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Lynn Dang

Mrs. Tallman

AP Calculus

2020 February 24

Relationship Between the Derivative and the Integral and the Graphs

Derivative is a way to show rate of change. It is the rate at which the function is

changing at that given point. The integral of a function is the area underneath the curve

from a to b. Derivatives and integrals are inverse functions of each other.

The relationship between derivatives and integrals is interesting. Derivatives and

integrals are used in many different ways, and have many conceptual applications.

Given a graph of acceleration, the integral would be velocity and the derivative would be

jerk. Velocity is the change in position, but acceleration is the change in velocity. Since

derivatives show rate of change (slopes), the derivative or rate of change of velocity is

acceleration. Since derivatives and integrals are inverse functions, acceleration would

be the derivative of velocity and velocity would be the integral of acceleration. Jerk is

the rate at which an object’s acceleration changes with respect to time. So therefore the

relationship between jerk and acceleration is similar to acceleration and velocity. Jerk is

the derivative of acceleration and acceleration is the integral of jerk. Another one would

be given a graph of force, the integral would be momentum and the derivative would be

yank. This is because force is the rate at which momentum changes in relation to time

and because yank is the rate at which force changes in relation to time.

There are also specific ways to determine what the units of the derivative and

integral would be based on a given graph. A derivative always measures the

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instantaneous rate of change of the output variable with respect to the input variable. So

it would be the units of the output variable per unit of the input variable for derivatives.

For example if the output variable is miles (distance) and the input variable is hours

(time), then the unit for the derivative would be miles per hour. The units for the integral

are opposite. Instead of “dividing” the variables, the output variable would be multiplied

by the input variable. For example if the output variable is in meters/second (velocity)

and the input variable is in seconds (time), then the units for the integral would be

(m/s)*(s) which is just meters.

There are various relationships between graphs, functions and their derivatives.

First are critical points and how they can be found using derivatives. Critical points are

points on a graph of a function where the derivative is zero or the derivative does not

exist. To find a function’s critical points, take the first derivative of the function and then

set the derivative equal to zero and solve for x.

Next is what the signs (negative, positive, and zero) of the values of the first

derivative and second derivative show about the original function. The first derivative is

the slope of the line tangent to a point on the graph. It tells how much a function is

increasing or decreasing at a certain point. So if the first derivative (slope) is positive at

that point, then it shows that the original function was increasing at that point. If the first

derivative is negative, then it shows that the original function was decreasing at that

point. If the first derivative is zero, it does not show anything in particular because the

original function could be increasing or decreasing or at a local max or min at that point.

The second derivative is the derivative of the first derivative. The first derivative shows

whether the original function was increasing or decreasing, but the second derivative
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shows whether the first derivative was increasing or decreasing. If the second derivative

is positive, it shows that the first derivative was increasing, therefore the slope of the

tangent line to the point on the function is increasing as x increases. This shows

graphically that the function is concave upward at that point. If the second derivative is

negative, it means that the first derivative was decreasing, therefore the slope of the

tangent line to the point on the function is decreasing as x increases. This shows

graphically that the function is concave downward at that point. If the second derivative

is zero, this does not necessarily correlate to anything, the function can be concave up

or down or could be changing concavity at that point. In conclusion, basically the first

derivative shows whether the original function is increasing or decreasing and the

second derivative shows whether the function is concave up or down at that point.

Also, the first derivative can be used to find concavity and points of inflection as

well. The first derivative determines whether the function is increasing or decreasing at

a certain point. If to the left of the point is increasing and if the right of the point is

increasing less or decreasing, then it can be assumed that the function is concave

down. An inflection point is a point on a graph where the function changes concavity.

These points can be found using the first derivative of the function. They are the points

where the first derivative changes from increasing to decreasing or vice versa. These

can be seen as local maximums and minimums on the first derivative graph.

Lastly, another relationship is how the maximum and minimums of a function can

be found using the first and second derivatives. There are two different ways that are

used to find the local extrema: the first derivative test and the second derivative test.

