Math Problem Statement

If the figure below is the graph of the derivative f', answer the following: (a) At which values of x do the points of inflection of f occur? (b) At which values of x is f concave down?

Solution

Let's solve the questions based on the graph of the derivative ff'.

(a) Points of Inflection:

Points of inflection occur where the concavity of ff changes, which happens when f(x)f''(x), the second derivative, changes sign. Since f(x)f'(x) is the graph shown, the points of inflection of ff are where f(x)f'(x) changes from increasing to decreasing or vice versa. This happens at local minima and maxima of the graph of f(x)f'(x).

From the graph:

  • Local maximum around x=1x = 1
  • Local minimum around x=4x = 4

So, the points of inflection occur at x=1x = 1 and x=4x = 4.

Answer (a): 1, 4

(b) Concave Down Intervals:

To find where ff is concave down, we need to look for intervals where f(x)f''(x) is negative, which corresponds to f(x)f'(x) decreasing. This occurs where the slope of the graph of f(x)f'(x) is negative.

From the graph, f(x)f'(x) is decreasing between:

  • x(1,4)x \in (1, 4) (between the local maximum and minimum)

So, ff is concave down on the interval (1,4)(1, 4).

Answer (b): (1,4)(1, 4)


Would you like further explanation or details about the solution? Here are some additional questions related to this problem:

  1. What is the significance of a point of inflection in the context of real-world applications?
  2. How can you determine if a function is concave up or down by just analyzing its second derivative?
  3. What role do critical points play in determining local maxima or minima for a function?
  4. Can a function have points of inflection without local maxima or minima in its derivative graph?
  5. How do the first and second derivatives give us a complete picture of the behavior of a function?

Tip: Remember that concavity describes the "bend" of a graph. A concave-up graph looks like a "U", and a concave-down graph looks like an "n".

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Calculus
Derivative
Concavity
Inflection Points

Formulas

f'(x) represents the derivative of f(x), indicating the slope of f.
f''(x) represents the second derivative of f(x), indicating the concavity of f.

Theorems

Inflection points occur where the second derivative changes sign.
Concavity is determined by the sign of the second derivative.

Suitable Grade Level

Undergraduate calculus level or AP Calculus