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Concavity

The document explains how to determine intervals of concavity and points of inflection using the second derivative of a function. It defines concave upward and downward arcs, and describes how to identify points of inflection where the concavity changes. Several examples illustrate the process of finding concavity and inflection points for different functions.

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Vincent Barez
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
14 views

Concavity

The document explains how to determine intervals of concavity and points of inflection using the second derivative of a function. It defines concave upward and downward arcs, and describes how to identify points of inflection where the concavity changes. Several examples illustrate the process of finding concavity and inflection points for different functions.

Uploaded by

Vincent Barez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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• DETERMINING INTERVALS OF CONCAVITY AND INFLECTION POINTS

The intervals of concavity can be found in the same way used to determine the intervals of
increase/decrease, except that we use the second derivative instead of the first. Since (𝑓 ′ )′ = 𝑓′′, the
intervals of increase/decrease for the first derivative will determine the concavity of 𝑓.

CONCAVITY

An arc of a curve 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) is called concave upward if, at each of its points, the arc lies above
the tangent at that point. As 𝑥 increases, 𝑓′(𝑥) either is of the same sign and increasing or changes
sign from negative to positive. In either case, the slope 𝑓′(𝑥) is increasing and 𝑓 ′′ (𝑥) > 0.

An arc of a curve 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) is called concave downward if, at each of its points, the arc lies below
the tangent at that point. As 𝑥 increases, 𝑓′(𝑥) either is of the same sign and decreasing or changes
sign from positive to negative. In either case, the slope 𝑓′(𝑥) is decreasing and 𝑓 ′′ (𝑥) < 0

Tangents are above the graph

Concave
Down

Concave Up

Tangents are below the graph

A POINT OF INFLECTION

Is a point at which a curve changes from concave upward to concave downward, or vice versa.

(i) If 𝑓 ′′ (𝑐) exists and 𝑓 ′′ (𝑐) changes sign when passing through 𝑥 = 𝑐, then the point (𝑐, 𝑓(𝑐)) is a point
of inflection of the graph of 𝑓.
(ii) if 𝑓 ′′ (𝑐) exists at the point of inflection, then 𝑓 ′′ (𝑐) = 0

Inflection point and sharp point:

To determine the position of points of inflection on the curve 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) it is necessary to find the points
where 𝑓 ′′ (𝑥) changes sign, For ‘smooth’ curves (no sharp corners),
This may happen either

(i) 𝑓′′(𝑥) = 0 or
(ii) 𝑓′′(𝑥) does not exist at the point.
Ex. 1

Find the intervals of concavity and points of inflection for the following functions

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥(𝑥 − 4)3


𝑓′(𝑥) = 𝑥(3(𝑥 − 4)2 (1)) + (𝑥 − 4)3 (1)
= 3𝑥(𝑥 − 4)2 + (𝑥 − 4)3
= (𝑥 − 4)2 [3𝑥 + (𝑥 − 4)]
𝑓′(𝑥) = (𝑥 − 4)2 + (4𝑥 − 4)
𝑓′′(𝑥) = (𝑥 − 4)2 (4) + (4𝑥 − 4)2(𝑥 − 4)(1)
= (𝑥 − 4)[4(𝑥 − 4)2(4𝑥 − 4)]
= (𝑥 − 4)[4𝑥 − 16 + 8𝑥 − 8]
= (𝑥 − 4)[12𝑥 − 24]
𝑓′′(𝑥) = 12(𝑥 − 4)(𝑥 − 2)
Setting 𝑓′′(𝑥 ) = 0
0 = 12(𝑥 − 4)(𝑥 − 2)

12(𝑥 − 4) = 0 𝑥−2=0
12𝑥 − 48 = 0 𝑥=2
12𝑥 48
= 𝑥=2
12 12
𝑥=4

(−∞, 2)
𝑓′′(1) = 12(1 − 4)(1 − 2)
= 36 (+ concave up)

(2,4)
𝑓′′(3) = 12(3 − 4)(3 − 2)
= −12 (- concave down)

(4, +∞)
𝑓′′(5) = 12(5 − 4)(5 − 2)
= 36 (+ concave up)

At 𝑥 = 2, the curve changes its sign, it changes from concave up to concave down
At 𝑥 = 4, the curve changes its sign, it changes from concave down to concave up

Point of inflection:

@𝑥 =2
𝑓(2) = 2(2 − 4)3
= −16

@𝑥 =4
𝑓(4) = 2(4 − 4)3
= 0

Point of inflection are (2,-16) and (4,0)


Ex. 2

Examine 𝑦 = 3𝑥4 − 10𝑥3 − 12𝑥2 + 12𝑥 − 7 for concavity and points of inflection.

𝑦 = 3𝑥4 − 10𝑥3 − 12𝑥2 + 12𝑥 − 7


𝑦′ = 12𝑥3 − 30𝑥2 − 12𝑥 + 1
𝑦′′ = 36𝑥2 − 60𝑥 − 12
𝑦′′ = 12(3𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 2)

Setting 𝑓′′(𝑥) = 0
0 = 12(3𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 2)

12(3𝑥 + 1) = 0 𝑥−2=0
36𝑥 + 12 = 0 𝑥=2
36𝑥 12
=
36 36
−1
𝑥= 3

−1
(−∞, 3
)
𝑓′′(−1) = 12(3(−1) + 1)(−1 − 2)
= 72 (+ concave up)
−1
( 3
, 2)
𝑓′′(1) = 12(3(1) + 1)(1 − 2)
= −48 (- concave down)

(2, +∞)
𝑓′′(3) = 12(3(3) + 1)(3 − 2)
= 120 (+ concave up)

Point of inflection:

−1
@𝑥 = 3
−1 −1 4 −1 3 −1 2 −1
𝑓( ) = 3( ) − 10 ( ) − 12 ( ) + 12( )−7
3 3 3 3 3
−322
= 27
−1 −322
( 3
, 27
)

@𝑥 =2
𝑓(2) = 3(2)4 − 10(2)3 − 12(2)2 + 12(2) − 7
= −63
(2,-63)
−1 −322
Point of inflection are ( , ) and (2,-63)
3 27
Ex. 3

Determine the concavity of the function 𝑓(𝑥) and identify any points of inflection of 𝑓(𝑥).

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥3 − 6𝑥2 − 12𝑥 + 2


𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 3𝑥2 − 12𝑥 − 12
𝑓′′(𝑥) = 6𝑥 − 12

Setting 𝑓′′(𝑥) = 0
0 = 6𝑥 − 12
12 6𝑥
6
= 6
𝑥=2

(−∞, 2)
𝑓′′(1) = 6(1) − 12
= −6 (- concave down)

(2, +∞)
𝑓′′(3) = 6(3) − 12
= 6 (+ concave up)

Point of inflection:

@𝑥 =2
𝑓(2) = (2)3 − 6(2)2 − 12(2) + 2
= −38

Point of inflection is (2,-38)

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