The First Derivative and the Shape of a Function f(x)

Read this section to learn how the first derivative is used to determine the shape of functions. Work through practice problems 1-9.

Practice Answers

Practice 1: \mathrm{g} is increasing on [2,4] and [6,8].
\mathrm{g} is decreasing on [0,2] and [4,5],
g is constant on [5,6].


Practice 2: The graph in Fig. 33 shows the rate of population change, \mathrm{dR} / \mathrm{dt}.

Fig. 33


Practice 3: The graph of \mathrm{f}' is shown in Fig. 34. Notice how the graph of \mathrm{f}^{\prime} is 0 where \mathrm{f} has a maximum and minimum.

Fig. 34


Practice 4: The Second Shape Theorem for helicopters:
(i) If the upward velocity \mathrm{h}' is positive during time interval I then the height \mathrm{h} is increasing during time interval I.
(ii) If the upward velocity \mathrm{h}' is negative during time interval I then the height \mathrm{h} is decreasing during time interval I.
(iii) If the upward velocity \mathrm{h}' is zero during time interval I then the height \mathrm{h} is constant during time interval I.


Practice 5: A graph satisfying the conditions in the table is shown in Fig. 35.

\begin{array}{l|r|r|l|l|l|l}\mathrm{x} & -2 & -1 & 0 & 1 & 2 & 3 \\\hline \mathrm{f}(\mathrm{x}) & 1 & -1 & -2 & -1 & 0 & 2 \\\hline \mathrm{f}^{\prime}(\mathrm{x}) & -1 & 0 & 1
    & 2 & -1 & 1\end{array}

Fig. 35


Practice 6: \mathrm{f}(\mathrm{x})=\mathrm{x}^{3}-3 \mathrm{x}^{2}-24 \mathrm{x}+5.

\mathrm{f}^{\prime}(\mathrm{x})=3 \mathrm{x}^{2}-6 \mathrm{x}-24=3(\mathrm{x}-4)(\mathrm{x}+2).

\mathrm{f}^{\prime}(\mathrm{x})=0 if \mathrm{x}=-2,4.

If x < -2
then f^{\prime}(x)=3(x-4)(x+2)=3 (negative) (negative) > 0 so f is increasing.

If -2 < x < 4
then \mathrm{f}^{\prime}(\mathrm{x})=3(\mathrm{x}-4)(\mathrm{x}+2)=3 (negative)(positive) < 0 so \mathrm{f} is decreasing.

If x > 4
then \mathrm{f}^{\prime}(\mathrm{x})=3(\mathrm{x}-4)(\mathrm{x}+2)=3 (positive) (positive) > 0 so \mathrm{f} is increasing

f has a relative maximum at x=-2 and a relative minimum at x=4.
The graph of \mathrm{f} is shown in Fig. 36.

Fig. 36


Practice 7: Fig. 37 shows several possible graphs for \mathrm{g}. Each of the \mathrm{g} graphs has the correct shape to give the graph of \mathrm{g}'. Notice that the graphs of \mathrm{g} are "parallel," differ by a constant.

Fig. 37


Practice 8: Fig. 38 shows the height graph for the balloon. The balloon was highest at 4 \mathrm{pm} and had a local minimum at 6 \mathrm{pm}.

Fig. 38


Practice 9:
f(x)=3 x^{2}-12 x+7 so f^{\prime}(x)=6 x-12.

f^{\prime}(x)=0 if x=2.
If x < 2, then f^{\prime}(x) < 0 and f is decreasing.
If x > 2, then f^{\prime}(x) > 0 and f is increasing.
From this we can conclude that \mathrm{f} has a minimum when \mathrm{x}=2 and has a shape similar to Fig. 19(b).

We could also notice that the graph of the quadratic f(x)=3 x^{2}-12 x+7 is an upward opening parabola. The graph of \mathrm{f} is shown in Fig. 39.

Fig. 39