Question12. [12 marks] Consider the function . a. Find the -and -intercepts of the function. b. Determine the intervals where the function is increasing/decreasing and find the relative extrema. c. Determine the intervals where the function is concave up/ concave down and find the inflection points. d. Sketch the function.
Studdy Solution
STEP 1
What is this asking?
We're going to explore this cool function , find its intercepts, figure out where it's increasing and decreasing, where it's curving up or down, and then draw a sweet sketch of it!
Watch out!
Don't mix up increasing/decreasing with concave up/concave down.
They're related, but totally different things!
Also, remember that relative extrema are like peaks and valleys, and inflection points are where the curve changes its bendiness.
STEP 2
1. Find the intercepts
2. Analyze increasing/decreasing behavior and extrema
3. Analyze concavity and inflection points
4. Sketch the graph
STEP 3
To find the y-intercept, we **set** in our function: .
So, the y-intercept is at the point .
Boom!
STEP 4
For the x-intercepts, we **set** and **solve** for :
This equation is true if or if .
So, our x-intercepts are and , giving us the points and .
Awesome!
STEP 5
First, we need the **first derivative** of our function, which tells us about the slope:
STEP 6
To find where the function is increasing or decreasing, we **set** the first derivative equal to zero and **solve** for : So, and are our **critical points**.
STEP 7
Now, we test values around these critical points to see if the derivative is positive (increasing) or negative (decreasing).
Let's pick , , and .
* For , , so the function is **increasing** before .
* For , , so the function is **increasing** between and .
* For , , so the function is **decreasing** after .
STEP 8
Since the function goes from increasing to decreasing at , we have a **relative maximum** there.
Let's find the y-value: .
So, the relative maximum is at .
STEP 9
We need the **second derivative** to talk about concavity:
STEP 10
We **set** the second derivative equal to zero and **solve** for : So, and are our **potential inflection points**.
STEP 11
Let's test , , and : * For , , so **concave down**. * For , , so **concave up**. * For , , so **concave down**.
STEP 12
Since the concavity changes at both and , these are **inflection points**.
We already know the y-value for is .
For , .
So, our inflection points are and .
STEP 13
Using all this info, we can sketch the graph!
It starts increasing, passes through , keeps increasing and changes from concave down to concave up at , reaches an inflection point at , hits a maximum at , then decreases, passing through , and continues decreasing while being concave down.
STEP 14
The x-intercepts are and , and the y-intercept is .
The function is increasing on and decreasing on , with a relative maximum at .
It's concave up on and concave down on and , with inflection points at and .
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