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Increasing and Decreasing Functions

The document discusses the first derivative test to determine whether a function is increasing or decreasing over an interval. It provides examples of applying the test to functions such as f(x)=x^2 - 4x + 3, f(x)=x^3, and f(x)=5 + 12x - x^3. For each function, it takes the derivative, sets it equal to 0 to find critical points, and analyzes the sign of the derivative over each interval to determine where the function is increasing or decreasing. It concludes with practice problems applying the same process.

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sami ullah
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94 views

Increasing and Decreasing Functions

The document discusses the first derivative test to determine whether a function is increasing or decreasing over an interval. It provides examples of applying the test to functions such as f(x)=x^2 - 4x + 3, f(x)=x^3, and f(x)=5 + 12x - x^3. For each function, it takes the derivative, sets it equal to 0 to find critical points, and analyzes the sign of the derivative over each interval to determine where the function is increasing or decreasing. It concludes with practice problems applying the same process.

Uploaded by

sami ullah
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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However, if a function is given in terms of an algebraic expression, we use the


following result to find such intervals.

First Derivative Test. Let f be continuous on a closed interval [a, b] and


differentiable on the open interval (a, b).
• If f 0 (x) > 0 for every x in (a, b), then f is increasing on [a, b].

• If f 0 (x) < 0 for every x in (a, b), then f is decreasing on [a, b].

• If f 0 (x) = 0 for every x in (a, b), then f is constant on [a, b].

Example 1. Find the intervals on which f (x) = x2 − 4x + 3 is increasing and


the intervals on which it is decreasing.

Solution.
Step 1. [Derivative and Its Factorization] The derivative of f is f 0 (x) = 2x−4.

Step 2. [Intervals and Sign Analysis] The solution of the equation 2x−4 = 0 is
x = 2. This point (x = 2) divides the number line into two intervals, (−∞, 2],
and [2, +∞).

Interval Test Point Sign of f 0 (x) Increasing/Decreasing


(−∞, 2] 0 − Decreasing
[2, +∞) 3 + Increasing

Step 3. [Sketch]

————————-Solution Ends——————————–

Example 2. Find the intervals on which f (x) = x3 is increasing and the in-
tervals on which it is decreasing.

Solution.
Step 1. [Derivative and Its Factorization] The derivative of f is f 0 (x) = 3x2 .
4

Step 2. [Intervals and Sign Analysis] The solution of the equation 3x2 = 0 is
x = 0. This point (x = 0) divides the number line into two intervals, (−∞, 0],
and [0, +∞).

Interval Test Point Sign of f 0 (x) Increasing/Decreasing


(−∞, 0] −1 − Decreasing
[0, +∞) 1 + Increasing
Step 3. [Sketch]

————————-Solution Ends——————————–

Example 3. Find the intervals on which f (x) = 5 + 12x − x3 is increasing and


the intervals on which it is decreasing.

Solution.
Step 1. [Derivative and Its Factorization] The derivative of f along with its
factorization is
f 0 (x) = 12 − 3x2 = 3(4 − x2 ) = 3(2 + x)(2 − x).
Step 2. [Intervals and Sign Analysis] Put each linear factor in f 0 (x) equal to
zero and solve for x. That is, solve the equations 2 + x = 0 and 2 − x = 0.
Their solutions are x = −2 and x = 2. These points divide the number line
into three intervals, (−∞, −2], [−2, 2], and [2, +∞).

Interval Test Point Sign of f 0 (x) Increasing/Decreasing


(−∞, −2] −3 − Decreasing
[−2, 2] 0 + Increasing
[2, +∞) 3 − Decreasing

Step 3. [Sketch]

————————-Solution Ends——————————–
Example 4. Find the intervals on which f (x) = 3x4 + 4x3 − 12x2 + 2 is in-
creasing and the intervals on which it is decreasing.
5

Solution.
Step 1. [Derivative and Its Factorization] The derivative of f along with its
factorization is
f 0 (x) = 12x3 + 12x2 − 24x
= 12x(x2 + x − 2)
12x x2 + 2x − x − 2

=

= 12x x(x + 2) − (x + 2)
= 12x(x + 2)(x − 1)
Step 2. [Intervals and Sign Analysis] Put each linear factor in f 0 (x) equal to
zero and solve for x. That is, solve the equations 12x = 0, x + 2 = 0, and
x − 1 = 0. Their solutions are x = 0, x = −2, and x = 1. These points divide
the number line into four intervals, (−∞, −2), (−2, 0), (0, 1), and (1, +∞).

Interval Test Point Sign of f 0 (x) Increasing/Decreasing


(−∞, −2] −3 − Decreasing
[−2, 0] −1 + Increasing
[0, 1] 0.5 − Decreasing
[1, +∞) 2 + Increasing

Step 3. [Sketch]

f (x) = 3x4 + 4x3 − 12x2 + 2

————————-Solution Ends——————————–
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Practice Problems.
Find the intervals on which f is increasing and the intervals on which it is
decreasing.
1. f (x) = x3 − 3x2 + 1
2. f (x) = 3x4 − 4x3 .
3. f (x) = x3 − x2 − 2x.

——————————————————–
(I shall welcome your suggestions to improve these notes.)

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