positive on the f(x)
graph.

Now lets review

both concavity and
POI together!

CUMULATIVE QUIZ
f " ( x) x( x 1)( x 2) 2
Question 1: After solving for the second derivative
f ,
then the
graph has infl ection points when x= ?

a) -1
b) 2
c) -1,0

CORRECT

CLICK HERE TO SEE FULL ANSWER

DESCRIPTION

INCORRECT

CLICK HERE TO SEE FULL ANSWER

DESCRIPTION

DESCRIPTION
When you set the
equal to zero
f " ( x) x( x 1)( x 2) 2
to fi nd the critical points you get -1,0, and 2.
( x)
Then you plot these points onf ' 'the
number line
and plug points in to determine if they are positive or
negative concavity and if there are POIs at these
points.

f ' ' ( x)
-1
Change from
positive to
negative

Change from
negative to
positive

CUMULATIVE QUIZ
Question 2: How many POIs are onf this
'

a) 4
b) 3
c) 1

graph?

CORRECT

CLICK HERE TO SEE FULL ANSWER DESCRIPTION

INCORRECT

CLICK HERE TO SEE FULL ANSWER

DESCRIPTION

DESCRIPTION

There are 3
POIs
At the points
where slope
changes from
positive to
negative on
the f(x)
graph.

CUMULATIVE QUIZ
Question 3: Find the interval(s) where
f the
down
2
Points:
(-4,-3), (-1,-2), (0,0),
(1,2), (2,0), (3,-2)

-1

a) (1,3)
b) (-1,3)
c) (-4,0) U (-2,-3)

-2

-3
-4

-2

f ' ( x) GRAPH

is concave

CORRECT

CLICK HERE TO SEE FULL ANSWER

DESCRIPTION

INCORRECT

CLICK HERE TO SEE FULL ANSWER

DESCRIPTION

DESCRIPTION
2

The interval from

(1,3) is concave
down because
point (1,2) is a
POI thats positive
slope to negative
slope.

-1

-2

-3
-4

-2

Therefore its concave down

here

Good job!
Hopefully this review was
helpful for refreshing your
knowledge of POI and
concavity. If not click this
button
to
restart the concavity and POI
review!