The first derivative test finds the relative maximum and minimums by looking at where
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the derivative changes from negative to positive. When the derivative changes from

negative to positive the function has a local minimum at that critical point. When the

derivative changes from positive to negative, the function has a local maximum at that

critical point. The second derivative tests finds the relative maximum and minimums by

looking at the first derivative at the critical point and by looking at whether the second

derivative is positive or negative. If there is a critical point where the first derivative of

the function is zero at that point and the second derivative is positive, there is a local

minimum at that point. If there is a critical point where the first derivative of the function

is zero and the second derivative is negative, there is a local maximum at that point.

However, there are cases where the second derivative could not work: when the first

derivative and the second derivative of the function equals zero, when the first

derivative is zero and second derivative does not exist, and when the first derivative

does not exist. In these conditions, the first derivative test must be used.

There are multiple calculus theorems related to derivatives and integrals. First is

the fundamental theorem of calculus. This is the theorem that relates the derivative to

the integral, and allows for a way of evaluating definite integrals. There are two parts to

this theorem. The first part of the theorem states:

If f is continuous over the interval [a,b] and F(x) is antiderivative of x, then

b

∫ f ( x )dx=F (b)−F ( a)
a

This is also known as the evaluation theorem. It basically states that the definite

integral can be evaluated by evaluating the antiderivative at the endpoints of the interval

and subtracting them.

The second part of the theorem states:

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If f(x) is continuous over an interval [a,b], and the function F(x) is defined by
x

F(x) = ∫ f (t )dt
a

then F’(x) = f(x) over [a,b].

The next theorem is the Mean Value Theorem. This theorem states:

If a function f is continuous on the closed interval [a,b] and differentiable on the open

interval (a,b), then there exists a point c in the interval (a,b) such that f'(c) is equal to the

function's average rate of change over [a,b]

Basically in this theorem, it is saying that there exists some value c between the interval

(a,b) where the instantaneous rate of change is equal to the average rate of change

over the whole interval. The notation for this is:

Δy f (b)−f (a)
= = f’(c)
Δx b−a

Lastly is the Intermediate Value Theorem. This theorem states a key property for

continuous functions. The Intermediate Value Theorem states:

For any function f that is continuous over the interval [a,b], the function will take any

value between f(a) and f(b) over the interval.

It means that for any value L between f(a) and f(b) there is a value c in [a,b] for which

f(c) = L
b

There is also a relationship between the integral ∫ f ( x )dx and the integral of
a

∫ f ( x )dx. The relationship between these integrals are shown by the fundamental
b

theorem of calculus.
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In conclusion the derivatives, integrals and graphs of a function have many

complex relationships, and there are many concepts that are needed to be learned to

fully understand these relationships.

Problems to Solve

Problem 1: Let f be a function defined on the closed interval -5≤x≤5 with f(1)=3. The

graph of f’, the derivative of f, consists of two semicircles and two line segments as shown

below.

A) For -5<x<5, find all values x at which f has a relative maximum. Justify with

calculus.

There are relative maximums at x=-3 and x=4. By looking at the derivative

graph this can be determined because the derivative leading up to x=-3 and x=-4

is positive but after these points, they become negative. Since it is positive and

then becomes negative it is a maximum instead of a minimum.

B) For -5<x<5, find all values x at which the graph of f has a point of inflection.

Justify.

The function has points of inflection at x=-4, x=-1, and x=2. Points of

inflection occur where the concavity changes. This is also where the second

derivative of a function is equal to zero. The second derivative is zero at all of the

relative maximum and minimums of the first derivative, so since those are

located at x=-4, x=-1, and x=2, so are the points of inflection.

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C) Find all the intervals on which the graph of f is concave up and also has a

positive slope. Justify.

The intervals on the graph of f that are both concave up and have a

positive slope are from -5 to -4 and 1 to 2. In both of these intervals the first

derivative is above the x axis (the derivative is positive) which means that the

function has a positive slope and is increasing. The derivative graph also shows

that in these intervals, it has a positive slope, which means the second derivative

is positive, meaning during these intervals the function would be concave up.

D) Find the absolute minimum value of f(x) over the closed interval -5≤x≤5. Justify.

