MAT 051 GgYy

Calculus I\Calculus with Analytic

Geometry I

Mathematics Department
Mindanao State University Main Campus
Marawi City

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

Some Applications of Differentiation

3.1 Geometric Interpretation of a Derivative

3.2 Maximum and Minimum Values of a Function
3.3 Increasing and Decreasing Functions and the First
Derivative Test
3.4 Concavity and Points of Inflection
3.5 Maxima Minima Problems
3.6 Related Rates

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

 3.1 Geometric Interpretation of a Derivative

For this section, we need to recall the following properties

of a line L:
A. The linear equation in two variables

Ax + By + C = 0,

where A, B, C are real numbers is a line on the Cartesian

plane or R2 plane. This equation is called the

standard form of equation of a line.

For any constant k, x = k is a vertical line, while y = k is

a horizontal line.

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

B. Let P1 (x1 , y1 ) and P2 (x2 , y2 ), x1 6= x2 , be any two different
points on the line L. Then,
1. Slope m of the line L is given by the fomula
y2 − y1 y − y2
m= or m = 1 .
x2 − x1 x1 − x2

2. The slope m of a horizontal line y = y0 , where y0 = y1

or y0 = y2 , is m = 0, for y2 = y1
y2 − y1 0
m= = = 0.
x2 − x1 x2 − x1

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

3. If x1 = x2 then the line L is a vertical line x = x0 ,
where x0 = x1 or x0 = x2 , and its slope m is undefined,
for
y − y1 y − y1
m= 2 = 2 .
x2 − x1 0

4. Lines are parallel if and only if they have the same

slopes.
5. Lines are perpendicular if their slopes are negative
reciprocal of each other.

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

6. The equation of the line L is
y2 − y1
(i.) y − y0 = (x − x0 ), where x0 = x1 and y0 = y1
x2 − x1
or x0 = x2 and y0 = y2 .
The Two-Point Form equation of a line
(ii.) y − y0 = m(x − x0 ), where where x0 = x1 and y0 = y1
or x0 = x2 and y0 = y2 .
The Slope -Point Form equation of a line
(iii.) y = mx + b where m is the slope and b is the
y-intercept.
The Slope-intercept Form equation of a line

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

 In the plane Geometry, the tangent line LT at a
point Q on a circle may be defined as the line which has
only the point Q in common with the circle, as shown in the
figure below. 1.

Figure : The tangent line to the circle at the point Q

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

 This definition cannot be extended to arbitrary graphs,
since a tangent line may intersect a graph several times, see
the Figure 2.

Figure : The line L which passes through the points P and Q

on the curve y = f (x).
N.S.A. Applications of derivatives
 In order to define a tangent line LT at a point P0 on
the graph of an equation it is sufficient to find the slope m
of the tangent line LT , since this completely determines the
line.
To find m, let f be a function such that f 0 (x0 ) exists and LS
be a line passing through the points P (x, y) and P0 (x0 , f (x0 )),
as shown in Figure 3, where P0 is a point on the graph of
y = f (x) other than P .

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

Figure : The Secant Line LS

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

 Then the slope mL of the line LS is

y − y0 f (x) − f (x0 )
mL = = .
x − x0 x − x0

Any line which passes through two different points on the

curve is called a secant line, denoted by LS .
Now, let us observe the variation of the secant line as P gets
closer and closer to P0 , as illustrated in the Figure 4. It
appears that as P gets closed to P0 , the limiting position
of the secant line is the line which passes through only one
point on the graph of y = f (x) which is the tangent line.

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

Figure : The variations of the secant line

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

Thus, the slope of the secant line mL should be closed to
the slope of the tangent line m. For this reason, if the slope
mL has the limiting value as P approaches P0 , we define this
limiting value as the slope m of the tangent line LT . That
is,
f (x) − f (x0 )
m = lim .
x→x0 x − x0

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

Suppose x = x0 +h, that is, h = x−x0 . Then, as h gets closer
to zero, P moves closer to P0 along the curve of y = f (x).
Thus, the secant line tends to its limiting position a line
which passes through the point P0 only, which is the tangent
line to the curve at P0 . The tangent line to the curve
y = f (x) at P0 is the line through P0 having a slope

f (x0 + h) − f (x0 )
m = lim = f 0 (x0 ).
h→0 h

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

Definition: Let f be a function such that f 0 (x0 ) exists. The
tangent line to the curve y = f (x) at P0 (x0 , y0 ) is the line
through P0 having a slope m = f 0 (x0 ).

