INCREASING / DECREASING FUNCTIONS

1. A function f is increasing on an interval if for any x 1 and x 2 on the interval

x 1 < x2 implies f ( x 1 ) < f ( x2 )

2. A function f is decreasing on an interval if for any x 1 and x 2 on the interval

x 1 < x2 implies f ( x 1 ) > f ( x2 )

ILLUSTRATION

Increasing function decreasing function constant function

Graphically, if a function is increasing on an interval, then the graph rises on the interval as the value of x
increases, while, if it is decreasing on an interval, then the graph falls on the interval as the value of x
increases

NOTE : The derivative of the function can be used to determine whether it is increasing or

decreasing on an interval.

i) If f ' ( x ) >0 for all xϵ ( a ,b) , then f is increasing on (a , b).

ii) If f ' ( x ) <0 for all xϵ ( a ,b) , then f is decreasing on (a , b).
iii) If f ' ( x )=0 for all xϵ ( a ,b) , then f is constant on (a , b).

CRITICAL NUMBER of a FUNCTION

The number x=c is called a CRITICAL NUMBER of f if f ' ( c ) =0 or f ' ( c ) does not exist.

NOTE: The algebraic sign of f ' can only change at its critical number.

Example : Find all intervals for which y is increasing and decreasing.

1) y=−x3 +3 x 2−2

Find the critical number of y .

 y ' =−3 x 2+ 6 x

The zeros of y ' are the only critical numbers of y .

Let y ' =0 . Then x=0∨2 .
CRITICAL NUMBERS: x=0∧2

y' −¿ + −¿

1 2

Then y is increasing when 0< x <2 and it is decreasing when x <0 or x >2 .

3
2) y= √ x

1
Then y'= 3 . The only critical numbers of y are values of x when y ' is not defined.
3 √ x2
CRITICAL NUMBER: x=0

y' + +

This means that y is increasing on the entire real line.

Exercise: Find all intervals for which y is increasing and decreasing.

3
1. y=x 3− x 2 inc: x <0 or x >1
2
dec: 0< x <1

2. y=x 3−3 x 2 +3 x inc: (−∞, ∞)

3. y=2 x 3−3 x 2−36 x+ 14 inc: x ←2 or x >3

dec: −2< x <3

RELATIVE MAXIMUM/MINIMUM

Definition : Let x=c . Then

i) f (c ) is a RELATIVE MAXIMUM value of f if f ( c ) ≥ f (x ) for any x on some

 open interval containing c .

ii) f (c ) is a RELATIVE MINIMUM value of f if f ( c ) ≤ f ( x ) for any x on some

open interval containing c .

Relative maximum value of f occurs at x=b and x=d .

Relative minimum value of f occurs at x=c and x=e .

NOTE: Relative Extremum ( maximum or minimum ) value of f can only occur at its critical number.

FIRST DERIVATIVE TEST for RELATIVE EXTREMA

Suppose x=c is a critical number of f .

+ −¿ −¿ +
f' f'
c c

f (c ) is a relative maximum value of f f (c ) is a relative minimum value of f

SECOND DERIVATIVE TEST for RELATIVE EXTREMA

Suppose x=c is a critical number of f .

i) If f ' ' ( c )> 0 , then f (c ) is a relative minimum value of f .

ii) If f ' ' ( c )< 0 , then f (c ) is a relative maximum value of f .
iii) If f ' ' ( c )=0 , then no conclusion (use 1st derivative test) .
Example Find all relative extrema.

1. y=−x3 +3 x 2−2
The critical numbers are x=0∧2.

1st derivative test

interval y' Conclusion

x <0 −¿
x=0 y (0) is a relative minimum value
0< x <2 +
x=2 y (2) is a relative maximum value
2< x −¿

2nd derivative test

Critical number y'' Conclusion

x=0 + y (0) is a relative minimum value
x=2 −¿ y (2) is a relative maximum value

2. y=x 4 −4 x3

Then y ' =4 x 3−12 x 2 and y ' ' =12 x 2−24 x.

Critical numbers: 0, 3

1st derivative test

interval y' Conclusion

x <0 −¿
x=0 y (0) is not a relative extremum value
0< x <3 −¿
x=3 y (3) is a relative minimum value
3< x +¿

2nd derivative test

Critical number y'' Conclusion

x=0 0 No conclusion
x=3 +¿ y (3) is a relative minimum value
Exercise: Find all relative extrema.

3
1. y=x 3− x 2 y (0): rel max
2
y (1): rel min

2. y=x 3−3 x 2 +3 x none

3. y=2 x 3−3 x 2−36 x+ 14 y (−2): rel max

y (3): rel min

CONCAVITY and POINTS OF INFLECTION

The graph of f is

i) CONCAVE UPWARD on an open interval if f ' ' ( x ) > 0 for any x on the interval
ii) CONCAVE DOWNWARD on an open interval if f ' ' ( x ) < 0 for any x on the interval

concave upward concave downward

CRITICAL NUMBER of f '

 Values of x at which f ' ' ( x ) =0 or f ' ' ( x ) is not defined

NOTE The algebraic sign of f ' ' can only change at the critical numbers of f ' .

Example Find all intervals for which the graph of y is concave upward/downward.

