Name:

Date:

Block:

Interpreting the Graph of a Derivative

y f ' ( x)

x
-3

-1

NOTE: This is the graph of the derivative of f, NOT the graph of f.

The figure above shows the graph of f ' , the derivative of a function f.
The domain of f is the set of all real numbers x such that 4 x 4 .
Use the graph of the derivative, f ' ( x) , above to give the values requested below for the
graph of the function, f (x) .

Relative maximums:
Relative minimums:
Increasing intervals:
Decreasing intervals:
Inflection points:
Concave upward intervals:
Concave downward intervals:

Sketch a possible graph for f (x) .

Sketch a possible graph of f "( x) .

x
-4

-2

x
-4

-2

4
1

Fill in the blank to correctly complete each statement.

1. Let f be defined at c if _____________ or ____________, then c is a critical number of f.
2. Rolles Theorem: Let f be continuous on the closed interval [a,b] and differentiable on the open interval
(a,b). If f(a) = f(b) then their is at least one number c in (a,b) such that __________.

3. The Mean Value Theorem: If f is continuous on the closed interval [a,b] and differentiable on the open
interval (a,b), then there exists a number c in (a,b) such that .....

4. If _____________ for all x in (a,b), then f is increasing on [a,b].

5. If _____________ for all x in (a,b), then f is decreasing on [a,b]

6. Let f be differentiable on an open interval I. The graph of f is _____________ on I if f is positive and
______________ if f is negative.

7. If _____________ for all x in an open interval I, then the graph of f is concave upward in I.

8. If ____________ for all x in an open interval I, then the graph of f is concave downward in I.

9. If (c,f(c)) is a point of inflection of the graph of f, then either ___________ or__________________.

10. Second Derivative Test: Let f be a function such that f(c) = 0 and the second derivative of f exists on an
open interval containing c.
If f(c) > 0 , then f(c) is a _______________.
If f(c) < 0 , then f(c) is a _______________.

11. If the graph of f is concave upward at (c,f(c)), the graph of f lies __________ the tangent
line at (c, f(c)) on some open interval containing c.

12. Determine if the Mean Value Theorem applies for the function f ( x)

2 x 2 3x 1
over the interval [2,3] .
x 1

If it does not apply, state why not. If it does apply, find the value of c that satisfies the theorem.

13. Find all open intervals on which the function f ( x)

x2
is increasing and the intervals on which it is
x3

decreasing. Are there any points of inflection? If so, state the points of inflection.

14. Find the equation of the line tangent to the function f ( x) x 3 x 5 at its point of inflection.

15. Find any relative extrema for the function f ( x) x3

x2
2 x . Justify your response using the second
2

derivative test.

16. Use calculus to graph f (x) 2x sin x . Use a calculator only when absolutely necessary.

17. Use calculus to graph g ( x)

x2 2x 4
.
x2

18. Let f ( x ) 4 x 3 2 x and let f ( x) have critical numbers 1, 0, and 1. Use the Second Derivative Test
to determine which critical numbers, if any, give a relative maximum.

3t 3 2t 2
19. A particle moves along the x-axis in such a way that its position at time t is given by x(t ) 2
.
t

1
What is the acceleration of the particle at time t 0 ?

20. The graph of the derivative of f is shown below. Use the graph of f ' to answer the following questions
about the graph of f . Justify each answer using f '

f ( x)
a. Where are the critical numbers f ( x) ?

b. Give the intervals where f ( x) is increasing.

c. Give the intervals where f ( x) is decreasing.

d. Where does f ( x) have a relative maximum?

e. Where does f ( x) have a relative minimum?

f. Give the intervals where f ( x) is concave up.

g. Give the intervals where f ( x) is concave down.

h. Where are the inflection points for f ( x) ?

i. Based on your answers above, draw a possible graph on the same grid for f ( x) .