Remark: Note that we may view a tangent line to a curve

at a point P0 as the line that ’best approximates’ the curve
near P0 .

Definition: The normal line, denoted by LN , to the curve

y = f (x) at P0 (x0 , y0 ) is the line through P0 perpendicular
to the tangent line to the curve at P0 .

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

Tangent and Normal Lines
1. From the definition of a normal line, it follows that the
slope of the normal line to the curve y = f (x) at P0 (x0 , y0 )
is
1
mLN = − 0 ,
f (x0 )
provided f 0 (x0 ) 6= 0 (that is, the tangent line to the curve at
P0 is neither a horizontal nor a vertical line). An equation of
the normal line can then be obtained by using the point-slope
form of a line.

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

2. If the tangent line to the curve at P0 (x0 , y0 ) is the
horizontal line y = y0 = f (x0 ) (that is, f 0 (x0 ) = 0),
then the normal line to the curve at P0 is the line
x = x0 , a vertical line. On the other hand, if x = x0 is
the tangent line, then y = y0 is the normal line at
P0 (x0 , y0 ).

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

Example 1. Find The equation of the lines tangent and
normal to the curve f (x) = x2 − 1 at the point P0 (−2, 3).
Solution: By the definition, the slope m of the tangent line
to the curve at the point P0 (x0 , y0 ) = P0 (−2, 3) is the value
of the derivative f 0 when x = x0 = −2. Now, f 0 (x) = 2x.
Thus, substituting x = −2 to f 0 (x) = 2x we have the slope
of the tangent line is m = f 0 (−2) = 2(−2) = −4 and the
1 1
slope of the nomal line is mN = − = . Hence, by the
−4 4
point-slope form of equation of a line we have the equations
of tangent line and normal line respectively,

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

 1
y − 3 = −4(x − (−2)) and y − 3 = (x − (−2))
4
1
y − 3 = −4(x + 2) and y − 3 = (x + 2)
4
y − 3 = −4x − 8 and 4y − 12 = x + 2
4x + y − 3 + 8 = 0 and x − 4y + 12 + 2 = 0
4x + y + 5 = 0 and x − 4y + 14 = 0.

That is, the tangent line is the line 4x + y + 5 = 0 and the

normal line is x − 4y + 14 = 0.

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

Figure : Tangent Line LT and Normal Line LN of the function
f at P0

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

Example 2. Given the circle (x + 1)2 + y 2 = 4. Find the
equation of the lines tangent and normal to this circle at the
point where x = −1.
Solution: Note that at x = −1, from (x + 1)2 + y 2 = 4, we
have

(−1 + 1)2 + y 2 = 4
y2 = 4
√
y = ± 4
= ±2.

That is y = 2 and y = −2 when x = −1.

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

Solving for the derivative of the equation (x + 1)2 + y 2 = 4
by implicit differentiation, we have

(x + 1)2 + y 2 = 4
2(x + 1)dx + 2ydy = 0.

dy
Solving for the derivative we have
dx

2ydy = −2(x + 1)dx

dy 2(x + 1)
= − .
dx 2y

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

Then the slope of the tangent line is the value of
dy 2(x + 1)
=−
dx 2y
when x = −1 and y = 2.
2(−1 + 1)
That is, m = = 04 = 0.
2(2)
And the slope of the normal line is mN is undefined ( for it
is the negative reciprocal of 0). This result gives a tangent
line

y − 2 = 0(x − (−1))
y−2 = 0
y = 2

which is a horizontal line, and the normal line is the vertical

line x = −1 at P0 (−1, 2). In the same way, tangent line and
normal line at P0 (−1, −2) can also be obtained.
N.S.A. Applications of derivatives
Figure : The tangent and normal lines of a circle at P0

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

Example 3. Find the equations of the tangent line and
the normalline to the ccurve y = 3x2 − 2x − 1 at the point
P0 (1, 0).
Solution: Let f (x) = 3x2 − 2x − 1. Then the derivative of f
(at x) is f 0 (x) = 6x − 2. Let mLT and mLN be the slopes of
the tangent line and normal line, respectively. Then

mLT = f 0 (1) = 6(1) − 2 = 4

and
1 1
mLN = − =− .
f 0 (1) 4

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

Now, using the point-slope form, we have

y − y0 = mLT (x − x0 )
y − 0 = 4(x − 1)
y = 4x − 4.