1. y=−x3 +3 x 2−2

Find y ' ' .

y ' ' =−6 x+ 6
Critical numbers of y ' are the zeros of y ' ' .
Critical number of y ' : x=1

y'' + −¿

1
Thus, the graph of y is
concave upward: (−∞, 1)
concave downward: (1 , ∞)

2. y=x 4 −4 x3

Find y ' ' .

y ' ' =12 x 2−24 x
Critical numbers of y ' are the zeros of y ' ' .
Critical numbers of y ' : x=0,2

y'' + −¿ +

0 2

Thus, the graph of y is

concave upward: (−∞ , 0 ) ,(2 , ∞)
concave downward: (0,2)

Exercise Find all intervals at which the graph is concave upward/downward.

 3 1
1. y=x 3− x 2 concave up: ( , ∞)
2 2
1
concave down : (−∞ , )
2

2. y=x 3−3 x 2 +3 x concave up: (1 , ∞)

concave down : (−∞ , 1)

1
3. y=2 x 3−3 x 2−36 x+ 14 concave up: ( , ∞)
2
1
concave down : (−∞ , )
2

POINT of INFLECTION

The point on the graph where the concavity changes

NOTE If x=c is a critical number of f ' , then (c , f ( c ) ) is a possible point of inflection.

Example The graph of y=−x3 +3 x 2−2 has a point of inflection at (1,0)

Example The points of inflection on the graph of y=x 4 −4 x3 are (0,0) and (2 ,−16)

Exercise Find all points of inflection.

3 1 1
1. y=x 3− x 2 POI: ( ,− )
2 2 4

2. y=x 3−3 x 2 +3 x POI: (1,1)

1 9
3. y=2 x 3−3 x 2−36 x+ 14 POI: ( ,− )
2 2

GRAPH of POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Find all critical numbers of f and f '

 2. Find all intervals for which f is increasing/decreasing
3. Find all relative extrema
4. Find all intervals at which the graph is concave up/down
5. Find all points of inflection

Example Sketch the graph .

1. y=−x3 +3 x 2−2

interval y y' y'' conclusion

x <0 −¿ + Dec. ; conc. up

x=0 −2 0 + Rel. min

0< x <1 + + Inc. ; conc. up

x=1 0 + 0 Pt. of inf.

1< x <2 + −¿ Inc. ; conc. down

x=2 2 0 −¿ Rel. max

2< x −¿ −¿ Dec. ; conc. down

1. y=x 4 −4 x3

interval y y' y'' conclusion

x <0 −¿ + Dec. ; conc. up

x=0 0 0 0 No rel. ext ; pt. of inf.

0< x <2 −¿ −¿ Dec. ; conc. down

x=2 -16 −¿ 0 Dec. Pt. of inf.

2< x <3 −¿ +¿ Dec. ; conc. up

x=3 -27 0 +¿ Rel. min ; conc. Up

3< x +¿ +¿ Inc. ; conc. up

Exercise Sketch the graph.

3
1. y=x 3− x 2
2

2. y=x 3−3 x 2 +3 x

3. y=2 x 3−3 x 2−36 x+ 14

ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM/MINIMUM VALUE of a FUNCTION

Definition : Suppose f is continuous on the closed interval I =[a ,b ] which contains x=c .

i) f (c ) is the ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM value of f if f ( c ) ≥ f (x ) for any x ∈ I .

ii) f (c ) is the ABSOLUTE MINIMUM value of f if f ( c ) ≤ f (x ) for any x ∈ I .
NOTE This goes for ¿ , ¿ , (a , b)

ILLUSTRATION Given the interval [a , e] .

Example Find the absolute extremum value of y on [−2,3] if y=(x−1)2.

Then the absolute maximum or simply maximum value of y occurs at x=−2 and the absolute
minimum or simply minimum value of y occurs at x=1 . Notice that the maximum value of y occurs at
one of the endpoints of the interval while the minimum value of y occurs at the critical number of y .

NOTE To determine the MAXIMUM/MINIMUM value of f on [a , b]

1. Find all critical numbers of f on (a , b) .

2. Compute f (a) , f (b) , and f (c ) for each critical number c obtained in (1) .
3. Compare the values obtained in (2). The largest number is the maximum value of f while the
smallest number is the minimum value of f .

Example Find the absolute extremum value of y on [−2,3] if y=(x−1)2

Solution y ' =2(x−1)

critical number: x = 1

y (−2 )=9 , y ( 3 )=4 ,∧ y ( 1 )=0

y (−2 )=9 : max value of y
y ( 1 )=0 : min value of y
NOTE If x=c is the ONLY critical number of f on (a , b) and f (c ) is a relative extremum value of f ,

then f (c ) is the extremum value of f on [a , b] .

Example Find the absolute extremum value of y on [−2,3] if y=(x−1)2 .

x=1 is the only critical number on (−2,3)

Using the graph of y or 1 st or 2nd derivative test, y has a rel min at x = 1.

By the uniqueness of the critical number, the min value of y occurs at x =1 .

Exercise Find the absolute extremum value .

1. y=x 4 −8 x 2+ 16 ; on [−3,1] min value of y is 0 and max value of y is 25
2. y=x 3 +7 x 2−5 x ; on [−6,1] min value of y is 3 and max value of y is 75