Chapter 3: Problem 25
For each function: a. Make a sign diagram for the first derivative. b. Make a sign diagram for the second derivative. c. Sketch the graph by hand, showing all relative extreme points and inflection points. $$ f(x)=\sqrt[4]{x^{3}} $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The function increases and is concave down for \( x > 0 \) with no inflection points in this range.
Step by step solution
01
Find the First Derivative
First, we need to find the derivative of the given function \( f(x) = \sqrt[4]{x^3} = x^{3/4} \). The derivative is \( f'(x) = \frac{3}{4}x^{-1/4} = \frac{3}{4\sqrt[4]{x}} \) for \( x > 0 \) and undefined for \( x \leq 0 \).
02
Determine the Sign of the First Derivative
Analyze the sign of the first derivative. The expression \( f'(x) = \frac{3}{4\sqrt[4]{x}} \) indicates that for \( x > 0 \), \( f'(x) > 0 \). Therefore, the first derivative is positive for all \( x > 0 \), showing that the function is increasing on this interval.
03
Find the Second Derivative
Now we find the second derivative. First, simplify \( f'(x) = 3/4 \, x^{-1/4} \). The derivative of this gives \( f''(x) = -\frac{3}{16}x^{-5/4} = -\frac{3}{16\sqrt[4]{x^5}} \), which is defined for \( x > 0 \).
04
Determine the Sign of the Second Derivative
Consider the expression \( f''(x) = -\frac{3}{16\sqrt[4]{x^5}} \). Notice that for \( x > 0 \), \( f''(x) < 0 \), showing that the function is concave down on \( x > 0 \).
05
Identify Critical and Inflection Points
Since \( f'(x) \) is undefined at \( x = 0 \), it is a potential critical point. There are no changes in concavity since \( f''(x) < 0 \) for all \( x > 0 \), indicating no inflection points in \( x > 0 \). At \( x = 0 \), the derivative is undefined, impacting only the behavior at the boundary.
06
Sketch the Graph
To sketch the graph: for \( x > 0 \), the function \( f(x) \) is increasing and concave down. It passes through the origin, starting at \( x = 0 \). The curve rises as \( x \) increases, but without points of horizontal tangency or inflection in positive \( x \).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
First Derivative
In calculus, the first derivative of a function provides critical information about the function's behavior. When you compute the derivative of a function, you are essentially determining the rate at which the function's value changes as the input changes. The first derivative of our example function, \(f(x) = \sqrt[4]{x^3} = x^{3/4}\), is given by \(f'(x) = \frac{3}{4\sqrt[4]{x}}\) when \(x > 0\). It is undefined for \(x \leq 0\). Understanding the sign of this derivative:
- If \(f'(x) > 0\), the function is increasing.
- If \(f'(x) < 0\), the function is decreasing.
Second Derivative
The second derivative provides insights into the concavity of a function. Concavity tells us how the slope of a function's graph changes:
- If the second derivative \(f''(x) > 0\), the function is concave up (U-shaped).
- If \(f''(x) < 0\), the function is concave down (n-shaped).
Critical Points
Critical points are where the function's derivative is zero or undefined. At these points, the function may reach a maximum, minimum, or an inflection point. For \(f(x) = \sqrt[4]{x^3}\):
- \(f'(x)\) is undefined at \(x = 0\).
- There are no points where \(f'(x) = 0\) for \(x > 0\), meaning no horizontal tangents exist in this region.
Inflection Points
Inflection points occur where the second derivative changes sign, indicating a change in the concavity of the function. A function is most interesting at these points because they signify where the function changes from being concave upwards to concave downwards, or vice versa. However, for \(f(x) = \sqrt[4]{x^3}\), the second derivative \(f''(x) = -\frac{3}{16\sqrt[4]{x^5}}\) is negative for all \(x > 0\). This means there is no sign change and consequently, there are no inflection points for this function when \(x > 0\). The function smoothly increases while maintaining a concave down arc throughout this interval.