Therefore, the equation of the tanglent line is 4x − y − 4 = 0.

Again, by using the point-slope form, we have

y − y0 = mLN (x − x0 )
1
y − 0 = − (x − 1)
4
4y = −x + 1.

Thus, an equation of the normal line is x + 4y − 1 = 0.

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives
Exercise: Determine as indicated:
1 Find the equation of the lines tangent and noraml to
the curve given by the equation y 4 + 3y − 4x3 = 5x + 1
at the point P0 (1, −2).
2 Find the equations of the tangent line and thenormal
π 
line to the curve y = 5 sin(2x) at the point P0 ,5 .
4
3 Find the equations of the lines which are normal to the
curve y = x3 − 3x that is parallel to the line
2x + 18y − 9 = 0.
4 Find the equation of the lines tangent and normal to
the graph of y = arcsin(x − 1) at the point (3/2, π/6).

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

3.2 Maximum and Minimum Values of Function
Definition. A function f is said to have a relative max-
imum value at x0 (the value is f (x0 )) if there exists an
open interval I containing x0 on which f is defined and that
f (x0 ) ≥ f (x) for all x in this interval I. It has a relative
minimum value at x0 (the value is f (x0 )) if there exists an
open interval I containing x0 on which f is defined and that
f (x0 ) ≤ f (x) for all x in this interval I. If the function f
has either a relative maximum or a relative minimum value
at x0 , then f is said to have a relative extremum at x0 .

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

Theorem: If f (x) exists for all values of x in the open
interval (a, b), and if f has a relative extremum at x0 , where
a < x0 < b, and if f 0 (x0 ) exists, then f 0 (x0 ) = 0.
Remark: A function may have one or more relative maxi-
mum (minimum) values. Of course, it may have no relative
maximum or a relative minimum value.

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

Critical Value and Critical Point of a Function

Definition. If x0 is a number in the domain of the function

f , and if either f 0 (x0 ) = 0 or f 0 (x0 ) does not exist, then
x0 is called a critical number or a critical value of f .
A critical point is a point (x0 , f (x0 )) on the function f
corresponding to the critical number x0 .

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

Definition. The function f is said to have an absolute
maximum value on an interval if there is some number
x0 in the interval such that f (x0 ) ≥ f (x) for all x in this
interval. In such a case, f (x0 ) is the absolute maximum
value of f on the interval. The function f is said to have an
absolute minimum value on an interval if there is some
number x0 in the interval such that f (x0 ) ≤ f (x) for all x in
this interval. The value f (x0 ) is the absolute minimum value
of f on the interval. An absolute extremum of a function
on an interval is either an absolute maximum value or an
absolute minimum value of the function on that interval.

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

Remark: A relative maximum or relative minimum value
of f is not necessarily the absolute maximum or absolute
minimum value of f .
Theorem: (Extreme-Value Theorem) If a function f is
continuous on the closed interval [a, b], then f has an ab-
solute maximum value and an absolute minimum value on
[a, b].

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

(Steps to find the Absolute Extrema)
1 Let f 0 (x) = 0 and solve for the critical values or
numbers of f .
2 Find the function values at the critical numbers of f
on (a, b).
3 Find the values f (a) and f (b).
4 The largest of the values obtained in (1) and (2) is the
absolute maximum value of f . The smallest of the
values obtained is the absolute minimum value of f .

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

Example 1: Given the function
 f (x) = x3 + x2 − x + 1, find
the absolute extrema of f on −2, 21 .


Solution : Following the steps given;

If f (x) = x3 +x2 −x+1, then f 0 (x) = 3x2 +2x−1. Note that,
for any real numbers x a polynomial function f is defined,
and so f 0 exist or f is differentiable. That is, the domain
of the function is Df = R the set of real numbers. Let
f 0 (x) = 0 and solve for the critical values or critical numbers
of f . That is,

3x2 + 2x − 1 = 0
(3x − 1)(x + 1) = 0
3x − 1 = 0 or x + 1 = 0.
1
Thus, the critical numbers of f are x = 3
and x = −1.

