Calculus Function Analysis

1 Critical Numbers
The derivative of a function represents its rate of change. If we know the derivative
of a function, then we can determine its slope at any given point where the function
exists. In other words, f ‘ (a) is the slope of a line tangent to function f at x = a.

A critical number c of a function f is a member of the domain of the function such

that i) f ‘ (c) = 0 or ii) f ‘ (c) does not exist.

In case (i) where f ‘ (c) = 0, the slope of the line tangent to f at x = c is horizontal.
This means that the function has a peak or a valley at x = c (think of the vertex of a
parabola or the peaks and valleys of sinusoidal functions). Three possibilities exist:

a) f(x) changes from decreasing to increasing at x = c

b) f(x) changes from increasing to decreasing at x = c
c) f(x) has an inflection point at x = c

For an example of an inflection point, look at the graphs of y = x3 or y = tan(x)

at x = 0. Inflection points are covered in the study of concavity, to follow.

An exception to case (i) is the constant variation function, for obvious reasons.

In case (ii) where f ‘ (c) does not exist, the function is not differentiable at x = c.
The reasons for such a condition are covered in calculus theory. One example would
be the vertical asymptote of a rational function.

Example: Find the critical numbers of f( x ) = x3 + 6x2 + 9x + 2

f ‘ ( x ) = 3x2 + 12x + 9 f ‘ ( x ) = 3(x + 1)(x + 3)

f ‘ ( x ) is defined for all values of x f ‘ ( x ) = 0 at x = -3 and x = -1.

The critical numbers of f ( x ) are x = -3 and x = -1

Practice Exercises - Find the critical numbers of the following functions.

a) f(x) = 17 - 6x + 12x2 b) f(x) = x3 - 3x + 2

c) g(x) = x4 - 4x3 - 8x2 - 1 d) g(x) = 3x4 - 16x3 + 6x2 + 72x + 8
e) y = 2x3 + 3x2 - 6x + 3 f) y = x3 + x2 + x + 1
g) y = x - x1/2 h) y = x(x - 1)1/2
i) y = t(t + 1)-1 j) y = t(t2 + 1)

Answers

a) 1/4 b) ± 1 c) -1, 0, 4 d) -1, 2, 3 e) (-1 ± Ö5)/2 f) none

g) 0, 1/4 h) 1, 2/3 i) -1 j) none
Calculus Function Analysis

2 Test for Intervals of Increase and Decrease

A function is strictly increasing when its rate of change is positive. Likewise, A
function is strictly decreasing when its rate of change is negative.

Since the first derivative of a function represents its rate of change, it can be used to
determine whether a function is increasing or decreasing.

Example: Find the intervals of decrease and increase for f( x ) = 2x2 - 8x + 1

Solution: f ’ ( x ) = 4x - 8.

The critical number of f(x) is x = 2 ( where f ’ ( x ) = 0 )

f ’ ( x ) < 0 for x Î ] -¥ , 2 [ , so f ( x ) is decreasing on x Î ] -¥ , 2 [

f ’ ( x ) > 0 for x Î ] 2 , ¥ [, so f ( x ) is increasing on x Î ] 2 , ¥ [.

We know this result is correct since f(x) is an upright parabola with its vertex at x = 2.

Example: Find the intervals of decrease and increase for f( x ) = x3 + 6x2 + 9x + 2

Solution: f ’ ( x ) = 3x2 + 12x + 9

f ’ ( x ) = 3(x + 3)(x + 1)

The critical numbers of f(x) are - 3 and - 1.

The signs of f ’ ( x ) can be determined by examining its graph or by listing the signs
of its factors:

Interval 3 (x + 3) (x + 1) f’(x) f (x)

]-¥,-3[ + - - + increasing
] -3 , - 1 [ + + - - decreasing
]-1,¥[ + + + + increasing
Example: Find the intervals of decrease and increase for f( x ) = x4 - 4x3 - 8x2 - 1

Solution: f ’ ( x ) = 4x3 - 12x2 - 16x

f ’ ( x ) = 4x(x + 1)(x - 4)

The critical numbers of f(x) are - 1 , 0 and 4.

Interval 4x (x + 1) (x - 4) f’(x) f (x)

]-¥,-1[ - - - - decreasing
] -1 , 0 [ - + - + increasing
] 0, 4[ + + - - decreasing
] 4, ¥[ + + + + increasing

Practice Exercises

Find the intervals of increase and decrease for the following functions.

a) f(x) = 3x2 - 18x + 1 b) f(x) = 2x3 - 9x2 - 60x + 82

c) g(x) = x4 - 2x2 + 16 d) h(x) = x3(x - 1)4
e) h(x) = (x - 1)/(x + 1) f) y = x(4 - x)1/2
g) y = (x2 - 9)2/3

Answers

a) b) c) d)
inc: ]3,¥[ ]-¥,-2[ È ]5, ¥[ ]-1,0[ È ]1, ¥[ ]-¥, 3/7[ È ]1, ¥[
dec: ]-¥,3[ ]-2,5[ ]-¥, -1[ È ]0,1[ ]3/7,1[

e) f) g)
inc: ]-¥, -1[ È ]-1,¥[ ]-¥,8/3[ ]-3,0[ È ]3, ¥[
dec: Æ ]8/3,4[ ]-¥,-3[ È ]0,3[
Calculus Function Analysis

3 Finding the Extrema of a Function

Use the following procedure to find the extrema (minimum and maximum values) of
a continuous function f(x) on a given interval x Î [ a , b ].

1. Find the critical numbers of f(x). Verify that all c Î [ a , b ]

2. Determine the values of f(x) at the critical points.

That is, find f(c) for all values of c.

3. Determine the values of f(x) at the endpoints of the interval.

That is, find f(a) and f(b)

4. The smallest of the values from steps 2 and 3 is the

minimum value of f(x) on the interval x Î [ a , b ].

5. The largest of the values from steps 2 and 3 is the

maximum value of f(x) on the interval x Î [ a , b ].

Example: Find the extrema of f( x ) = x3 + 6x2 + 9x + 2

on the interval x Î [ -3.5 , 1 ]

Step 1 The critical numbers of f ( x ) are x = -3 and x = -1

Step 2 f ( -3 ) = 2 f ( -1 ) = -2
Step 3 f ( -3.5 ) = 1.125 f ( 1 ) = 18
Step 4 The minimum value of f is -2
Step 5 The maximum value of f is 18

Practice Exercises

Find the extrema of the following functions on the given intervals.

a) f(x) = 2x2 - 8x + 1 ; [0, 3] b) f(x) = 3 + 2(x+1)2 ; [-3, 2]

c) f(x) = 2x3 - 3x2 ; [-2, 2] d) f(x) = 2x3 - 3x2 - 36x + 72 ; [-3, 4]
e) f(x) = x4 - 2x2 + 16 ; [-3, 2] f) f(x) = x5 + 3x3 + x ; [-1 , 2]
g) g(x) = x2 + 16/x ; [1 , 4] h) f(x) = 3x2/3 - 2x ; [1, 3]

Answers (max; min)

a) f(0) = 1 ; f(2) = -7 b) f(2) = 21 ; f(-1) = 3 c) f(2) = 4 ; f(-2) = -28

d) f(-2) = 116 ; f(3) = -9 e) f(-3) = 79 ; f(1) = f(-1) = 15
f) f(2) = 58 ; f(-1) = -5 g) g(4) = 20 ; g(2) = 12 h) f(1) = 1 ; f(3) = 3(9)1/3 - 6