Graphical Relationships Among f , f , and f

The relationship between the graph of a function and its first and second derivatives frequently
appears on the AP exams. It will appear on both multiple choice and the free response section,
often with the graph of y = f (x) given (read the titles on the graphs very carefully).
Free response questions on this topic often require students to justify their answers. Students
may use number lines to analyze the characteristics of the function; however, the justification
must be written in sentence form. This justification should avoid using a pronoun such as it to
describe the function and should make use of calculus involving the first or second derivative
test or theorems.
Increase/Decrease
If f ( x) 0 on an interval, then f ( x ) is increasing on the interval.
If f ( x) 0 on an interval, then f ( x ) is decreasing on the interval.
Relative or Local Extrema highest or lowest point in the neighborhood
First derivative test
o Candidates critical numbers (x-values that make f zero or undefined where f is
defined)
o Test (1) set up an f number line; label with candidates
(2) test each section to see if f is positive or negative
(3) relative maximum occurs when f changes from + to
relative minimum occurs when f changes from to +
Second derivative test
o Candidates critical numbers (x-values that make f zero or undefined where f is
defined)
o Test (1) substitute each critical number into the second derivative
(2) f 0 , relative minimum
f 0 , relative maximum
(3) f 0 , the test fails
Absolute or Global Extrema highest or lowest point in the domain
Absolute Extrema Test
o Candidates critical numbers and endpoints of the domain
o Test (1) find the y-values for each candidate
(2) the absolute maximum value is the largest y-value,
the absolute minimum value is the smallest y-value

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Graphical Relationships Among

f , f ', and f "

Concavity
If f ( x ) 0 (or f ( x ) is increasing) on an interval, then f ( x ) is concave up on that
interval.
If f ( x ) 0 (or f ( x ) is decreasing) on an interval, then f ( x ) is concave down on that
interval.
Point of inflection point where the concavity changes
Determining points of inflection using the first derivative
o The graph of f has a point of inflection where f has a maximum or minimum
Determining points of inflection using the second derivative
o Candidates x-values for which f is zero or undefined where f is defined
o Test (1) set up an f number line; label with candidates
(2) test each section to see if f is positive or negative
(3) any change in the sign of f indicates a point of inflection
Justifications for Increasing/Decreasing Intervals of a function
Remember: f ( x ) determines whether a function is increasing or decreasing, so always use the
sign of f ( x ) when determining and justifying whether a function f ( x ) is increasing or
decreasing.
Situation
f ( x ) is increasing on the interval
( a, b)
f ( x ) is decreasing on the interval
( a, b)

Explanation
f ( x ) is increasing on the interval (a, b) because
f ( x) 0
f ( x ) is decreasing on the interval (a, b) because
f ( x) 0

Justifications of Relative Minimums/Maximums and Points of Inflection

Sign charts are very commonly used in calculus classes and are a valuable tool for students to
use when testing for relative extrema and points of inflection. However, a sign chart will never
earn students any points on the AP exam. Students should use sign charts when appropriate to
help make determinations, but they cannot be used as a justification or explanation on the exam.
Situation (at a point x a on
the function f ( x ) )

Proper Explanation/Reasoning

Relative Minimum

f ( x ) has a relative minimum at the point x a because

f ( x ) changes signs from negative to positive when x a .

Relative Maximum

f ( x ) has a relative maximum at the point x a because

f ( x ) changes signs from positive to negative when x a .

Point of Inflection

f ( x ) has a point of inflection at the point x a because

f ( x) changes sign when x a

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Graphical Relationships Among

f , f ', and f "

Students need to be able to:

Determine the graph of the function given the graph of its derivative and vice versa.
Determine whether a function is increasing or decreasing using information about the
derivative.
Determine the concavity of a functions graph using information about the first or second
derivative.
Locate a functions relative and absolute extrema from its derivative.
Locate a functions point(s) of inflection from its first or second derivative.
Reason from a graph without finding an explicit rule that represents the graph.
Sketch any of the related functions.
Write justifications and explanations.
o Must be written in sentence form.
o Avoid using the pronoun it when justifying extrema.
o Use "the function," "the derivative," or "the second derivative" instead of "the graph"
or "the slope" in explanations.

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Graphical Relationships Among

f , f ', and f "

Multiple Choice
1. (calculator not allowed)

The graph of y f x is shown in the figure above. On which of the following intervals are

dy
d2y
and

dx
dx 2
I. a x b
II. b x c
III. c x d
(A) I only

(B) II only

(C) III only

(D) I and II

(E) II and III

2. (calculator not allowed)

The graph of a twice-differentiable function f is shown in the figure above. Which of the
following is true?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)

f (1) < f (1) < f (1)

f (1) < f (1) < f (1)
f (1) < f (1) < f (1)
f (1) < f (1) < f (1)
f (1) < f (1) < f (1)
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Graphical Relationships Among

f , f ', and f "

3. (calculator not allowed)

If a function f is continuous for all x and if f has a relative maximum at 1, 4 and a
relative minimum at 3, 2 , which of the following statements must be true?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)

The graph of
f (1) 0
The graph of
The graph of
The graph of

f has a point of inflection somewhere between x 1 and x 3.

f has a horizontal asymptote.
f has a horizontal tangent line at x 3.
f intersects both axes.