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

This values are in the domain of f and also in the given
interval  
1
[a, b] = −2, .
2
The function values at the critical numbers are:
   3  2
1 1 1 1 22
f = + − +1=
3 3 3 3 27
and
f (−1) = (−1)3 + (−1)2 − (−1) + 1 = 2
1
The function values at the end points a = −2 and b = are:
2
f (−2) = (−2)3 + (−2)2 − (−2) + 1 = −1
and    3  2  
1 1 1 1 7
f = + − +1= .
2 2 2 2 8
N.S.A. Applications of derivatives
Hence, the absolute maximum value is f (−1) = 2 and the
absolute minimum value is f (−2) = −1
Consequently, the absolute maximum point is (−1, 2) and
the absolute minimum point is (−2, −1).
The points 13 , 22


27
and (−1, 2) in Example 1 are the relative
extremum points.

To test for relative maximum and relative minimum consider

the next theorems.

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

Theorem: (Rolle’s Theorem) Let f be a function such
that
1 it is continuous on the closed interval [a, b];
2 it is differentiable on the open interval (a, b);
3 f (a) = 0 and f (b) = 0.
Then there is a number c in the open interval (a, b) such that
f 0 (c) = 0.

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

Theorem: (Mean-Value Theorem) Let f be a function
such that
1 it is continuous on the closed interval [a, b], and
2 is differentiable on the open interval (a, b).
Then there is a number c in the open interval (a, b) such that

f (b) − f (a)
f 0 (c) = .
b−a

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

3.3 Increasing/Decreasing Functions and the First
Derivative Test

Definition. A function f defined on an interval is said to

be (strictly) increasing on that interval if and only if
f (x1 ) < f (x2 ) whenever x1 < x2 , where x1 and x2 are any
numbers in the interval. A function f defined on an interval
is said to be (strictly) decreasing on that interval if and
only if f (x1 ) > f (x2 ) whenever x1 < x2 , where x1 and x2 are
any numbers in the interval. If a function is either increasing
or decreasing on an interval, then it is said to be monotonic
on the interval.

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

Theorem: Suppose the function f is continuous on an open
interval I and f 0 6= 0 on I. Then f 0 is either positive on all
of I or negative on all of I.

Theorem: [Intervals for Increasing or Decreasing ]

Let the function f be continuous on the closed interval [a, b]
and differentiable on the open interval (a, b).
1 If f 0 (x) > 0 for all x in (a, b), then f is increasing on
[a, b].
2 If f 0 (x) < 0 for all x in (a, b), then f is decreasing on
[a, b].

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

Theorem: (First Derivative Test for Relative Ex-
trema) Let the function f be continuous at all points of
the open interval (a, b) containing the number x0 , and sup-
pose that f 0 exists at each point of (a, b), except possibly at
x0 .
1 If f is increasing (f 0 (x) > 0) on some open interval to
the left of x0 with x0 as endpoint of this interval, and
if f is decreasing (f 0 (x) < 0) on some open interval to
the right of x0 with x0 as endpoint, then f has a
relative maximum value at x0 .
2 If f is decreasing (f 0 (x) < 0) on some open interval to
the left of x0 with x0 as endpoint, and if f is increasing
(f 0 (x) > 0) on some open interval to the right of x0
with x0 as endpoint of this interval, then f has a
relative minimum value at x0 .

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

Example 2. Given the function f (x) = x3 + x2 − x + 1.
Apply the
1 Mean-Value Theorem on [a, b] = [−2, 0];
2 Determine the intervals where the function
f (x) = x3 + x2 − x + 1 is increasing or decreasing.
3 Determine the relative maximum and relative
minimum point(s).

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

Solution:
1. By Mean-Value Theorem, there exists c ∈ [a, b] = [−2, 0]
such that
f (0) − f (−2) 1 − (−1) 2
f 0 (c) = = = = 1.
0 − (−2) 0+2 2

That is, solving for x in f 0 (x) = 1. Now, since

f 0 (x) = 3x2 + 2x − 1,

we have

3x2 + 2x − 1 = 1
3x2 + 2x − 2 = 0.

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

By Quadratic formula,
p
22 − 4(3)(−2)
−2 ±
x =
2(3)
√
−2 ± 28
=
6 √
−2 ± 2 7
=
6√
−1 ± 7
= .
3
√
Then choose√ c = −1−3 7 ≈ −1.215 ∈ [−2, 0] ,
for x = −1+3 7 ≈ 0.5486 ∈
/ [−2, 0].

