GRAPHING OF FUNCTIONS USING FIRST AND SECOND DERIVATIVES


The following problems illustrate detailed graphing of functions of one variable using the first and second derivatives. Problems range in difficulty from average to challenging. If you are going to try these problems before looking at the solutions, you can avoid common mistakes by carefully labeling critical points, intercepts, and inflection points. In addition, it is important to label the distinct sign charts for the first and second derivatives in order to avoid unnecessary confusion of the following well-known facts and definitions.

Here are instruction for establishing sign charts (number line) for the first and second derivatives. To establish a sign chart (number lines) for f' , first set f' equal to zero and then solve for x . Mark these x-values underneath the sign chart, and write a zero above each of these x-values on the sign chart. In addition, mark x-values where the derivative does not exist (is not defined). For example, mark those x-values where division by zero occurs in f' . Above these x-values and the sign chart draw a dotted vertical line to indicate that the value of f' does not exist at this point. These designated x-values establish intervals along the sign chart. Next, pick points between these designated x-values and substitute them into the equation for f' to determine the sign ( + or - ) for each of these intervals. Beneath each designated x-value, write the corresponding y-value which is found by using the original equation y = f(x) . These ordered pairs (x, y) will be a starting point for the graph of f . This completes the sign chart for f' . Establish a sign chart (number line) for f'' in the exact same manner. To avoid overlooking zeroes in the denominators of f' and f'' , it is helpful to rewrite all negative exponents as positive exponents and then carefully manipulate and simplify the resulting fractions.


FACTS and DEFINITIONS


These are the directions for problems 1 through 10. For each function state the domain. Determine all relative and absolute maximum and minimum values and inflection points. State clearly the intervals on which the function is increasing ($ \uparrow $) , decreasing ( $ \downarrow $) , concave up ($ \cup $) , and concave down ($ \cap $) . Determine x- and y-intercepts and vertical and horizontal asymptotes when appropriate. Neatly sketch the graph.






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Your comments and suggestions are welcome. Please e-mail any correspondence to Duane Kouba by clicking on the following address :

kouba@math.ucdavis.edu



Duane Kouba
1998-06-03