Chapter 4: Problem 23
Suppose \(f "\) is continuous on \((-\infty, \infty).\) $$\begin{array}{l}{\text { (a) If } f^{\prime}(2)=0 \text { and } f^{\prime \prime}(2)=-5, \text { what can you say about f? }} \\ {\text { (b) If } f^{\prime}(6)=0 \text { and } f^{\prime \prime}(6)=0 \text { , what can you say about } f ?}\end{array}$$
Short Answer
Step by step solution
Interpreting First and Second Derivative
Analyze Point at \( x = 2 \)
Analyze Point at \( x = 6 \)
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Critical Points
- Finding critical points is the first step in analyzing the behavior of a function's graph.
- Checking where the derivative equals zero helps locate points where the slope of the tangent is horizontal.
- If a function is continuous and differs smoothly, these points can show where the function could have peaks or troughs or even changes in concavity.
First Derivative Test
- If \( f'(x) \) changes from positive to negative at \( x = c \), then \( f(c) \) is a local maximum.
- If \( f'(x) \) changes from negative to positive at \( x = c \), then \( f(c) \) is a local minimum.
- If \( f'(x) \) does not change sign, then \( f(c) \) is neither a maximum nor a minimum, perhaps a point of inflection instead.
Second Derivative Test
- When \( f''(x) > 0 \) at a critical point, the test indicates a local minimum because the function is curving upwards at that point.
- When \( f''(x) < 0 \), the test indicates a local maximum; here, the graph of the function is curving downwards.
- If \( f''(x) = 0 \), the test is inconclusive; the point could be a local extremum or an inflection point.
Concavity
- Concave Up: If \( f''(x) > 0 \), the graph of the function is concave up, resembling the shape of a cup (\( \smile \)). Here, the slope of the tangent increases as \( x \) increases.
- Concave Down: If \( f''(x) < 0 \), the graph is concave down, resembling an upside-down cup (\( \frown \)). The slope of the tangent decreases as \( x \) increases.
Inflection Points
- Inflection points happen where the second derivative shifts sign.
- If \( f''(c) = 0 \) or \( f''(c) \) does not exist, and the concavity changes around \( x = c \), \( x = c \) is an inflection point.
- Graphically, this is where the curve departs from looking like \( \smile \) to \( \frown \), or the other way around.