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

2. From Example 1, the critical numbers of f are x = 13
and x = −1. Using these numbers to divide the real
number line into sub-intervals, as seen in the following
figure below:

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

 Intervals Test number, f 0 (x) > 0 or f 0 (x) < 0
(−∞, −1) 2 f 0 (−2) = 3(−2) + 2(−2) − 1
=7>0
0
(−1, 31 ) 0 f (0) = −1 < 0
( 13 , +∞) 1 f 0 (1) = 3 + 2 − 1 = 4 > 0

By Intervals for Increasing or Decreasing Theorem, f is in-

creasing on the intervals (−∞, −1] and [ 31 , +∞) and f is
decreasing on [−1, 13 ].

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

3. By the First Derivative Test for Relative Extrema The-
orem, f has relative maximum at x = −1 and its relative
maximum value is

f (−1) = (−1)3 + (−1)2 − (−1) + 1 = 2

1
and its relative maximum point is (−1, 2). While at x = ,
3
f has its relative minimum value and it is
   3  2
1 1 1 1 22
f = + − +1=
3 3 3 3 27

and its relative minimum point is 31 , 22

27
.

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

3.4 Concavity and Points of Inflection

Definition. The graph of a function f is said to be concave

upward on a given interval I, if at each point of I the graph
of f always remains above the line tangent to the curve at
this point. The graph of a function f is said to be concave
downward on a given interval I, if at each point of I the
graph of f always remains below the line tangent to the curve
at this point.

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

Theorem: (Second Derivative Test for Concavity)
Let f be a function such that f 00 (x) exists for every x in some
open interval I.
1 If f 00 (x) > 0 for all x on I, then the graph of f is
concave upward on I.
2 If f 00 (x) < 0 for all x on I, then the graph of f is
concave downward on I.

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

Theorem: (Second Derivative Test for Relative Ex-
trema)
Suppose that f 00 (x) exists on I and suppose x0 ∈ I is a
critical value of f .
1 If f 00 (x) > 0 for all x on I, then x0 corresponds to a
relative minimum value of f .
2 If f 00 (x) < 0 for all x on I, then x0 corresponds to a
relative maximum value of f .

NOTE: If f 00 (x0 ) = 0, then the above second derivative test

for relative extrema does not apply.

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

Definition. A point (x0 , f (x0 )) is a point of inflection of the
graph of the function if the graph has a tangent line there,
and if there exists an open interval I containing x0 such that
if x is in I, then either
1 f 00 (x) < 0 if x < x0 , and f 00 (x) > 0 if x > x0 , or
2 f 00 (x) > 0 if x < x0 , and f 00 (x) < 0 if x > x0 .

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

Theorem: If the function f is differentiable on some open
interval containing x0 and if (x0 , f (x0 )) is a point of inflection
of the graph of f , then if f 00 (x0 ) exists, or f 00 (x0 ) = 0.
Remark:
1 The converse of the theorem above is not true. That
is, if f 00 (x0 ) = 0, then it is not always true that
(x0 , f (x0 )) is a point of inflection of the graph f
2 From the definition and theorem above, it follows that
a point (x0 , f (x0 )) is a point of inflection if
1 f 00 (x0 ) = 0 or f 00 (x0 ) does not existand
2 the graph of f is concave upward on one side of
(x0 , f (x0 )) and concave downward on the other.

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

Example 3: If f (x) = x3 + x2 − x + 1, determine intervals
on which the graph of f is concave upward and intervals on
which the graph is concave downward.
Solution: This function f (x) = x3 +x2 −x+1 was considered
in the previous examples of this section. Since f 0 (x) = 3x2 +
2x − 1, then its second derivative is f 00 (x) = 6x + 2. If
f 00 (x) = 6x + 2 = 0, then x = − 13 . Consider the following
steps:
1 Subdivide the R line into subintervals with critical
number x = − 31 .
2 Test f 00 whether it f 00 > 0 (positive) or f 00 < 0
(negative) then apply the Second Derivative Test for
Concavity Theorem

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

 Intervals Test number f 00 (x) > 0 or f 00 (x) < 0
(−∞, − 13 ) -2 f 00 (−2) = 6(−2) + 2 = −10 < 0
(− 13 , +∞) 0 f 00 (0) = 6(0) + 2 = 2 > 0

By Second Derivative Test for Concavity Theorem, f is con-

cave upward on the interval [− 13 , +∞) and f is concave
downward on the interval (−∞, − 31 ].