The absolute minimum value of f(x) is at x=1, which is 3. The derivative at

x=1 is zero. Leading up to x=1 the first derivative graph is negative and then after

x=1, it becomes positive, because of this it is a minimum instead of a maximum.

It is the “absolute” maximum because it has the greatest area underneath the

curve.
x

E) Let g be the function given by g(x) =∫ f '(t) dt. Find g(3), g’(3) and g’’(3). Justify.
1

The integral of the derivative of f(x) is g(x) and the integral of the derivative

of a function is the original function since derivatives and integrals have an

inverse relationship. Therefore, g’(x) would be equal to f’(x). Using the

Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, g’(x) = f’(3) - f’(1). On the graph, f’(3) is 1 and

g’(1) is 0, therefore 1-0=1, so g’(3) is equal to 1.

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Problem 2: The functions of F and G are differentiable for all real numbers, and

G is strictly increasing. The table below gives values of the functions and their first

derivatives at selected values of x. The function H is given by H(x)=F(G(x))-6.

Table 1.
Problem 2 Given Table
x F(x) F’(x) G(x) G’(x)

1 3 4 2 5

2 9 2 3 1

3 10 -4 4 2

4 -1 3 6 7

A) Use calculus concepts to explain why there must be a value for r for 1<r<3 such

that H(r)=-5.

It is known that H(x)=F(G(x))-6. The values of H(1) and H(3) are needed to

explain this problem. Given the values on the table and plugging them into the

equation, H(1) is found to be 3 and H(3) is found to be -7. This function is

continuous, so the Intermediate Value Theorem applies to this problem. This

means that between H(1) and H(3) there exists at least one value r for 1<r<3

such that H(r)=-5.

B) Use calculus concepts to explain why there must be a value for c for 1<c<3 such

that H(c)=-5.

For this the Mean Value Theorem can be used. It states that if H is

continuous and differentiable for all values then there is at least one number x=c

in which the slope of the secant line between H(1) and H(3) is equal to the slope
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of the tangent line at c. The slope of the secant line is -5, so there has to be a

value c for 1<c<3 such that H(c)=-5.

f ( b)−f (a)
Slope =
b−a
h(3)−h (1)
=
3−1
−10
=
2
= -5
Figure #. Slope of the Secant Line

The figure above shows how the slope of the secant line was calculated. It

was calculated using the equation for the mean value theorem that was stated

earlier in the paper. The slope was found to be -5.

G (x)

C) Let w be the function given by w(x)= ∫ f ' (t)dt. Find the value of w’(3).
1

For this the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus can be used. By using this

theorem, w’(x) would be equal to f(g(x)) times g’(x).

w’(3) =f(g(x))*g’(3)
w’(3) =f(4)*g’(3)
w’(3) = -1*2
w’(3) =-2
Figure #. w’(3) Calculation

The figure above shows how w’(3) was calculated. According to the

fundamental theorem of calculus, w’(x) is going to be equal to f(g(x)) times g’(x).

So the final answer that was found for w’(3) was -2.

D) If G-1 is the inverse of the function of G, write an equation for the line tangent to

the graph of y=G-1(x) at x=2.

The graph of y=G-1(x) at x=2 has a y value of 1. So G-1 has the point (1,2)
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on it, meaning that the function of G would contain the point (1,2). G -1(x) at x=2 is

equal to 1/G’(1) since the inverse of G is 1/G, and the points will be inverted. On

the table 1/G’(1) is ⅕. This value will be the slope of the tangent line. Since a

point has been found and the slope has been found, the equation of the tangent

line can be expressed as:

y-1=⅕(x-2)

E) If H(x)=xB(x), where B(x)=F-1(x), use the table to find H’(3)

H(x)=xB(x) can be rewritten as H(x)=xF-1(x). To find the value of F-1(x), the

table can be used to find what input gives 3 as the output for F(x). In this problem

the input that gives this is 1, so F-1(3)=1. Now to take the derivative of H(x), the

power rule can be applied. After being derived it is found to be 1+x(1/F’(1)). On

the table F’(1) is equal to 4 and x=3. So H’(3) is equal to 1+3(¼) which is 1.75.