How Not to Graph f (x) = sin 63x:

sin 63x

sin 63x

Applications of the Mean Value Theorem:

If f 0(x) = 0 for all x in an interval, then f is constant there.

If f 0(x) > 0 for all x in an interval, then f is increasing there.

If f 0(x) < 0 for all x in an interval, then f is decreasing there.

More Applications of the Mean Value Theorem:

If f 00(x) > 0 for all x in an interval, then f 0 increases there.

The curve “cups up”, or is “concave upward”.

If f 00(x) < 0 for all x in an interval, then f 0 decreases there.

The curve “cups down”, or is “concave downward”.

Wherever f 00(x) changes sign, we have a Point of Inflection.

f 00(x) < 0
f 00(x) < 0

f 00(x) > 0
f 00(x) > 0

At an inflection point, f 00(x) usually equals 0 or doesn’t exist.

 f (x) = x3 − x4 f <0 f >0 f <0
3 0 1
= x (1 − x)
Roots at 0 and 1
0
f (x) = 3x − 4x 2 3 f0 > 0 f0 > 0 f0 < 0
2 0 3
= x (3 − 4x) 4

Leveling at (0, 0), Maximum at ( 34 , 256

27
)

00
f (x) = 6x − 12x 2 f 00 < 0 f 00 > 0 f 00 < 0
∩ 0 ∪ 1 ∩
= 6x(1 − 2x) 2

Inflection points at (0, 0) and at ( 12 , 16

1
)

Important x’s: 0, 12 , 34 , 1. 1 27
Important y’s: 0, 16 , 256 .
 Initial Steps: ( 34 , 256
27
)
( 12 , 16
1
)




x


0 1

Completed Graph: ( 34 , 256

27
)
( 12 , 16
1
)




x


0 1

What might happen with a misdrawn inflection point:

( 34 , 256
27
)
( 12 , 16
1
)

x



0 1
 1 √ f <0
f (x) = x − x 0 9
4
Equals 0 only at 0
0 0
0 1 1 f < 0 f >0
f (x) = − √ 0 4 9
4 2 x
√
x−2
= √
4 x
Endpoint Maximum and Absolute Maximum at (0, 0)

Absolute Minimum at (4, −1), Endpoint Maximum at (9, − 34 )

00 1 − 32
f (x) = − x > 0, so graph is always concave upward.
4
Important x’s: 0, 4, 9. Important y’s: 0, − 34 , −1.
 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Initial Steps:
(9, − 34 )




(4, −1)

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Completed Graph:

(9, − 34 )



(4, −1)