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

By definition, the point of inflection of f is at x = − 13 , that
is the point where y = f (− 13 ) = 38
27
. That is (− 13 , 38
27
)
Using the results in Example 1, Example 2, and Example
3, sketching of the graph can be easily done. See graph of
f (x) = x3 + x2 − x + 1 below, observe the intervals where
f is increasing or decreasing, its intervals for concavity, the
relative maximum and minimum points and the point of in-
flection.

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives
Example 4 Given the function f (x) = x3 +x2 −x+1 and the
critical numbers x = −1 and x = 31 (see Example 2 number 3
results), use the Second Derivative Test for Relative Extrema
to find the relative maximum and relative minimum points
of f . [This is another way of finding the relative extreme
value of a function.]

Solution: By Example 3, f 00 (x) = 6x + 2. By The Second

Derivative Test for Relative Extrema Theorem; since f 0 (x0 =
f (−1) = 6(−1) + 2 = −4 < 0, f has
relative
maximum value
at x = −1, and since f 0 (x0 ) = f 13 = 6 13 + 2 = 4 > 0, f
has relative minimum value at x = 31 . This yields the relative
maximum point
is (−1, 2) and its relative minimum point is
the point 13 , 27
22
.

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

Example 5 Given the function f (x) = −x3 + 3x, discuss
the intervals where it is increasing or decreasing, its relative
maximum and minimum points, the intervals of concavity,
and the points of inflection. Construct a sketch of the graph
of the function.

Solution: f (x) = −x3 + 3x and the corresponding deriva-

tives f 0 (x) = −3x2 + 3 and f 00 (x) = −6x . Both the f , f 0
and f 00 are defined for all real numbers. Let f 0 (x) = 0, to
find the critical numbers. That is

−3x2 + 3 = 0 ⇔ x2 − 1 = 0 ⇔ x = −1 or x = 1.

So critical numbers are −1 and 1.

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

 Intervals Test number f 00 (x) > 0 or f 00 (x) < 0
(−∞, −1) −2 f 0 (−2) = −3(−2)2 + 3 = −9 < 0
(−1, 1) 0 f 0 (0) = −3(0)2 + 3 = 3 > 0
(1, +∞) 2 f 0 (2) = −3(2)2 + 3 = −9 < 0

This means that f is decreasing on the intervals (−∞, −1]

and [1, +∞) and it is increasing on the interval [−1, 1].

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

Using the Second Derivative Test for Relative Extrema The-
orem;
Testing f 00 (x) = −6x at x = −1 and x = 1.
Since
f 00 (−1) = −6(−1) = 6 > 0,
f has the relative minimum value at x = −1. The value is

f (−1) = −(−1)3 + 3(−1) = −2.

Also, since
f 00 (1) = −6(10 = −6,
f has the relative maximum value at x = 1, the value is

f (1) = −13 + 3(1) = 2.

So the relative maximum point is (1, 2) and the relative min-

imum point is at (−1, −2).
N.S.A. Applications of derivatives
Now , for the intervals for concavity, let f 00 (x) = −6x = 0
and solving for x gives x = 0.

Intervals Test number f 00 (x) > 0 or f 00 (x) < 0

(−∞, 0) −2 f 00 (−2) = −6(−2) = 12 > 0
(0, +∞) 2 f 00 (2) = −6(2) = −12 < 0

By the Second Derivative Test for concavity, f is concave

upward on the interval (−∞, 0), and it is concave downward
on the interval 0, +∞).
The point of inflection is the point (0, 0).

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

Figure : The graph of the function f (x) = −x3 + 3x

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives

Exercise: Given the function f , discuss its relative maxi-
mum and minimum points, the intervals where it is increas-
ing or decreasing, the intervals of concavity, and the points
of inflection. Construct a sketch of the graph of the function.

3
1 f (x) = x3 − x2
2
2 f (x) = x4 − 8x3 + 18x2 − 27
3 f (x) = (x − 1)3 (x − 3)
4 Find the intervals in which the graph of y = tan−1 x is
(a) concave upward ; (b) concave downward.

N.S.A. Applications of derivatives