4. (calculator not allowed)

The graph of the derivative of f is shown in the figure above. Which of the following could
be the graph of f ?

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Graphical Relationships Among

f , f ', and f "

5. (calculator not allowed)

x

g(x)

The derivative g of a function g is continuous and has exactly two zeros. Selected values of
g are given in the table above. If the domain of g is the set of all real numbers, then g is
decreasing on which of the following intervals?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)

-2 x 2 only
-1 x 1 only
x -2 only
x 2 only
x -2 or x 2

6. (calculator not allowed)

The graph of y f ( x) on the closed interval [2, 7] is shown above. How many points of
inflection does this graph have on the interval
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)

One
Two
Three
Four
Five

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Graphical Relationships Among

f , f ', and f "

7. (calculator not allowed)

Let f be a function that is continuous on the closed interval [2, 3] such that f (0) does not
exist, f (2) 0 , and f ( x ) 0 for all x except x 0 . Which of the following could be the
graph of f ?

8. (calculator not allowed)

The graph y = h(x) is shown above. Which of the following could be the graph of
y = h(x) ?
(A)

(B)

(D)

(E)

(C)

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Graphical Relationships Among

f , f ', and f "

9. (calculator not allowed) (Use graph for 9-10)

The graph of f , the derivative of f , is given above. How many points of inflection does
the graph of f have?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)

Two
Three
Four
Five
Six

10. The point (3, 5) is on the graph of y f ( x) . An equation of the line tangent to the graph of
f at (3, 5) is
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)

y2
y5
y 5 2( x 3)
y 5 2( x 3)
y 5 2( x 3)

11. (calculator not allowed)

Let g be a twice-differentiable function with g(x) > 0 and g(x) > 0 for all real numbers x,
such that g (4) 12 and g (5) 18 . Of the following, which is a possible value for g (6) ?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)

15
18
21
24
27

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Graphical Relationships Among

f , f ', and f "

12. (calculator allowed)

For all x in the closed interval [2, 5] , the function f has a positive first derivative and a
negative second derivative. Which of the following could be a table for f ?
(A)

f (x)

12

16

f (x)

11

14

16

f (x)

16

12

f (x)

16

14

11

f (x)

16

13

10

(B)

(C)

(D)

(E)

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Graphical Relationships Among

f , f ', and f "

Free Response
13. (calculator allowed)

The figure above shows the graph of f , the derivative of f , for -7 x 7 . The graph of
f has horizontal tangent lines at x 3 , x 2 , and x 5 , and a vertical tangent line at
x 3.
(a) Find all values of x, for 7 x 7 , at which f attains a relative minimum. Justify your
answer.

(b) Find all values of x, for 7 x 7 , at which f attains a relative maximum. Justify your
answer.

(c) Find all values of x, for -7 < x < 7 , at which f < 0 .

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Graphical Relationships Among

f , f ', and f "

14. (calculator allowed)

Let f be the function defined for x 0 with f (0) 5 and f , the first derivative of f ,
given by f ( x) e

x / 4

sin x 2 . The graph of y f ( x) is shown above.

(a) Use the graph of f to determine whether the graph of f is concave up, concave down,
or neither on the interval 1.7 x 1.9 . Explain your reasoning.

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Graphical Relationships Among

f , f ', and f "

15. (calculator not allowed)

Let f be a function that is even and continuous on the closed interval [3,3]. The function f
and its derivatives have the properties indicated in the table below.
x
f ( x)
f ( x )
f ( x)

0
1
Undefined
Undefined

0 x 1
Positive
Negative
Positive

1
0
0
0

1 x 2
Negative
Negative
Negative

2
1
Undefined
Undefined

2 x3
Negative
Positive
Negative

(a) Find the x-coordinate of each point at which f attains an absolute maximum value or an
absolute minimum value. For each x-coordinate you give, state whether f attains an
absolute maximum or an absolute minimum.

(b) Find the x-coordinate of each point of inflection on the graph of f . Justify your answer.

(c) In the xy-plane sketch the graph of a function with all the given characteristics of f .

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Graphical Relationships Among

f , f ', and f "

16. (calculator not allowed)

The figure above shows the graph of f , the derivative of the function f , on the closed
interval 1 x 5 . The graph of f has horizontal tangent lines at x = 1 and x = 3. The
function f is twice differentiable with f (2) = 6.
(a) Find the x-coordinate of each of the points of inflection of the graph of f . Give a reason
for your answer.

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