Math Problem Statement

The graph of f'' is given to the right. Which of the below graphs is a graph of its antiderivative f?

Solution

To solve this problem, we need to analyze the graph of ff'' and determine which of the given graphs represents its antiderivative, ff.

Step-by-Step Solution:

  1. Analyzing ff'' Graph:

    • The graph of ff'' (the second derivative of ff) shows an increasing positive curve. This suggests that ff'' is positive and increasing for x>0x > 0.
    • Since ff'' is positive, this indicates that ff' (the first derivative of ff) should be increasing.
    • Additionally, because ff'' is increasing, ff' itself is concave up and has a positive slope that increases as xx increases.
  2. Implications for ff:

    • Since ff' is increasing, ff should be concave up in regions where f>0f'' > 0.
    • As ff'' is increasing on x>0x > 0, we expect ff to be steeply increasing in that region.
  3. Evaluating Options (A) through (H):

    • We are looking for a graph of ff that shows concave up behavior for x>0x > 0 and generally increases as xx increases.
    • Let's examine each option:
      • (A) is concave down, which contradicts the behavior of ff given f>0f'' > 0.
      • (B) has a change in concavity and includes a region where it is concave down, which is inconsistent.
      • (C) is concave up but symmetric, which does not match the shape we are expecting.
      • (D) shows a mix of concave up and concave down, which doesn't match.
      • (E) has a peak and then decreases, which doesn't fit with ff being continuously increasing.
      • (F) appears to have a steeply increasing, concave up behavior that matches the expected shape for ff.
      • (G) includes a region where it’s concave down, so it's not consistent.
      • (H) also shows alternating concavity, which doesn’t match.
  4. Conclusion:

    • Graph (F) best matches the description for ff, as it shows a steeply increasing, concave up shape for x>0x > 0, which is consistent with ff'' being positive and increasing.

Answer:

The correct answer is (F).

Would you like more details on the reasoning process or have any further questions?

Related Questions to Explore Further:

  1. How does the sign of ff'' influence the concavity of ff?
  2. What characteristics of ff can be inferred when ff' is increasing or decreasing?
  3. Can you explain why concavity changes might imply inflection points on ff?
  4. How would the graph of ff look if ff'' were negative?
  5. What role does the rate of change of ff' play in determining the shape of ff?

Tip:

When interpreting graphs of derivatives, always assess the sign and behavior (increasing or decreasing) of the derivative to determine the shape and concavity of the original function.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Calculus
Graph Analysis
Derivatives and Antiderivatives

Formulas

Relationship between f'', f', and f in terms of concavity and slope

Theorems

Fundamental Theorem of Calculus
Concavity and Inflection Points

Suitable Grade Level

Grades 11-12, College Calculus